Best BBQ and best Mexican in Austin

[Spats]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

I write for Fearless Critic and can recommend Franklin Barbecue and El Naranjo for real Mexican, not Tex-Mex.

Kent, don't you think that you should at least give the guy a disclaimer, that these are both trailers?! What happens if he plans his under 24 hour day to include a client, or if it is raining, or if he needs to take a piss? Come on, dude.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Spats

Kent, don't you think that you should at least give the guy a disclaimer, that these are both trailers?! What happens if he plans his under 24 hour day to include a client, or if it is raining, or if he needs to take a piss? Come on, dude.

Only client dinner is at Driskill Grill, and that was cancelled. These two are for my own enjoyment. Trailers are ******* tops in my opinion so no problems there if they serve good food. Looks like Franklin's is the best. So is it possible that I show up to Franklin and they'll run out of ****? I'm guessing I'll be there between 2 and 6. I want to try the ribs, brisket and pulled pork.

 

[Kent Wang]

I have heard of them running out. I always go early though. You could call before heading out there.

 

[Xiaogou]

Originally Posted by SField

Have two dinners (one early dinner/late lunch).

I want one incredible BBQ meal and one really great Tex Mex meal. Preferably downtown, don't have a lot of time. I'm in Austin less than 24 hours stopping by to do a followup on a consulting thing from a few months back.

Please advise.

Didn't you previously state that you hate Mexican food? I know Tex-Mex is different but still.

 

[SField]

Originally Posted by Xiaogou

Didn't you previously state that you hate Mexican food? I know Tex-Mex is different but still.
I want to try what people universally consider to be good. Same as my question to try good "chinese" food. I've had a few meals made by good mexican cooks that were nice, but for the most part it's been dreck. And over and over I get the answer, o you haven't had the right kind. Well I want to try what people think is some of the better stuff and hopefully be enlightened.

 

[Biggskip]

Does Salt Lick live up to the hype? I understand that it's not really in downtown, but just looking to get an insiders POV.

 

[grundletaint]

salt lick is good for novelty because of where it is. the food is ok. i don't get the hype after the initial visit.

iron works is damn good bbq downtown. ruby's is really good and up near the UT campus.

i'm not a huge tex mex fan. sazon and azul tequila are awesome interior spots. don't let anyone talk you into guero's or maudie's, although gueros can be fun for margaritas because of the scene.

 

[HgaleK]

Originally Posted by grundletaint

salt lick is good for novelty because of where it is. the food is ok. i don't get the hype after the initial visit.

iron works is damn good bbq downtown. ruby's is really good and up near the UT campus.

i'm not a huge tex mex fan. sazon and azul tequila are awesome interior spots. don't let anyone talk you into guero's or maudie's, although gueros can be fun for margaritas because of the scene.

+1 to Iron Works

Kent- what are your thoughts on the joint?

 

[Kent Wang]

Never been. I have never heard anyone serious about bbq say good things about it. Also, yes, Salt Lick is overhyped.

 

[airportlobby]

Originally Posted by Biggskip

Does Salt Lick live up to the hype? I understand that it's not really in downtown, but just looking to get an insiders POV.
Salt Lick is usually denigrated by BBQ snobs for various reasons, including emphasizing the sauce and pork ribs. I still like it - it's a pretty spot, it's meat, and it's byob. The top 5 in central Texas are usually considered City Market in Luling, Smittys, Louie Mueller, Kreuz's, and Snow's. None of these are in Austin. Franklin is in town and an up and comer and definitely some of the best brisket I've ever had, but you have to wait in line and it's in a trailer and a pia (opening a brick and mortar shortly, hopefully the downsides will be remedied). You really have to get to Franklin before noon to make sure they aren't sold out (and expect a long wait unless you are there before 11). House Park and Sam's are my favorite old school Austin spots. Iron Works is just passable. There is much better, even in town. Closeby is Lambert's, although it's "non-traditional" and offers more interesting fare than their BBQ. I think the best in between between real Mexican (La Condessa, El Naranjo, etc) and the old line velveeta Tex Mex (which I don't much like, but which includes places like Matt's El Rancho and El Azteca) are places like Polvo's, which is my favorite and El Meson. I can't imagine the OP would like a place like Matt's or a place like Fonda, which is pretty dated. A spot like Polvo's or El Naranjo are at least honest and fun. OP may also like a place that caters to Mexican immigrants and has some unusual stuff, like Las Cazuelas.

 

[premo]

Well I just visited Austin (and thus Texas, I'm from Canada) for the first time and went to The Salt Lick. It was great. I would go again, in a heartbeat.

 

[foodguy]

1) i feel like i need to make completely clear that the Stubbs barbecue I was talking about is only distantly related culinarily to the stubbs barbecue corporation of today. 2) last time i was in austin, friends (OK, joe ely and jimmie dale gilmore, to name-drop), took me to Salt Lick; they thought i'd like it because it was different from the usual barbecue. it was just ok, but what i REALLY wanted was the usual barbecue. there are few foods i can't get in southern california, but really terrific texas bbq is one of them.

 

[airportlobby]

Originally Posted by foodguy

1) i feel like i need to make completely clear that the Stubbs barbecue I was talking about is only distantly related culinarily to the stubbs barbecue corporation of today. 2) last time i was in austin, friends (OK, joe ely and jimmie dale gilmore, to name-drop), took me to Salt Lick; they thought i'd like it because it was different from the usual barbecue. it was just ok, but what i REALLY wanted was the usual barbecue. there are few foods i can't get in southern california, but really terrific texas bbq is one of them.
If you want as good as it gets, real old school Texas BBQ, I would go to City Market in Luling or Smitty's in Lockhart, or, if the drive is impossible, Franklin, which is in town. However, as Premo's post made clear, for most folks who don't eat pounds of BBQ a year Salt Lick is passable, as are other local options (Rudy's chain, eg.).

 

[SField]

So it looks like Franklin's might leave me **** out of luck in the afternoon, huh?

 

[piluchavez]

Not really Tex Mex but Curra's Grill on Oltorf is pretty damn good. This is coming from a guy who use to live in El Paso.