Novel Atmosphere and unique experience. You pick your meats, then your sides, and then comes the free baked beans and dill pickles afterwards. I tried the pork ribs and they were very good. You pay by the pound for the meat. Sides were $5.50 each, but they gave me two half's for the same price. I tried the potato casserole and mac & cheese. They were both pretty good. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Went to Coopers on a recommendation and it did not disappoint. I'm a huge fan of smoked turkey and this one was excellent, super moist and flavorful. Definite Texas feel inside and you get to choose the sides you want I had the green beans and Cole slaw. You order you food and pay and go and sit but all The people working were very nice and friendly. I will be back. read more

We were sorely disappointed by this barbecue spot. We got one quarter of a pound of brisket and one half of a pound of pork ribs. They eyeball it and cut it. I did not see them weigh it. The brisket was overly salty. The pork ribs were alright, and the potato casserole was okay as well. Certainly not worth $50 for two people. They ask for a tip at checkout when you have to add toppings, get bread, and get sauce by yourself, and clean everything up by yourself. Taking both the price and quality into account, this is probably my least favorite barbecue restaurant in Austin that I have been to. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Brisket, Pork Ribs, Potato Casserole, Boiled Corn - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great experience here today dining for an early dinner with my husband and daughter. We enjoyed the brisket most of all! Cooked to perfection and you could cut it with a fork. The ribs were yummy and so was the cheese and jalapeño sausage. It was so cool how they have all the meats displayed! The Mac and cheese was delicious as well as the potato salad (more like a cold mashed potato- we never had it this way!). Lastly the corn bread was the perfect ending to our bbq meal! read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

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They just celebrated their 10 year anniversary and it's as good as ever. The original location has been around since 1962 the Wootan family makes sure this location is as good or better than the original. Managers Eddie, Matt, Darrelle, and Oscar are always around checking on everyone. What sets this location apart from all the others is the bar staff. Not only are they incredibly good looking but they know just what to serve you to make your meal even more enjoyable. I know most of the staff have been around since the beginning or shortly afterwards. Is this day and age that's a rarity that is much appreciated. Upstairs there is a lounge and banquet area big enough for most any convention crowd. Whenever you're there tell them Big Jim sent ya and let them treat you to an amazing experience. read more

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Let's just say this BBQ was so awesome, I hit it up two nights in a row...I have eaten a tremendous amount of BBQ and I can attest there is no better beef rib than Coopers. Although Terry Black is close, I believe these ribs are a bit more charred and Smokey. The grill corn on the cob was fantastic too. The icing on the cake is the amazing local favorite Hazy IPA-Jellyfish. If there is anything I think they could add would be a second BBQ sauce option like many do in E.TX. Maybe a mustard or sweeter sauce. Their sauce is solid, but a bit stronger on tangy/vinegar side to say "perfect!" read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - 2nd night with incredible beans. Pretty tasty sausage too. - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

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It was decent BBQ, but I asked for a normal amount of food which I received. I don't know how a normal BBQ lunch of brisket and a beef rib came to $70? I asked her to double check and she verified yes this is what you ordered. Didn't weigh it again or anything, because there is no way. I wish I had just left. Writing this review to warn people to check prices here otherwise you'll end up with $30 worth of food and they charge you $70. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Average amount of food for one person - $70? - be careful here !! Tourist trap - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

Been coming here for 50 years, and I live 400 miles away in Louisiana. Nothing better for traditional Texas smoked BBQ. Everyone rushes to the new age spots that Texas Monthly puts on their annual top 50 list and wait for hours to get in. Here today and gone tomorrow. Cooper's has been a staple and remains a Texas legend. The jalapeño beans are a meal by themselves, but save room for the meat. You can eat on it for days and just as good as it is right off the spit. That's a testament to the quality of the meat and the long smoking process. Their classic rub is the only one I use when I'm grilling at home. read more

Man, this place was fire! Doing a BBQ restaurant cafeteria-style is such a smart idea, everyone gets exactly what they want, and the service is lightning fast. The BBQ was delicious and a great value for the price, plus the portions were huge, everyone went home with leftovers. The whole setup makes for a fun, easygoing dining experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Brisket, Potato Salad, Corn on Cobb, Pickles - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

