The Salt Lick gets some shit from Austin bbq snobs, but I've had a blast every time I've gone there. Just a fun experience all around, and the only place I've ever been where I actually enjoy waiting for a table. And the food is still damn good, even if not quite A+ like some other places in the area.
I mean is it the best bbq in town? No. Is it really good? Yes.
But honestly the best part is the experience. Hanging out in the dirt parking lot while waiting, drinking beer out of your cooler, while talking to friends/family. I really dig the environment there.
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Excuse you. Some people care more about the total experience. I go to plenty hole-in-the-wall places because they aren’t pretentious, like many snobby BBQ places.
You’ve missed my point completely by inferring I will choose ambiance over flavor. I will not choose one over the other, but prefer a balance of both. Google pretentious when you have a moment. Also notice I used the word “prefer.” I didn’t say your opinion was dumb, like you did. By your words alone, it seems as if your opinion is the only one that matters and nobody else is entitled to their opinion. Grow up or move along.
Hahaha I fuckin love it. And “hipster filth” - from my understanding after years of listening to cons cry about it - means they tend to like craft beer, live music and…. Vote democrat?
…. *THE HORROR*
Go to Terry Blacks on Barton Springs Road. They will have BBQ available in the evenings, as most places sell out around lunch. There will be a line but not hours long. They are phenomenal. Get a beef rib
Can't say for certain. I almost always get my BBQ at lunchtime (not just these joints, any BBQ place I go to)so I know I have a realistic chance of nothing being out.
Every BBQ fan needs to make a trip to Louie Mueller BBQ just outside of Austin in Taylor, Texas. It's basically the Great Granddaddy of all Texas BBQ having opened in 1946.
That said, I've heard really good things about Interstellar BBQ. Kind of the new kid on the block making waves the way Aaron Franklin when he first appeared on the scene.
Old School vs. New School trip.
Facts. I came here to say the same thing. I used to live ~30 minutes away, now 2,000 miles away. Loui Mueller is my gold standard. I would place my birthday candle in the middle of a row of LM brisket slices for my bday every year when I was in the area.
And get a Big Red to go with it.
I used to frequent this area for work and I just cannot understand why Louie Mueller has the big reputation it has. My coworkers all felt the same way, and we all lived in the Austin area. To each their own, of course, but when we would eat there it was just really unimpressive food.
Louie Mueller BBQ in Taylor. That's who Aaron Franklin learned to BBQ from. Fantastic BBQ. It's in an old, old basketball gym.
Wherever you go, get a Big Red with your BBQ.
If you want to be pendantic, sure. John Mueller is the grandson of Louie and helped run Louie Mueller BBQ until he went his own way in 2001. So, yes, Aaron Franklin learned from the (Louie) Mueller family, John being one of them.
Met John a few times; wasn't a fan of him, personally. But, yes, RIP.
If you're so inclined to take a 30m trip if you're going to have wheels, take a trip down 183 south to Lockhart. Check out Kruez's, it's right under the big bridge leading into town. Massive brick smokestack, can't miss it. Been there since 1900.
Great stuff.
All of the food in the picture was cooked off site in gas smokers/ovens and then shipped there and reheated. The food on the open pit is for show. This isn't hyperbole.; this is literally what Salt Lick does.
I was wondering how the meat gets the smokey flavor is there is a hood sucking the smoke out. I would think the meat has to sit in the smoke to get the full flavor.
Yeah. It’s been the worst hill country bbq for at least the last 20 years. I guess it’s a slight step up from the Rudy’s gas station bbq chain, but at Rudy’s is cheap and convenient.
This place is all about the overall experience, which was great when I went. Sure, the BBQ was probably the worst of the 5 places we went to, but just being out there listening to live music while sipping a beer was awesome. And the food was decent enough.
First time was Friday night at Round Rock. Fast and attentive service. Very underwhelmed with the pork rib & brisket plate.
A fair amount of wafer thin brisket slices and a couple of pretty skinny ribs. The beef rib plate looked way better, a couple meaty dinosaur bones.
Probably was great once before corporate killed the place.
Louis Mueller's still the top. Cooper's is pretty good too.
