Texas BBQ

[Enchubben 5510]

On 5/25/2021 at 2:51 PM, Patricio Swayze said:

My pops and I stopped into TX BBQ Lab today at the corner of Grant and Malcomson in Cypress (soon to move to Grant and Jones). They are currently in the convenience store that we would ride our bikes to as kids. So kind of a nostalgic place.  Very nice folks, and the guy cutting the meat seemed to be new as he gave us way more sausage than we bought.  The place has good reviews on line so we had hoped it would be solid as it’s minutes from most of my family. 
 

Well, it wasn’t. The brisket was dry and lacked flavor. Definitely needed more rub.  The sausage was pretty good (a beef and pork mix).  
 

FYI looks they got a lease for their own place further down the road at Grant/Jones.

I’ll give them a couple weeks to dial it in then report back, but I’m not optimistic.

[ROFL BOX 6649]

On 6/12/2021 at 10:12 PM, RMac5 said:

Good for Pinkerton’s, hate dick headed people sooners & aggy.

 

[ROFL BOX 6649]

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Llano 2 weekends ago.  I like their sauce.  A lot.  Especially after I dice up a few onion slices & add them to the warm liquid.

 

Consistently Cooper's.

[ztejas 43529]

On 6/12/2021 at 11:57 AM, 956 Worldwide said:

I’m living outside of Texas and yesterday a colleague told me about his secret to “great ribs” which involved his secret rub, an Instapot, and Mississippi Sweet and Spicy sauce. 
 

Just living vicariously where y’all argue whether one of the world’s best joints was “on” or not on a given day. 

I'm going to try my neighborhood spot in Austin fairly soon that's like 6 mins away from me and post pics of their brisket and ribs and it's going to blow away anything you'd ever get out of state. 

And yet I complain about people moving here... maybe I should eat more BBQ. 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I'm going to try my neighborhood spot in Austin fairly soon that's like 6 mins away from me and post pics of their brisket and ribs and it's going to blow away anything you'd ever get out of state. 
And yet I complain about people moving here... maybe I should eat more BBQ. 

The flaw in your plan is your aren’t old enough to remember when it was a cool town. Not even the memory of a cool town.

[futureman 22539]

11 minutes ago, Patricio Swayze said:

The flaw in your plan is your aren’t old enough to remember when it was a cool town. Not even the memory of a cool town.

have you been to other places? it’s definitely still a cool town. just not as cool as it used to be. 

[Jerry Callo 8722]

4 hours ago, ROFL BOX said:

I like their sauce.  A lot.  Especially after I dice up a few onion slices & add them to the warm liquid.

I make a similar dipping sauce for beef ribs - Louis Mueller style.  3 parts water, 1 part ketchup, chopped onions, beef bouillon, some salt and a bunch of black pepper.  Bring to a boil and then simmer till onions are soft and the sauce is reduced. 

[NoName 16387]

5 hours ago, ROFL BOX said:

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Llano 2 weekends ago.  I like their sauce.  A lot.  Especially after I dice up a few onion slices & add them to the warm liquid.

 

Consistently Cooper's.

thats a lot of text without saying the BBQ was good. because that brisket looks basically like it has every time i have been there which is to say sub par.

[BurntOrange&White 39981]

6 minutes ago, NoName said:

thats a lot of text without saying the BBQ was good. because that brisket looks basically like it has every time i have been there which is to say sub par.

It's so sad to see Coopers in the state they're in. I remember them being one of the first "good" bbq spots I tried many years ago. Back when Smitty's and Kreuz was still good as well. It's so awesome how BBQ has grown in Texas and we have so many options that make those dinosaurs seem like garbage. 


I wonder if we didn't have this new wave of cue if the old relics would still seem good? 

[Horn Draoi 256]

I can be in Cooper’s in less than an hour; way way overpriced and under flavored.  If you have have to go, get the pork chop.  Their sauce is traditionally a generic IGA barbecue sauce cut with vinegar and some Tabasco added.  Beans are free, though….

[Judge Roybeanbag 11820]

46 minutes ago, Horn Draoi said:

I can be in Cooper’s in less than an hour; way way overpriced and under flavored.  If you have have to go, get the pork chop.  Their sauce is traditionally a generic IGA barbecue sauce cut with vinegar and some Tabasco added.  Beans are free, though….

$31.99 for goat?  Is that the whole goat?  Seems high.

[Horn Draoi 256]

^^^Generous plate of shredded/chopped/sliced cabrito.  This is goat country, but still not easy to find.

