THIS is great Texas Q. I'm not knocking on other "legends of post oak" around Lockhart, Driftwood, Houston, or even Austin. Many are great, and I've come to learn there is no "best" since so many nuances of alchemical smoking can be fully appreciated. Blacks does have legendary brisket and beef ribs, I gotta say. Get yourself a dino bone and you and 4 friends are set. But squeeze in a little room for some slices from the point (aka marble, fatty cut). You will be glad you did, but I'm sorry for the meat sweats you'll have. It's still worth it. It's a heck of a drive for us since we aren't local, but you can bet your bootie we will always stop by if we come through the area...hell, it's worth at least a 15 mile detour even if you're not. read more

This review is for the brisket only, because that's the only thing I ate. In short, it was mind blowingly amazing. I got moist, and while I wish more of my cuts were a bit fattier, they were all amazing and delicious. I didn't need or want any sauce. Despite not trying anything else, you can see in the pics the ribs are the size of a dinosaur leg. THey have a really wide side selection- mac and cheese to beans to veggies to grits to cornbread to pie and everything in between and it all looked amazing. My friends also raved about the turkey, sausage and the ribs of course. Cannot wait to come back! read more

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A charming old-school barbecue business with a tremendous reputation as an original Lockhart mainstay of local barbecue. When you enter, you are greeted by a cafeteria-style line. Pickles and onions are offered for free, and other premium condiments and sides are displayed as purchasing options. Someone on the other side of the food grabs a plate for you and scoops portions of whatever you want onto that plate. After the sides, you get to the meat counter. We ordered beef rib, brisket, shoulder, and sausage. The beef rib was massive and pretty tender. Amongst the best I had, but definitely not the best due to a bunch of nitpicks. The brisket was a good flavor and moist enough. Again, amongst the best I had, but not the best. Shoulder had good flavor and texture. And the sausage was delicious. Black's is a solid example of Texas barbecue, and easy 5 stars anywhere outside of Texas. However, I was thinking 3.5 in Lockhart and maybe leaning towards 4 on account of the meat alone. Unfortunately I'm downgrading to 3 stars because the complimentary onions were not very fresh. There was a sort of slime between the layers, and the onions were going soft. read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Sausage, giant beef rib, chunk of brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Ventured down to the Original Black's BBQ in the heart of Texas's biggest BBQ town - Lockhart! First of all, the town was beyond cute - a great day trip if you're in Austin. As you enter the town, you begin to see all of the signs showcasing Black's original BBQ location. You can't miss it! Once you arrive, you walk in and are greeted by some of the staff waiting to tell you the deal. You start with your sides, then you finish with the meats. It's similar to a cafeteria line we're you can see aaaaaaall of the sides. I got the sweet potatoes (which I would personally call sweet potato casserole because they're covered in sugar and deliciousness) and potato salad. Honestly some of the best sweet potatoes I've ever had, I about licked the plate. I also got a 1/4 lb of brisket (don't mind the photo, I'd already dug in). My bf got the sausage as well. The inside of the restaurant is HUGE with plenty of seating (booths, tables, even a big cooler of meats if you want to take some extra home). Lots of history in this place (with photos of the Black family for many generations). Definitely worth the trip down just for the history within. Overall, great "home cooking" feel and taste. The staff is wonderful, there are so many side options, and the meat is center of it all. I give 4 stars because it's not the best brisket in the game, in my opinion. The serving I got when there was a little less moist than some other options, and the green beans that my BF got could have used a little more time to cook. All in all though, a must stop for a Texas BBQ world tour. read more

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Thought I wrote a review when I was there.‍ If you know Black's reputation, you already know that you're going to be eating some of the best BBQ in the state of Texas! Be sure to get the history lesson from Ms. Sue! You'll be glad you did. read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Delicious! Atmosphere was great! Highly recommend the green beans!! Service was by far the friendliest!

Very dry and lukewarm barbecue. Only thing that was good was the turkey and the beans. I would go back just for their beans, one of the best I've ever had. The had a good selection of sides to offer. We got a variety of different meats and sides to feed a family of 6. Spent about 120$. The turkey was fantastic! Had a good temperature and was not dry at all. I think the meat was on the cutting board for about half an hour before we got served, so it was not warm anymore and very dried out. The ambiance was a laid back bbq spot. You enter and order everything right away, then sit down and eat. I gave it 3 stars because the beans were so delicious. Otherwise this would've been a two for me. read more

The cashier with glasses and a hat was very rude. Made my experience here not the best. Although the food was good, unfortunately the customer service was not so great. Which made my experience not so hot. read more