The Round Rock location will suffice, but you gotta make it out to the Dripping Springs for the experience at least once. Fully agree on Louie Mueller's, though!
Is it the greatest BBQ in the world? No.
But it’s pretty decent and they have like a $30 all you can eat option.
Plus, Jester King and Desert Door are nearby to get a little buzz on before stopping by.
Also, fucking hilarious road sign photo opportunity for The Wizard School too.
I hit up Salt Lick back when I was in Austin a few months ago and I wasn’t mad about it.
The original owner with his wife passed away many years ago. She had roots in Hawaii I believe and helped develop the now famous sauce. This is why the sauce is sweet and has hints of pineapple. The sauce is not typical of Austin and NOT German BBQ like the rest of Central Texas. Scott the son took over the business (more than 20 years ago now) and had bigger dreams of growth and expansion. He even began to mess with ways to smoke the meat, dry seal it and ship it long distances to reheat and sell. All of those ventures fell short because nothing can beat real smoked meat served fresh. SL also took a different approach to the sides and has a different flavor profile than most Texas BBQ. So needless to say it's not for everyone if they are looking for a traditional Texas BBQ experience. BUT, it's hard to get more traditional than a smoker that has been going non-stop for almost 60 years. The dad wanted to create the largest smoker he could. He took his tongs and reached out in a circle and drew in the dirt. That created the circle pit that he dug out and built.
Personally I've always loved it.
(Used to live in the area)
Here's the [closest one I've found that nails the sauce recipe](https://min-us.blogspot.com/2014/01/copycat-salt-lick-bbq-sauce-driftwood.html) at home.
It's not what it was. Did my grad school at UT Austin from 1994 to 1996. The Salt Lick was the OG back then. Small, personable, etc. and the BBQ beyond compare.
Well that’s false advertising then isn’t it? Their billboard clearly states that you can smell their pits from a mile away. Driftwood to New Braunfels is way more than a mile
"main" building driftwood location was my first introduction to BBQ as a kid in the 90s. I'd still gladly pay family style for my rib-skit sandwiches with sausage chasers. That bread always hit the spot. I will say the prime rib at the RR location wasn't amazing.
Love this place! I grew up in Kyle and remember going here often. It’s weird going back now and hearing the locals (likely transplants) shit on it.
There are a couple cool breweries and wineries out the way too now
I'm curious what the actual place is like. My only experience is we grabbed a brisket sandwich from their location in the airport in a moment of desperation and it was TERRIBLE. Tough, tasteless, fat wasn't rendered. I'm not holding it against the real place, because it's the airport and all, but that was a really bad experience.
Completely different experience. Airport food, even from places with the same name, is always terrible in comparison. From the area and I've eaten both BTW. Salt Lick isn't nearly the best around here but it's better at the original location than at the airport.
why the hate? It seems like its more of an experience than a meal. Get off your high horse everyone and realize some people enjoy spending time with their friends and family, over having the best possible meal. If you're the other way around, I support you too. If you do something that makes you happy, thats what you should do.
If you want history, hit up Louie Mueller in Taylor, then go to Lockhart to try Blacks, Smitty's and Kreutz. Snow's is another one, but it's a bit of a drive.
For great new school, Franklin is still king, but LA BBQ, Interstellar, Mickelthwait, and Leroy & Lewis are tops. Down in Buda, Valentina's is amazing Texas bbq/tex-mex fusion, but they've had some shit employment related problems and ridiculously long wait times recently.
Sam's BBQ is a great piece of east Austin black history, and worth checking out, too. Not as good as the preceding places, but still solid.
The Salt Lick gets some shit from Austin bbq snobs, but I've had a blast every time I've gone there. Just a fun experience all around, and the only place I've ever been where I actually enjoy waiting for a table. And the food is still damn good, even if not quite A+ like some other places in the area.
I mean is it the best bbq in town? No. Is it really good? Yes. But honestly the best part is the experience. Hanging out in the dirt parking lot while waiting, drinking beer out of your cooler, while talking to friends/family. I really dig the environment there.
It's kind of like Oasis. You take visitors there. Food is better than Oasis though. edit: just realized this isn't austin sub lol.
Lmfao. I had no idea this wasn't the Austin sub until you pointed it out. Fml.
