GR8!!!!!!!! is the keyword of this review lol I AM NOW YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADER!!!! Recently I took my husband on a trip through Texas to eat some of the best rated food .... Well Cooper's ~ You are Now #1 in our BBQ BOOK !!!!! We went to Black's Original in Lockhart and neither of us felt like it held a candle to Cooper's (may have been a bad day) We made a special detour to go through Llano on the way back. Your sides are SO GR8!!! Service SO GR8!!! Added sides pickles onions beans etc an added bonus !!! Pecan Cobbler .... to die for /LOVE!!!! And all the sauces and spices and swag is GR8!!! KEEP UP THE GR8 WORK I WILL PROMOTE YOU GUYS ALWAYS!!!! Christoval Cooper's is also GR8!!!! read more

We paid almost $300 for 6 lbs of brisket, link of sausage, pint of potato salad and pint of beans. They automatically added a $40 top, which we changed when paying. The brisket was so disappointing we couldn't eat it. We asked for " moist brisket" which has fat marbling. What we got was like last week's leftovers. It's was tough, dry, stringy, and lots of charred pieces. It was gross. Never again. Threw the meat out to the dogs. read more

Food was amazing ,,, getting to choose the type of meat... our favorite was the huge pork chop! Then add sauce if you want. Even choose the burnt ends! The sides to die for , liked the potato casserole or Mac n cheese! But gotta save room for the cobblers... our favorite was the blackberry! read more

Coopers doesn't disappoint. Great selection of smoked meats, choices of hot sides and free bacon-blessed pinto beans. Then there's the cheddar - absolutely melts in your mouth with a very sharp cheddar flavor. If you're a cheese fan, don't miss it. Do lunch. BBQ is too heavy for dinner. read more

See all

I'm not going back. The brisket was dry,.tough and came with a big blob of inedible fat. The beans were horribly salty. And that was $27 for one and I threw more than half away. Sorry, reputation isn't going to be sufficient to change my mind. Has this place gone terribly downhill? read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Brisket, really sub par.... - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

Love eating here! Being able to pick which meat I want a cut from is the best experience ever! The guy cutting the portion and the other guy slicing it for eating both did a great job! I love the simple setup, with free beans, their home made sauce, and open pepper jars. Super delicious all around. Wish I had taken the time to take a picture to share. read more

Cooper's has good food, decent tho not so cheap prices anymore, and friendly service making this one of my go to places for bbq when we visit family in the Austin and the surrounding area. Pretty much a chose what you want as you go thru the line kind of place, it's a no frills donning experience in a casual room setting with a roll of paper towels and a gallon sized container pickled jalapeños on the bench seating. They even have a pot of beans and a pot of their bbq sauce, pickles, onions, and white bread, all self serve. We had the usual brisket, pork chop, and jalapeño and cheese sausage. All were good. The pork chop was really good last time, so we got it again, and it didn't disappoint. The pork chop was the highlight of the meal. The brisket was not. Little over cooked and dry. We finished off the meal with cobblers, peach and pecan. Will we be back, most definitely next time we're in the area. Only thing I wish they'd provide is a different bbq sauce. Theirs is different, very thin, and not huge flavors. read more

See all

100% I recommend this place. Best BBQ in all of Texas. Your life will never be the same... read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Best meat in miles! - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

See all

Every time I get a chance passing through Llano, I always stop in for some good bbq. I would definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for a good lunch. I especially love their brown beans. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Brisket, ribs and sausage - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

Went trout fishing with my best friend for my birthday. We decided to give Cooper's try based on reputation even though several BBQ places had better reviews. I had brisket and turkey breast, he had brisket and pork ribs. We both agreed that the turkey and ribs were very good, but both agreed that the brisket was very mediocre, very fatty and stringy. Sides were tasty, but didn't make up for the brisket. We were expecting a lot more for the price we paid. Between the two of us the total price was $102. We didn't see prices on anything, I guess we should've asked. Probably would try a different BBQ place next time we're in Llano. read more

