JMueller's BBQ - Austin, TX

The apple fell 37.7 miles from the tree, which given the 24,900 mile circumference of the the blue planet, equates to 0.1526% of the farthest it could have fallen.  

THAT, my friends,

is called a rounding error.

He done good.

Backstory:  trailer off South First opened by a member of the legendary Mueller family out of Taylor, the pioneers and operators of my second favorite barbecue joint in the state (technically, it bounces between one and two but its sitting at two now, not because of a subpar experience, but because my last meal was at number one)

Anyway, this place is G - O - O - D FANTASTIC.

Notice the handwritten menus with items crossed out.  That was at 12:30, so get there early.

Here's how I ordered.

"Give me a little of everything you've got left, some chipotle cole slaw, some cheese, a jalapeno, and some potato salad."

And here is what I received:

Brisket.

BAM!

Pork ribs.

BAM!

Sausage.

BAM!

Beef Rib.

HOT DAMN!!!

Winner winner chicken dinner.  Axe the bird and fly with the cow.  

So, I don't want to ruin how good this was with words, so I'll be brief.

Get the beef rib.  Period.

It's incredible.  Thick, coarse ground salt and pepper crust makes for an incredible bark, while the bone and the fat inside keep the meat as tender as it could possibly be.  My brisket was comparable, I lucked out and got the fatty cuts, which I prefer, but if you're going to go one or the other, my guess is the beef rib is going to have more consistency.  Do NOT, under any circumstance order your brisket lean.  Here or anywhere.

Pearl of wisdom coming....wait for it.......wait for it............



Life's too short for lean meats and light beer.



Pork ribs are great, sausage also good.  Do yourself a favor and get a chunk of cheddar cheese and some saltines and make yourself a little sausage cheese appetizer.

Sides were great, but come for the meat.  They give you sauce, but just think of it as a "thank you for dining with us" after dinner mint type thing.  Not that it's bad, it's not, but it isn't what this barbecue is about.

I'd be hard pressed to find better barbecue.


Summary

Atmosphere:  food truck with a bigolesmoker out back, plenty of outdoor seating some with umbrellas for shade, great for lunch on a nice day, great for bbq any day

Food:  Texas barbecue

Dog Friendly:  yep

Crowd:  country folk, hipsters, business casual crowd, students, you name it they're there

When to Go:  lunch, get there early

What to Order:  beef rib (short rib)

Zimmerhanzel's Bar-B-Que - Smithville, TX

Guten Tag, Mein Freund...

How's this place look?

Zimmerhanzel's Bar-B-Que.  When you're missing a Q, cut a notch in your O.  And make sure people know you're open.  Two signs are always better than one.

Had a chance to swing by this place on my way back from Houston late afternoon last week for a quick bite to eat.  Opened the front door and walked right into my elementary school cafeteria, milk money in hand.

Yep.  Six sided folding tables, rock hard chairs, dropped ceiling, cafeteria line, and lunch ladies.  But with a meat processing plant immediately next door, I hoped the quality of the food was better than the hot pack/cold pack variety I used to get.  And it was.

Hold on a second.

Duck, duck...wait, deer, deer, deer, deer, BOBCAT!

And I secured a chair.  Ok, so this place isn't really exactly like my elementary school cafeteria, as we lacked the dead animals on the wall, but it was a good pit stop on my drive nonetheless.

As happens periodically at the central Texas small town barbecue joints, my late arrival limited my choices to just chopped beef and sausage, so I had them pile both on a bun with some onions and went to work.    

Sausage was fantastic, cut in half lengthwise and placed lovingly on a soft bed of chopped beef, the juices of which permeated the bottom bun to the point of making it difficult to eat as a sandwich, but packed with flavor.  I was a bit disappointed with the chopped beef having been stewed in their sauce prior to serving, as I like to control my sauce and also sample the flavor of the beef itself before seasoning it.  That said, the beef was flavorful and tender, with just the right mix of fat, meat, and bark, and the sauce, extra of which was available center hexagon in a used 60oz Heinz ketchup squeeze bottle, was thin and vinegary with a hint of heat.   The sausage was packed with flavor, with the casing providing a perfect snap, and really made this sandwich.  If I do it again, I'll skip the onions, which were thinly sliced whites which tasted like they'd been cut well in advance and left to sweat, which when taken in stride with the size of the cut, took away nearly all of the crunch and coolness I love and expect of onions on a sandwich as a stark contrast in texture from the tenderness and heat of the meat.

The sides behind the sneeze guard, consisting of the basic slaw, potato salad, and beans, looked run of the mill almost as if out of a tub, but as the massive piles of wood and smoker out back indicated, you're not here for those.  So I passed.

All in all, a good stop, but not worth a pilgrimage.  If it's that you're looking for, continue on to Prause's Market in LaGrange, and get there early.

Oh, nearly forgot, stopped in the butcher shop/processing plant next door.

I have high hopes for this.  Two small cases of meat hidden behind dirty and foggy plexiglass, a giant bloody table, plenty of knives and slicers, and very friendly proprietors.  I used my last $12 (cash only at both places) to get some hickory-smoked, rind-on bacon, and some homemade hot links, which I plan on throwing on the smoker next time I fire up a butt.

Summary

Atmosphere:  hole in the wall cafeteria-style barbecue joint, a place where everyone knows your name...well, not mine but everyone else in there

Food:  barbecue

Dog Friendly:  no

When to Go:  lunch

Crowd:  locals, locals, and locals

What to Order for the First Timer:  sausage

Lambert's - Austin, TX

Wednesday.

6:43pm.

Lower level bar at Lambert's.