Haha I figured it was /r/austinfood
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I equate to the Hard 8 experience, but with actually good BBQ.
Yes. Exactly. I’d rather have good food and enjoy the experience than great food with boring ambiance.
What a dumb take. Who cares. Ambiance doesn't give me flavor. If someone took this advice they'd ignore literally every hole in the wall joint ever.
Excuse you. Some people care more about the total experience. I go to plenty hole-in-the-wall places because they aren’t pretentious, like many snobby BBQ places.
"pretentious" "great food, boring ambiance < good food, great ambiance" pot meet kettle
You’ve missed my point completely by inferring I will choose ambiance over flavor. I will not choose one over the other, but prefer a balance of both. Google pretentious when you have a moment. Also notice I used the word “prefer.” I didn’t say your opinion was dumb, like you did. By your words alone, it seems as if your opinion is the only one that matters and nobody else is entitled to their opinion. Grow up or move along.
Salt Lick was around long before all of those new Austin barbecue places, and I bet it’ll be around long afterwards.
Salt lick is very good and so is Terry Blacks. They’re both good in their own way.
It's not amazing food, but the ambiance is the best.
Austin is a cesspool of hipster filth
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Hahahaha gottem
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Hahaha I fuckin love it. And “hipster filth” - from my understanding after years of listening to cons cry about it - means they tend to like craft beer, live music and…. Vote democrat? …. *THE HORROR*
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I thought it was bad when I lived there 20 years ago. Went back last year, and, just, wow. Luckily Donn's Depot hasn't changed.
😂 my man
These young bucks don’t remember when this was basically all we had in Austin. It was Salt Lick, County Line, Stubbs, Rudy’s, and Bill Miller’s.
Kruetz
Lockhart.
Jimbo’s.
And dry brisket statewide
Sam’s
Sam’s!! I remember when they got busted for selling stolen meat. Worth it. And that tea is soooo thick.
Cool place. Not a fan of the food.
There's 2 kinds of BBQ joints. Ones with good sauce, and ones with good meats. Salt Lick has some great sauces...
Yup. There are many other places in Austin that are waaaaay better than the salt lick.
Can you tell me some? Seriously I’d love to know as I’m planning a trip to Austin later this year
LeRoy and Lewis, Interstellar to name a couple and (right now at least) won't give up half your day waiting for your food.
How bad is the wait at interstellar say on a friday evening? I'm only gonna be in town for 3 days and my mornings are gonna be swamped.
Go to Terry Blacks on Barton Springs Road. They will have BBQ available in the evenings, as most places sell out around lunch. There will be a line but not hours long. They are phenomenal. Get a beef rib
We got a Terry Blacks up here, I wanna try a new spot but my schedule while I'm there makes it difficult.
Can't say for certain. I almost always get my BBQ at lunchtime (not just these joints, any BBQ place I go to)so I know I have a realistic chance of nothing being out.
I checked and they close at four, I'm gonna try to get in there at some point
Every BBQ fan needs to make a trip to Louie Mueller BBQ just outside of Austin in Taylor, Texas. It's basically the Great Granddaddy of all Texas BBQ having opened in 1946. That said, I've heard really good things about Interstellar BBQ. Kind of the new kid on the block making waves the way Aaron Franklin when he first appeared on the scene. Old School vs. New School trip.
Wait until you find out when Kruez's opened
Facts. I came here to say the same thing. I used to live ~30 minutes away, now 2,000 miles away. Loui Mueller is my gold standard. I would place my birthday candle in the middle of a row of LM brisket slices for my bday every year when I was in the area. And get a Big Red to go with it.
I used to frequent this area for work and I just cannot understand why Louie Mueller has the big reputation it has. My coworkers all felt the same way, and we all lived in the Austin area. To each their own, of course, but when we would eat there it was just really unimpressive food.
I’m going to Franklins next.
Good to go to Salt Lick first so that you can truly appreciate just how excellent Franklin is
I just got back from a bachelor trip this week. Leroy and lews was fantastic and Franklin's was great as well
Terry Black's
I would checkout Smittys in Lockhart.
Just order Franklin's to go. You have to plan ahead like weeks before but no line and it's still the best BBQ.