Brisket and a baked potato, probably the BEST BBQ I've had, we fly into the local airport as a refuel point and this is the stop, we chose this tiny airport partially just because of Coopers. I've been to the Coopers in AUS as well, same name but no where near as good as Llano. read more

Stopped in and grabbed Cooper's BBQ to-go when I was passing thru from Fredericksburg to San Saba. First, you order your meat out by the pit. They sell it by pound and order fulfillment is cut my eyesight (a little heavy handed in my opinion). They slap it on a tray then it is weighed inside. When you walk up, the smoke smell is exactly what pit-smoked bbq should smell like. Your mouth waters immediately. How's the taste? Okay. Here's my take on Cooper's. 1. It's expensive but thankfully, they offer 0% financing for 6-months so we decided to order anyway. I'm kidding of course but bring your wallet!! 2. The brisket is VERY tender. Literally falls apart. Good flavor but needs more bark. 6/10 3. Turkey had a good flavor. Closer to the skin had better taste. 7/10 4. The sauce is runny and more vinegar taste. 6/10. It's just not my thing. 5. Ribs were good too. 7/10 6. Potato salad was good. Beans were EXCELLENT. Had some kick. Really flavorful. Bottom line - Would we eat it again? Yes. Also, if you really want to fit in, don't forget your cowboy hat. read more

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

See all

We were new to this restaurant and needed training! Everyone was so warm and happy to explain their process. Each employee greeted us when we walked in and when we left...even one of them that was eating his lunch! It's family style picnic bench seating. They have all the condiments you could need on the table and at a couple stations. Also have complimentary beans, which my husband said were fantastic. We loved every bit of our meal and the southern hospitality just put it over the top! read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Chicken, brisket, cole slaw, corn on the cob and delectable cornbread! - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

Very expensive, brisket is $23 for half a pound, half a sausage $10 and about $9 per rib. The sides are pretty high too for 8 ounce size $5.25. However, you do get all the beans, sauce, pickles, jalapeños, bread, you can eat. The sauce is some of the best and I love to dip my bread in it. Don't think I could afford to come here all the time but a couple of times a year is about it. Love picking the bbq off the pit, and it is really good bbq. read more

Stopped in on a suggestion from a friend. WOW! Great Texas BBQ. They cut into that turkey breast and you see the juices shoot out, they're doing it right! Had brisket and green beans, family style seating. Spoke with a retired couple from Kansas City, KS. The husband said Coopers beef ribs changed his life. Will be back again soon! read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Cooper's Llano TX serving pit. - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

Cooper's Llano is one of those "Best of the Best" places. No matter who you are, or which style is your favorite, or if the prices here scare you; do yourself a big favor and stop-in anyway. Everything here is from very good to just wonderful. Stick with the beef, especially the beef ribs. Yes, the brisket is great, too. But I can get decent brisket all over. Since Lone Star Cafe in the RGV has closed, Cooper's is THE place to get yourself some great ribs. Make you swear-off County Line BBQ & Mikeska's forever. Don't miss this real Central Texas classic ! Rick read more

My Husband Played a round of Golf at Llano River Golf Course. He decided to pick up a pound of Brisket to take home, we live in Kerrville, Texas, it's not like where we live is around the corner. I must say at the price he paid and I asked about Bar BQue sauce he said they dip it in Barbeque sauce. My question is which was heavily Salted? The Brisket or the Sauce. It wasn't the Barbeque sauce. Lay off the salt. It was edible but the salt overwhelmed the taste of the brisket. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Where My Husband bought it. - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

See all

The bad news: their BBQ sauce isn't great. The good news: their meat doesn't need it. Pork ribs are large, inconceivably tender, perfectly peppered and smoked. Brisket is pretty good, with a winning jalapeño cheddar sausage. Potato salad is QUALITY, serving free sides of pinto beans and the best southern cornbread (ask for butter) I've had outside of home. Worth a scenic drive opposite Austin traffic to meet some nice people and avoid our lines. read more