[jimmyjazz 46111]

1 hour ago, BurntOrange&White said:

It's so sad to see Coopers in the state they're in. I remember them being one of the first "good" bbq spots I tried many years ago. Back when Smitty's and Kreuz was still good as well. 

Yeah, the question for Austinites was usually "west to Llano, south to Lockhart, or REALLY south to Luling?".  I never really got the appeal of Cooper's, though.  I was a "head south" guy.  Smitty's for relative convenience, Luling City Market for the best to be had.

I was kind of a dumbass because it took me forever to try the Taylor joints.  They kinda flew under the radar a bit.

[Jerry Callo 8722]

My first meal at Cooper's was decades ago and it wasn't great.  Ate it again in 2017 on the TM Top 50 tour - still not great.  Ain't no way I'd pay $24/lb for their mediocre brisket or $19/lb for those overcooked pork ribs.  Only thing I've ever really liked at Cooper's is the big pork chop.

[BurntOrange&White 39981]

1 hour ago, jimmyjazz said:

Yeah, the question for Austinites was usually "west to Llano, south to Lockhart, or REALLY south to Luling?".  I never really got the appeal of Cooper's, though.  I was a "head south" guy.  Smitty's for relative convenience, Luling City Market for the best to be had.

I was kind of a dumbass because it took me forever to try the Taylor joints.  They kinda flew under the radar a bit.

I always enjoyed getting a beef rib from Louie Mueller then driving around the corner and getting a half of a yard bird from Taylor Cafe.

Edited June 15, 2021 by BurntOrange&White

[Deej 76902]

12 hours ago, NoName said:

that brisket looks basically like it has every time i have been there which is to say sub par.

That's what they're known for. 

[Okie State 3846]

I've eaten at Cooper's twice and wasn't impressed either time. Thought it was just me.

I guess it's better than Red River which apparently a lot of people like.

[Blotto 23570]

anybody been to this smokinbeauty joint? Searched and didnt find any results. Its been suggested for lunch next week, but I have doubts if its worth a shit. 

https://www.smokinbeautyatx.com/

[The Ace of Aces 5194]

Landed at DFW at 9:55. Was at Terry Blacks at 10:55. It was on point despite my shitty photos. 

 
 

 

 

[NoName 16387]

On 6/15/2021 at 8:48 AM, Horn Draoi said:

I can be in Cooper’s in less than an hour; way way overpriced and under flavored.  If you have have to go, get the pork chop.  Their sauce is traditionally a generic IGA barbecue sauce cut with vinegar and some Tabasco added.  Beans are free, though….

you have any recs for your neck of the woods (within an hour of Llano) in any direction?)

[NoName 16387]

17 hours ago, Okie State said:

I've eaten at Cooper's twice and wasn't impressed either time. Thought it was just me.

I guess it's better than Red River which apparently a lot of people like.

same here, i was actually mad in the top 50 a couple of times ago when they had a 5* review from bbq snob...then went there and it was that crap.

[ztejas 43529]

It's usually consistently average to pretty good but I just got the fattiest piece of moist brisket from Rudy's. .6 LB and like .2 of it was just straight inedible. To where I almost want to go back or call and let them know about it. (Austin 360 location which should be a flagship of theirs - this wasn't in fuckin Colorado or whatever)

I'll probably just chalk it up to a bad piece of beef - the pork loin I got was on point. 

Hope they don't start going in the wrong direction. It's such a convenient and pretty cheap little fix when I have a hankering. 

[ztejas 43529]

9 hours ago, Blotto said:

anybody been to this smokinbeauty joint? Searched and didnt find any results. Its been suggested for lunch next week, but I have doubts if its worth a shit. 

https://www.smokinbeautyatx.com/

Heard it's decent. I was living fairly close but never made it over there. Who knows. 

[ztejas 43529]

On 6/15/2021 at 7:27 AM, Patricio Swayze said:

The flaw in your plan is your aren’t old enough to remember when it was a cool town. Not even the memory of a cool town.

I'll get off your lawn. 

Maybe it's not as cool but the quality of BBQ has certainly come a long way. 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I'll get off your lawn. 
Maybe it's not as cool but the quality of BBQ has certainly come a long way. 

I’m in the category that Austin was just a memory of a cool town crowd. So old, but not old enough to be yelling at clouds.

[ztejas 43529]

9 minutes ago, Patricio Swayze said:

I’m in the category that Austin was just a memory of a cool town crowd. So old, but not old enough to be yelling at clouds.