Cheeseburger and Waffle Fries

$5

Modelo Especial in a Can

$1

Total Bill with Tax

$6.41

Conversation with the Lunatic Next to You

Priceless

See prior Lambert's posts for the summary

Lambert's - Austin, TX

I'm normally a happy hour guy here, because it's one of the best deals in Austin, but on Friday, a friend of mine was in town so we ventured over there shortly after the happy hour for a dinner off the regular menu, which thinking back on, I've never done.   

We started with the roasted green chile queso while we perused the menu, and while it was good, it congealed quickly and became almost paste-like.  While that may cause problems with your average tortilla chip, not here.  Theirs are thick and deep fried, and have a great crunch as well as the necessary strength to cut the cheese, just like me.  Despite its moniker, there wasn't a lot of flavor in the queso outside of the cheese, and virtually no heat.  Not terrible, but not great, and probably not something I'll order again given other appetizer, salad and side choices.

For the meal, I opted to go from the wood-grilled section of the menu instead of the barbecue side, and went with the bone-in Niman Ranch Pork Chop, coincidently one of the cheaper options on the grilled side at $26.  At least you get some mashed potatoes and vegetables with it, though that didn't stop us from going a la carte on family sides, splitting the brussels sprouts and the macaroni and cheese.

The pork chop was very good, not great.  The glaze on it was a little sweet for my taste, though it was cooked perfectly, was very juicy, and was given a nice crust on the fatty portions.  While I like something sweet on the side with pork, such as applesauce or something along those lines, I prefer my pork chops a bit more savory.  To each his own.  They certainly know how to cook.

The Brussels sprouts were the real winner at the table.  Roasted with bacon and drizzled with brown butter these things were perfect.  Sometimes the pungent taste of these sprouts can be overpowering, but not here.  They were cooked to the point of ultimate tenderness while still maintaining their integrity, which really mellowed the flavor, which was cut further by the nutty brown butter they were served in.  While basic, simple, and somewhat common, this is one of the better preparations of Brussels sprouts I've had.

Macaroni and Cheese was very good, and like the queso, thick and paste-like after a few minutes.  Not much to report other than the flavor was very rich, and very good.

Not one of my better trips to Lambert's but this is still an incredible place that I'll be back to again and again, primarily for the happy hour.  I don't think any less of it after this, I just learned a bit about what to order.  Great atmosphere, as usual, and I'll defer to my prior post on Lambert's for an overview of it.

http://thefatartery.blogspot.com/2011/04/lamberts-austin-tx.html

I will however, mention that a few weeks ago I was fortunate to be able to see one of my favorite artists there are the upstairs bar, which is a great small venue to see a show if you get the chance.  Mishka.  If you don't know him, get to.

Summary

Atmosphere: understated classy, Austin, two bars with plenty of seating, concerts at the upstairs bar, good for a nice dinner, great for happy hour, good for groups, good for a date, good for shooting the shit with strangers, good if you're flying solo, outdoor seating

Food: upscale barbecue and grilled meats

Dog Friendly: maybe outside

When to Go: happy hour, dinner, lunch

Crowd: locals, regulars, out of towners, groups, families, couples, hotchicks

What to Order for the First Timer: barbecue plate, green chile cheese grits, Brussels sprouts

Wenzel Lonestar Meat Company - Hamilton, TX

Why did I take the long way from Austin to Dallas yesterday?

Butt when?

Of course it is.  Yes, the people of Wenzel Lonestar Meat Company are some savvy marketeers, and they're also good butchers and decent cooks.  Wenzel's is a little butcher shop off a side street of the main square in the small town of Hamilton, which is known primarily as the burial place of Brushy Bill Roberts, aka Billy the Kid as self-proclaimed.  Wenzel's deals in meats...jerkeys, sausages, bratwurst, steaks, and things of the like.  Any given day of the week you can stop in and get a deli sandwich, even a reuben, but on Fridays they stack 'em deep with the promise of pulled pork.

  

They do a nice sandwich here.  A healthy amount of pulled pork on a soft, toasted bun with their homemade barbecue sauce, regular or spicy.  Pork was tender with no visible fat or bark, and given the location, I'm assuming it's smoked, but the flavor showed very little smoke flavoring, just good old pig.  I chose the spicy sauce, which was good, but really not hot.  It had a flavor similar to Arby's sauce, otherwise known as Open Pit Original, with a little more originality and a bit more zing.  

This is clearly a family run operation, and the place has an incredibly homey feel to it and little touches that make it feel more like you're at a friendly neighbor's house than a store.  Though it is first and foremost a store, and in addition the meats they offer, there is an array of sauces, rubs, pickled vegetables and jams.  

Orders are taken at the counter and food is brought out to your table with a thank you and a "if y'all need more napkins, just holler".  A pickle spear in a zip lock bag completes the meal, unless you add chips and a drink for another dollar, in which case you can grab a cup, scoop some ice out of the blue travel sized cooler, and fill up with some tea or a soft drink.  

Good place to stop if you take the leisurely route between Dallas and Austin.  While there is better barbecue around, the sandwich here is a good one, the atmosphere is great, and you can pick up some things to stock the pantry.

Summary

Atmosphere:  butcher shop, a few tables, good place to stop for lunch on a Friday

Food:  deli sandwiches and pulled pork sandwiches

Dog Friendly:  no

When to Go:  lunch on Fridays

Crowd:  locals

What to Order for the First Timer:  pulled pork sandwich, spicy

Lambert's - Austin, TX

Here's something I really love about Austin. As the city continues to reluctantly and aggressively evolve, good proprietors do everything they can to cater to the existing Austin culture, one full of burgeoning artists, musicians and entrepreneurs, many of whom are in the early, and not yet lucrative, points in their career. They accept these people, they hire these people, and best of all they have specials to get these people in the doors. All of these give newer, and most of the time higher priced, places and comforting atmosphere that is Austin.

Sure these places attract some world class douchers, but they can be easily outnumbered and ignored.

Case in point, Lambert's. Upscale barbecue.

