Great BBQ. Came in for the UT va TX game and was told this was the place for BBQ If you are in Austin, must have. BTW, its nothing fancy. read more

Good ol' fashioned dive BBQ joint. The staff were very friendly and fun to talk with. I ordered brisket, ribs, sausage (holy trinity) and the mutton. Yes, mutton. The brisket was dry, and to be honest, not a lot of flavor (off day maybe). The ribs were juicy and meaty, with a good peppery flavor. The sausage was ohhh soo juicy and yummy. Had the nice crack when you bit into it, and the flavor was peppery and smoky. The mutton, was...awesome! Flavorful, juicy, and delicious! The reason this place gets 3 stars instead of 4...the brisket. I'll go again to try the brisket again, but I hope it's more juicy and tender. read more

Heard a lot about this place and all of it was raving how its "the best in Austin"....so I went the other day and got the SAUSAGE SANDWICH. It was a damn mighty fine sausage! I must say. Highly recommended. Great gritty Hole-In-The-Wall atmosphere and very friendly owners too. I must say I hate the use of white bread for BBQ. Its just not structurally suitable for a wet honkin' link or pile of dripping hot beef. Thats Texas BBQ though so I'll cope. Cant wait to go back to try the brisket. read more

I hate to tear down a local restaurant, but Sam's is not great. Brisket, pretty good. Pork ribs decent but inconsistent. They lost their health license for buying stolen meat last year. Can you eat there? Yes. Better bbq? Yes Is it right to do business with people that use stolen goods as part of their business plan? Absolutely not!!! read more

This place is absolutely terrible. It was just about 100 degrees in that place, with fans blowing in your face. Very unsanitary. The owner used his bare hands to serve the food and he was sweating up a storm. The only thing that kept me there was that he was a sweet man. We proceeded to pay for the food and the woman working the register says sorry, cash only. Umm whaaaat?! You have a working card machine right next you and you won't take my card??? The owner gives her the go ahead to process our card. She rings us up for $33!!!!!! FOR TWO PLATES!!! Wow... Our food was close to stone-cold. And about 70% of the plate was either fat or bone. Disgusting... I'm sorry. But this place is not worth the amount they charge. I will not be returning. And as for the lady at the register, she's got quite the attitude for the trouble she put us through. read more

You might not get the connection but as news spread today on the death of David Bowie, I remembered reading a story about Stevie Ray Vaughn asking Sam to send him some BBQ while he was recording in New York City. SRV loved going to Sam's, so much that he craved it while recoding his tracks for Bowie's "Let's Dance" album in NYC. Somehow I felt I needed to stop by on the East 12th joint to get some brisket, mutton and chicken. The place hasn't changed much since the last time I was there, circa 1999. Sam's older, the outdoor seating is now enclosed and the food tastes and smelled the same as it did back then. It was like taking a step back in time to relive an Austin tradition. BTW hipsters, Sam's BBQ is the oldest BBQ joint in East Austin and it's thriving against a new generation of BBQ eateries and trailers. It'll probably be here after the hype leaves town. read more

I walked in expecting perfect home-style BBQ. What I received was in fact the opposite.. but I did receive a great history lesson. Despite all the high reviews, I would actually give this a 1.5 for BBQ, but I really enjoyed having a little chat with the woman that was there. The atmosphere and people balance it out to an A-OK because I didn't hate my experience here. As I walked in, I didn't want to interrupt as I showed up right at the opening hour of 10AM. There was a guy popping open tubs of tomato paste. That being said, the sauce was good, but a bit on the tomato-y side if that's your cup o' tea... er tomato. It was also interesting when I asked for water, that I was to get the jug of water from the fridge and pour it myself. The woman came off as uninviting, understandably because I was the only customer there for the 40 minutes I was dining and talking with her, but after I began eating, we started talking about Obama's call for change, the history behind the less fortunate side of Austin, and her history of health issues with the rich folk. Anyways... I digress, but this was intriguing enough to override the poor BBQ. DO NOT GET THE RIBS. They are as hard as tree bark... no joking. In all honesty, they were smoked to a crisp. Of course they had great, great smoky flavor, but they might as well have been pork jerky. Hey... that's a good idea. Brisket was good for lean brisket, but because it was lean, it didn't melt or fall apart in your mouth. No distinguishable smoke ring or flavor either. Tolerable, but disappointing. Chicken... well... it was pretty much what you'd expect from overly smoked old chicken. Tough, dry, and a bit mealy. It may have been sitting overnight. Even the wing and drumstick were on the other spectrum of tender. :( So I really wanted to enjoy the 'cue here, but instead I was able to engage in some great conversation. I guess that's another way of using my mouth in a useful way. read more