To some degree, and to be fair to Austin, I'm not sure the world is as cool as it used to be. 

I mean - shit - when's the last time we had a good serial killer?

Edited June 17, 2021 by ztejas

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I mean - shit - when's the last time we had a good serial killer?

Greg Abbott and his ERCOT cronies?

[ztejas 43529]

2 minutes ago, Patricio Swayze said:

 

Greg Abbott and his ERCOT cronies?

 

Careful... you might offend someone there.

[Both Tacos 1806]

It's usually consistently average to pretty good but I just got the fattiest piece of moist brisket from Rudy's. .6 LB and like .2 of it was just straight inedible. To where I almost want to go back or call and let them know about it. (Austin 360 location which should be a flagship of theirs - this wasn't in fuckin Colorado or whatever)
I'll probably just chalk it up to a bad piece of beef - the pork loin I got was on point. 
Hope they don't start going in the wrong direction. It's such a convenient and pretty cheap little fix when I have a hankering. 

Believe it or not, those Rudy owners and Corporate take their BBQ serious. I would call and let them know as they may have had a new cutter on the board. To me their "scraping" of the fat and bark sends chills up my spine but that's how they roll..no pre-trim, but still flavorful.

[ztejas 43529]

2 minutes ago, Both Tacos said:

To me their "scraping" of the fat and bark sends chills up my spine but that's how they roll..no pre-trim, but still flavorful.

This wasn't a cutting issue I don't think. It wasn't a big piece of fat - it was the meat itself. It looked close enough to fool me and probably the cutter. But as soon as I bit into it the whole thing was like gristle. 

Like I said - probably just an off side of meat. 

[Cajun 11722]

On 6/15/2021 at 2:49 AM, ROFL BOX said:

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in Llano 2 weekends ago.  I like their sauce.  A lot.  Especially after I dice up a few onion slices & add them to the warm liquid.

 

Consistently Cooper's.

I mean don't get me wrong, wood smash, but there's a couple of dozen guys on this site who could do better in their sleep.

After a night of vodka, hookers, and midget wrestling.

[NoName 16387]

9 hours ago, Cajun said:

I mean don't get me wrong, wood smash, but there's a couple of dozen guys on this site who could do better in their sleep.

After a night of vodka, hookers, and midget wrestling.

they have no business in the Top 50 next time.

[Anastasis 23481]

Getting the midgets tender is the hard part, but it can be done. Low and slow. 

[Horn Draoi 256]

16 hours ago, NoName said:

you have any recs for your neck of the woods (within an hour of Llano) in any direction?)

Brownwood is a BBQ desert, IMHO.  L&B Roadhouse in Lometa has decent to good brisket, ribs are only OK.  Haven’t been to Firehouse in Lampasas since they burned the place down accidentally (irony, right?) and moved up the road, but will try it soon.  Their brisket used to be pretty damned good, ribs just ribs (meaning a lot better than no ribs).  Always distracted by German stuff in Fredericksburg, so don’t know about BBQ there.  New place place very recent in a brand new and expensive looking building in Burnet, need to try it out-on 281 north of downtown, across from Starbucks.  Sigh.

[NoName 16387]

30 minutes ago, Horn Draoi said:

Brownwood is a BBQ desert, IMHO.  L&B Roadhouse in Lometa has decent to good brisket, ribs are only OK.  Haven’t been to Firehouse in Lampasas since they burned the place down accidentally (irony, right?) and moved up the road, but will try it soon.  Their brisket used to be pretty damned good, ribs just ribs (meaning a lot better than no ribs).  Always distracted by German stuff in Fredericksburg, so don’t know about BBQ there.  New place place very recent in a brand new and expensive looking building in Burnet, need to try it out-on 281 north of downtown, across from Starbucks.  Sigh.

was it a friction fire? i stopped there once, waited in line, got up towards the front and saw their stuff then had a "phone call" and went back to my car lol

Youngs BBQ is in Burnet now (from San Saba) and they had incredible reviews up there.

Fredericksburg has Backwoods BBQ (best option here currently) and Eaker BBQ (https://www.facebook.com/EakerBarbecue/) who opens literally this weekend and is a former food truck in Houston that moved here.

 

 

[Knoxtnhorn 6065]

Not necessarily bbq per se, but Underwood's in Brownwood rocks.  I went there often as a kid as my grandparents lived in Brownwood.  I've been able to visit twice since moving back to TX (2017), and it's still good.

