Looking for opinions on what you would do and the must eats. I live in the DFW area, I want to head down the corridor and hit some of the best Q places. I don't care about the ones in Dallas. So in a list format, how would you plan your logistics for a BBQ trip. I could leave Dallas in the AM and would only want to spend one night down in the Austin/San Antone area. Plan it and the must eat places

Kruez in Lockhart...Ask for a "dry hot link",end cut pork chop and shoulder!! The sausage rings can be greasy if not ordered "dry"...Heck they are only 1.80 each.Unlike the Nazis in Dallas at Lockhart BBQ that sells them for 5 dollars a ring..LOL.order one of each and compare...

I would hit Stiles Switch in N Austin for ribs that are off the chain...\
Kruez in Lockhart for the shoulder,sausage and end cut chop
and Luling City Market form the secret recipe sauce and ribs as well..

I've always fantasized doing the same thing, although a full week would be more like it.
A rough plan:

Down to Llano for Coopers,
then Dripping Springs for Salt Lick.
Austin....Franklins, LA BBQ, John Muellers.
Lulling for City Market.
Lockhart....Kruez, Blacks, Smittys.
Taylor.....Louis Mueller
Bryan....Fargos
Hearne and Toodies
Kirby's in Mexia
Baby Js in Palestine
Finish with Stanley's in Tyler.

Then back to Dallas, just in time to be hospitalized for pancreatitis.

In Smithville Tx. go to Zimmerhanzels BBQ the best around!!!! Located off Hwy 71.
Good eating.
dlineman1

You are going the wrong way, the best Bbq is north of you in Lindsay Tx at the Smokehouse. Only 8 miles from Winstar Casino.

a bit more off the beaten path ... Post Mountain BBQ on south Main in Burnet is likely some of the best brisket and smoked turkey I have ever had (haven't taken the plunge to wait in line for Franklin's though). The Maxican on US281 south in Burnet does a mean brisket too!

Lockhart for Kruez & Blacks. Taylor for Louis Mueller & Mickeska (sp?). Llano for Inman's & Cooper's. Lampasas on North Key Ave (US183/281) but can't recall the name off hand.

There are a wide number of places that I would not recommend and I'm sure I will come up with a few more to add to the good list.

Prauses BBQ in La Grange is great,
Ronnie's in Johnson City is good
Buzzies in Kerrville
Cal Bobs in Kerrville is amazing and very cheap. I fed ten hunters with two good homemade sides for 55.00$
Rudy's in Leon springs is over rated in my opinion.
Johnny's in Salado is good
Bog Hoss in Killeen is good
City market in Luling
Snows in Lexington is the best I've ever had

One good trip would be go to Austin get to Franklins 8:00AM eat at 11:00AM go to Southside Market in Elgin for dinner (in my opinion they are the capital of sausage in Texas!) then stop by Taylors on your way home Sunday For Lunch.

Jaspers in Waco..oldest BBQ joint in Texas..since 1915..Trey Caveza is the owner..ck it out!!

If the BBQ tour takes you to the Houston Area, be sure and visit Pizzatola's on Shepherd in Houston and The Pitmaster on Sawdust in the Woodlands.

Start with Pecan Lodge in Dallas
Head to Rendon...Jambos's BBQ Shack
Then to Stephenville for Hard Eight
On to Llano for Inman's
Then to Luling for City Market
Next is Lockhart for Black's and Smitty's
Up to Austin for Franklin's
On to Taylor for Louie Mueller
East to Huntsville for New Zion Missionary Baptist Church BBQ
Then head to Tyler and finish up at Stanley's

If no one has said it look up Blue Moon BBQ on OSR west of Normangee

Franklins 1st on the list....
Snows in Lexington 2nd....
Smittys in Lockhart
City market Luling
Blacks .......Meh
Kruez .....Hot links are ok
Coopers...Nope
Buzzys....naaa

[quote=dawaba]I've always fantasized doing the same thing, although a full week would be more like it.
A rough plan:

Down to Llano for Coopers,
then Dripping Springs for Salt Lick.
Austin....Franklins, LA BBQ, John Muellers.
Lulling for City Market.
Lockhart....Kruez, Blacks, Smittys.
Taylor.....Louis Mueller
Bryan....Fargos
Hearne and Toodies
Kirby's in Mexia
Baby Js in Palestine
Finish with Stanley's in Tyler.

Baby J's is no more. Didn't run his business like his pit.

Here's my rankings:

1. Franklins
2. Snows
3. Louie Muellers

Snows is in Lexington and Muellers is in Taylor ( 30 minutes way from each other ). You'd need to be a Snows around 8 am, then head over to Louie Muellers after. Drive down to Lockhart and hit up kruez's in the afternoon, and head to Salt lick in Dripping Springs if you can still eat anything for dinner. Salt Lick isn't the best by any means, but it's the atmosphere that makes it. Franklins has The BEST Brisket and is open on Sundays. You'll need to be in line by 8:30am (bring a fold out chair) you'll be waiting for 2 hrs but it's the best. Then you can head back to Dallas. If your're still hungry stop at Vitaks in Waco and order the "gut bomb".

That a lot of beef, ribs, and sausage for 24 hours, but IMO you and your buddy will never look at BBQ the same way again.

Lockhart for the big three and Snow's to round it out. I could also just go to Angelo's and drink beer with all the gas money saved.

Dang it Curly! You need to delete that post right now!
Ever since that dern poll came out i can't hardly get in
the door at Hutchins!!! All the BBQ tourists have taken over

Hey Guys, don't miss out on a Texas Monthly Best! Take the trip to Hutchins BBQ in McKinney.
Get a brisket sammich from the drive thru and go around the corner and try it. Then take your tail back around and go inside to finish up your feast on the ribs and sausage. The smoke ring and the peppery rub crust mixed with their sauce is some of the best you can ask for.
The only other one that comes close is Schopes in Belton.
Hutch serves good BBQ all day every day and what you get today will be just as good and consistent as you will get next time you go.
OH BY THE WAY..... their nanner pudding ain't too bad neither
PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY WORD, Take your tail up to McKinney and find out yerself!

HUNGRY now!!!

Llano for Inmans and while you are there get an apple pie and some smoked turkey sausage.
Drift wood for Salt Lick

About to try Lockharts in Plano, it is Daddy, Daughter night and we are in their area. Hope my girl likes it!

I love Lockharts in Dallas, in fact it's my new favorite. Two fat boys in Camp Wood is AWESOME!

It was very good, daughter loved it!