Not super impressed. The bbq was good but waaaaaaaaaaaaaay overpriced. When they told me how much it was I honestly didn't even want it anymore. Was also irritating because the service wasn't great. Stood by the front counter for like 5 minutes while everybody was cleaning up (didn't close for 45 minutes). Finally said "excuse me, can I get a to go box please?" She said "we don't have to go boxes" after they gave us food in a to go box? The guy cutting the meat dropped the meat poker on the ground, caught the handle with his foot, kicked it up and then used it to cut our meat. The worst part is they were charging $37 for 1 lb of beef ribs but that includes the weight of the massive bone that sticks out 2 inches passed the meat, so you're probably paying about $60 per lb of food on some of these things. Absolutely insane pricing, wouldn't recommend. Almost felt like a scam. Atmosphere was also not great because all the employees were cleaning stuff up all around us, picked up the pot of complimentary beans when they were supposed to be open for another 45 minutes. Bugs flying around. No music. Felt like eating in a hospital cafeteria. Even if I died and came back as a man who could only survive on brisket and beans I wouldn't return to this establishment. read more

Coppers is good bbq. They have lots to choose from and seem to be a staple for people in Llano and Austin. The half chicken was delicious, the jalapeño sausage was great, the brisket was a bit dry imo, but could just have been the piece we got. I love that they have a pickle and bean station for everyone- that bbq sauce is delicious. It's served hot (temperature) and that adds a nice touch to the sauce. It's a little confusing where you order and how the line goes - it was definitely a slow time in their day, so maybe it would be better understood when it's crowded and you follow the person in front of you. It's a pretty chill, laid back place. It's definitely a homey bbq place and not a bougie restaurant-so if that's what you're after this isn't it. It's a family friendly restaurant with saucy bbq fixins! read more

See all

Good BBQ but really expensive. Got 2 beef ribs, 6 pork ribs, 2- 1" thick slices of brisket, small potato salad and small Cole slaw, small berry cobbler was $210. read more

We dine here about once a year. The brisket tasted good but was very dry. It had probably been sitting too long. The sausage was way undercooked. We couldn't even eat it. The rib eye was very good. The potato salad and cole slaw were great. The normally good beans were dry/pasty and way too salty. Their pickled jalapeños are outstanding. The BBQ sauce seemed much more tangy than I remember. A little too tangy for all of us. But the most disappointing part of the experience was the bill. My wife and I ordered enough meat for 2 1/2 people, four sides and two drinks. The total was $92! The couple with us ordered about the same amount of a variety of food. Their tab totaled $120. Outrageously expensive. read more

One of the best smoked meats I've had. Great sides and a real Texas atmosphere. Worth the stop. Stopped a second time and it was just as good as the first. read more

Beans mushy....price is exceeding the quality served. Condiments area is congested and inconvenient.

The food has no smoke flavor. BBQ sauce is the worst sauce I've ever had. But the worst is the price. I have never paid that much for 2 people to eat. Will never eat here again. read more

My husband and I visited the original Cooper's on a huge Texas roadtrip. I was going for the cabrito and I heard that they run out quickly so we arrived shortly after they opened and we bought the last pound. We also chose the turkey and brisket, along with potato salad, coleslaw and the pinto beans as sides. We ordered everything to go. The sides we ordered were superb and because we weren't in the mood to eat anything rich for dinner; we decided to have just the sides that evening in our Airbnb and froze the meat. We DEVOURED the sides and we had a pretty large to go cup container of the beans and I believe we could have eaten another with no problem. We have been enjoying the meats a little at a time and it has frozen rather well. I would love to go again and eat the meat right there next time. Do not fear the goat (cabrito). It is soooooooo good! The restaurant has pretty rustic decor and taxidermy throughout of white tail deer. And why wouldn't they???? Each of the tables have multiple gallon size containers of whole pickled jalepenos that are free to take as well as the pinto beans. You could skip the sides and just get the free beans, jalepenos, pickles, onions and bread and save quite a bit. The servers were very friendly and helpful. I cannot wait to go back! read more