[Horn Draoi 256]

23 minutes ago, Knoxtnhorn said:

Not necessarily bbq per se, but Underwood's in Brownwood rocks.  I went there often as a kid as my grandparents lived in Brownwood.  I've been able to visit twice since moving back to TX (2017), and it's still good.

“Not necessarily bbq” is right.  Their rolls and desserts still guilty pleasures, just like 60+ years ago when  my parents would take us infrequently to Underwood’s in Wichita Falls.

[utee94 15858]

I just don't get why they call it Underwoods BBQ.  And I realize the name of the place in Brownwood is Underwoods Cafeteria, but they tried to open a location on Burnet Road in Austin back in the late 70s/early 80s and it was labeled "Underwoods BBQ." Suffice to day, nobody understood it and it didn't go well.  That building has been various manifestations and combinations of Chinese food and/or tattoo parlor since.

 

 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I just don't get why they call it Underwoods BBQ.  And I realize the name of the place in Brownwood is Underwoods Cafeteria, but they tried to open a location on Burnet Road in Austin back in the late 70s/early 80s and it was labeled "Underwoods BBQ." Suffice to day, nobody understood it and it didn't go well.  That building has been various manifestations and combinations of Chinese food and/or tattoo parlor since.
 
 

Not really an uncommon naming phenomenon. See it all over Texas, a place called “XYZ BBQ” and the best plate they have is chicken fried steak.

[jimmyjazz 46111]

2 hours ago, Anastasis said:

Getting the midgets tender is the hard part, but it can be done. Low and slow. 

REALLY low.

[jimmyjazz 46111]

13 hours ago, Both Tacos said:

14 hours ago, ztejas said:

It's usually consistently average to pretty good but I just got the fattiest piece of moist brisket from Rudy's. .6 LB and like .2 of it was just straight inedible. To where I almost want to go back or call and let them know about it. (Austin 360 location which should be a flagship of theirs - this wasn't in fuckin Colorado or whatever)
I'll probably just chalk it up to a bad piece of beef - the pork loin I got was on point. 
Hope they don't start going in the wrong direction. It's such a convenient and pretty cheap little fix when I have a hankering. 

Believe it or not, those Rudy owners and Corporate take their BBQ serious. I would call and let them know as they may have had a new cutter on the board. To me their "scraping" of the fat and bark sends chills up my spine but that's how they roll..no pre-trim, but still flavorful.

I believe all Austin Rudy's locations were owned locally, until selling back to corporate earlier this year.  I haven't been to many corporate Rudy's so I'm not sure if there is a quality difference, but I guess it's possible something slipped in the transition.  They also sold off all the Mighty Fine burger joints.

[billfromlaketravis 11522]

Any good spots in Midland or Big Spring? It looks like Up in Smoke moved to another town. 

[Johnny Sack 8397]

3 hours ago, Patricio Swayze said:

Not really an uncommon naming phenomenon. See it all over Texas, a place called “XYZ BBQ” and the best plate they have is chicken fried steak.

Barbecue Inn has fantastic fried chicken and fried shrimp.  I hear their BBQ is trash.

[DoobieWah 1455]

36 minutes ago, Johnny Sack said:

Barbecue Inn has fantastic fried chicken and fried shrimp.  I hear their BBQ is trash.

Also, you can order the fried shrimp and fried oysters by the piece as an accompaniment to the fried chicken or CFS.  We do that erry time. 

[billfromlaketravis 11522]

54 minutes ago, Johnny Sack said:

Barbecue Inn has fantastic fried chicken and fried shrimp.  I hear their BBQ is trash.

Old school diner vibe with 2-3 good dishes on the menu. Their sides are trash. I usually order a bunch of fried chicken and a coffee like I’m Joliet Jake. 

Edited June 17, 2021 by billfromlaketravis

[blacklab 11947]

7 hours ago, Horn Draoi said:

Firehouse in Lampasas

Don't bother. It's awful. All the meat sits in warming pans that are way to hot so all the meat was dry AF and overcooked.

[Trey3216 15355]

Helberg BBQ today for lunch.  Fantastic as always.  
 

 

Edited June 18, 2021 by Trey3216
Damnit. Photo turned the wrong way. My bad.

[Sam Lin 3560]

FIFY

[South Austin 52580]

Bread looks dry.

[Trey3216 15355]

4 hours ago, South Austin said:

Bread looks dry.

It wasn't after I used it to sop up the juices/fats from the sausage and brisket