Micklethwait Craft Meats is a charming food truck nestled among ample outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying a meal under the Texas sun. I visited on a Sunday afternoon right after church and found a line that took about 15 minutes to get through. Despite the sweltering heat, my anticipation for authentic Texas barbecue kept my spirits high. This was my second barbecue experience, following my visit to Terry Black's. Two Meat Plate ($20): Featuring brisket, pork ribs, chili beans, and jalapeño cheddar grits. Brisket: A standout on the plate, the brisket was incredibly tender, consisting of a delightful mix of lean and fatty cuts. The exterior boasted a lovely smoky flavor, while the seasoning struck a perfect balance--more peppery than salty. It truly melted in my mouth, yet still provided a satisfying chew. My one gripe is that I personally prefer leaner cuts of meat, so I did not quite enjoy the fattiness as much. However, of course that is a subjective thought. Pork Ribs: While the pork ribs were enjoyable, they didn't quite meet my expectations for tenderness. The meat was easily biteable but didn't fall off the bone as I had hoped. Flavor-wise, they were on the lighter side, leaving me wanting a bit more depth. Chili Beans: These were fairly standard, lacking any distinctiveness. Jalapeño Cheddar Grits: While the grits had a nice cheesy creaminess and a hint of spice from the jalapeño, I wouldn't choose them again. They were decent but didn't quite wow me. Sauces: I tried both the spicy sauce and the house special, but found them underwhelming. They were more watery than I prefer, and I actually enjoyed the barbecue without the added sauce. Overall, Micklethwait Craft Meats offers a solid barbecue experience, particularly for the brisket. While there's room for improvement in other offerings, the inviting atmosphere and focus on quality meats make it worth a visit for any Texan. read more

I stopped by Micklethwait Craft Meats for BBQ on a Sunday, unfortunately on a holiday weekend, so it was quite busy. The parking situation is very limited - there's one real parking spot and two designated for handicapped parking. Everyone else has to find street parking. We arrived around 12:17 PM, and the line stretched to the entrance, but it moved quickly. By 12:45 PM, we were able to place our order. Unfortunately, they had already run out of the two items I was most excited to try: the pork ribs and pulled lamb. The remaining options were brisket, turkey breast, and two types of sausage. Now, I'm not from Texas, and I've only had BBQ a handful of times, so keep that in mind. I've thought Terry Black's was the best so far, and I do think their BBQ is better than Micklethwait's. That said, this was still a solid BBQ spot. I enjoyed the brisket, although I preferred the seasoning and cut at Terry Black's. The turkey was juicy, which was great! I liked the Tex Czech sausage, but the Poblano Ranch sausage was a bit bland in comparison. For the sides, everything was okay overall, but I wouldn't get the potato salad again. It tasted like they just cut potatoes, refrigerated them, and tossed them in white sauce - very bland. My favorites were the Cheddar Grits and the Braised Collard Greens with Bacon. The Mac & Cheese was fine, but I felt it could use a stronger cheese flavor, though I understand they likely aim to appeal to a wide audience. One thing I appreciated was that the pricing was fair for the quality of the food, especially considering the care they clearly put into their barbecue. If you're in Austin and want to try a different BBQ spot, Micklethwait is worth checking out, but get there early to ensure they haven't run out of popular items. read more

Micklethwait Craft Meats is one of the great examples of how there's plenty of room for innovation in barbecue. The attention paid to details at this little trailer put it into the same category as the best of the best, but without the frills and lacking some of the flaws. From what I've had the brisket is very uneven, they're still getting the hang of it. So don't really look for it to be your primary meat when you get there. This might sound like blasphemy in Central Texas, but you can even ignore the brisket here. A part of me wonders if they just make it because they must to be taken seriously as a bbq place. The sausage is simply fantastic, making great use of natural casing and experimenting with different fillings. All of them manage to heighten the flavor of the meats without drowning out the flavor of meat with excessive flavoring. By far the best sausage of all the bbq joints in Austin. The pork shoulder and ribs were fantastic, mixing good texture, flavor, and seasoning. Their sauce is definitely more of a white meat oriented sauce, and I'd imagine it goes really well with their chicken, too. Attention to detail, as I mentioned above is what makes them a cut above, though. Fresh-baked bread (none of that crap wonder bread everyone else serves), and great, carefully crafted sides are what help elevate the overall dining experience. The raw onions are also red onions which go better consumed raw than the white onion often served elsewhere. There's room for growth of course, and I worry when they'll catch on, but I hope they maintain their commitment to taking care of the little things. read more