Dinner entrees range from $14 to $20 for barbecue, and $25 to $40 for oak grilled items (all of which are worth it if you have the means), but that's even ala carte, and a family style side, which is the only way they come, will run you $6 or $7 each. Per person then, starting with a salad or appetizer, an entree, a side, and a glass of wine (and come on, who's NOT going to have a drink with the incredible food that they dish out) will run between $40 and $70. Pricey, particular for a barbecue dinner.

I filled up there for $20 last night, inclusive of tax and tip. Lambert's Happy Hour, People of Austin. People of Austin, Lambert's Happy Hour. Doctor, Docter, aaaannnnd Doctor. Say hello. Half price bar food and discounted wine, beer and liquor everyday, including weekends, between 5pm and 7pm.

I started with an ample sized classic wedge salad, roughly a third of a head of cold, crisp, iceberg lettuce topped with homemade blue cheese dressing, crumbled blue cheese, crispy bacon and cherry tomatoes. $4

From there I narrowed it down to the Oak Grilled Hanger Steak, served with a fried egg in the hole, charred jalapeno butter, and steak tomato for $8, a Barbecue Plate with choice of meat and choice of two sides for $7 ($4 to add an extra meat to that), and Crispy Wild Boar Ribs for $6. No skimping on portions on these deals either, they're full sized and filling.

I opted for the latter and was taken completely by surprise...in a good way. Somewhere between exiting the chopper after gunning this thing down and putting it in front of me, Lambert's executive chef got confused along the way, resulting in a buffalo chicken wing meets Thai sweet chili meets slow cooked and spiced feral hog. A spin on the classic chicken wing served with blue cheese and a celery and daikon slaw, with each of the eight meaty ribs cleaned of enough meat on the end to give you a clean grip as you go to town like a wild boar on a raccoon carcass. Not at all what I expected to get, but a very, very welcome surprise.

I opted for a $6 stroooooong pour of wine over their classically themed cocktails, bringing the pretax bill to $16. Worth every penny in a place that is worth every penny for a $50 meal.

Atmosphere here is second to none for a high end place. Very Texas feel, two great bars with great bartenders and regulars who can guide you in the right direction (though there isn't a wrong one) and make your evening truly enjoyable.

Five to Seven

Every Night

Do it

Oh, and on my walk home I stopped in Haddingtons for a Stranger on the Highway, a whiskey based cocktail creation by the lovely Tiffany, and leaned, though I've never seen advertised, that they too have half priced appetizers and sandwiches from five to seven. Another great spot, and another great deal.

Summary

Atmosphere: understated classy, Austin, two bars with plenty of seating, concerts at the upstairs bar, good for a nice dinner, great for happy hour, good for groups, good for a date, good for shooting the shit with strangers, good if you're flying solo, outdoor seating

Food: upscale barbecue ang grilled meats

Dog Friendly: maybe outside

When to Go: happy hour, dinner, lunch

Crowd: locals, regulars, out of towners, groups, families, couples, hotchicks

What to Order for the First Timer: barbecue plate, green chile cheese grits

The Peached Tortilla - Austin, TX

Oh Wow

Is this place ever incredible. This is a food truck to seek out, at any point but it really hits the spot after an evening at the bars and you can usually find it late on weekend evenings parked inconspicuously behind Star Bar on west 6th. The first time I saw this and had it was several weeks ago when some friends were in town and we were imbibing at it's next door neighbor. A combined 700 pounds of us (just three of us) were in desperate need of a food fix and The Peached Tortilla was a convenience call, and I had full expectations of it serving up overpriced and underwhelming food trying to capitalize on the trendy drunk freespenders of this upscale watering hole.

WRONG

My hopes heightened when I looked at the menu and saw it full of incredible combinations of half snack, half meal items focused on tacos, sliders and fries all of the fusion persuasion, though no set genre. Still though, I couldn't help but think, are they just teasing me with items like pork belly tacos and sliders, pimento cheese fries, and brisket tacos, or would they produce. Well they produce. They produce some of the best trailer food in a city full of trailers, which is why last night in a haze of Makers Mark I dragged MLWMG out of our way to go there for some tasty treats. Once again, they did not disappoint.

We started with an order of Belgian Fries, and I left it to them as to what to serve or toss them with...peach mint, truffle mayo, bacon ranch, smoky roasted peach BBQ, sriracha mayo, or their own pimento cheese spread. They chose the latter. Dark deep fried fries not overly doused with a terrific pimento cheese spread and served in a cardboard tray perfect for eating on the run. These things were incredible and the perfect way to sop up any excess liquor still trying to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

From there we opted to sample a few of the other items, first and foremost the bahn mi tacos. Vietnamese braised pork belly with pickled daikon and carrot salad, sriracha mayo and cilantro. The pork was incredibly tender and flavorful and though certainly laden with fat, not greasy or fatty feeling at all. The daikon and carrot salad was a perfect compliment to it, adding a crisp, fresh, and cool crunch to the taco, as well as a cooling effect to the spicy sriracha mayo. I daresay this is probably the best trailer item in town. Mrs. Gordo was very impressed, as was I.

We decided to compare it to the slider of the same name, which was exactly the same, with same great flavors and textures, but served on a small, fresh, warm bun. Incredible too, though I think I'm partial to the taco version. We rounded it out with the BBQ brisket taco, a mix of tender-as-all-hell beef brisket, creamy slaw and a smoky roasted peach BBQ sauce. Do I really need to tell you how it was? Alright I will. IT WAS DAMN GOOD!

These guys really know what they're doing, and I urge you to hit their website, figure out where they are, and seek them out wherever they are when you're in the mood for a sampling of highly innovative and perfectly executed cuisine for lunch, dinner, snacking or late night. I know there is fantastic food truck fare in Austin, but for all I've had so far, this one marks the top of my list.

