Marginal Revolution: New food bleg, Lockhart, Texas

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New food bleg, Lockhart, Texas

Next Wednesday-Friday I will be in Lockhart, Texas. If you live there, and are able to chat intelligently about the native barbecue scene, drop me a line and we can try to catch a meal. Lockhart recommendations -- food or otherwise -- are welcome as well, comments are open.

Posted by Tyler Cowen on October 27, 2005 at 09:53 PM in Food and Drink | Permalink

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Comments

I went there a few times with a friend who worked in Austin for three years. We always went to Blackie's. Dunno if they're better than the other guys...but that's what my friend claimed.

Posted by: David Hecht at Oct 27, 2005 11:48:15 PM

David may mean Black's, which is in Lockhart. The Salt Lick is reputed to be the best barbeque joint in the Austin area. The website is www.saltlickbbq.com/. There's a link for directions. Salt Lick isn't right near Lockhart, but it's not far, if you've got time for a short side trip.

Posted by: Tom at Oct 28, 2005 12:25:51 AM

I live in Austin, about 30min from Lockhart.

Kreuz Mkt - the high temple of BBQ in Lockhart is Kreuz Market. There are different schools of BBQ, some favouring a dry rub and smoking technique with less emphasis on BBQ sauce, some focused on sauce, and some in between; Kreuz specializes in the former. Brisket and sausage is recommended, but the pork is also outstanding. Kreuz Mkt was original located in downtown Lockhart, until a family disagreement caused them to go their separate ways, with the very large Kreuz Mkt outside of town, and the original location renamed Smitty's, which serves the same 'Q in the original surroundings.

Black's - also good but not great, they tend to be more sauce oriented. Excellent peach cobbler.

Salt Lick - Actually not located in Lockhart (they're nearer to Dripping Springs/Buda), but they have a kiosk at the Austin airport, which I highly recommend you seek out and try. These guys are all about the sauce, which is a sweet,mustardy kind of BBQ sauce, the brisket or turkey is good but not especially notable. The sausage is very good.

Also another place in Austin worth taking the time/going out of your way to visit is John Mueller's BBQ (son of Louis Mueller in Taylor TX, another high temple of TX BBQ) , near downtown Austin. They also are all about the rub and technique, the brisket is so most and flavourful you spoil it by putting sauce on.

Posted by: quietpc3400 at Oct 28, 2005 1:14:59 AM

Black's it was, quite right and my mistake. And the peach cobbler was, indeed, outstanding.

But it was all a very long time ago, so I must apologize for misremembering the name.

Posted by: David Hecht at Oct 28, 2005 8:12:47 AM

I cannot believe you bring him "almost" to downtown w/o mentioning the Iron Cactus. I never do sauce--their meat is great. The Salt Lick is legendary, but make sure you stick with the original location.

Posted by: Nathan Zook at Oct 28, 2005 8:44:43 AM

I second Kreuz, although it's been more 7 years since I was there.

The Salt Lick has always suffered from its own hype; I can't enjoy any BBQ joint that has a *popular* cult following or that can seat that many people.

Posted by: Dylan at Oct 28, 2005 10:28:35 AM

Tyler,

Your first stop should be Kreuz Market on Hwy 183. As a previous poster has mentioned, they had to move locations because of a dispute between siblings. Their new location does not have the ambiance of BBQ smoke-covered walls and historic structure that their old location did, but Kreuz still makes among the best BBQ in Central Texas. One of my two best pork experiences ever happened at Kreuz, while enjoying their barbecued pork chops (you may need to arrive early for lunch as they sometimes run out of these). Also notable at Kreuz is their prime rib. Brisket and sausage are tasty, but pork chops and prime rib are my favorites. Be aware that Kreuz is minimalist - no forks, no plates, no sides, no sauce - their comment is, is that if the meat is good, why do you need sauce?

Enjoy!
Dirk

Posted by: Dirk Heinen at Oct 28, 2005 10:31:19 AM

The guy behind Dallasfood.org approaches BBQ with a rigor that you would appreciate. Here's a post from his site about Lockhart: http://dallasfood.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4

Posted by: Kevin at Oct 28, 2005 10:42:54 AM

My family (specifically my father) is from Lockhart, although we all now live in the DC area. In my experience Blacks is superior. As real Texans we never use sauce, and Black's brisket shines wihtout any need for additional flavoring. Ask for a less fatty piece however. I have always thought Kreuz's relied more on atmosphere and reputation than on quality of meat. But it's certainly not bad. I have never tried the other places mentioned.

Posted by: Brian at Oct 28, 2005 12:24:12 PM

austin native for 36 years, and spent many weekends and summers at grandparents a few miles from lockhart. quietpc3400 knows what he's talking about, although I agree w/ Dylan that you can skip the Salt Lick, unless you have nowhere else to go. Or try it at the airport. If the weather is still nice, the original Salt Lick is a great place to eat outside, especially if they have a band that day.

More interesting, what the hell are you going to Lockhart for? My mind is blowing gaskets, fuses, and all sorts of stuff trying to come up with a reason why an economist from back east would go to Lockhart? And during the workweek, no less!!

Posted by: cb at Oct 28, 2005 1:04:04 PM

Posted by: cb at Oct 28, 2005 1:05:02 PM

Posted by: cb at Oct 28, 2005 1:06:53 PM

sorry, firefox screws up sometimes

Posted by: cb at Oct 28, 2005 1:08:40 PM

I'll second all good comments about Black's, Kreuz, and Smitty's.

If you'd consider a short enjoyable road trip, I'd suggest winding your way down to Luling and trying out either the City Market or Luling BBQ.

For a longer road trip, I'd find my way to Cooper's in Llano or Mueller's in Taylor.

For a really long road trip, try out Prasek's in El Campo. Sausage to die for.

Don't know why, but you can't find first rate Texas Que in a town with a population over, say, 50k. Wonder what the economics are behind that. Houston and Austin both have "OK" venues, but none that really stand out like those mentioned. I've never heard of contenders in any other big cities in Texas. You'd think it would be the other way around.

And I have to second the rumination - what on earth brings you to Lockhart besides the Que? - I doubt you're researching the econometrics of cattle auctions.

Posted by: KevinM at Oct 28, 2005 4:22:00 PM

A second for Cooper's. The beef ribs were truly outstanding, meaty, and tender. The brisket, well, it's a good thing Goode Co is down the street.

Posted by: agm at Oct 29, 2005 12:20:30 AM

Presumably you're flying through Austin. Obviously lots of us here :) would gladly shepherd you in these close-in environs.

Plenty good barbecue, nicer aesthetics than most (trust me, big plus should there be a lady involved), County Line -- original on the winding creek, RM 2222; and South -- Bee Cave Rd. W. of 360. Both lay out Hill Country views and are busy local favorites especially for visitors.

Posted by: dilys at Oct 29, 2005 11:49:06 AM

I think that the County Line is pretty much like the Salt Lick--a bit more hat than cattle. The aesthetics are great (I've not been to the south location), but the BBQ is not better than a 7.

Posted by: Nathan Zook at Nov 2, 2005 8:55:03 AM

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