I've been wanting to try this one for a while, so maybe my expectations were too high... My friends and I ordered various meat plates, everything looked picture perfect, from our setting (sunny, picnic tables by pretty green trees) to the sides (multi-colored slaws, bright yellow potato salad with bits of dill) to the meats (smoke ringed, moist brisket, snappy sausage), but something was missing...I think I would have preferred more spice to the brisket and more vinegar to the sides... Their Thai sausage lacked that sweet hot tanginess like you find in Sriracha a.k.a. the Rooster sauce. If I didn't know better, I would have though it was a regular sausage. Their pork ribs were perfect though and really, it was good BBQ, just not La Barbeque level... yet... Anyways, they are nice friendly folks too and very dedicated to their craft...If you hate the crowds at Franklin's, this is a good backup... Cash only, ATM at convenience store next door, BYOB... read more

My wife and I came here upon the recommendation of our B&B hosts when we told them the line for Franklin was ridiculous. There wasn't a wait here, but I can't imagine that anywhere else is noticably better. My wife and I both tried varieties of the brisket and each was among the best we've ever had. The environment is also great for a nice day. It's a little enclave of picnic tables surrounded by trees and Barbeque trailers. My wife had the brisket sandwich and I had the Frito Pie topped with brisket. They're both affordable ways to enjoy some great meat. The slightly fatty crust on the brisket was savory and well seasoned. It had me salivating for more! As for sides, we both had the jalapeno cheesy grits and were both impressed. We're not able to tell you about their variety, but really I don't see the need. Sometimes the best approach is to keep it simple. read more

Oh Micklethwait Craft Meats, I love you so! I consider myself a pretty serious BBQ enthusiast and this place is at the top of my list. If I had my way, I would be eating the brisket, barbacoa and smoked chicken all day every day. As great as the meats are, the sides are exceptionally awesome. I know some bbq joints skimp on the sides, but they're really good here. The jalapeno cheese grits are phenomenal. I love grits but they can be a little boring at times, so the addition of the jalapeno gives it a nice kick and keeps things interesting. The only downside is that the line can be a little long, but that doesn't always mean a long wait. If you're in a big hurry, just try to arrive a little on the early side and you should be fine. read more

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My friends and I went on a BBQue tour this weekend. I had heard of this place and seen it online so we gave it a try. I got the brisket which was great! I loved the bark and just lean enough for me to enjoy. I also got pulled pork. This was decent. My friend got a huge beef rib bone and let me have a bite. It was awesome! Sides were okay, nothing to note. If this place was a restaurant it would have some serious business! PS- Get their homemade bread it is awesome! read more

Came here based on recommendations by friend and was not disappointed. The brisket had the right mix of juicy fat, and the pork ribs and barbacoa were well seasoned. The wait was well worth it. Probably won't be the best location if it's raining although there was a large canopy tent. If parking lot is full, there is ample street parking nearby. read more

Why would you wait at Franklins, when there is perfect bbq available at no-wait & no-pretentiousness!! Yeah brisket was the best bbq we had our entire trip, and the relaxed atmosphere made it a perfect place to bike ride to. You have to try the brisket, pecan pie & jalapeño cheesy grits. Your stomach will thank me. read more

The best smoked beef brisket we have ever had and believe me we have traveled many places to try to match it and have not yet been able to! Beans and coleslaw are excellent also. The reason I didn't give this place full marks is due to the seating - not so comfy and cramped as this place is always busy. read more

I actually don't really like BBQ and I had especially low expectations bc it was a food truck but it was amazingggg. The wet brisket was delicious and the sausage was great! We had a side of beans..but it just tasted like a bland can of beans. But the main focus was the BBQ so I didn't care read more

Small joint in east Austin but flavor as big as Texas! They had a special on smoked lamb shanks when I was there. Honestly the best lamb shank I've ever had. Regular BBQ was delish as well. Brisket chicken, sides, all amazing. Went with friends and we all shared. Every plate was amazing. read more

Cool atmosphere. Good food. Outdoor eating only. It's basically a food truck on a small piece of land with a bunch of seating so if you are looking for a nice air conditioned place to eat this is not the place. I'd definitely recommend and I would go back. Prices are fair. read more

Flat out delicious! It's a food truck which doesn't make any difference considering how good it is but seating is limited to picnic tables outside. Weather was super nice but I imagine in August it might be a little uncomfortable. Still worth it though. Brisket is delish! read more

Really really awesome meat. The brisket is phenomenal but honestly the turkey is startlingly good. Unlike other smoked turkey I've had in that it's super succulent. It's weird to describe meat with this much detail but trust me, get the turkey. read more

Amazing BBQ! Perfect meat and fat ratio. The meat was tender and moist. Very flavorful and not too fatty. No sauce needed! I got lucky with the line I guess, because it was very quiet on a Friday around 2:30pm. Definitely recommend this place! read more

Great peppery rub and really good pulled pork. This is one of the handful of BBQ bucket list type place in town - and worth the wait. The staff is nice and the the operation is legit awesome. Add this to the list of places to stop by. read more

dude... get yourself here and get some rad bbq. By far my most favorite place for it in Austin and I've been here 8 years. And those beans tho!!! This is def a spot I bring friends and family that come to visit and it never disappoints. read more