Too much to talk about. Long story short, the food here is great. Best beef short rib ever. Texture was extremely tender, good smoke flavor and bark, perfect fat render. Super buttery and rich. One of the best sausage I have had. Super juicy when I bit into it. Comfortable flavor. Very meaty. Best I ever had. Brisket was incredible. One of my favorites. Lean was so tender, didn't even feel like lean. Good flavor. Pork spare ribs were okay. Good smoke and flavor. Texture was not very tender. Super stretchy fat. It was alright. All the sides were great. Comfortable and easy to eat. Overall, very good food. Enjoying atmosphere and building. Love the aesthetic. Felt homey. This place has been around since 1932. And wow, legendary. Visited a barbecue iconic joint. read more

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1 lb brisket; 1 dinosaur rib; 7 small sides: pinto beans, three-bean salad, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, potato salad, creamed corn, jalapeños; complimentary: onion, pickles, white bread, bbq sauce. $100 bucks. I loved everything. My husband was ehh about the bbq sauce, but they only offer the one kind. Sorry babe. They let me bring in a side salad that I'd just purchased from the deli down the street, with a "Well, of course you can!" attitude. I was preparing myself for a "No." But no, they are totally laid back. Love, love, love that. The place is clean, the restrooms are clean, and the people are super friendly. We have plenty of Black's BBQ in Austin, but we're glad to have made the Sunday drive out here for the orig. Thanks y'all. read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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First visit to the OG Black's was well worth the drive from Austin. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hit hard here in Texas, we greatly appreciated that the staff (and several guests) were wearing masks! On a Friday evening around 7pm, there was plenty of space and comfortable seating available. They've got quite a few parking spots right outside and just down the street. Of course, the food was excellent! I'll be bringing back my friends/family that aren't from TX for another round of dino ribs and brisket. My favorite side was the green beans, but the Mrs. enjoyed the cream corn and sweet potatoes. Make sure you take some to go. You (or your friends) will be happy about that the next time you get hungry! read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Dino rib and brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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I've wanted to do a BBQ tour through Lockhart for the longest time, and I finally made my first stop today at Black's. TL;DR - Absolutely amazing The entrance leads straight to the serving line where I was meeted by an absolutely wonderful older woman who was incredibly friendly and accomdating. Best. Attitude. Ever. I wanted to get a sampling of meats, so I ordered a link of sausage, a couple of slices of brisket and a couple of bones of spare ribs. For the sides, I got potato salad, cole slaw and a sweet cornbread muffin. And, of course, it's Texas - a few whole jalapenos are required. I also got a 'to go' order of banana pudding for Wonder Wife since that's her current favorite dessert. First with the sides: The cole slaw and potato salad were outstanding. The corn bread muffin was probably the least spectacular thing on the plate, but was still good. The meat: The spare rib was my least favorite meat on the plate. Don't get me wrong - it was very good. But, the sausage and brisket just outshone the rib. The sausage was very, very good. The filling is finely ground and there is no gristle or fat pockets - just lean ground meat. The flavor was excellent and I really enjoyed the texture. The brisket was... well, let's put it this way: Save the brisket for last because as soon as you take a bite, you'll forget everything else on the plate. Seriously. I think I took one more bite of sausage and didn't even touch the second rib. It's smokey, moist, tender, and delicious. I don't know if it's the best I've ever had, but it's definitely in the top two or three. It might be #1. But, at some point, it's just hard to rank excellence. Next time, I'm getting a beef rib. The dessert: Wonder Wife was gracious enough to allow me one small bite of the 16 oz banana pudding I brought home for her. It was wonderful! I hope to have another bite begrudgingly shared with me some time in the future. This place was worth the detour and I enjoyed every bit of it. read more

Excellent food selection. Knowledgeable waiter staff helped pick sides dishes. Old Texas country atmosphere with a old Family ambiance.

Good food and great atmosphere. The place was quiet, but we were in for an early lunch. It wasn't cheap, but the quality was excellent. Sides were good as well. read more

Worth every penny, every minute of my drive .. Black's is this real deal! Flavor on flavor, probably the tenderest rib I've ever had. On bite no pull, no grab, meat fell right of the bone. Sausage was amazing busting with flavor, cheese to meat ratio superb .. Brisket has a good taste as well. Overall it's a great place to grab some good barbecue if you're ever in the area. If you're not in the area in want to try .. it's worth the ride! read more