Summary

Atmosphere: food truck, no seating

Food: southern, Mexican, BBQ, Asian, Belgian fusion

Dog Friendly: it's a truck

When to Go: after the bars, lunch, dinner

Crowd: the sober-challenged, locals, trendsters, hipsters, 20somethings, 30somethings

What to Order for the First Timer: bahn mi tacos and pimento cheese fries

Ruby's BBQ - Austin, TX

Had a friend email me last night asking for a bbq recommendation down in Austin, not to far of a drive like the Lockhart, Taylor and Driftwood spots, but also not downtown since the city is likely to be busier (read also:  parking is a beeotch) with South by Southwest having kicked off.

Answer, Ruby's.  Not to be confused with the I'm-not-quite-a-gas-station-not-quite-a-bbq-joint local chain, Rudy's (the incorrectly self-proclaimed Worst BBQ in Texas), this is a solo shack up near the UT campus, which I had not stopped by until a few months ago, and was pleasantly surprised to find it's actually a great spot for barbecue...close, and with parking.

Since it's been a while since I've been there, I'll tell you what I remember.  First, it's not a central Texas style old bbq place with the smoke saturated walls and employees, and the sasquatch sized coffin pits, but it's got an old bbq feel to it inside, and is a place where you walk in and order at the counter, then sit down and wait for your food.  I remember loving the sausage and the sauce, and the brisket being lean and dense, which isn't my perfect cup of brisket tea, but is good nonetheless and had great flavor and a nice black crust.  The sauce has some real kick, spicy, which makes its presence on the beef a perfect match.  My friend went there, and supplied me with a picture of his meal, which I'll share with y'all (Texan for You All) here.  Don't mind the light beer that's pictured, clearly my friend doesn't share my motto of life being too short for light beer.

Haven't followed up but am quite sure he enjoyed it, and frankly I'm looking forward to getting back there again soon.

Summary

Atmosphere:  in-town Texas bbq, good for groups, good for lunch, good for a casual dinner and a beer with friends, no bar to sit at that I can remember, but I could be wrong

Food:  barbecue

Dog Friendly:  no

When to Go:  lunch, dinner

Crowd:  students, city folk

What to Get for the First Timer:  sample brisket, ribs, and sausage, and get some of that sauce

Smitty's Market - Lockhart, TX

What do you do on an overcast Friday morning when you're unemployed?

Thanks for asking.  I picked up some friends, a couple .45s, and an AK-47 and headed down to Lockhart, the barbecue capital of Texas, where we had lunch at one of the oldest barbecue joints in the state, but not before honing our skills on the war on terror out in the country...

 So how'd we do?

Well, our culinarily-skilled friend managed to assassinate the deranged librarian and bitchy girlfriend holding one of our friends hostage, but unfortunately also managed to pump more than a few rounds into our buddy's chest in the process.

Looks like we'll just be three for lunch.  Terrorists 1, Idiots 0

Our card carrying NRA friend gave us pause with his grouping...

Terrorists 2, Idiots 0

And yours truly took out Public Enemy #1, the deranged librarian, with one shot, which is all it takes...

That's right.  Terrorists 2, Idiots 1.  Crap.  We still lost.

Anyway, on to Smitty's for a quick tour...

And our order...

So you can see what we got, some pork ribs, some brisket, fat and lean, sausage, and the end cut of a smoked prime rib.  Served as usual on nothing more than butcher paper with some bread, we also got the standard sides of cheese, onions, jalapenos, pickles, slaw, and potato salad.

I bounce back and forth on the central Texas barbecue spots each time I come down, and today we had a good day at Smitty's.  The brisket had incredible bark and a nice smoke flavor, with a good amount of fat throughout which melted with each bite making the brisket tender and flavorful.  My recommendation is to forego the sauce (we did) and put it on some bread with some hot sauce, onion and a hunk of cheese.  Makes a great barbecue taco, and today's was just that, great.

The ribs were excellent as well.  Finished with a wet mop of sauce while still in the smoker, these bad boys lack the crust that the brisket exhibits, but not the flavor.  They're not fall off the bone tender, but are tender nonetheless and take some teeth to get it off the bone, but by no means is it chewy or tough.

I've always been a little skeptical of the sausage both here down the street at Kreuz.  It's a mushy beef and pork mixture tighly packed into a ring, which appears only to have salt and pepper flavoring and unfortunately tends to come out rather bland.  How do you solve a problem of bland sausage?  Onion, jalapeno, bread, and hot sauce.

Now, I'd never gotten the prime rib before....ohhhhhhh, the prime rib...medium rare in the center, and a fatty tender outer ring laced intertwined with melting fat and filled with smoked goodness.  They also must have known we were ridding the world of terrorists, as they took a brand new rack out and cut us the end piece, giving us plenty of crusty edge and smoke flavor.

Sides.  Hell, I'm not even going to talk about them.  Get the cheese, onion, and jalapenos, but save room for the meat and don't fill up on slaw, beans or potato salad.

I'll also hold off on the atmosphere, as the video should speak for itself.

Go.  Enjoy.  And save room for either Kreuz, Black's, or Chisolm Trail while you're down there.  Why stop at one when you can stop at two or more?

Summary

Atmosphere:  hundred year old meat market, good for a road trip, good for groups, good for dogooders ridding the world of its problems

Food:  barbecue, and one of the best at that

Dog Friendly:  likely not.

When to Go:  lunch, after librarian kills

Crowd:  locals, families

What to Get for the First Timer:  fatty brisket, pork ribs, AND prime rib, with cheese, bread and onions

Coreanos - Austin, TX

Korean.  Mexican.  Fusion.

Ho.  Lee.  Dung.

That was fantastic.

Took the ladies on a walk today in search of this Mexorean gem that I had heard was pretty good.