See all

Coopers is the best BBQ you can find. Parking lot can be crowded and at times there are long lines. Well worth the wait. You walk up to the pit outside and choose your meat. You then take your tray inside to be weighed. You can choose additional sides and desert if you wish. After paying there are wooden tables where you can eat family style. You are given butcher paper sheets to use as plates. Beans, bbq sauce, bread, onions, pickles, drinks are self service. Pickled jalapeños are on the table also. If you have leftovers there are bags and foil etc to packaged up your leftovers to take home. Outstanding food that cannot be beat. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Chicken half and big chop - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

See all

The food was excellent! Service was quick and ready! The atmosphere brought real BBQ vibes! Just passed through to eat but will definitely stop again on the way back home! read more

My first time here I was working in town and saw there was a bbq spot near my jobsite and stopped for lunch it's really good but the cost is high spent about $47 on 4 pork ribs, coleslaw and drink I really like their sauce for the ribs really good read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Pork Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

See all

Don't let the outside line scare you away. You order on the outside and eat on the inside. The line moves fast and the food is amazing. In the heart of beef country, this barbecue is known for its pork. The brisket and the pork ribs were a flavorful reward following a days long drive from New Mexico. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - The outside of Coopers - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

See all

Come here on a regular basis and it's some of the best bbq I've had from a restaurant. The beef plate ribs, brisket, and sausage are my usual picks. Pinto beans are delish also. Just know that good bbq isn't cheap so don't be like Austin S. and cry about how pricey it is. Try running a bbq joint with the prices of beef, etc. and run pits on a daily basis and pay employees. If you're in the market for super cheap bbq then just stick to the McRib. You'll be happier read more

Spent 90 dollars ,sides were good ,but meat quality was terrible ,hardly any meat in ribs ,and brisket end cut was nothing but inedible fat! I think they need to pay closer attention to what they are cutting and serving for that amount of money being spent, always enjoyed going out there at least once a year, but going to give it a rest for a while read more

Cooper's in Llano,Texas! Great BBQ with no frills, just food and wonderful atmosphere. As most BBQ joints, just tell them what meat you want at the Pit before you go inside to decide on sides. Pork Chops Brisket Jalapeño cheese sausage Turkey and many more options!!!!! I had turkey and jalapeño sausage and they were both great. I had the macaroni and cheese and slaw as my sides The slaw was perfect! Bread, beans, pickles and onions are complementary. When you look around, you will see many folks who have eaten there over the years. George Bush UT offensive line........ I'm glad to have checked the box, if you are ever in Llano, Texas, go to Cooper's Go get Full read more

See all

The staff is wonderful. This is a Texas BBQ staple, so it was nice to live the experience. The food is ok. We ordered ribs, brisket, sausage, Mac n cheese, coleslaw and potato salad. read more

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

Please read the 2 star reviews as they are an accurate reflection of the quality. My first time visiting the original. Serving from the pit is really a convenience and has nothing do to with the taste of the already over already very dry meats and just to keep moderately warm given its open most of the time. The brisket was very dry. The smoke ring wasn't noticeable. The beef ribs were a bit moister but the rub was incredible too salty. While I wasn't expecting much from the turkey, unfortunately it was very dry too. The regular sausage was seasoned correctly but was rubbery and not pleasing. I don't intend to be critical of any family owned place but really expected better especially at the original location. The potato salad was mushy and tangy like the acidity from the relish broke it down. The Cole slaw was vinegary and watery, not crispy cabbage. Lastly, the complimentary pinto beans were bland, semi hard and didn't add much to this review. The au jus which I thought was going to be sauce for the dry meats was just watery and greasy. The restaurant needs more exits in case of emergencies. Low ceilings next to massive pits not good for safety. Friendly staff and service. The line moved quickly. As for the price...way too high and unfortunately you don't see pricing until the end of line. This should change. read more