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Food was fantastic. My chicken was good, tender and juicy. But the portion was tiny. The downfall. There were two young ladies who kept hammering away at a table. These employees were given a hammer to learn how to work but not when you got customers trying to eat their little chicken. Both girls just hammering away right next to us. They would hit the nails like 6-7 times each. Yes, I counted. We did not enjoy a quiet dinner tonight. So so sad! read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

This place is amazing!! The staff is super friendly and the portions are TEXAS sized!! The brisket and ribs were tender, tasty and sooo good! There are a variety of sides to choose from. You will not be disappointed! read more

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This place stressed me out the beginning! Prepare yourself! You get in line.... Make sure you know what you are ordering before you get to the first counter. Maybe grab a glass of wine or a beer to calm the nerves. Are the first counter you grab your sides. Although I don't recommend the Mac n cheese, the potato salad is fabulous! We had the creamed corn and the green beans too. We tried all the meats! Brisket, beef rib, pork ribs, sausage and the cheese jalapeño sausage. All of it was worth the price! The beef rib was the best thing I have eaten in Austin for BBQ! There process was efficient and got us in and out. Their cobbler was tasty and easy to reheat later because we were so full after the epic meat meal! Would 100% make this stop again next time I visit Austin! read more

Big open space plenty of seating. Typical Texas Free Cup. Three of us went for lunch and each got a plate total $89 for lunch. Meat and three sides. I got brisket, mac, green beans and cream corn. First you ALREADY know brisket better look right, have the flavor and be juicy. Looked good, smelled good, salty burnt outside, looked juicy, by the time I carried my tray to table lean part of brisket was dry BUT other pieces good. Flavor was good but definitely wouldn't say best brisket. Mac was ok, creamy but not cheesy, noodles a little over cooked and missing flavor. Cream corn was good, it has bits of bacon and needed salt but tasty. Green beans good flavor, lots of onion, very salty. Clean bathroom and open area. Everyone super friendly. read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Cup, brisket, ribs, cream corn, green beans and mac. - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Just...top 5 BBQ spot! Its just SO dang good every. Single. Time! I'll be eating that Flintstone's dino bone for the next week!

This is the original Black's BBQ restaurant. We liked it more than the other one. I had a half slab of pork ribs, cream corn, and green beans. The ribs were delicious. Could have been juicier but the taste was in point. Their creamed corn is something we don't have much of in the RGV which is too bad. I got my wife liking it now and she judges the restaurant on that alone. If ever in Lockhart Texas, I recommend Black's BBQ whole heartedly! read more

Very tasty. I'd show you my plate but there is nothing but bones left. The smoked Chicken and pork ribs were delicious. Beans and potato salad were good with the beans being slightly better as to me the potato salad was a little on the bland side. Sides are a little pricy at $3.15 ea. Two plates (one with .82 lbs of pork ribs) both with 2 sides each and two iced teas right at $48.00. No bbq is cheap anymore but this place was worth every penny and we will be back. The side service person let us know side prices up front and was super nice. The meat cutter and register person were fast, efficient, and very nice. The seating area was clean and the layout worked well. Bread, pickles and sliced onion available and bbq sauce on the table with lots of napkins. Definitely be back read more

All I wanted to try was the beef ribs herd good things about them I didn't care for them they were very tuff seaning was good all there sides look gross they are expensive for beef ribs I think unfortunately i didn't like the bbq in Lockhart read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Holy smokes, the brisket (had the fatty) was amazing! The smoke ring + the cook created a slice that just melted.. There are sides, hot & cold, were great. The jalapeño sausage had a slow heat and was fantastic. Highly recommend . You know the food is delicious when a crowded dining room is quiet. read more

Best bbq in the WHOLE entire world!!!! Best smells, best flavors, best rice, sides, friendlies staff. You'll never forget. I haven't been in years and I still have never forgotten!! Core memory food. read more

Barbecue capital doesn't disappoint. We enjoyed our meal at the blacks. All the meats are tender, juicy and full of flavors. The baby back ribs are the star of the show. Sausage is a bit loose but the flavor is wonderful. There was a line at 3:30pm on Wednesday but it moved pretty fast. There are plenty of parking near the restaurant. It was also nice to stroll around the historical downtown of Lockhart. read more

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The food was horrible. The sausage tastes like ground hamburger and uncooked. The brisket was full of fat and extremely expensive for 2 slices. I would not recommend this restaurant. read more

Second time that I have been there amazing food. I tried their big diner rib. It was amazing side wonderful.

This review is for the Lockhart location. Visit was on a Sunday morning shortly after opening.