Now, let me read you the following and see if you can't figure out why I decided to seek this out:

Kim Cheese Fries - French fries, spicy twice-cooked pork belly, caramelized kimchi, cheese, and el scorcho sauce.

Yeah.  That's right.

Now, let me show you what that looks like:

Yeah.  That's right.

That.  Just.  HAPPENED.

On the walk there I was setting myself up for a huge disappointment, as it sounded too good to be true.  Now a lot of good food comes out of trailers in Austin, which I always find amazing given what they have to work with.  Let me tell you why I was worried.

1.  I thought there was a good chance the fries, loaded down with all this goodness, might just come out a soggy and greasy mess.

2.  Figured there was a good chance that "spicy twice-cooked pork belly" might just be crumbled pepper rubbed bacon.

3.  Maybe the "el scorcho" sauce was nothing more than Sriracha sauce, cleverly named as a creation of their own.

0 for 3.

This thing was incredible, and a meal in itself.

First off, the fries were cooked perfectly.  All of them.  Not undercooked, not overcooked, exhibiting the characteristics of being cooked twice, at two different temperatures, resulting in a perfect crispiness on the outside while maintaining a soft, flaky inside.  Equally as impressive was the way they held up to the toppings.  They were this way throughout the dish, AND the toppings were uniformly distributed throughout, not just sitting on top of the fries.

Second, the twice cooked pork belly was everthing that I could have imagined, quarter to half inch cubes with good proportions of meat and fat.

Third, the el scorcho sauce was not anything close to sriracha.  It was an incredible chipotle crema which covered the dish, touched each bite, and went perfectly with everything.

The kimchi had a crunch and spice that tied this whole thing together, and oh, did they mention there was a sprinkling of chopped onion and cilantro on top?  No.  But oh yes, there was, and it helped to turn this dish into Mexorean perfection.

Man, that was seriously, seriously good stuff, and I can't wait to go back and get this again, and try some of their other fry concoctions, tacos and burritos.  The only problem with this place was the time it took between ordering and receiving the food, between ten and fifteen minutes.  I'm going to chalk this up to a couple of things and let it slide.  First, I got there right when it opened and was behind six or seven people.  I'm sure they were still in prep mode, which I'm sure they'll soon start earlier as time goes on.  Second, they've been open right around five months, and are still probably working out the kinks and efficiencies.  So for the time being, go, wait patiently, because it's worth the wait.  Given that we're dealing with fries, I'd eat when you get it and wouldn't take it to go, as you don't want them to get soggy.

http://www.coreanostx.com/

Summary:

Atmosphere:  food truck, no tables, but parked near steps to sit on and eat

Food:  Korean Mexican BBQ

Dog Friendly:  yes

Crowd:  business lunch crowd and food lovers

When to Go:  lunch and after the bars

What to Order for the First Timer:  Kim Cheese Fries

Oh, and here are the ladies, wishing they had some...

Bubba's BBQ - Charlotte, NC

I'll stick with Charlotte for a minute since I ventured that way, and will move on to another bbq place I like to hit while I'm there, Bubba's.

This place is nothing to look at from the outside, it looks like a converted fast food restaurant and very well may be.  That's a good indication of the atmosphere inside too, which is one big room as bland as can be with the feel of a Kiwanis Club dining hall where you're more likely to be playing bingo than eating quality bbq.  Actually, I'd say the best part of the atmosphere is the smell, followed by a urinal that they've got about six feet up on the wall in the men's room.  Can't for the life of me remember why it's up there, but it is.

Anyway, B-7, that's where my knocking of this place ends because I love to go here for a good basic bbq dinner.  Unlike some of the other spots I like to hit where I focus on the meat, this one is about the whole meal, and the sauce.  O-62.  My go to here is a standard barbecue plate, which is pork, hush puppies, and sides, of which I recommend brunswick stew and cole slaw.

The pork here is of the chopped variety, though not so fine as to become mushy or mealy.  Also, given the lack of any visible bark I would guess this pig was smoked as a whole hog, which is traditional of eastern Carolina bbq.  The result is a mild smoke flavor and very, very tender meat, which requires the addition of some eastern Carolina vinegar sauce to truly make it shine.  The sauce here is is a vinegar incorporating what appears to be cayenne, which adds great flavor and punch to the meat.  Very good, simple, barbecue.  G-47.

The sides here are also really good.  Hushpuppies come to the table on the house with whatever you order, and they are perfect, brown and crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.  The sides here are either really good, or really ordinary.  I love the cole slaw, which has a pungent kick provided by a mustard base, and it pairs really well with the pork.  I-22.  The brunswick stew is also very good.

I've tried some other things here, and won't give up on more of the menu items, as I think they do really well on certain things, and really terrible on some others.  I tried the ribs on a recent trip, and wouldn't order them again.  Little flavor and not that tender, was a true disappointment.  That said, N-37, this place is a great stop for classic eastern bbq when you're in Charlotte, and gets my recommendation.

Bingo.

Summary:

Atmosphere:  bland, dining hall

Food:  classic eastern Carolina bbq

Dog Friendly:  nope

Crowd:  locals, groups

When to Go:  lunch or dinner

What to Order for the First Timer:  barbecue plate with cole slaw and brunswick stew

Bar-B-Q King - Charlotte, NC

Alright here's a spot that I never thought to stop at until someone told me that they had good bbq chicken, which I'm not normally and advocate of when other (read: better) meats are available, but this one was a bit different.  It looks pretty rough, a beat up old drive-in on the road in to downtown from the airport.

It's one of those places that you drive by and say, yeah, that place probably has some good food, but its probably not worth risking my life for.  Risk reward seemingly way out of balance on this one.  I'm happy to report I was wrong, but I still would not recommend going there at night.