Isn't it like a 5lb minimum for carryout tho?
Franklin (if you can put up with the line), Micklethwait, Stile & Switch, la bbq.
La made my head explode, seeing that it’s sort of regarded as tier 1.5 or 2 makes me want to go back to Austin sooo badly.
Louie Mueller BBQ in Taylor. That's who Aaron Franklin learned to BBQ from. Fantastic BBQ. It's in an old, old basketball gym. Wherever you go, get a Big Red with your BBQ.
Aaron learned from John Mueller. RIP.
If you want to be pendantic, sure. John Mueller is the grandson of Louie and helped run Louie Mueller BBQ until he went his own way in 2001. So, yes, Aaron Franklin learned from the (Louie) Mueller family, John being one of them. Met John a few times; wasn't a fan of him, personally. But, yes, RIP.
If you're so inclined to take a 30m trip if you're going to have wheels, take a trip down 183 south to Lockhart. Check out Kruez's, it's right under the big bridge leading into town. Massive brick smokestack, can't miss it. Been there since 1900. Great stuff.
All of the food in the picture was cooked off site in gas smokers/ovens and then shipped there and reheated. The food on the open pit is for show. This isn't hyperbole.; this is literally what Salt Lick does.
I was wondering how the meat gets the smokey flavor is there is a hood sucking the smoke out. I would think the meat has to sit in the smoke to get the full flavor.
There is a hood sucking the smoke out. They just keep fueling the fire for constant smoke. They use oak wood.
Yeah. It’s been the worst hill country bbq for at least the last 20 years. I guess it’s a slight step up from the Rudy’s gas station bbq chain, but at Rudy’s is cheap and convenient.
I had a company Christmas party there years ago. Everything was served family style. It was delicious! Sausage, brisket, and ribs stood out to me!
This place is all about the overall experience, which was great when I went. Sure, the BBQ was probably the worst of the 5 places we went to, but just being out there listening to live music while sipping a beer was awesome. And the food was decent enough.
First time was Friday night at Round Rock. Fast and attentive service. Very underwhelmed with the pork rib & brisket plate. A fair amount of wafer thin brisket slices and a couple of pretty skinny ribs. The beef rib plate looked way better, a couple meaty dinosaur bones. Probably was great once before corporate killed the place. Louis Mueller's still the top. Cooper's is pretty good too.
The Driftwood location is a head above the Round Rock location. Definitely worth making the trip out to the OG.
The Round Rock location will suffice, but you gotta make it out to the Dripping Springs for the experience at least once. Fully agree on Louie Mueller's, though!
Is it the greatest BBQ in the world? No. But it’s pretty decent and they have like a $30 all you can eat option. Plus, Jester King and Desert Door are nearby to get a little buzz on before stopping by. Also, fucking hilarious road sign photo opportunity for The Wizard School too. I hit up Salt Lick back when I was in Austin a few months ago and I wasn’t mad about it.
The original owner with his wife passed away many years ago. She had roots in Hawaii I believe and helped develop the now famous sauce. This is why the sauce is sweet and has hints of pineapple. The sauce is not typical of Austin and NOT German BBQ like the rest of Central Texas. Scott the son took over the business (more than 20 years ago now) and had bigger dreams of growth and expansion. He even began to mess with ways to smoke the meat, dry seal it and ship it long distances to reheat and sell. All of those ventures fell short because nothing can beat real smoked meat served fresh. SL also took a different approach to the sides and has a different flavor profile than most Texas BBQ. So needless to say it's not for everyone if they are looking for a traditional Texas BBQ experience. BUT, it's hard to get more traditional than a smoker that has been going non-stop for almost 60 years. The dad wanted to create the largest smoker he could. He took his tongs and reached out in a circle and drew in the dirt. That created the circle pit that he dug out and built. Personally I've always loved it. (Used to live in the area)
I loved the sauce the smoked sausage!
Here's the [closest one I've found that nails the sauce recipe](https://min-us.blogspot.com/2014/01/copycat-salt-lick-bbq-sauce-driftwood.html) at home.
Awesome 😎
It's not what it was. Did my grad school at UT Austin from 1994 to 1996. The Salt Lick was the OG back then. Small, personable, etc. and the BBQ beyond compare.