I've been to Sam's a couple of times and had takeout provided by others a few times and I am underwhelmed. As far as the visits go, I think the place is a complete dump. Worse than a dive. It looks like it would fall down if you slammed the door too hard. It has no evidence of care or maintenance, and I think this reflects disrespect of your customers. I would be embarrassed to take people from out-of-town to Sam's. There are quirky, funky places with better food. The food experience was just "OK". Not great, not terrible. But not worth the trouble to keep going there. Austin has too many truly great BBQ places to bother with this place. read more

If you're into historic ATX eateries, Sam's should be on that list. Located in East Austin where the area is rich in African-American history along with jazz & R&B music. This old school, southern establishment is about as Austin as it gets. It's old school Austin and is family owned and operated, 3rd generation. When you walk in, the history surrounds you. The porch is the spot. Southern hospitality is experienced before you experience the unique flavors of the juicy chicken and brisket. The yams are to die for. The ribs are on my list to eat next visit. read more

MmmmmMMMmmm..... Seriously this is the best Potato salad I have had in Austin....maybe ever. It is super good. I am not a big sweets person BUT my friend said the Lemon Cake is to die for! I had the pork ribs (with Pot. salad of course) and they are yummy! I grew up in Georgia and we have a different BBQ style out that way. These ribs made me think of home. The chicken, ribs, Brisket...it's all good. You will also find a slew of memorabilia on the walls like a band photo of The Bad Livers! It is housed in an old white house on the East side...don't be scared. There hosts some of the friendliest folks around. (Open super late on the weekends) read more

Not great. Good at best. Had brisket and ribs, because... Well because I love brisket and ribs. The ribs were good for sure, fall off the bone. And the brisket wasn't "bad" but I've had such better brisket. "So why 2 stars" you're no doubt asking aloud to yourself at this very moment. Well, because 1) homeboy doesn't wear any kind of gloves. At all. He touches ALL your food, and then wipes his hands on the dirty rag he uses to wipe the scale. And then touches more of your food. 2) I got sick immediately after and I'm still laying in bed nauseated as I write this. 3) a bit overpriced for what the place is 4) not what you'd call a "nice" place. Unless you grew up in a sewer, then this would qualify as nice. I gave it a try because it's right down the street from me, but the food was just okay (pretty bland, actually), place was kind of nasty, and dude wasn't any help answering questions. There are far better bbq options out there for you. read more

The food was as good as I remember lol I didn't get my potato salad via delivery but I blame the driver because the restaurant even called me to confirm they had the right order. Everything was professional and I'm from Austin born and raised I've been going to Sams since I was under 10 and I'm 25 now. The food was a taste of nostalgia. read more

Don't be fooled by the exterior- this was the best sandwich I've ever had. I'm still dreaming about that first bite of sliced brisket days later. Classic taste and completely melted in my mouth- all you could ask for of barbecue. We will definitely be back. read more

You know it's a must try when: 1. There's no website and so you find out about it through word of mouth and 'best of BBQ' websites. 2. You call to find out when they're closing (bc there's no website) and Bryan answers and tells you "get here when you can make it, I'll stay open for you." 3. The "motto" on the front of the building says "you don't need no teeth to eat my beef." To sum it up, it's a gold mine. As an out of towner I can't compare it to the other local BBQ joints, but if you're stopping through I highly recommend it, both for the food and hospitality. They let us try pieces of each meat so we could choose what we wanted for our dinner. We mixed it up with ribs, mutton, and brisket so we could try everything. So good! Everything was juicy and so tender. The ribs had the perfect smokey flavor. They were out of mac and cheese side but we had green beans which tasted fresh and baked beans, equally good. Bryan sat and chatted with us and made us feel like friends. It's certainly not fancy and maybe seems like it's not in the best neighborhood(although I'm not from Austin so I can't say) but it's what real BBQ is all about: local, friendly, homey, and delicious. And there was no hour + wait, which was a bonus because I was too hungry to wait. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Selfie with Bryan. He's in some movies, check out his photo books with Nick Cage and Al Pacino. - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

See all

Effing DELICIOUS. I've never had such delicious lamb in my entire life. Is the place pretty? No, that's how you know the food is good. As long as the place passes a health inspection, I don't think I care how it looks or the food is prepared. It's to god damned delicious. Have you ever seen "House of Cards"? This is pretty much the place Underwood goes to get his barbecue. Eat at THIS place. GET THE MUTTON. read more

