I have stopped in here a few times, and it's been consistently OK. It's a no frills stand with covered picnic tables. Prices are pretty low and the staff has always been courteous and quick. Sandwiches are good for a quick eat, and the sides are decent. The stuffed potato is VERY stuffed and tasty - good pick if you're very hungry. My favorite here is the sausage wrap. read more

old time Austin... the chopped beef is amazing... I love their fajitas, too... but the chopped beef... my only gripe is that I no longer live within 5 minutes of them, so now to satiate my cravings I have to drive 30 minutes - which I regularly do... for the chopped beef read more

$6 even (cash only) for a quarter-pound of chopped beef and a quarter-pound of brisket. Didn't get any sauce with it. Skip the brisket. It's just rubbery roast beef. For this price range, you can get some smoked brisket from Bill Miller and you'll be a lot happier. The chopped beef was good--great texture and not at all greasy. Made a fine sandwich with some onions and pickles (although some BBQ sauce would have been great). If you're headed to the lake, get a sandwich or a stuffed baked potato. Grab a can of Coke for 75 cents (the convenience store next door only has fountain cokes and plastic bottles). Just make sure you bring cash. read more

The guy wore gloves. The brisket is dry, rubbery, super-lean, and flavorless. I had to drown it in leftover sauce from Rudy's to stomach it. The chopped beef is pretty good - just enough grease, tender, and passable flavor. The standout here is that there's some kind of pickle relish in it, which adds zest and brightness to balance the greasy nature of chopped beef. Not amazing, but it would make a tasty sandwich. I forgive it for being cold as a coworker brought it back to the office for lunch and it's like 35 degrees outside, but I don't forgive the bland. What's the win here? The breakfast tacos are reputed to be good, and it is definitely cheap. That's about it. It's hard to compete in barbecue in Central Texas, and there's a Rudy's about half a mile north, which makes it even harder. Anywhere else in the country this would probably be great barbecue. But in Texas, well, good just isn't good enough. read more

Read some good reviews, so I had high hopes... not so lucky! First thing I noticed was pointed out by another review... the young guy behind the counter handles all the food (and money... yuck!!) with his bare hands... yuck. I got a jalapeño sausage wrap with cheese and a chopped beef sandwich. The wrap was a cold grocery store tortilla with cold shredded cheese, and an average sausage. Skip this, drive 6 blocks, and hit Rudy's for a way better sausage. The sandwich was a dry, overcooked/burnt mess on a cheap burger bun. Nothing redeeming at all. Skip Smokey J's and drive 6 blocks to Rudy's for way better cheap BBQ and 100% better (and cleaner) service. read more

I'm upset. Upset with myself because I've worked near this place for 6 years and never tried it. It is a hole in the wall, small town Texas BBQ place. Walk to the counter and pick one of three windows to order. Your order is assembled while you wait. Then head over to one of the well-shaded massive old picnic tables sitting on the uneven blacktop to enjoy your lunch. Perfect. The prices feel like they are from 5-10 years ago. $5 for pulled pork sandwich, $4 for a sausage sandwich. Small sides are a buck, and a can of soda is 75 cents. I got the pulled pork sandwich. Great. Another in our party got the fruit pie, fritos topped with beans topped with sauce topped with chopped beef topped with cheese topped with sauce. Hugh, and awesome. I'm getting that next time. read more

Went there last week for the first time in years! Some of the same staff that was there 12 years ago! Great food and the banana pudding is still great! All for good prices! read more

After eating here for 15 years I was extremely disappointed today. I picked up 2 tacos for breakfast, when I got to school I started eating it and It was crunchy. Confused I opened it up to find a ton of egg shells inside. Very disappointing. read more

The brisket and chopped beef beats any chain out there! Not quiet on par to Franklins and what you find in Lockhart, TX. That said this is where I would go when in the area and craving BBQ. I would order: chopped beef sandwich, brisket, loaded baked potatoes and potato salad. I would stay away from: the deli sliced meats. read more

An ok place for breakfast tacos either with brisket or sausage but no bacon. I much prefer Rudy's. Best are Taco Deli and Torchy's. In terms of BBQ, its not bad but not ranking up there either. read more

Seriously, where else can you get a sliced beef (as in BRISKET) sandwich for $3.75?! The family pack also seems like quite the steal and I will be coming back one day when I need dinner in a hurry! * I believe they only take Cash (could be wrong). * The guy who made my sandwich didn't wear gloves. I'm not saying his hands weren't clean, I'm just saying he didn't wear gloves. For a place where you can't really see them wash their hands, it may be a good idea to invest in some so nobody gets the wrong idea. read more

