WARNING: The following post contains MEATY content that may not be suitable for all readers. Reader discretion is advised. 😉
I like meat. Burgers. Steaks. BBQ. Ahhh yes...glorious BBQ. Some prefer the version from North Carolina; others the offerings of Kansas City. As for me, I'm a good ol' Texas boy. Austin has some pretty amazing BBQ places, but not too far outside the city limits is the little town of Lockhart, arguably one of the best BBQ destinations in the country. Six years I've lived here, not including my time at UT, and not once have I made a trip to this BBQ haven. Sad...I know. But that all changed a couple of weeks back when MJ and I took to the road...
Many have debated and continue to debate the topic of best BBQ in Lockhart. Is it Smitty's? Or maybe Kreuz? How about Black's? Had we been able to recruit a couple more people, we probably could've hit up all three places as well as Chisolm Trail BBQ. But due to the last minute nature of our adventure, MJ and I had to go it alone and were only able to sample the delectable offerings at Kreuz Market and Black's Barbecue.
First up...Kreuz...
Rather than bore you with BBQ folklore, let's get right to our experience. I'm totally a sauce/condiment guy, so when I read that barbecue sauce wasn't offered at Kreuz, I was intrigued...a little concerned, but thoroughly intrigued nonetheless. Not only that, they're not giving you any forks at Kreuz either. Like their sign says, the only forks you'll need are at the end of your arms :). Having done some research on the place, I knew exactly what we would be ordering. Knowing that we'd be eating more BBQ at our second stop, I had to order strategically and not get us too stuffed. So the plan was to order some of their famous brisket and a link of their jalapeño cheddar sausage...however, while studying the rest of their menu I noticed that they had daily specials and on that particular day they were offering smoked ham. I couldn't resist. With our "plates" (sheets of brown butcher paper) in hand, we made our way to the massive dining room.
The brisket was super moist and tender. It was easy to see why they weren't offering any sauce. The meat was so heavily marbled, it had a sweetness that matched perfectly with the smoky outer crust and the inherent savory flavor of the beef. The sausage link was equally spectacular. The casing had a nice snap to it, and I especially enjoyed the heat from the jalapeño bits. Sadly my impulse buy, the smoked ham, was just so-so. It was seasoned well enough but all in all wasn't that memorable. I almost forgot... In place of sauce they did offer a squirt bottle of seasoned salt at each table. Although not necessary, it provided an extra bit of flavor for those wanting a lil' something more. This was one of the rare times that we didn't have to feel too embarrassed for shooting away with our cameras. There were plenty of other first-timers there with their cameras in hand.
After finishing up at Kreuz (boy was it difficult wrapping up the leftovers to-go), we moseyed on over to Black's Barbecue. We contemplated walking there, since the two are less than a mile away from each other, but we decided to save our walk till after we had reached our meat consumption limits :). The moment we walked in the door we were greeted by the friendly staff as they helped us to navigate through the ordering process. Again we ordered the brisket (extra lean for MJ and extra moist for me) and sausage, but this time we added a side of potato salad and a giant beef rib, more affectionately referred to as the Dino Rib.
The extra moist brisket was nicely marbled, but seemed to have been smoked a little harder than the one from Kreuz. The pink smoked layer was a bit thicker and the outer crust was a bit tougher imparting a somewhat bitter taste. The sausage casing didn't have that pop that I like and the inside was a little looser and a little gamier than I prefer. The Dino Rib had great flavor but was rather salty. However, and I don't know how this happened, the rib actually tasted better the next day. Saltiness was no longer an issue. MJ loved her extra lean brisket and rather enjoyed the potato salad as did I.
Where Kreuz was lacking in amenities, Black's had in abundance - FORKS, BBQ sauce, and a soda fountain!! In addition, they offered both white and wheat bread (MJ cried out hallelujah!) and provided sliced onions and pickles. The dining room was almost completely full when we went, but I guess I should point out that the space was considerably smaller than Kreuz. Black's seemed to be where all the locals were at. Definitely not the same kind of picture-taking that was happening at their competitor's (we were the only ones with cameras this time).
After a nice stroll through the town, we hopped in our trusty SUV and made our way back home with two bags of leftovers to enjoy throughout the week. I fought a vicious food coma while MJ slept in the passenger's seat (that's right, MJ...I'm calling you out ;)). Thankfully we made it home safely and both got to sleep like babies that night with our bellies full of delicious BBQ. We had a blast getting to make this day trip and hope to one day return with our dads as they both have a fondness for BBQ.
I know we've gone a lil' overboard with the meat in our outings over the past 2 weeks...and when I say "we", I really mean "I" but stay tuned!! We've got some healthier eats on the horizon. I promise!
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie says
I can't even handle this! The BEST thing about Texas to me is the BBQ -- it is the best and my favorite food!!
Tempie @ The Texas Peach says
I see those places on Food Network and the Travel Channel all the time, but we have yet to make it down there to actually try them. I don't like barbecue sauce, so I think I'd really like Kreuz. The jalapeno cheddar sausage sounds awesome! My husband is a sauce guy too, so I think he'd probably prefer one of the other places.
Hungryman says
I'm totally a sauce guy and I LOVED the food at Kreuz. I think both you AND your husband would enjoy it. If you guys ever get the chance, it's totally worth the trip. Of course, I may be biased considering my love for meat.
felicia | Dish by Dish says
Hello Tim!! Given that you like BBQ so much, I think you'd really enjoy a trip to Argentina - they serve some of the best BBQ cuts in the world! (or at least among those that I have tasted!).
These BBQ trips of yours look so fun! Glad you enjoyed Lockhart!
And Min!! love, love, love how you and Tim are pairing up to blog together. It's just so cute! big hug,
F.
Hungryman says
Hey, Felicia! I would love to visit Argentina and try some of the local BBQ! I do enjoy a good chimichurri sauce :).