So it looks like a drive-in, because it is.  No tables here, and no place to eat inside.  I went there for the first time with a guy I worked with, who was a little skeptical of it when we pulled in and into our spot.  They had a big menu to look at, but I had to try that chicken that I'd heard about.  And it didn't disappoint.  Our meal came to the car in styrofoam boxes and we immediately realized that this was a meal that we'd have to eat ON the car and not IN the car.   The picture below doesn't do justice to the sloppiness of this chicken, which is first deep fried and then dunked in a vat of hot, vinegary, western Carolina style bbq sauce before being brought out to you.  So we're not talking smoked bbq chicken here, we're talking inner city fried chicken dunked in a great sauce which makes your nose and eyes water.  So the western Carolina sauce differs from the sauces out east, and a different way from sauces down here in Texas, almost being a blend of the two.  While eastern Carolina sauces (which I love) are primarily vinegar and some kind of pepper...black, cayenne, red...and are generally clear and watery, the western Carolina sauces look a bit more like what most people think of as a bbq sauce, reddish brown due to the tomato base.  That said, these sauces go much heavier on the vinegar than the Texas sauces, which creates a really volatile and pungent sauce when it's heated up that hits every sense but the ears when you eat it.  So this chicken is absolutely incredible, and I urge anyone visiting Charlotte to make time to hit it.  While the other bbq and the sides there are good, there is absolutely no reason to talk about them here.  You get the chicken, and you won't remember anything else.

Summary:

Atmosphere:  beat up drive-in in a rough area

Food:  bbq

Dog Friendly:  only if your car is

Crowd:  mixed, carry out

When to Go:  lunch

What to Order for the First Timer:   BBQ Chicken

Dreamland BBQ - Tuscaloosa, AL

Alright, this is going to be my first post in response to a friend of mine getting ready for some business travel, so I'm reaching waaaay back in my bag to get him to the right spot.  He, like me, is a huge fan of BBQ, and also like me, tries to hit a good spot whenever and wherever he's traveling.  So he emailed me two days ago saying he had to go to Birmingham, Alabama, and did I know of a good place to go.

Yes I do.

Now, I haven't been to the one in Birmingham, and I know it isn't the first one, because I've been to the first one, in Tuscaloosa.  Now I've heard rumors that this place has been grandfathered in to current health standards because it's been around forever, and based on my experience I believe it.  The BBQ was good, and the atmosphere was great, so John, I wish you the best of luck with the Birmingham outlet.

Remember back to the fall of 1998.  Three college idiots in Dallas decide to spend their Fall Break by heading to Alabama for the NASCAR race at Talledega, to spend three nights there in a grass field along the interstate to listen to Skynard, drink Busch Light, and root my favorite driver at the time, Dale Jarrett, to a victory.  On the way there we called my dad, noted BBQ nut, and one with a database at that.  Asked him where we might stop along the way and without hesitation he gave us turn by turn directions to this place, on dusty unmarked country road...

I'm remembering back here, but here's what I recall.  The place was black with smoke inside, and the ceiling wasn't much more than a foot or two above my head.  Place was barely lit, but you could see the fire in the back on which were slabs and slabs of ribs, getting a final char before heading to the tables.  It was me, who was skinnier back then, a friend of mine who I'm guessing weighed in right around two bills, and another friend of mine who probably pushed 230 at the time.  We were seated by a nice African-American woman who seemed to lack all cordial skills.  After seating us, here's how it went, and this I remember really well...

Miss Congeniality:  "You look like a slab.  You look like a half slab.  And you look like a half slab."  before turning to walk away.

One of Us:  "Wait, do you have a menu, what else is there besides ribs?"

Miss Congeniality, with a death stare:  "Rib tips.  I'll be right back."

She showed up shortly thereafter with one paper plate stacked high with two slabs of ribs, and a paper plate with a stack of white bread equal height.  Easy math.  I apologize I don't have my pictures from the place anymore, but here is a picture from the web and our ribs looked just like it, though our stack of bread was higher, I guess because we were fatter...

So these are Alabama wet mop ribs, with a tangy/spicy Alabama sauce on them.  I remember they had some teeth to them, like they were somewhat quick smoked, and had a crust on them that suggested that same thing, plus they may have been finished on a grill to give them a good char flavor on the initial bite.  Down and dirty, worth the trip if you're in the area.

Summary:

Atmosphere:  old, smoky, bar-like

Food:  ribs

Dog Friendly:  seriously, seriously doubt it

Crowd:  locals, bikers, truckers

What to Order as a First Timer:  guess

Firehouse BBQ - Lampasas, TX

My final stop on the Dallas to Austin western drive, Firehouse BBQ in Lampasas.  Wow, was I full by the time I pulled in this place, having stopped and eaten at three different places already on the drive.  I nearly didn't stop, but decided to anyway, thinking I'd just get a bite of each of the big three.

This place had a good country bbq atmosphere, but not quite the charm of the last two stops in Hamilton.  A bit bigger and a bit newer, I knew this place couldn't hold a candle to Lazy T's.  Because of the time of day, I was the only person there, but not the fattest person there.  Once again, I sampled the pork ribs, the brisket, and the sausage.

Upon walking in, you're presented with a counter, behind which are a couple of cutting boards.  I was happy not to see the cafeteria style presentation that Lazy T's had (which was deceiving given the quality of that place), leaving to the imagination the idea that the meat was coming straight from the pit to my plate.  The brisket and ribs both had good flavor, but lacked the crust that I love on both.  Instead the outside of this meat had a jerky like texture, which had good flavor, but in the case of the ribs created a bit of a chewy texture.  The brisket was lean, cut from the flat, and though not dry benefited from a little sauce to help with chewing and to grease the pipes.  Flavor was there, and I'm sure a brisket connoisseur would be very happy with it.  I'm more partial to a fattier cut with a good crust, so while this was good, it wasn't for me.  The sausage was of the good German coarse grind but machine packed variety, with good fat content and good flavor, but nothing above the ordinary good quality sausage you get at other stops.  A great thing to order here along with the brisket, but not worth making a special stop for.