This place is one of the few BBQ places where you will find good quality at a very low cost. If taking cash only brings down the price, I'm all for it. The brisket is fairly good, the meat was very tender and pulls a part easily. But, the brisket does lack just a bit of flavor. Maybe it's because I've picked up my order after 1pm on a Sunday. The sausage is good and had a well balance of beef, pork, fat, and filling. I did really like their pull pork stuffed baked potato. The stuffed potato was on special for an amazing $5! Will definitely be back again. read more

We have been coming here since 1985. If your heading out to the lake- getcha some fajita or brisket wraps with the works. Then get some beer and off you go. Smokey taste read more

I love this place! The stuffed chopped potato is the bomb and a great price! The owner(I think) I jokingly but with no exaggeration told him he is cheaper than McDonald's! Awesome awesome awesome! read more

Been eating here for 10 years. I love the brisket in a tortilla with cheese, sauce and onions. I get the copped beef to go and bring it home for the kids (in a Styrofoam cups..keeps the prices down). Great value for the $$, and tastes great! read more

I'm so glad I saw someone else comment about the "cashier"! I dont know if there are different people that work there during different hours but this guy definitely did Not kick it into High Gear when our line was long?! I stood in line for probably 30 minutes with only 4 people in front of me! JHC! We'll be stopping at Rudy's from now on when were headed to the lake. There may be a long line but they know how to get you in and out quickly! I was so frustrated by the time I finally got up to the window I was ready to scream! THEN, the guy slowly starts preparing my food and jesus, there's another 20 minutes, and THen pulls out his little calculator to give me the total......SHeesh! SO frustrating..... The food is Meh, typical BBQ, i've had better, I've had worse..... read more

Best Deal on 620 for a chopped beef bbq sandwich. $3.75 Where else can you get such a good price. Dickeys, Smokey Mo's, Rudys can't beat the taste, the price. The staff appear to be trained in the Huntsville Corrections Facility School of Etiquette and Manners. But who cares. If you need a bbq sandwich and you are in a hurry, don't want to pay rent on some building, get there. Other items: no idea...never tried anything else. read more

I've always seen this spot with a big sign that's says breakfast tacos in the front. I finally stopped by there one day and was interested in those tacos. The guy told me they don't have tacos, and started giving me attitude. I asked him about that sign, and told me it's AMERICAN tacos which from his description just meant a regular sandwich. Overall he was very rude, horrible customer service. I ended up going to the rudys a little further up the block. I do not recommend this place. read more

Always good. Staff is super chill! I just wish they had more side options. Like I would LOVE fries. I know it's barbecue ...but still. Haha

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Get a good one. I just had: eggs, sausage, potatoes, and a little cheese for $1.75 ! The sausage was amazing! It was served in a soft, warm, fresh tortilla and just the right size to start my day. All of the sudden the traffic did not seem so bad. I kept thinking: "why didn't all these people get a breakfast taco? As for the guy below who gave Smokey J 1 star because he could not use a credit card: IT'S $1.75! Dig 7 quarters out or your seat cushions and go back. read more

Not bad and not the greatest. Very nice young lady behind the counter. Had the chopped BBQ sandwich

I've only gotten breakfast here, hands down the best sausage and egg taco i've had in Texas.

The spot is easy to miss, but if you do catch it, you're in for a treat. I've tried a couple of their menu items, but for my five dollar bill, you can't beat their chopped potato. Baked potato, chopped meat, and chedder cheese, served with butter and sour cream on the side, this is a lunch that will stuff you stomach without emptying your wallet. Hit 'em up! read more

Best breakfast tacos in Austin. Love this place, it's simple, cheap and convenient. Staff are very helpful and friendly, you pay at the window (cash only) and can sit on benches to eat your food. I've ate a lot of breakfast tacos in Austin and these are my fav, the sausage taco is half a sausage, it makes a diff! read more

Stopped by recently for some quick food to go. Got just a few basic bites... sausage and chopped beef wraps - so can't say I am reviewing any large variety food. That said, service was very friendly and I got my food quickly. Both wraps were very good... tortillas fresh, sausage and chopped beef smokey and flavorful... and the pickles, onions and sauce included on the wrap made it just right. And, a generous amount of food for $2.75 a wrap. I've driven by Smokey J's a number of times and not had time to stop. I'll start making time to stop by... would definitely order wraps again and want to try their chopped sandwich and loaded bake potato. read more

There is something weirdly amazing about how good a simple chop beef sandwich here is. Chopped beef, on a bun. I've eaten it probably once a year for a decade. (I don't get out this way very often.) But it is damn good and simple and homey and yummy. Bam. Cash only. Don't get anything but the sammie, except for maybe another sammie. read more