Some of the best brisket I've had in Austin! Way preferable to the Salt Lick. It's cash only and definitely a bit of a dive, but really great brisket and mutton (lamb). Probably the go-to place to take out of town folks. read more

Every time I come back to Austin after leaving 10 years ago, I need to get my bbq fix. This time around I tried Sam's. This is the ultimate bbq dive. Forget waiting 2 hours or even 10 minutes anywhere else. Head to this untouched area of East Austin and get some soul. The mixed plate of two meats and two sides for $10.00 will fill you up good. Sam will serve it to you with his homemade sauce and two slices of white bread. Grab a soda from the vending machine and enjoy. read more

Great BBQ. I was looking for BBQ without gimmicks or tourists and this was the spot. The building has seen better days and I'm not all that sure everything is up to code, but the food was fantastic. I tried the chicken plate and was in no way disappointed. In no way is this gourmet, but it was cheap and delicious. read more

Texas knows brisket. This place is outstanding and great on the character end of the spectrum. Had brisket and mutton, and wow. His slogan is, "you don't need teeth to eat my beef, " and it's absolutely true. Tender, juicy and delicious. Mutton was excellent - don't understand why more places don't serve it First time here and it's on the list next time I'm in Austin. Not in a great part of town but easily accessible from downtown or the freeway (35). The owner, Sam, is great - I was by myself, and since it wasn't busy, he came out from behind the counter and sat with me, munching on a rib and telling stories about his movie roles and meeting AL Pacino and Nick Cage. I'm a BBQ ameteur, and he even walked me through his back of house, and explained what he does step by step. Sam commented at one point that his crowd had changed over the years in terms of ethnicity, but he didn't care - "we all came on boats, just at different times." The world needs more of people like Sam, and his bbq is a nice bonus. read more

Granted, we got there at noon and the lamb wasn't to be ready for another 45 minutes, so we missed out on the signature dish. We should have left and come back another day. If a cook can't get his signature dish on the fire and ready to serve, it's not a good sign. Unfortunately we stayed and ate brisket, pork ribs, and sausage. All of which were mediocre or worse. 3/8" slice of moist wouldn't hold together and had no hint of smoke. Ribs fell off the bone (this should not be your goal as a rib cook) and, again, no smoke. Barks were reasonable but nothing to write home about. The sausage was very moist and cooked right, but again, they tasted like they'd been in an oven instead of near a wood burning fire. Last, and certainly least, the sauce was atrocious. 90% ketchup, 9.7% vinegar, and 0.3% cayenne was the flavor profile. All of that might make for perfect mutton, but these cooking techniques and flavors are not good for beef and pork. Staff was nice, and you gotta love the joint. Just don't go there for anything other than the famed lamb ribs. read more

Fatty boom-batty. It's a bbq shack - with picnic tables outside, holes in the furniture indoors, and a big TV rocking BET. The brisket was really tender - should have skipped the BBQ sauce because I didn't need it. Ask for less fat if you don't like a fatty cut. The sausage was flavorful and not too salty. The beans and fixins are standard. Potato salad above average. I'll be back, but the search for my favorite bbq spot in Austin doen't end here. The same things I like about the place - the funky ambience, the fatty beef cuts - are the same reasons it's not going to be a regular visit on my restaurant rotation, but worth experiencing the old school bbq joint for the taste and the character. Oh yeah, and they have a soda machine with canned iced tea. That's kinda weak but fits with the overall theme: the meat is the only thing that they seem to really work at, and they hook it up - tasty cuts on the cheap. Friendly owner and staff. read more

The employee was very friendly and helpful. The BBQ itself was not good. It had no flavor and was mushy. Some people might confuse mushy with tender. Not me. Since I've never been here before I tried the brisket, sausage and pork ribs. All flavorless and mushy and throw greasy in with the sausage. The potato salad was good and the beans were pork & beans from a can. Drinks come from a vending machine so bring dollar bills. It doesn't take coins. I won't be back. Sorry. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had a chopped beef sandwich. Very tasty. The guys were great. I'll be back. Have no fear there's good bbq here. read more

I truly do not understand the 4 and 5 star reviews for this dump. We visited on a Sunday afternoon. The brisket was dry, as were the ribs. I'm willing to bet those meats were Friday or Saturday leftovers. I'm confident the potato salad was not homemade, and the green beans were dumped out of a can. The employee was not welcoming in the least and acted as though he was annoyed we were even there. The only reason I gave 1-star was because of the bread ... it was super fresh. read more

Based on another friend's recommendation that this place served the best BBQ in the Austin city limits, I arrived with great anticipation for the mutton ribs. So at 11:00 PM on a Saturday evening, three friends and I set out on a trip into the East side and ordered a pound of mutton ribs, half a pound of sausage, a pint of beans, and a pint of potato salad, all for under $15. Mmm! The mutton ribs were about 50-60% fat, the sausage was divinely flavored, the beans were sorta sweet, and the potato salad even pleased my friend who usually boycotts potato salad. We forgot to ask for onions and pickles, as well as napkins, but who needs napkins when you have bread to wipe your greasy fingers on? (Just for the record, they do have napkins if you run out of bread.) Be aware that (like any other spot in Austin) you may be approached by a vagrant who wants you to spare $3 to purchase a sausage wrap for him. (Yes, that happened to us.) The verdict: I'm definitely coming back to try the famous brisket and have some more sausage (half a pound wasn't enough), but maybe when it's not so dark outside. The mutton ribs were good, but they were so fatty that I'm not sure my arteries can take another round. read more

BBQ served late with no wait. Also, it's BYOB, and the owner Brian is a friendly guy who wants to know all about you, and jokes with you like you're old friends. He even nicknamed my friend when we came in. The food, though. I got two meats and two sides for $12. Looks like you can get lunch for $7. The brisket is dry rubbed, tender and juicy. The ribs were falling off the bone. As his slogan says, "You don't need no teeth to eat my beef." I'm pretty sure you actually could gum this stuff. The green beans and mac and cheese were nothing special, but I want to try the beans next time, they looked really good with a thick broth. The tea is perfection. I usually find sweet tea too sweet, but this was great. The thing I like best is the history here. Brian had pictures of his family, pictures with celebrities that have enjoyed his BBQ over the years (it was Stevie Ray Vaughan's favorite, it seems), news clippings of when it burned down, etc. Such a great old Austin place. The menu is on the wall and you order up front. They are generous with samples. When you come, don't forget your beer if you want to hang out on the screened patio! So much in Austin in constantly changing - try some of the old places that aren't changing (but need our patronage to survive the changes)! read more

I have mixed feelings about Sam's. I don't mind eating here once every six months, but I like dives. The side dishes are terrible, let's get that out of the way first. I like the mutton ribs and the chicken. Mutton is kind of a rarity in most barbecue joints. But after a night of drinking on the east side, sometimes barbecue sounds like an awesome idea. And Sam's is the only place open and serving barbecue in to the wee hours (feel free to suggest other places). Convenience is worth a couple of stars, right? The women working here are always friendly, despite the fact that they work ungodly hours. Their drink selection is definitely lacking, however. Bring something unless you like Kool-Aid. read more

So bad we went to a vegan restaurant immediately afterwards. Food: 2 Service: 1 (No menu, no help from attendant) Atmosphere: 1 (Dingy, confusing) Sustainability: 1 (plastic sporks and corporate potato salad? Shameful) Meh. It was talked up, but the brisket was listless, sausage was greasy, & the sides were terrible. The ribs were ok, though. The service was absolutely terrible as well. We walked into the place and tried to order, but the guy behind the counter just wasn't working with us. "What is a must have?" "Everything is good..." "ok...." So we order almost everything (but they're out of some of it) and then he asks: "What kind of barbecue sauce do you want?" ...There's no labels, no signs, no *information* anywhere. "What kind do you have?" No answer. He just gave us a barbecue sauce that was pretty good. The ribs were passable, but nothing better than anywhere else I've been. The baked beans had no flavour whatsoever; the potato salad was bland and obviously came out of a tub from some corporate location. The brisket was bland and not smoky. The chicken wings were listless and unhappy. It was all served on a paper plate and with a plastic spork, the presentation equivalent of a stubbed toe. I don't know if Texans just appreciate dingy, meh food, or if the people who recommended this over Salt Lick are essentially mental, but I got one chance at barbecue in Austin, and this was what I got. And it sucked. We actually went to Counterculture for vegan food afterwards.... and their barbecue sauce was better. read more

Yeehaw. MEAT. East side eats. Local owned for a long-ass time. YUMBO. Don't be a-scared of the Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre-looking exterior. It's just the same inside. MEAT. Yeehaw! read more

