Second Helpings: Austin Barbecue

Sam's BBQ

Photo By John Anderson

Sam's BBQ

2000 E. 12th, 478-0378

Sunday-Thursday, 10am-2am; Friday-Saturday, 10am-3am

This East Austin institution has long been an obligatory stop for hungry music fans after the clubs close. Sam's serves up wonderful slow-smoked brisket, chicken, mutton, and hot sausage (made on the premises) topped with a spicy, tomato-based barbecue sauce that makes the meat sing. Snackers can order a sandwich, but the real eaters will opt for a combination plate or meat by the pound.

Ruby's Barbeque

Nowhere will you find a better combination of Austin's latent hippiedom and Texans' lust for beef. Ruby's serves a perfectly smoked, hormone-free brisket that goes quite nicely with their earthy greens and barbecue beans, hot enough to make you shed tears. Non-beef people can enjoy smoked turkey or chicken and vegetarians can sate themselves on Ruby's generous (and inexpensive) black bean tacos.

County Line

Monday-Friday, 11:30am-2pm, 5pm-9pm; Saturday, noon-9:30pm; Sunday, 11:30am-9pm

If you have the appetite, the all-you-can-eat platter service is the way to go at County Line. They will bring you a big platter of sweetly sauced beef ribs, tender brisket, and peppery sausage along with bowls of potato salad, coleslaw, and beans until you tell them to please stop. Lighter eaters (relatively speaking, of course) may opt for a rack of County Line's tasty baby back ribs or a half-pound prime rib sandwich.

Iron Works

www.ironworksbbq.com

Iron Works' historic building on the banks of Waller Creek is about as tranquil as our bustling central business district gets these days. Their huge beef ribs and super-tender brisket have both won accolades nationwide. Other menu items include smoked chicken and spicy sausage. Perhaps the best testament to the barbecue is the number of diners in suits willing to risk a lunchtime mess.

BBQ World Headquarters

www.bbqworldheadquarters.com

BBQ World Headquarters is the only certified Angus beef smokehouse in Austin. They serve a tasty sliced brisket sandwich of lean and marbled meat, as well as sausage, smoked chicken, baby back ribs, and pork roast. Save some room for banana pudding and homemade brownies. If you can't get away to Lockhart, Taylor, or Llano, this is a worthy substitute.

John Mueller's Barbecue Inc.

John Mueller's new East Austin pit doesn't have the decades-old seasoning of his granddaddy's place in Taylor, but nonetheless, the scion of one of Central Texas' premier barbecue families is cranking out succulent brisket, sausage, and ribs that would make Louie Mueller proud. In addition, you can get pork loin and chops, beef prime rib and short ribs, and chicken, all served with the family's traditional peppery jus and side dishes. The all-you-can-eat Saturday lunch buffet ($10.95) has to be one of the best deals in town.

Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q

Sunday-Thursday, 10:30am-9:30pm; Friday-Saturday, 10:30am-10:30pm

Rudy's handy roadside locations and gas station/convenience store amenities hearken back to the days when most small Texas towns had a filling station with a reliable smoking pit out back. Good, quality smoked meats (brisket, sausage, turkey breast, pork loin, baby back ribs, prime rib, chicken) are available by the pound, along with all the light bread, pickles, onions, and peppers you need. Side dishes and desserts are also available, and you can buy their popular fiery "Sause" by the bottle.