Found myself headed to steiner ranch and thought I'd stop by because it had been years since I had a chopped beef sandwich. I pull up, one guy at the window, and the dude in the Shack says "sorry we close at 7." Look at my phone and its 7:03! Really you can't fucking scoop meat on a fucking hamburger bun and fucking give it to me and I give you fucking $5.50? I can understand if it's sit down restaurant and the process of ordering and eating takes like 20min-2hrs....because I'm a manager at one of those types of eateries...hell I'd get in trouble for not waiting on someone 10min after close. So I guess get there on time or go somewhere with people who have customer service skills and are willing to take 10 secs to scoop meat and put it on a bun. read more

Great hole in the wall BBQ spot! Delicious chopped BBQ sandwiches with meat spiced just right! Only draw back is it's Cash Only but worth trip to the ATM for sure. read more

I love this place! I've been countless times in the past 3+ years and I'm always very pleased. The BBQ is excellent . Chopped sandwich is fantastic. I woUld recommend to aNy Texan looking for BBQ.. read more

I decided to eat local today, and passed up Rudy's to try Smokey J's. The only plus is that the prices were cheap. I was really disgusted that the guy made my sandwich with his bare hands (no gloves), and then handled my money. Are restaurants even allowed to do that? I tried to not think about it while I ate my sandwich.And the sandwich wasn't good--the beef was very dry. I was kind of glad however, because if it had been good, then I would have the inner struggle of liking a sandwich that is made with dirty hands. read more

I dropped by Smokey J's after running an errand today. Parked my car walked up to the window and ordered a sliced beef sandwich with pickles and onions as well as a canned soda. Not minutes later I'm sitting at the picnic tables chowing down on some delicious BBQ, all of this for only $4.25! I was still hungry afterward and could have easily ordered another sandwich and eaten it but i didn't want to look like an idiot. They sell their meat in sandwiches, wraps as well as by the pound and family portions in addition to breakfast tacos and beef jerky. As it was the evening I didn't try any breakfast tacos but I might just have to drive over there tomorrow morning and try some. The food was as good if not better than rudy's and is cheaper too. I might go with some friends and get all the meats by the pound so I can sample all of it. I would have to agree with Karen M's review in that the meat wasn't too hot. It wasn't disgustingly cold by a long shot but you could tell they had cooked the meat earlier in the day and had it just sitting in a warmer. It was fine but being a little warmer would make it much better. Oh and yes they only take cash. read more

We saw the stand and breakfast taco sign on the way to our lakehouse for the weekend. I was definitely excited to try it out the next morning for breakfast. The breakfast tacos were very simple. Either sausage egg potato, ham egg potato, or just egg potato. Cheese is extra. They were good, but nothing spectacular. Something I could have easily made for breakfast myself. I'm pretty sure the salsa they used was Pace picante which was disappointing. I'm a fan of taco places with their own homemade salsa. Not store bought. read more

It's BBQ out of a wooden trailer way before trailers in Austin became the rage! Cash only. No frills. Good prices. I dig the $5 chopped beef baked potato. I also like their sausage as it tastes more real and less processed than other BBQ places (like Rudy's). Service is friendly. They don't have a lot of sides or extras to offer. It's a quick way to get your BBQ fix fast if you can't make it to Salt Lick or even County Line. read more

Best BBQ stand in Austin. Cheap & Delicious. The food speaks for itself. All the meat is tender & moist plus they have all fixins' you could ask for. read more

Absurd prices for some of the BEST street taco style BBQ in Austin. Gas up the car, roll down the windows, and enjoy the drive. I suggest purchasing some tacos to go - you'll want seconds before you feel like making the drive from town again (but you'll drive...you WILL drive...) read more

Chopped beef sandwich was great! Would've gotten 5 if they had it on a large bun instead of a small. I'd come back again though.

Best chop beef for the buck in Austin! While I love Rudys, Smokey J's is the place to go for chop beef.

Dare I say better than Rudy's, especially for the price. Nice convenient food stand, with plenty of covered outdoor seating. The chopped beef wraps were incredibly moist and delicious, and came with a nice cup of potato salad. You can't beat the quality of food for the price, and fast, friendly service. read more

If you like chopped beef sandwiches or baked potato w chopped beef then this is your place! Quick service, walk up window. Reasonable prices! Busy at lunchtime! read more

This place is awesome! The chopped beef is delicious. I'm not sure what they have mixed in there but it's sweet and tangy and my taste buds seem to want it every weekend. The breakfast tacos are awesome. The sandwiches are great. I will for sure keep coming back here. Thanks guys! read more