The food is great. Great flavor with anything I ate here; brisket, turkey, sausage. Everything was great! The staff is friendly and the restaurant itself is decorated as you would expect the Texas BBQ joint to be decorated with plenty of seating. The prices were a bit high or else I would've given it the full 5 stars. Bread, beans, pickles and all the fixings are free and available inside, but that could be expected since the prices have soared over the last few years. If you want great BBQ and no worries about what you'd like to spend on it Coopers is great and exactly what Texas BBQ is about! I would highly recommend it. read more

Dare I say the best BBQ in central Texas? Let me try... I was recommended by a long-time Austinite to head out to the Llano location to try Cooper's. Knowing how important BBQ is here, this was a tall order since there are SO many good options in town. But out I go. First of all, I did NOT expect to immediately be greeted by a HUGE grill full of food. It's outside. You can't miss it. We went on a Sunday mid-day and we walked right in (well, after stopping to ooh & aah at the meat selection, of course). We tried: brisket, sausage, steak, and turkey. (Next time we go for the beef rib!) All the meats were moist, tender, and delicious! Honestly I don't think I've had a better steak anywhere. Once you get in, you choose your sides. Mac and cheese, green beans, and THE BLACKBERRY COBLER WITH ICE CREAM! Everything was great. Oh and by the way, they include white bread and have FREE beans and pickles/onions on the side after the line. A great stop in a cute town that was DEFINITELY worth the drive from Austin. *chefs kiss* read more

See all

I love coopers, but it is so inconsistent. The coleslaw was rotten, cabbage was brown and it tasted so sour. Brisket was dry, ribs were overcooked and so dry. The normally amazing chicken was rough and dry. The beans tasted old. The way the staff cut the meat was also so odd....ambiance was cold as usual. The staff normal talk between themselves without acknowledging you. read more

Passed through Llano yesterday around lunch:thirty so I couldn't just drive past Cooper's and not check in. It had been probably 2-3 years since I last stopped by and I can honestly say my taste buds picked up where they left off since the last time I made a visit. Year after year the smell, presentation, quality, customer service remains the same. Going all the way back since the first time my parents took me when I was just a kid. read more

Cooper's is worth the trip to Llano if only for the history. This place practically invented smoked brisket and they have the assortment of sides and desserts that are the envy of other Bar-B-Que places anywhere. The server opens the pit top and and shows you an assortment of meats you won't find anywhere else. Rib Eyes, Sirloins, Goat, Prime Rib and the Big Chop. The variety is so inviting I could spend days eating here. The cooked the brisket the way I expect perfect brisket to be smoked. I had been to Tumlinson's Rocky Top Bar-B-Que shortly before so I didn't go in with that unquenchable lust for barbecue. Which probably says a lot for Cooper's. I loved the food. We purchased brisket, pork ribs and burnt ends. We didn't get any sides but we did get peach cobbler and pecan cobbler. The desserts were top shelf. I only wished I had ice cream! What I didn't like about Cooper's was the atmosphere. No windows in the main dining room which was crowded so we followed the sign that said more seating outdoor. This didn't mean outdoors though. It was an even smaller, windowless room with no music playing and a weird affect that made us want to leave as soon as possible. Here is my comparison of Cooper's with Tumlinson's: We left Tumlinson's SmokyTop and went to Cooper's and as a comparison, I give the edge to Tumlinson's. The briskets were both in the same top echelon of what I expect a smoked brisket to be, but I think Tumlinson's was just slightly better. But where Tumlinson's crushes Cooper's is in the ambiance/atmosphere. Cooper's seating is indoor with no real outdoor tables. So you eat in a confined, windowless room that is not inviting. No music playing. Tumlinson's with no one else in it was memorable. I couldn't wait to get out of Cooper's. Felt a little creepy. Finally, Tumlinson's was selling brisket at $24 per pound while Cooper's was $26.99. This part is insignificant to me for the most part but there is a real price difference. Final verdict - Tumlinson's 5 out of 5. Cooper's 4.8 out of 5. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Ribs, brisket, burnt ends. - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas