Return visit after many years. Still BBQ greatness! Had brisket, ribs, jalapeño sausage and jalapeño Mac and cheese. All were excellent except the sausage, which definitely needed to be cooked longer. Mac and cheese was crazy good. All the beans, fresh bread and condiments you could want. Fairly busy on a Sunday at noon. Friendly service and they provide an area to get anything you would need for taking your left overs to go. One star deduction for the half a dozen flies that wouldn't stay away from our food. We ended up packing it to go to eat somewhere else. 5 star BBQ and service. Highly recommend, best brisket ever. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Love this place, best BBQ ever! - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

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

Always good they haven't missed yet it's a must stop for me every time im passing through read more

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One of the best of the original Texas bbq pits. Cooper's has been smoking open pit meats for a long time now. They have multiple locations across Texas, including one in my hometown of Ft Worth. However, the Llano location is the original, and still the best in my opinion. Again, this is open pit bbq, so you literally point and tell the pit attendant how much of each thing you want. You really can't go wrong with anything you select. They hand you your tray, you step inside and choose sides and cobblers/pudding to round out your meal. They do provide a big pot of beans for free as well as bread, pickles, onions, peppers etc. The brisket is top tier. The bark is phenomenal. I've tried both their beef ribs snd pork ribs - they always get the pepper just right. The pork loin is always tasty, with a peppered exterior as well. My son is a chicken aficionado and never passes a chance to get theirs. We're all a fan of their jalapeño sausage too, with that perfect snap and texture. If you find yourself craving 'cue in the Llano area, this is your spot. read more

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Been goin there off and on for 15 years. Used to be excellent, but a little pricey. In the last few years it's really gone downhill. The first thing to hit you is the ridiculous overpricing. Next, you order by the pound or half pound, but there's no scale to weigh it and they cut it way bigger than you asked for. The final insult is the brisket, of all things!. how can you screw up a brisket? Just overcook the hell out of it and dry it out. The chicken is overcooked too. Very disappointing - won't go back. read more

Hadn't been here in a year and prices seemed high. The brisket was $28 a pound. We ordered 1/2 lb. Of brisket, some sausage and a few pork ribs. All the meat was very good , however half of it fat. The coleslaw and their complimentary brown beans were good. read more

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

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Ok, 4th time eating here and probably last. BBQ IMO here is 6 or 7 at best for what you have to pay. Not terrible, but honestly it is ridiculously costly for what you get. read more

Very Texas! I'm from California & wanted to try authentic Texas BBQ & I this place did not disappoint. Highly recommend getting as much meat as you can! Cause everything was so good! read more

Just his weekend girlfriend and I made the stop at @coopersbbq in Llano Texas. Been on my radar for months and finally made it in for some meaty chow down! This visit rates as one of my top 3 BBQ experiences in the state since I got here 10 months ago. Purely amazing smoked meats and Q!. Pitmaster Jason Wootan hooked us up big time with this king-size plate of meats and classic sides. What my girlfriend and I got to grub down on is: Brisket tip (lean cut and a tad dry but the bark was still spectacular and flavorful) Half Chicken (moist and tender as can be but super salty due to brining) Double-thick pork chop (thickest I've had in years, super tender and flavorful) Sirloin (perfectly done with just the basics of salt and pepper to medium doneness) Spicy sausage (did not try) GF approved! Jalapeno cheddar sausage (did not try) GF approved! Pork back ribs (Super tasty and tender, smokey mesquite punch to them) Pinto beans (simply good beans) Great beans and bacon (bacon butter heaven) Mac n cheese (wow) Coleslaw (perfect palate cleaner and match for the umami meat onslaught) Smoked tater (they season and smoke these on the pit! so good!) Jalapeno cheddar sourdough bun (add meats to this and eat a sandwich!) Blackberry pie (grandma would be jealous of this pie) Love the big seating area and set up for paper towels and fixings of pickles and onions and beans plus house sauce. AC seating inside is a welcome respite from the heat outside. I also like the 'point and pick" method to ordering food and how much. They take what you picked, plate it and send you through for getting it cut up or kept whole. Then you pick your sides and pay at the end before getting seated. A simple system that works. Very kind staff and very helpful as well. A must stop for anyone needing to grub up in Llano period! read more

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Josh Abbott crooned about it, Texas Monthly raved about it, and now I can join the chorus--I love Cooper's BBQ in Llano, TX. I swung by on my way back from Big Bend, famished after days of outdoor adventures. My group got a full spread that included turkey, lean brisket, regular and jalapeno sausages, potato salad, green beans, pinto beans (complimentary with your meat purchase), blackberry cobbler, and pecan cobbler. The pecan cobbler was divine. And this from someone who doesn't usually care for pecan pie. The staff is friendly and the vibe what you'd expect from an old school barbecue joint. If you haven't made the pilgrimage to Cooper's yet, it's high time you do. read more

OK meats, but over priced. The inside line is a bottleneck that should be improved. Sauce was mostly vingerer. Outside meat rub was too salty for my taste. read more

Excellent BBQ, unique atmosphere. A must if you are traveling near Llano TX! Beef BrisketBeef RibsLean BrisketPork LoinTexas BBQ read more

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First time visit. You stop and get your meat (we chose ribs and sausage) and then you go inside to choose your sides. The green beans were well seasoned with onion and bacon, but would have been better if the server would have drained them. The mac and cheese was meh. The peach cobbler was top notch and would have been superb with ice cream would have been available. The meats were the stars of the show--delicious especially the ribs! They had very good handicap parking. The seating inside was all picnic tables which are no picnic for wheelchair users!i read more

A 2 person meal was $81 served in Togo boxes even though we were asked 3 times if it was for here or Togo to which we replied for here 3 times. Employees were not particularly friendly and actually rather rude, the food was good but not $81 good. And in terms of the ambiance, the room was silent with no music playing leaving you to sit there with regret over how much money you just spent. Ridiculous. And also when we asked for togo boxes at the end of the meal they said they didn't have any... even though our for here food was served in a togo boxes. We will not be returning and i suggest you don't either. read more

This place was set up like a Neighbor's Backyard, get the meat+sides, then u pay, find a seat, pick up your drinks, +More free sides!! Service was good, if you know that this is a self-service place. The Barb-B-Que handler was friendly+great, the Cashier was pretty fast. The Ambiance was upbeat and cozy! read more

Amazing bbq joint, very impressive with flavors. I think other than chicken I am impressed with all meat. It is unfortunately that the goat ran out and I don't get to try that. This is also the first bbq joint that I have been to that gives beans as a free side. The green beans is not as salty as all other bbq places which is a huge plus. read more

June 2024, it's been awhile since we visited Cooper's. We were visiting Fredericksburg and decided to visit cooper's since we're nearby. We ordered beef ribs, sausage, brisket, turkey and Mac and cheese. My husband and I were disappointed. All meats but the turkey was dry and no flavor. I love beef ribs and this was the worst I ever had. The peach cobbler was sugary and cold, we end up throwing it away. We paid too much money to get disappointed. Rudy's bbq was better. read more

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

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Have been to Coopers a total of 3 times and every single time it is so freakin delicious. The Brisket is to die for, but you honestly can't go wrong with anything they have!! Service is always great ordering at the pit is super convenient! I would say pricing is worth it for what you're getting and don't even get me started on the bone sauce they have... absolutely to die for. Seating is family style and it always seems like a perfect rotation of people sitting and leaving so I've never had an issue even with larger parties. 1000% recommend one of our favorite barbecue places!! read more

Got here right in time to beat the rush... It was interesting to see the pits outside as well. But I got some brisket and some sausage with beans and a desert... And it was really good! It was a little pricey but again, it's bbq so you get what you pay for.. All in all some good bbq. (It's been a while since I have eaten here) read more

This is not my first but more like 10th time here. If I come through the Hill a country - it's guaranteed that we will plan our route to stop at Cooper's do the BEST out bbq in Texas. What more is there to say? They have incredible customer service. Don't plan on getting here in the height of lunch or dinner hour and not expect to wait. Plenty of seating in two different dining rooms. We chose a half rack of pork ribs, "wet" brisket and jalapeño sausage. We also added their amazing potato salad and peach cobbler. Let us not forget the burnt ends! So we chose wet brisket just on personal choice. That was sooo good and fresh. A little fat on the edges but melted in our mouths. The burnt ends exploded with flavor and I ate them slowly to try and make it last longer. Loved their jalapeño sausage and just the right amount of kick to it. Now....those pork ribs. Let me tell you that they had more flavor than any other ribs I've eaten in my life. Sometimes you can hit a bbq joint and it's not the right timing. This time the planets aligned and these ribs were out of this friggin world amazing! We ended with some incredible peach cobbler. We've had a lot of bbq and this still is our favorite!! read more

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Ordered a quarter pound of brisket. Went to pay and they rang up .6 pounds of brisket. Over double what I ordered. I also ordered some ribs and sausage so I spent way more money than I wanted to and got more food than I ordered. The guy working in the pit should be able to tell the difference between a quarter pound and well over a half pound. I think they purposely try to rip you off. read more

Don't get me wrong BBQ was amazing. Got burnt ends and 1Beef rib and a drink for $38 bucks. Price for BBQ just way too high for me. Family style sitting. read more

High quality of food. I personally had the chicken and a sausage and it was amazing. The beans were amazing. I believe they have a special ingredient to it. Best BBQ placeI ever been. I shared my food with my family in Kyle, TX. read more

I had BBQ at the downtown Austin location years ago, it was amazing. This one New Braunsfels didn't bring the same experience. I saw people reviewing the brisket was too fatty, and I have to agree. Even the server trimmed part of the fat off before he weighed it, it's still about 1/3 to 1/4 of the brisket was chunks of fat at the edge. The meat also wasn't flavored evenly, some parts were very salty, some parts were very mild. Not enough smoky feeling of a BBQ. The spare ribs were dry, not worthy it. The other side dishes were average, not the best but not bad, we actually ate more sides than the meat we ordered. The highlight of this location was the service and the free beans. I hope this was not the best day that Cooper has to offer, wish them the best since the downtown Austin location was so good. read more

This spot is legit. We tried Coopers spot in austin and driving in from Cali saw the "original" Coopers and had to stop. They serve your bbq from a smoking pit.. and you're surrounded by all the pits that are smoking the next days bbq. You Go inside for your sides and fixings and swag and sit in partitioned tables for dine in service ! So so so Good. Best jalapeño cheddar sausage, jalapeño Mac and cheese and brisket. I was ok with the ribs (beef and pork and goat). read more

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

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Good food and very nice ppl. The moist brisket and sausage were very good. The sides were okay. read more

Oh, my. An unexpected delight we stumbled on while passing through. Hands down the best bbq pork and beef ribs I've had in Texas so far. Awesome. read more

We got here at about 2pm on a Tuesday and we times it just right because as we were leaving, the line was quite long. You get your meat outside and then get the sides and drinks inside. They'll cut the meat for you if you'd like. We got the brisket and jalapeño sausage. The sausage was my favorite. The baked potatoes are HUGE so you may even consider sharing one... comes with butter, sour cream and bacon. The potato salad was also tasty. I'm not a fan of all the dead animals on the wall... it was a bit off-putting but I'm sure most people don't mind. Picnic style seating. Everybody that worked there was super friendly. I would go again if I'm back in the area. read more

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

The pit style experience is worth it to try. Workers were very patient and helpful in explaining to first-timers. Fun to pick your own cuts of meats, but very expensive for small town BBQ. You dine on inside picnic tables. The brisket was some of the best I ever had, such a good bark and flavor. Sides were nothing too exciting, but the cobbler was very good. read more

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

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I was craving barbecue and passed by the Original Coopers and found out they were closed because of the holiday. So, I called this location and was so happy they were open! You first pick the type of meats you want from the pit and by the lb. There was no line, but come prepared to wait a few minutes if the line is backed up during the lunch rush, but please note the staff moves quickly. I would suggest coming on an empty stomach you do not want to miss out on all they have to offer. They have brisket, turkey, pork chops, ribs, and sausage! I had brisket with the fixins: potatoe salad, mac and cheese, and green beans and they were a perfect combination to satisfy my taste buds. What I loved is how they have their own BBQ sauce and definitely one of a kind. A little bit goes along way. In addition, they have fountain drinks and your fave sweet tea to enjoy your meal! The seating is benches inside and very roomy for a couple or to bring family. Thank you Coopers for a great meal and being open on a holiday. Foodies like myself appreciate you being open! Come grab some great BBQ in Llano! read more

Stop by on my way home from WF Tx Pork chop,Beef Ribs, Sirloin and Jalapeño Sausage Awsome BBQ!(make sure you dip your meat) Best Beans Service is always good every one is so nice and helpful. You always get to talk to great people waiting in line. read more

We always stop here where going out this direction. It's a must! We stopped on a Sunday and glad they closed at 8pm. It's hard to find a good bbq place open late especially on weekends. First time trying the bbq chopped beef sandwich. We did stop around 6:45pm so it was end of day, but the sandwich was a little dry. Flavor was good though. We got the burnt ends which is always good. Also got the fatty brisket. The seasoning and taste is Soo good. A little salty if you don't eat much salt but i love it. Again, got there late so it was a tad dry. Ribs were great! We got there too late for the beef ribs which are our favorite. For sides: We got Mac and cheese, delish! We also got cobbler which was warm and super flavorful. They also offer chips too. The beans they serve in the dining area are some of my favorite beans I've ever had. And they are complimentary. This was a quick dinner, so we didn't go all out for the sides but they are good. Always a favorite place and will def be going back when possible! read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - Brisket, ribs, burnt ends, chopped beef sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

TLDR: Cooper's is the real deal. Solid Texas BBQ. Cooper's does things differently than other places in Central Texas. Most places here use an indirect cooking process and smoke with post oak. The method at Cooper's is direct heat with mesquite, also called 'cowboy style'. Tried the beef rib and the brisket from the massive selection at the pit in the picture. Both were very good, and I'd place their flavor profile somewhere between the more 'modern' BBQ places like Franklin / LA BBQ / Valentina's and the 'old school' places like Smitty's / Black's / Kreuz. The former relies more on a buttery texture and a different spice mix while the latter sticks to just plain smoke, salt, and pepper. The beef ribs have a nice smoky tang and a delicious outer bark. I'd rate them a tad less moist and a little 'pot roasty' in texture. BTW, 'pot roasty' isn't a put-down; it refers to how the meat 'shreds' or ''tugs' when one bites into it. Same goes for the brisket - excellent smoke ring, delicious flavor and a hint of mesquite smoke. A tiny bit less moist and more of a 'tug' off the bone than at other places, rather like in Lockhart. Cooper's is popular with the locals - so much so that there's a *second* parking lot next door if the first one's full! The people I chatted with mentioned how they'd been back two, three times in the past year, so this place has been doing something right for more than 50 years. Let's see, a handful of Pro Tips to keep in mind: Pro Tip 1: As I just said, there's an overflow parking lot next door if you need it. Pro Tip 2: Don't be afraid if there's a line. In this place, the ordering line is outdoors by the pit and you take the tray inside to pay and to dine. Pro Tip 3: Come early if you want to try 'cabrito', aka 'goat'. I was there at 1pm and they were out! Pro Tip 4: While they wrap up the order in butcher paper like at Smitty's or Kreuz's, you CAN get silverware. It's just past the cash register on the right hand wall. Pro Tip 5: If you don't like lots of side dishes, save yourself some cash and just get a cup of hot BBQ beans. There are two cauldron-sized containers on a heating element at either end of the restaurant. (BTW, the beans aren't bad either!) Definitely worth visiting if you're in the area! This place scores a 4 out of 5 on the 'CTJ Scale', as noted below. 5 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Jesus good. Would be OK passing away after finishing a plate here. 4 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Mary good. Would be OK being seen eating here by Mother Mary. 3 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Joseph good. Would be OK having a beer here with Jesus' Dad. 2 out of 5 stars: Come-to-the-Apostles good. Meh. Wouldn't have my last supper here. 1 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Nobody good. I wouldn't have my penultimate supper here, either. read more

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que - The 'ordering pit' in action! - Barbeque Near Me - Llano, Texas

This is quintessential Central Texas barbecue done WELL. The brisket is cooked to perfection, not over cooked. The menu is simple. Nothing fancy- no brisket sliders or anything like that. They don't need gimmicks. read more

Still some of the best Q in Texas. Went with brisket, sausage, and cabrito. All great! Couldn't pass on the green beans or the mac&chz. Always worth the stop. read more

Do the dip at the pit!!!! Texas BBQ, some of the best! Pork rib, brisket, tender Turkey, sausage... Can't go wrong with any of it. The reason I love this place is the quality and flavor. The BBQ sauce enhances the flavor. read more

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Today I had a hankering for bbq. Bbq to me is extremely subjective. Who likes sauce, who likes just rub, etc. I had the pork ribs, brisket, burnt ends, and sausage. The bill came to about $110. I also got container of coleslaw. The beans were free along with the bbq and bread. The burnt ends were overly salty. The ribs were just right but not too much meat of those bones. The brisket was slightly dry but I would rather go for dry than overly wet and fatty. The sausage Was pretty flavorful. I'm not sure I would return here but glad I tried some Texas bbq again. read more

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

Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que is a Llano landmark. I have visited every location, but nothing cries out Texas like the original. It was a sweltering hot summer day in Llano when we pulled up. Coming straight from the river, we felt refreshed and hungry for some good 'ole Texas Pit Bar-B-Que. And you can bet that is exactly what we got! "The Big Chop" is a staple here and something you must try for yourself! George W. Bush brought Cooper's some National coverage when he declared it his favorite barbecue restaurant. Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que has many accolades and one trip through there fast-moving line will let you know why. As you pull up, you hear the crackling of wood and the rich smell of smoke. I feel like I am in heaven. I only got hungrier from the aroma as I made my way through the line and conversed with some of the locals. We did not waste any time ordering... I wanted to try it all! I must say that there was not a menu item we tried that did not put a smile on my face. My favorite was the big beef rib. As you can see in the photography, you need...  just one rib. Every bite was better than the last and as I washed it down with their absolutely amazing, sweet tea, I stopped and took in the moment. I am so proud to be a Texan. This restaurant, this town and these people are exactly what Texas is all about. Blue Bell Ice Cream along with peach and pecan cobbler was next on my itinerary and believe me it hit the spot. If I lived in Llano, you would find me popping in to grab a quick cup of cobbler and cream on the reg for sure! I have enjoyed Cooper's in Junction for years, but the original location will always have a special place in my heart for many reasons. It is worth driving out of your way... you can thank me later! Below are the menu items we enjoyed... Beef Ribs Pork Chops Mac / Cheese w/ Bacon & Jalapenos Potato Salad Pecan Cobbler Peach Cobbler Blue Bell Ice Cream Sweet Tea read more

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Just like every other BBQ place around that thinks they the end all beat all the prices are getting out of reach for the common man It's ok bbq with high prices The brisket was so salty you couldn't enjoy it read more

A solid solid bbq spot. I went here with my friends (a lot of people because I'm popular) and we ate brisket and ribs cheese sausage and normal sausage. I hate ribs with a burning passion because the difficulty of eating them off of the bone. However, here there was no issue due to the fact that the meat was falling off the bone. Everything was bussing. Barbecue sauce was so fire I nearly caught pneumonia eating it. The food was so good that Cooper came up to my group and started laughing. We all joked together and had a W time. Ok bye Cooper, see you later read more