Sam's is great! I usually get the brisket and some sauce on the side. It's in a little bit rough part of town (for Austin). There have been one or two times when the meat was a little too fatty (they should trim some of that out when it's in hunks) but that is generally pretty rare, here. If I want to be the most popular guy at a party where people are bringing food, I'll get a pound or two of the brisket and some bread and sauce to bring. read more

Although I like Sam's for their excellent BBQ brisket and chicken (yes, chicken), I must point out that my brother, usually one who enjoys the same "old school" BBQ joints that I like, was turned off by the fact that they handled the meat without gloves. It is a good, but not great, spot for BBQ in Austin. It's a completely different feel than the more corporate Salt Lick (which, in its own right, is phenomenal). I think the Salt Lick is a better place to take your family or a girl from the Deep South whereas Sam's is a nice place to get into an eating contest with your boys (although this can also be accomplished at Salt Lick for a cheaper price given their "family style" option). read more

Brisket: 3/5 - The barbeque sauce was too watery. Sausage: 3/5 Service: 3/5 Ambiance: 1/5 - It's a hole in the wall in a bad neighborhood. There was a shady guy allowed to loiter around the restaurant asking for tips. read more

Went for lunch one day and the bbq is fine. Nothing great. The atmosphere was ok, but definitely over the top grimey. The lady behind the counter was rude at first, but then warmed up as we were leaving. I wish I hadn't seen her use anti-bacterial gel before she cut our brisket and I wish I hadn't watch her cut off the rotten part of the onion before cutting a few pieces for my sandwich. The sauce was good, but there's no way this place passed a health inspection and I don't think I'll be going back. Some places are hole in the walls, but the food makes it worth the unsanitary conditions. At sam's the food was just mediocre. read more

DELICIOUS, and this is the kind of atmosphere you really want from a bbq joint. no frou frou..its the real deal. read more

Sam's Bar-B-Que - Barbeque Near Me - Austin, Texas

i was a recovering vegetarian, then i discovered sam's bbq. from the moment i walked through the doors i knew that the next meal would be one to remember.... and sure enough, the bbq sauce stains left on my dress are forever imprinted. oh well, it was definitely worth it. i requested the chicken plate but, unfortunately it was 3:30 and they had "run out". so, because of my limited choices (their menu is simple and to-the-point, no substitutions or special requests), i quickly decided upon the brisket. having only bleak memories of my jewish grandma's annual brisket, i was pretty much a novice meat eater. their brisket was soft and moist and had the most incredible juicy texture. the side of potato salad could have been store bought and the sliced pickles were an afterthought but, the meat coupled with their sweet and tangy baked beans was all i could think about. i left the plate clean and never even touched the white bread which only would have been used if i hadn't enjoyed all of the brisket au jous on my plate. read more

See all

After leaving the Juneteenth festival one evening, I had a taste for barbecue. My boyfriend and I attend church right around the corner from Sam's, passed it several times, but had never been inside. That night seemed a fine time to try out Sam's It's a hole in the wall and kinda sketchy, but the owner was very welcoming, asking us where we were from, what church we attended, etc. We only ordered a pound of ribs and a side of beans to go. The ribs were fantastic! The owner forgot to include bbq sauce, so I can't comment on that. That being said, the ribs didn't need any sauce. After all, the mark of good bbq is that the meat can stand alone. The beans, on the other hand, left MUCH to be desired. They were incredibly bland. The vendor said they were "regular, old pinto beans" and he was right. All and all, I'd pay Sam's another visit. read more

I ate so much on my trip to Austin, and then my friends tell me that we're going out for BBQ. I thought I was going to die from food OD-age... then we walk into Sam's. I immediately fell in love. The man behind the counter was ridiculously kind- gave us all a sample of ribs to see what we liked. I got 3 lamb ribs and mashed tatoes. And seriously, it was the greatest thing I've eaten in quite some time. The ribs were nice and fatty (best tasting part, as we all know). The potatoes were dynamite and garlic-y. Uh, I still can't get over it. I ate at a LOT of different joints in Austin this weekend, but this was the best of the best, hands down. Go and enjoy, and give the dudes there a tip because they certainly deserve it! Thank you Sam's! Love, "New York" read more

Franklin's sold out right when we got there and this was close, so we gave it a shot. It's meh. Not awful, not amazing. Idk if I'd recommend it. I got the pork ribs and mutton. They DID fall off the bone, but seriously lacked seasoning or smokiness. read more

Authentic, unique atmosphere with delicious Austin barbeque. Love this place and so much food per plate!

The best bbq chicken I've ever had! Sides were 4 stars, but the meat is 5! Everything they have is fall off of the bone!!