Sauce is self service from three heated buckets with ladles, two spicy sauces and one sweet sauce, both good complements to the meat.  The other nice thing about this place was that they make their own hot sauces, three of which are on the tables.  There's a habanero sauce, a hot pepper sauce, and one other that I can't remember.  In any case, my recommendation would be to bypass all including the bbq sauces, and eat the meat with the habanero sauce, which outshined all the rest.

This place is worth a stop if you're in the area, and it's a good place to stop and have a meal if you're not headed on to Hamilton.

Summary:

Atmosphere:  country Texas bbq, with outdoor seating

Food:  good, solid bbq

Dog Friendly:  uh huh

Crowd:  no one there but me so can't say

What to Order for First Timers:  Brisket if you're a fan, and sausage

Lazy T's BBQ - Hamilton, TX

Third stop on the 281 BBQ tour was hands down the best.  Lazy T's BBQ just down the road from Smoke Stack south of Hamilton.

I walked in and was greeted by the proprietor, as the only other person in the place, but the place had an old feel and a real atmosphere.  The counter in front of me as I walked in was cafeteria-like, with the meat in water heated holding trays covered by tin lids, which made me a little skeptical, but I remained open.  When the guy asked me how I was doing and what I wanted, his voice cracked like an old country western singer that you think only exists in the movies.  This guy was for real, and my confidence in what he had under those lids rose quite a bit.  I explained this was my third stop in a couple of hours, and that I just wanted a small plate of ribs, brisket and sausage.  He served up all three and when I indicated I didn't want any sides, a look of disbelief passed his face as he sang/squeaked, "you DON'T want NO BEANS?".  Nope.  Next time.

As with the last stop, he offered no sauce, again, a nice sign of things to come.  I asked for some anyway, and also like the last stop, it was average, though with a little more twang like he may have made it with some of the dripping fat from the meat and a little more vinegar than the last place, and wasn't really needed.

The brisket was some of the best brisket I've ever had.  Perfect combination of beef and smoke flavoring, with an incredibly crisp and smokey crust hugging a layer of fat that put this brisket above all of the rest and most I've had, anywhere.  This cut was clearly from the point, and I was more than happy with it.  It had a fat content throughout it that melted with each bite, and brought it just to the point of maybe seeming greasy, but it wasn't.  It was the most tender and moist a piece of meat could be without falling apart or being greasy.  Said another way, it was perfect.  No need to ruin this piece with sauce.  The ribs showed as much talent and care as the brisket, with the same great crust, and the same tenderness and moistness that the brisket had.  Not quite falling off the bone, but perfect in that it was almost there and still took a true bite to separate it from the bone.  The crust didn't create a chewy portion either, it broke away from the rest perfectly with the meat.  Like the brisket, no sauce needed.  Sausage.  Most likely not made there, but certainly smoked there, and I'd be shocked if it didn't come from this guy's own kill and if it wasn't processed down the road at Wenzel's or any of the other meet processing plants along 281.  It was the perfect type of German style sausage that I love, and it didn't disappoint.  While, like most sausage, it didn't need sauce, but sausage makes a good vehicle for a decent sauce, so I used it to eat what I had.  Given the size of the plate the guy gave me, and my past two meals, I didn't think I could finish close to it, but it was all so good I ate every bite, and topped it off with what seemed like an only appropriate can of RC Cola from the cooler.

Bottom line, this place is worth hitting, skipping anything on the way in either direction.  I'd go so far as to say it's worth making a special trip for if you're on the northside of Austin.  I'll visit here a lot.

Alright, if you're with the health department, stop reading here, as I'd like to revisit the atmosphere in a little more detail.

First, while the country western singer was making up my plate, without beans, I decided to use the restroom.  I reviewed the rules and regs while I was in there, and while I appreciate them being posted, presumably by him directed only at him (I can't imagine anyone else works there, but I'll find out in time), I'm not sure I agree with Lazy T's half-assed approach to hygiene...

Second, the place really was a throwback inside, with an old fashioned heating stove in the corner with a pipe leading out the ceiling (this was heating only, the smoking was done outside on the other side of the building in iron smokers) which clearly gets use as evident by the poking stick with one charred end leaning up against it.  As quaint as this was, it appeared he saved the wood for the meat, as the pile of "fuel" for this thing was piled next to it, which, if I was in Scotland I might say was peat, but given the surroundings of this place I'm guessing it was...well, moooooooo.

Summary:

Atmosphere:  small town Texas BBQ

Food:  excellent, BBQ

Dog Friendly:  yes

Crowd:  can't say, was only me and Country Yodeler, so I can't say

What to Order for the First Timer:  brisket, ribs and sausage, and if you want to appease the owner, beans

Smoke Shack - Hamilton, TX

My second stop on the trip down from Dallas came after three unplanned stops, in both Hico and Hamilton.  The stop in Hico came when I saw a sign for the Billy the Kid Museum, a statue of Billy the Kid, and the quintessential main street of a town in the Old West.  Had to stop and get the story of Hico's claim to Billy the Kid, and made a subsequent stop in Hamilton to visit his grave.  After that I stopped in town at a place called Wenzel's Meat Market, where I sampled a bunch of things, and loaded up on fresh breakfast, Polish and German sausages.  Haven't tried them yet, but will report when I do.

So the next stop was Smoke Stack Pit Bar-B-Que, on the south side of Hamilton.  This place looked like the real deal from the outside, as you can see.

The inside was atmosphere as advertised by the exterior.  I walked in and was immediately greeted by the counter, behind which was a brick pit where the magic happened.  It almost felt like I was in someone's house, and the cautious glare from the elderly woman behind the counter seemed to echo that, like I walked into somewhere I shouldn't be.  To my left was a sink, and to my right, down a hall-like area were some tables half full of locals who were also eying me with some skepticism.  I gave Ma Smoke the standard test order, some pork ribs, some brisket, and some sausage, which I got to go because (a) I think the people in there hated me, and (b) I saw a picnic table in the empty lot next door which looked like a good place to eat while the dog ran around.  No styrofoam here.  She wrapped it in paper and then put it in a insulated bag for me.  One thing I really liked about this place is she gave it to me and never mentioned sauce, a sign of a place that takes pride in their meat as is.  I asked for it though and got a little cup of it, after I was warned that it wasn't free, and would run me a whopping sixty cents.

Let's start with the brisket.  When she pulled it out of the pit, I could see it was for real, but was nervous when she started carving some of that beautiful black crust off of it.  I'll be the first to admit I'm a pork guy, and I like my brisket with the bark, and fatty.  Upon review, she had carved off only the bark which housed excess fat, and left a good amount of it, and I'm glad she did.  This brisket was awesome.  A great smoke flavored crust, and a lean but moist bit of beef with a perfect balance of beef and smoke flavoring.  It didn't need the sauce, which I found to be adequate at best, this brisket held its own.  The ribs shared a similar crust, but I didn't get the impression that people came here for the ribs.  The texture made it seem like they'd been sitting for a while, and while the smoke and pork flavors were good, the texture varied from chewy to mealy, and it seemed to do a bit better with a little moisture from some added sauce.  The sausage was unique.  Served as a whole link about the size of a bratwurst, it was bright red on the outside, and a uniformed color fine grind inside.  The initial bite had a great snap, but didn't taste too much different than a processed 100% beef hot dog, though it did have a little residual burn which would be cayenne powder if I had to guess.  Not terrible, but not great, as I'm a big fan of the coarser grind with visible fat, and even more so the links that you can tell are hand packed.

Yeah, you might be asking where's the brisket.  There's a small piece of a slice between the rib and sausage.  After my first bite I got aggressive and forgot I hadn't taken a picture.  Sorry, next time.

This place is definitely worth stopping at, but stick to the brisket, as it outshines the rest by a lot.  Also, keep in mind that the next stop makes this place worth skipping if you are only going to make one stop.  Hit it up once for sure though, and a few more times if you're in the area often.

Summary

Atmosphere:  old school small town bbq joint

Food:  barbecue, stick to the brisket

Dog Friendly:  when you get it to go, yes

Crowd:  locals, leery of outsiders

What to Order for the First Timer:  brisket, and don't worry about paying extra for sauce

Ranch House Barbecue - Glen Rose, TX

Taking a break from Austin for a bit and thought I'd recap my trip from Dallas to Austin last week, on which I took the long way and made it even longer by stopping seven times, four to eat, two for history, and one for shopping (for meat).

After months of traveling back and forth to Austin along the always boring and crappy I-35, I finally decided to take a longer and more scenic way last week, with a goal to find great spots to eat on the way.  I did a little research using my typical tools...Full Custom Gospel BBQ Blog, Texas Monthly, Roadfood, and the Legends of Texas Barbecue Cookbook.  Ready to go.  US67 out of Dallas, connecting to 281 via 220 in Hico, down through Hamilton before veering southeast on US183 in Lampasas, putting us into Austin...on this particular trip seven hours later (normally would take less than four with no stops)...

First stop, by default, was Ranch House Barbecue in Glen Rose, about an hour outside of Dallas.  My intention was to hit up two spots in Glen Rose, which I'd read about and which are supposed to be legit, Hammonds and the Lazy Coyote, both were closed for the day.  Knowing how to spot decent places on the road, I backtracked and pulled into Ranch House, which was surrounded by pick-up trucks, most with brushguards, and had people parking in the grass overflow area.  I had Nicki with me, so was glad to see some tables outside in the grass.  I could give her a break from the back of the car, give her some fresh air and room to stretch her legs, and then just cross my fingers that she didn't sh*t next to the people at adjacent tables.  She didn't.

Left her in the car and walked inside.  Great indoor atmosphere with tables filled, and a bar to sit at.  Typical Texas country barbecue atmosphere, collection of pictures, license plates and business cards on wooden walls, but only a faint wisp of the smell of smoke.  Looked like a mix of locals and travelers.  As I do when trying out new bbq spots, I ordered some pork ribs, beef brisket, and sausage at the bar, and headed outside.  No sides for me this trip, those are just filler and I like to judge on the meat first, starting with just the meat and then sauced.

My food came out in a styrofoam three section to-go box, not my favorite, but hey, it's just a carrier.  The  bbq was good, not great.  The ribs and brisket were both very tender, and had good bark (particuarly the ribs), but really lacked any real smoked flavor.  Good for a fix, but not worth making a special trip or stop for.  The sausage was really good standard Texas German sausage, and I opted for the spicy.  That was alright to eat alone, but I'd recommend some sauce with the beef and ribs for flavor.  They actually did a nice sauce for Texas, standard tomato based with a heavy dose of black pepper, not to different from Rudy's if you ever been to one.

Let's see if I can figure out how to add a picture here:

Yeah, look at me...tech SAVVY!

Anyway, glad I stopped, but in the future want to try the other two in Glen Rose, and pending that, will hold on and keep driving to hit some of the spots down the road, which are much better.

Summary:

Atmosphere:  typical Texas country barbecue, indoor, outdoor and bar seats, good for families, good for a sit down bbq meal, good for the solo traveler, good for a necessary road trip stop

Food:  average barbecue, if you go, stick with ribs and sausage

Dog Friendly: yes

Crowd:  locals, travelers, and bikers

When to Go:  lunch

What to Order for the First Timer:  Sausage and ribs