TLDR: Cooper's downtown has great sides, solid desserts, and a lively vibe, but the barbecue is salty, bland, and overpriced. Worth a visit for atmosphere, not for meat; best enjoyed on someone else's dime. Overview: Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que has brought its famous barbecue from Llano to downtown Austin. Located on Congress Avenue, the space itself captures a classic Texas vibe with exposed brick walls, picnic tables, and a big wooden bar. Ordering is cafeteria style, where meats are cut to order and served by the pound, and there is a self-serve station for bread, beans, and condiments. Before you visit, keep in mind that being downtown, parking is very limited. Food: I sampled a little of everything: brisket, sausage, and the weekend-only prime rib, along with mac and cheese, coleslaw, cornbread, banana pudding, and peach cobbler. The brisket was disappointing, with the end piece I received turning out overly salty to the point of overshadowing its natural flavor. There was some beefiness there, but none of the smokiness you'd expect from Texas brisket. The sausage was fine, cooked well enough but ultimately unremarkable. The prime rib, despite its impressive cut, was bland even if it was tender. The sides and desserts were the highlight of the meal. Each one felt like a faithful, straightforward take on a classic. The mac and cheese was thick, creamy, and cheesy, seasoned well enough to avoid being bland. The coleslaw had the right crunch and balance of creaminess. The cornbread carried the right flavor profile, though it was a bit dry. The desserts were strong too: the peach cobbler was warmly spiced and sweet, though the crust could have used more crunch, and the banana pudding stood out with soft wafers and fresh banana slices. Final Thoughts: While Cooper's nails the atmosphere and serves sides and desserts that are well executed, the barbecue itself falls short, especially given the steep prices. With brisket at around $40 per pound, prime rib over $50 per pound, and sausage near $25 per pound, the value just doesn't line up with the quality. For a city with such a strong barbecue scene, it's hard to justify choosing Cooper's for the meat alone. If you're downtown and looking for a lively spot with classic sides and a fun vibe, it works, but otherwise, this feels like a place best saved for the corporate card rather than a personal splurge. read more

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The brisket is good it isn't as good as Terry Blacks or Franklins. But I like the dining experience here the best. They have what the Terry Blacks Austin location lacks...a bar to sit at with draught beer - and the bartender is great and friendly. I give the brisket 4* but everything else is 5*. Try the bacon jalapeno mac & cheese and the bread pudding. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Sign - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Someone asked me to bring them good Brisket. Coopers was recommended. While the brisket was tender and melted in your mouth it was over salted. I love salt, but even for me it was too much. The prices are steep, but the meats are generally good. The sides are yummy. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Different meats - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food was great and loved the whole vibe. Its right in downtown so very accessible. You order by weight or pieces that are available. I went 40 mins before closing but still got to experience their amazinggg sausages and pork chops! Totally recommend. One of the most hyped bbq in city and the place lived up to it. Quick service and loved their mac and cheese side. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

As my other reviews explain, my husband and I are on a bbq kick while we both do keto diets for a month. This week we biked along Lady Bird Lake and took a stop at Cooper's. I'd been years ago, and remembered it was ok. Still, my verdict is ok. It serves its role as being an authentic bbq spot for downtown tourists and businesspeople, but us locals are better off going to other spots. We got our usual brisket, turkey, and chicken. The turkey was a little dry but had a strong peppery flavor. The skin was the best part. The brisket met the minimum requirements for Texas brisket, but didn't go above and beyond. The chicken was dry, but one drumstick was enjoyable. I showed my husband the upstairs dining room, and we got a seat by the window, looking down on Congress below us. In the private room next to us, we could hear what sounded like some sort of livestock association awards meeting, which truly added to the ambience. That being said, the ambience is already on point. It's rustic, with ample space and seating. I discovered they even have a patio out back, which I'd never noticed before. Normally I like to sit outside, but I was hot from our bike ride, so sitting in air conditioning was a welcome break. I was hungry enough that the dinner was enjoyable, but given the choice, I'd choose other bbq spots over Cooper's. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Brisket Half Chicken Turkey - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great food, atmosphere and drinks. Had the brisket, chicken, Coleslaw and Mac and cheese...really good, not overly salty

We had our wedding lunch here with our loved ones and everything was great. From the food, to the service, to the place itself, it was a great choice for our big day. Great hospitality from everyone working here. They made sure we were satisfied with everything as well as making our life's easier in any way they could. Food is absolutely delicious! Dare I say best bbq I've ever tried! Would definitely recommend for a quick everyday meal or as a place to host an event. read more

The type of barbecue that you can get all day long and not a type of place that sells out like most other bbq spots leaves you kind of questioning things. The barbecue was fine. Was it something i would get again if we were in town again. Most definitely not. I thought the sauce area was odd. There wasn't like an array of sauces to go with your food to see what would be best just hot barbecue sauce in a bucket. We can say we tried it along with franklins and not one thing from this place stood out to be remembered other than the fact they don't sell out of meats and weird hot barbecue sauces. Just not my cup of tea. read more

So disappointed. Brought friends from out of town. First, the pit master completely over sold how much meat a table of four would need. We kept telling him not to add so much and no beef ribs. He seemed angry and told us this brisket and beef ribs is what Texas barbecue is all about. Thanks for the schooling, I've only lived here 65 years. The pork ribs were horrible. Over cut and way way over salted. The sausage was ok as was the brisket. The beef ribs were very fatty and not in a melts in your mouth kind of way. All this and sides for $215. There are too, many option for great BBQ in this town for any thing like our experience. read more

A great vibes restaurant and a good location, the food however was not as great as everything else. Austin BBQ has some very big heavy hitters and this place compared to those fell flat. The meats were all very okay, flavored decently but nothing crazy to write home about. Not the most tender and not the most flavorful in Austin. The best part of the meal was the mac and cheese as they had a spicy version which was different and unique in the best way possible. I left disappointed in the food experience in the end. If you are stuck downtown, this is not a bad option for a meal but this is not the best Austin BBQ experience. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

Best barbecue ever First time in Cooper's Thomas, the pitmaster, recommended the brisket and the beef rib Got them both of course Did not disappoint Thank you !!! :) read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

5 stars just for the free beans!! You can also get as many bread slices as you like. The brisket was perfect. what i didn't love is that we ordered a half pound of two meats, but was given .75 lbs of each and therefore paid for a lot more than we expected. Felt a little bamboozley. but again, everything was still very delicious. The atmosphere is very cool with plenty of seating too. read more

Had the turkey, lean brisket, and sausage with corn on the cob and Mac and cheese sides. Food was great and great atmosphere. Service was fast and it's fun to pick your meat out of the pit! read more

This place was great! It's a good barbecue right in the city near the river walk without a huge line. We got the brisket, sirloin, jalepeno cheddar sausage, and a beef rib. The beef rib was a crowd favorite as well as the brisket and the sirloin. These meats were amazingly juicy and flavorful!! The only thing was that the sausage was sort of dry but everything else was fantastic. I loved how they had white bread for grabs on the side with other condiments too. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

Yeah there are better bbq places in Austin BUT if you are stuck at the convention center and you have to take a group of folks to some place where everyone can find something then Cooper's is a great place. I like the bbq too! Unpretentious and common large tables--hey rub elbow with people. Relax. Go with it. If you want posh, this not the place. The bar has an even better vibe. Get your meal and sit there if you want a bit more privacy. I love how they cut the meat at the pit, and how that confuses so many people. Recommend the wet brisket and sausage, great tasty combo. My favorite part of the meal is the bean pot--get your pintos here, and white bread, and add peppers, onions, whatever you need. Add some of their great sauce to the pintos too. Perfect. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Of course get a longneck at the bar - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

WOW! We were actually walking to another restaurant for dinner after checking out the bats at the bridge and walk right past Coopers. Looking in the door, we decided this was the spot to for dinner tonight. We grabbed a couple seats at the bar to watch the Sunday night football game and made our choices before getting in line. The ordering was super easy as you walked down the line. We selected some brisket and pork tenderloin. Added the Mac & cheese, green beans, pinto beans and cornbread. All had wonderful flavors and for two people, it was a bit too much. We did save room for the blackberry cobbler which was awesome. The staff were super friendly and helpful. The place had an old bar style feel with plenty of tables to seat your self. I have saved this place in my favorites for the next time we are in town. Make sure you check them out and give them a try. Enjoy! read more

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It's no secret Austin and surrounding areas is the BBQ mecca of Texas. On a recent birthday trip to Austin, my friends and I needed some heavy food after a pretty epic night out the night before. Now you have your big name spots around town, but we weren't about that waiting in line life that particular day. We searched for BBQ joints nearby to our Airbnb in downtown and found Cooper's. Truth be told, I nor anyone in my large party had heard of this place. The large amount of favorable reviews just confirmed I still have alot to learn about the BBQ scene in this city. Parking is a bit challenging considering this location is in downtown. We paid for parking nearby in a private lot. This is a counter service type of place. You walk up to the front and by everything a la carte essentially. They have this huge area off to the right with all the meats. You pick an item and how much of it you want. They weigh it and wrap it up in brown wax paper. This is usually a sign of good BBQ in my opinion. They got all the meats, too many to name. I went with my two faves of moist brisket and jalapeno cheddar sausage. Like the meats, they got all kinds of sides too. I went with jalapeno bacon mac & cheese and green beans (gotta have something green). All this got plopped down on a tray and I self served my sweet tea. We were lucky enough to snag a huge table with bench like seating. Everyone sat in silence for a bit because the food was just hitting. I thought everyone was just hung over, but it was because of how good the food was. I really liked everything about the choices I made. Of course we picked the amount of meat we got, but everyone had leftovers which we demolished that night. I would love to try their OG location in Llano just for research purposes. If you are trying to avoid the crowds and just want to satisfy that craving for smoked meats, you should check this place out. I would definitely keep it as an option next time I am in town. read more

Amazing BBQ and great service. Pick your protein and add a side. Plus there is a full bar! Brisket and turkey were delish! The cobblers all looked AH-MAZING. read more

Food was delicious, but the process in ordering was not great great. My husband dined alone on May 22 and it was his first time visiting this restaurant. He said the food was very delicious, but you walk up to a counter to order the food. He told them what weight he wanted for the food and when he got to the cashier, his bill was $94, he stated to the cashier he wasn't exactly sure why because he had only ordered 3/4 a pound of brisket and one beef rib that was supposed to be less than a pound. At the register, he was told that he had 1.2 pounds of brisket and over a pound of beef rib and when he told the cashier that that wasn't correct, that's not what he ordered. The cashier told him because the food was already wrapped. There was nothing she could do about it, and he would be responsible for the payment. He didn't feel like he could argue Because of the line behind him, but he definitely felt like this was a bait and switch kind of tactic where they were giving the customers more food than they ordered and then they're just kind of stuck with it. I will say that the food was delicious. I'm going to include the picture of the $94 meal. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - $94 plate of food - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

Service - everyone was super sweet and helpful. If you haven't been in the rest before they have a unique method for ordering your food. They sell everything by the pound. Ribs- they were so salt. Inedible for me. I peeled over the outer layer and ate the inside meat. Brisket - it is moist and tasty. They were voted best in Texas/Austin in 2018. Sides are fine but nothing to write home about. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

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* More like 3.5 * Walking distance if you're staying downtown. Price is high per lb and I want to say, mainly catered to tourists. The team behind the counter are friendly and patient. There's a self-serve bar with sauce, beans and onions. As for the food itself, it was very salty, from the brisket to the ribs. Cheddar sausage was the standout. The sides were decent but small. Atmosphere is old-town country cabin vibes which brings back old Austin vibes. One time thing for me. read more

We mentioned we were going to Terry Black's for dinner and a local suggested Cooper's instead for their larger meat selections. Agreeable to trying a new place our party of 5 went to Cooper's. The menu was impressive and the staff very friendly offering suggestions The meats were cut too thick, some cold and dry. The best side was the baked potatoes Most of the sides were disappointing being too spicy or overcooked. Can't recommend Cooper's over Terry Black's. read more

A fun place to get BBQ downtown. Walking distance from our hotel -- and a host of others. Hit this spot before strolling down to 6th Street. I admit I am not from Texas and no one would call me a BBQ expert, but I have taste buds and an opinion and this place is great. Staff was also very cool -- especially with some noobs who didn't know how to order at a pit. Almost came back the next day except we also had BBQ at the wedding we attended and my wife cut off anymore BBQ. That's OK. I still love her. read more

Wish I could've given 5 stars. The quality just did not meet the mark this time around. The first time I visited in 2023 the line was out the door and the bbq spoke for itself. Fast forward to 2026 and I didn't get the same quality of meat or vibes. read more

I'm so happy I found Cooper's on Yelp. We were visiting Austin from San Francisco and wanted BBQ. The place is spacious with lots of picnic tables and seating at the bar. If you're getting food, get in line, place your order and seat yourself. We ordered brisket, beef ribs, sausage, coleslaw, potato salad, apple cobbler and banana cream pudding. They have a station with complimentary beans, BBQ sauce, pickles, jalapeños and bread. To go containers are readily available too. Everything was delicious. It was the best meal we had during our trip. The servers are fun and friendly. Griffin, our bartender, was the best. Service was on point. Loved how he greeted incomers and instructed them to get in line and seat yourself. Will definitely tell friends about Cooper's. read more

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A meal such as this only prances into my peripheral once in a blue collar moon, and today, the stars aligned in glorious, all-American, artery compacting fashion. The jalapeño cheddar sausage was my primary target, opting to engage in a half pound glizzy operation paired with jalapeño cheddar Mac n cheese for enhanced diarrheazation. If I'm going down with the ship, might as well make sure I'm at full mast before the tides come to take me. The complimentary brown baked beans made this bean boy absolutely beanboozled with glee. The savory, sodium suited frijoles filled my mouth with jubilant abundance. The seasoning, exquisite. The texture, malleable and mushy. Beans: Conquered, extracting to next OZ. The sausage snapped with juicy ruptures and melted upon my taste buds, absorbing effortlessly into my gullet. My peers opted to share in their bountiful harvest, allowing me to share in morsels of brisket, ribs, and corn bread. A trifecta of cardiovascular disruption that will no doubt take decades off my lifespan. WORTH. read more

Get the sirloin steak. Be aware: you order all of the food, by the pound, at the counter, like a deli. Then you eat it off of wax paper. Ribs were a bit salty. Baked potatoes, too. read more

Not sure why all the bbq places seem to close on Monday, but we didn't have many choices when we arrived in Austin. The family wanted bbq, and we weren't able to find any parking when we got to Terry Black's, and Franklin's was closed. We were near downtown and found that this location of Cooper's was open. We were welcomed by the bartender when we walked in and he explained how to order. It's cafeteria style, we go to the pit master and tell him how much of what meat we wanted. Then we go to the cold counter and order our sides (salads, cornbread, cobbler, etc.) and then pay. At the end, there's self serve drinks (pay at the counter first), and free beans, white bread, pickles and onions, etc. There are plenty of picnic tables to dine at, and there's a full bar if you want some adult beverages with your meal. We got the brisket, beef ribs, chicken and sausage. Food was flavorful and juicy. Sides were ok. My husband liked the cornbread, but it was a bit dry for me. Glad we were able to try some TX bbq! read more

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Came here on a recommendation from a local though she admitted later she hasn't been in several years. Things must have changed. Service was lacking and they have no patience for questions. This place is way overpriced for the quality and the food was not good. The brisket at $35 per pound was 1/2 fat and not very flavorful. The warm bbq sauce they keep in a kettle was very different and not in a good way. The potato salad was bad and tasted like cold mashed potatoes. No potato chucks. Just all mashed with some diced veggies. It was dead at lunch time downtown on a busy summer Wednesday so we should have thought twice and turned around. I would not recommend unless your only goal is bbq without a line. read more

Overall: 5/10 Food: 6/10 Service: 5/10 Atmosphere: 5/10 Value: 4/10 Decent Bbq but far from the best in Austin. You order everything ala carte which starts with your meat selections. It's VERY challenging to know how much you're actually spending. Basically you learn once you get to the register at the end. It's shared picnic table seating, the beans are included along with the other bbq condiments. The picture shows everything got and how it is served on your tray. Found this place is pretty expensive for what you get and the quality of the food. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Prime Rib, Turkey, Pork Ribs, grilled corn, green beans, pinto beans, salads and all the BBQ fixins'. - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

Dined at this location which is right downtown off Congress and 3rd. No reservations needed. As soon as you enter you will be expected to pick your meats so have a loose game plan. We opted for beef ribs, brisket and sausage with cheese. Upon getting our meats, someone weight them and wrapped them for us. We proceeded to the cold items and then hot items. For sides we got corn bread, Mac and Cheese and Green Beans. Our total was $60 dollars for two people. After paying we found a spot on a shared picnic table. Before diving into our meats, we checked out the free items and grabbed some complimentary white bread, bbq sauce, beans, pickles, onions and ice cold water. Our food was delicious. We ate every thing and was happy that we didn't quite over do it as we don't have a microwave in our hotel room. The beef ribs were so tender. They needed no sauce. The cheese sausage as good but spicy which I liked. The brisket was good too but slightly fatty. All the sides were good, Mac and cheese was just okay but the free pinto beans made up for that. Before leaving we grabbed some peach cobbler which was recommended over banana pudding. Delicious items but would have paired great with ice cream. All in all, would hands down recommend this bbq joint. Definitely research meats before you enter and don't go overboard because price can add up quickly. Can take items to go and they have doggie bag supplies. Tip: Make sandwich with that brisket as free bread, sauce/onions/pickles are provided. read more

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