Looking for recommendations on a BBQ restaurant. Would prefer a smaller, mom-and-pop type place, nothing heavily commercialized. I have a few saved on TA for our trip, but looking to see what the experts say!
also, any to shy away from? Thanks in advance!!
Despite what the locals say, Bill Miller is awful.
Lockhart, which is the capital of Texas BBQ, is just a short drive from San Antonio. Try a little at Blacks, Smittys and Kreutz. Blacks also has a location in New Braunfels.
Edited: 08 February 2021, 14:20
Contributor 
5,172 posts
17 reviews 
34 helpful votes One of the nice things about coming to Texas for barbecue is that when a business is one store or has only a very few satellites, and it's been in business for a long time, it's probably pretty good, or it wouldn't still be here. There are exceptions. Some venerable old ones have been sold to people who didn't respect the traditions and committed various sins, mainly buying lesser meat. The quality of mean makes a huge difference.
At any rate, a list of very good places would be very long. Close to me, in Lockhart, it's Blacks (generational one family), Kreuz (generational, now feuding siblings who had to split the business when they inherited), Smitty's (the other half of Kreuz siblings). Differences are somewhat subtle. Sausage varies among barbecue places more than the brisket, and taste for the sausage is very subjective. Smitty's is still in the original Kreuz Market building with lots of ambiance (Ambiance: Never redecorated.) You line up and pass inside passing the fire box and almost in the cooking zone. http://smittysmarket.com/our-history-gallery/
Luling also has excellent barbecue.
There is Luling Bar-B-Q. Note closure until mid March.
And City Market. Should not be confused with the similarly named relative newcomer in Houston. City Market is where we deputies went for lunch in the south end of the county.
http://www.citymarketluling.com/
None of these are really heavily commercialized in the chain store way. The owners will be on the floor working.
In San Antonio, the best are 2M and South BBQ in my opinion.
Contributor
2,376 posts
32 reviews
21 helpful votes In San Antonio currently 2M is the best.
Thank you everyone! Now we have more on our list to check out!!
Contributor
8,427 posts
65 reviews
71 helpful votes We are blessed with great BBQ in and around SA!
My choices from high to slightly lower in SA - Smoke Shack, South BBQ, 2 M, Big Bibs
New Braunfels (high first) Blacks, Coopers, Rudys
Further away - Salt Lick, Smittys, Kreutz, Blacks
If I had to pick one - Salt Lick
Edited: 09 February 2021, 13:51
Contributor
10,292 posts
327 reviews
278 helpful votes I really like Salt Lick as well - great environment too. Have also enjoyed Blacks. Note some of them are cash only so check on that before you go.
We recently moved to SA and we have been surprised at the BBQ. I’d stick to the places people listed above with the exception of Rudy’s. (Nothing special). Of the places listed already, Smoke Shack is the best in the city and the others outside the city are on our list to try.
