Okay...I'll admit....my lack of Austin BBQ is lacking.

Tomorrow, my wife and I are driving there for a work event.  We are childless for the first time since we did this last year.  My 3 year old is at her grandparents, but that girl can gnaw the bone in half from Hard 8.

On the way to dinner tonight my wife said "How about we go early and get some BBQ from Saltlick."  I couldn't remember if Franklins was better.

Sometimes I see a BBQ joint and I wonder what if that BBQ joint has on a different recipe for pork ribs...like something I've never seen before.

You've got about 12 hours...if you were childless and you wanted to lick your fingers...where would you go in Austin for lunch?

Salt Lick in Round Rock or Drift Wood is good stuff for sure.  I would go to which ever one is closer to you.

Where are you driving from OP?

IMHO Salt Lick is about the last BBQ in the area I would choose. Find a Kieth's BBQ stand for a good experience...

Driving down 35 from Dallas....keep in mind I live about 10 minutes from Hard 8 and my 3 year old asks for Hard 8 on a regular basis.  

ETA:  Heading out to Barton Creek Ranch.

Opie's in Spicewood.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks salt lick is overrated. I always try taking a different route down country roads instead of 35, and stop at at least one mom and pop bbq joint along the way so I'm no help to you.

 

Yep.

My new favorite is Mickelthwaite Craft Meats.  Get there early if you want the beef ribs and bring an appetite.  They usually run about a pound a piece.  Their brisket rivals Franklins and they always have something special like pork belly andouille sausage.  You still need to show up early, buy you can get there around 10:00 or 10:30 and still eat.  They have gotten more and more crowded but it's manageable and worth the wait.

ETA....it is about a half mile past franklins off 11th and interstate 35.

Make that 3 of us. Franklins is the best I've had here, by far, but prepare for a 3 hour + wait, get there at 8:30-9ish if you want to eat.

Franklin BBQ

LA BBQ

John Mueller Meat Co

Stiles Switch (indoors, awesome and no line)

Haven't been to Mickelwaithe

I hear Cooper's is opening soon too...

La Barbecue had about a two hour wait, but it was good. We got there about 10:30 (they open at 11:00) and got to the front of the line about 12:30. Worth it, in my opinion.