Dining Advice, Tips, Recommendations, and News
PrintWhere to Eat in Austin
The trio of SXSW Festivals and Conferences (Music, Film, and Interactive), best described as Spring Break for geeks, kicks off this weekend in Austin, Texas. Maybe you've already decided which panels, screenings, shows, and parties you'll be attending—or not. That's OK, there are more pressing concerns like, where are you going to eat?
The SXSW Baby! Guide: Where to Eat During SXSW 2008 [pdf], has all the answers. Compiled and written by Kathryn Yu, a SXSW veteran and a serious eater, restaurants included meet the top criteria of hungry festival-goers: close proximity to the Convention Center, easily accessible by foot, cheap, fast, and tasty.
But you're in Texas. And Texans make some serious barbecue.
If you love barbecue like we do and have access to a car, we highly recommend you drive about 30 minutes south of Austin to Lockhart for some serious Texas barbecue at Kreuz's, Smitty's, and Black's. Texas barbecue comes in two styles: with or without sauce. Brisket, sausage, and beef ribs are the cuts of choice.
Kreuz Market
Address: 19 N. Colorado St, Lockhart, TX
Phone: 512-398-2361
Website: kreuzmarket.com
Kreuz Market was founded 1900 by Charles Kreuz as butcher's shop and market. Over the years, it evolved into a barbecue joint. Due a family feud, the market moved to its current location in 1999. Try the brisket, sausage, and prime rib.
Smitty's Market
Address: 208 South Commerce, Lockhart, TX
Phone: 512-398-9344
Website: smittysmarket.com
Established in 1999 by Nina Schmidt Sells in the building that formerly housed her father's Kreuz Market. Barbecue and sausage are served in the Texas tradition with onion, avocado, tomato, pickles and cheese, served on brown paper and accompanied by your choice of bread or crackers and a plastic knife.
Black's Barbecue
Address: 215 North Main Street, Lockhart, TX
Phone: 512-398-2712
Website: blacksbbq.com
Open since 1932, Black's Barbecue is Texas' oldest major barbecue restaurant continuously owned by the same family. Order the brisket.
More Austin Eats
Serious eaters chime in with their Austin recs: Great Austin Eats and Where to eat in Austin around 6th Street
Map of vegetarian-friendly Austin Eats
Best taqueria in Austin [Chowhound]
Taco Journalism: "In search of tacos y más in Austin, Texas."
The Austin Chronicle on "central-city" barbecue joints
Austin and SXSW Links
SXSW Baby! An Official Weblog for SXSW
SXSW '08 Insider's Guide
Official SXSW site and schedules
Austinist.com and SXSWist
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15 Comments:
I wish I could make it out to Kreuz this year but we're going to Salt Lick instead, even though I pleaded. We ate at Smitty's and Black's last year but Kreuz was closed as it was Sunday. Alas!
kathryn at 3:00PM on 03/05/08
Kreuz ships. Not the same as going there, but I imagine delicious nonetheless.
Alaina Browne at 3:29PM on 03/05/08
Perfect. I will be at the South by Southwest festival for the first time. I am going to use that list of restaurants, for sure. I love BBQ!
RheaB at 3:49PM on 03/05/08
They left off Dona Emilia's! On cesar Chavez - excellent South American food and mojitos to die for!
peachfish at 3:54PM on 03/05/08
If you don't want to go all the way to Lockhart- Rudy's Barbecue is really good.
Kreuz is really good and is a huge building with giant stacks of firewood out back.
There are a lot of good places to eat in Austin in all price ranges.
I like Dan's Hamburgers. Several locations. There are Ann's Hamburgers which is Dan's ex-wife that has the same food.
Sandy"s Hamburgers is a small shack not far from Zilker Park best known for their frozen custard.
eatorama at 4:56PM on 03/05/08
Hooray! I can't wait for Texas dinin'!!!!!!!
bitchincamero at 5:53PM on 03/05/08
If coming to Austin, you cannot pass up the Tex-Mex food. MANY good places abound, but Guerro's on South Congress is great. So is Chuy's on Barton Springs Road, Matt's El Rancho, Z Tejas -- heck, even Taco Cabana is good for a margarita or beer and a quesadilla. Sit outside and enjoy our sunshine. Enjoy your stay in Austin.
paintchipgirl at 6:54PM on 03/05/08
If you only have time for one BBQ stop in Lockhart, go to Smitty's. Better food, better atmosphere, great people. Try the clod (shoulder) and the prime rib.
A perfect meal at Smitty's is prime rib, a block of pepper jack cheese, and a cold Shiner Bock beer.
They don't take debit/credit cards, so bring cash.
PhotoKirk at 8:05AM on 03/06/08
Kreuz Market is good but if you're going to go all the way out there you might as well go a little further to Luling. Luling City Market was the best BBQ by far that I had in Austin last year.
blim8183 at 1:30PM on 03/06/08
It's not "Ann's Hamburgers," it is "Fran's" and the menu is a bit different than Dan's, but Fran's is actually closer to where festival attendees might be down on South Congress (but Dan's N. Lamar or on Manchaca are much better I think)
Smitty's and Kreuz's are owned by relatives (feuding relatives) in the same family, food is pretty similar but Smitty's (in the original location) has the atmosphere and ancient seasoned pits.
Going to Guero's during SXSW is insanity but if that's what you want go for it. Chuy's has charm but the food is more Tex than Tex-Mex and although I grew up a half mile away and ate there many times, the food is really not so great. Go to South 1st St. or East 7th or E. Cesar Chavez or down South Congress below Ben White.
Luling City Market is transcendent and so is Sandy's Frozen Custard.
intheyearofthepig at 1:43PM on 03/06/08
@blim8183 and @intheyearofthepig: Is it correct to assume you are referring to this Luling City Market in Luling? And what's its relationship to the Houston-based Luling City Market?
Alaina Browne at 4:05PM on 03/06/08
The Luling City market in Houston shares a name and not much else with the original Luling City Market. Don't bother with the Houston location, it's not worth the trip.
PhotoKirk at 4:33PM on 03/06/08
El Chile is a bit out of the way but I like their Mexican food much more than Chuy's! :/
Centelleo at 1:51PM on 03/07/08
Rudy's on Loop 360 for lunch. The barbecue is great and they have good grilled turkey as well. Also, the farther west you go in Austin, the prettier the landscape. All that and you won't have to drive all the way to Lockhart.
AnnaG at 10:22AM on 03/09/08
Matt's El Rancho is wonderful!
MargieinDallas at 6:25PM on 03/09/08