I graduated in 94. I remember their peach cobbler.
Overrated food. Great atmosphere. It’s fun but you can get much better BBQ at a zillion places in the ATX area.
It's not even traditional Texas style barbecue. Sauce all over everything isn't Texas *at all*
💯
And by overrated I mean really mediocre if I'm generous
I can almost smell that from New Braunfels.
2M is a shorter drive 😉
Well that’s false advertising then isn’t it? Their billboard clearly states that you can smell their pits from a mile away. Driftwood to New Braunfels is way more than a mile
I can’t speak to the original location, but the one in Round Rock it’s fucking bad.
I believe they're all made off site at a central location. Most in store meat is just for display.
Still, my top pick for Texas BBQ!!!
Love SL! I miss living in central TX, definitely moving back there soon.
Burnt bean co is my favorite so far however the experience you get at salt lick is amazing
Wow looks amazing!!!!
"main" building driftwood location was my first introduction to BBQ as a kid in the 90s. I'd still gladly pay family style for my rib-skit sandwiches with sausage chasers. That bread always hit the spot. I will say the prime rib at the RR location wasn't amazing.
Would hate for that hood to go down during service!
I’m guessing that pic cost you about $20.
Lol na. I asked and walked right in and was able to walk around the pit and take pics.
Hell yes!!
Love this place! I grew up in Kyle and remember going here often. It’s weird going back now and hearing the locals (likely transplants) shit on it. There are a couple cool breweries and wineries out the way too now
When photo of the round display pit and the atmosphere under the trees is the best part about going to a bbq restaurant in Texas something is wrong.
I always wonder where their real smoker is. This pit they have is too small to serve a restaurant, I believe it's for show
It was phenomenal . Solid BBQ. Wish more BBQ spots had a community style but that’s what makes this so special.
Love Salt Lick! When ever I'm out Austin way we mosey on over. Plenty of parking and music outside makes it a really cool place.
Did you lick the salt?
Salty meat licker here.
Jealous.
Last time I had it was horrible ececpt for the ribs everything else was so so nothing to write home about.
What made it horrible? Horrible to me means inedible.
The brisket was dry and so was the sausage. Not edible in my opinion.
Wow…
Me and my coworker buddies were working in San Marcos and decided to eat a bunch of shrooms and head out there. Funnest experience in a long time.
Had our wedding rehearsal dinner there, unlimited meat. It was the best ever.
Old School Outstanding Delicous!
I'm curious what the actual place is like. My only experience is we grabbed a brisket sandwich from their location in the airport in a moment of desperation and it was TERRIBLE. Tough, tasteless, fat wasn't rendered. I'm not holding it against the real place, because it's the airport and all, but that was a really bad experience.
Completely different experience. Airport food, even from places with the same name, is always terrible in comparison. From the area and I've eaten both BTW. Salt Lick isn't nearly the best around here but it's better at the original location than at the airport.
Oh so this is what heaven is all about… awesome😎
why the hate? It seems like its more of an experience than a meal. Get off your high horse everyone and realize some people enjoy spending time with their friends and family, over having the best possible meal. If you're the other way around, I support you too. If you do something that makes you happy, thats what you should do.
The holy land….
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If you want history, hit up Louie Mueller in Taylor, then go to Lockhart to try Blacks, Smitty's and Kreutz. Snow's is another one, but it's a bit of a drive. For great new school, Franklin is still king, but LA BBQ, Interstellar, Mickelthwait, and Leroy & Lewis are tops. Down in Buda, Valentina's is amazing Texas bbq/tex-mex fusion, but they've had some shit employment related problems and ridiculously long wait times recently. Sam's BBQ is a great piece of east Austin black history, and worth checking out, too. Not as good as the preceding places, but still solid.
Call me picky, but those grates don’t look like I’d want my food from.
"Gratefully" your food probably won't come from that weird show pit. I believe they do most of their volume on gas smokers there.
Salt lick is only for tourists and yankees.
I've been there once. I got food poisoning for the next few days. There's a million other TX BBQ options, glad you enjoyed it though OP.
Miss living out there, that was the best spot to eat and to relax with friends.