I've traveled to the area for years and heard about blacks multiple times so I finally gave in and visited. Sadly, I was incredibly disappointed. I had sausage and the beef rib. The rib was fatty and so salty I drank and gallon of water. I found the sausage to be very dry, like it was cooked a while before and had been sitting there. Beans were ok but not the best I've had in the area. No recommendation for me on this one read more

Wow, that's some brisket. This place has been operated by the same family for almost a century. Everything is delicious. Service is friendly. There's plenty of seating. Lockhart is a very cute town with lots of interesting little shops to explore. read more

We stopped here on our trip as my husband is obsessed with BBQ. It certainly did not disappoint!! The meat is "fall of the bone" juicy and flavorful! The sides are the usual fare - at some point I wish a bbq restaurant would add some variety for those of us that are not as BBQ obsessed (like me !) but hey! no one is coming here just for the sides! Yes it is a bit pricey but truly great food is worth the price tag! read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Best BBQ in Lockhart on my account. I love their choice of sides and drinks. True restaurant style and great patio sand indoor seating. Kids can walk around and everyone is so friendly! read more

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Great service...really good BBQ . The brisket is magic! Pork ribs are a 8/9 out of 10. read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Merch - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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Always the best BBQ, especially the sausage. The friendliest staff. There's nothing quite the comfort food of Black's. ​ read more

At best this bbq was mid. It was disheartening considering that Lockhart is considered the BBq capital of Texas. This was named one of the top 3 spots here. The brisket was as dry as a Popeyes biscuit. Had to drink tea as I took each bite just to make sure I didn't choke. The pork ribs were smoked well but way too dry and I had to use bbq sauce to give it some moisture. Potatoes salad and Mac n cheese were really good and the sweet tea felt as if I was gonna have diabetes (that's the best way to have it) The lady who did the sides and the cashier were nice but the butcher's manners were not southern like. Overall I hope the other two spots are better than here or I'm calling for a recall on votes and ask for another city to be the BBQ Capital of Texas. read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Pork Pork Baby Back Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

This was our first time at Black's BBQ and it was delicious! We ordered a slice of chicken, beef brisket, a pork rib and an original sausage. The meats were all perfectly smoked, lean with very little fat, and moist. The hubby and I shared the meat but got our own sides. I had the black eyed peas and a creamed corn with bacon while the hubby had mashed potatoes with brown gravy and potato salad. The corn was delicious and I could have eaten more of it! The black eyed peas were good but I found them somewhat bland and wished they were a bit more seasoned. The mashed potatoes with gravy were a hit with the hubby and he said they were a perfect combo with his meal. He liked the potato salad but said it tasted a bit different than any other southern potato salad he had ever had. We also shared a container of banana pudding and it was divine! We ate before I thought about taking pictures. Overall excellent and we will be back! read more

Landmark BBQ restaurant in Lockhart that (likely) started it all in Texas. Like Grimaldis for pizza or Anchor Bar for buffalo wings, it's very good for being a solid baseline for Texas brisket--but chances are you probably already know a place back home (if you're Texan) that edges it better. read more

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Came by late morning on a cool/rainy Saturday to find no line and not many sitting inside or out. Staff was patient and helpful and covid wise it felt as comfortable as you could ask for in terms of employees being safe and having the rules applied for patrons. Meat wise we tried the beef ribs, brisket, turkey, and both varieties of sausage (original and jalapeno cheddar). I haven't had too many beef ribs to compare to, but theirs was super rich and smokey. It had just the right amount of fattiness where it didn't completely overwhelm the smokiness you'd like. The brisket is the main reason I can't give my experience 5 stars. It was shockingly drier than the turkey and when compared to the rib was really lacking in smokiness. While the meal was great overall, I don't think you can justify giving a Texas BBQ joint 5 stars if the brisket is lacking. Both the turkey and sausage were pleasant surprises. The jalapeno cheddar sausage is probably the best sausage I've had since moving to Texas. It had just the right balance of spice from the pepper and rich oozy cheddar flavor. Both sausages also had a unique smokey and peppery kick that really stood out compared to the small differences I've found between most BBQ sausages. The turkey was much more moist and flavorful than I expected. I like that they have such a wide variety of side options available compared to most BBQ spots I've been to near Austin. Unfortunately it did fall in line with my other experiences where the sides are all okay, but certainly no must orders from the handful we tried. Overall I thought the meal was great, but I don't think it's necessarily worth going out of your way for. read more

Black's Barbecue Lockhart - Pinto Beans and Black Eyed Peas - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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I really like the ambience. Everyone was friendly. Service was great! I had the pork ribs, brisket, sausage and potato salad. The food was so tasty! Thank you. read more