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    The Salt Lick BBQ

    4.1 (6k reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    The Salt Lick BBQ Photos

    THE SALT LICK BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Salt Lick BBQ

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    Half Chicken (When in season)
    Rene E.

    If you haven't gone to Salt Lick you absolutely need to make sure it's on your Bucket List! This is by far one of the best most iconic BBQ joints in Hill Country. The grounds are massive so you get an idea of how good and how busy it gets! We lucked out by swinging by on a Thursday for supper. When you walk in you get the sweet Smokey aroma of BBQ. Then you get a peek into where all the magic happens and it is BBQ heaven! Our server Dru was so incredibly sweet, helpful and provided us with good suggestions. Definitely come VERY hungry because portions are substantial! I ordered the Bison & Beef ribs with slaw and potato salad. The RIBS were absolutely juicy and flavorful. Fair warning though, Bison is leaner so you won't get the fat punch like you do from Beef. They were both amazing and gnawed on them bones until they were clean! I got pretty full but did put a small dent in the slaw and potato salad. Both solid! My wife ordered the Smoked Chicken with beans, slaw and potato salad. Again very delicious, smoky and juicy! It was a lot of food but delicious! We ordered the half and half Peach/Berry Cobbler à la mode to go, but ended up eating it in their beautiful patio while we listened to an amazing Gal musician belt out some great tunes! They also have a Wine Cellar tasting room and a gift shop. Tons of indoor and outdoor dining areas including some really cool private places under pergolas and foliage.

    Justin S.

    I've lived in Texas for almost 15 years, and today I finally made it to the famous Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood. It's one of those iconic Texas BBQ spots that's been on my list for years. As you pull in, you're greeted by a large dirt parking lot and several rustic buildings where all the BBQ magic happens. We had a group of 12, and despite the restaurant being packed, we were seated almost immediately. On the way to our table, our host stopped to show us the famous open BBQ pit, which was definitely worth seeing. We couldn't resist snapping a few photos--it was a really cool experience. I ordered a plate with sausage, brisket, and a beef rib, along with potato salad, beans, and coleslaw. The sausage was the standout--it was absolutely delicious. The brisket was a little on the dry side but still flavorful, and the beef rib had more fat than I prefer. The sides were solid and complemented the meal well. Overall, the food was good, but it didn't quite have the "wow" factor I was expecting after hearing so much about Salt Lick over the years. That said, the atmosphere, history, and unique BBQ pit make it a fun place to visit at least once. If you're looking for a classic Texas BBQ experience, it's definitely worth checking out.

    Regular 1/2 lb Brisket plate
    Kristi M.

    We drove past this place, not having heard any of the hype on our way back down from Austin and I had to look it up since it was such a huge place I thought wow they must have some good stuff. Realizing it was a barbecue place we definitely had to try it on our next trip down from Austin and so we stopped in on a Monday afternoon actually and I was happy to see that they were open. When we pulled in, there was plenty of parking but trying to figure out where to go was a bit confusing because there were signs pointing to the "Salt Lick barbecue" at different buildings so it took us a minute to figure out where we need to go. Once inside the smell was amazing and we thought we are sure and for a treat, especially seeing the huge open flame grill, and all of the hanging sausages! I ended up ordering a brisket plate and have ordered a pulled pork sandwich. The plate came with about half a pound of brisket, coleslaw, potato salad, and beans. A pulled pork sandwich came with the same. Our food was served within about 10 minutes and everything looked amazing and we were impressed with the size of hubby's sandwich! We quickly discovered that they pulled pork sandwich was not actually going to be edible as a sandwich because the bread was pretty soaked through from the sauce and it quickly fell apart and was way too messy so he ate it with a fork lol! Other than the mess, he said, he pulled pork, not overly fatty. It was very well smoked and had a nice spice to it. My brisket on the other hand was very thinly sliced and while I asked for lean brisket, which I routinely get from other barbecue places, and I am very happy with, that was not the case here. The brisket was very dry, and there was very little if any flavor at all to it. Because it was like so deadly any bark that was on the edges was pretty much gone, which is OK if they dream the fat, but it just really left it flavorless and I needed to slather on the sauce in order for it to really be enjoyable. Speaking of the sauce that was pretty black cluster as well if they seem to be mustard based and the peppery one was really the only flavorful sauce. the other milder one was pretty bland. Unfortunately, the blindness doesn't end there. I felt like the potato salad consisted of what you typically find in a breakfast taco type of potatoes and the coleslaw with a vinegar based, but it was also pretty flavorless. Fortunately, we opted for the split cobbler and got half peach half blackberry topped with ice cream and that dessert was absolutely amazing! I would likely not go back here though, and probably wouldn't take anyone specifically for this barbecue. The venue is really nice though and it has a nice ambience so if you're looking for that and OK Ish barbecue then this would be your place.

    Thurman's Choice - No Substitutions
    Mel K.

    I mean the food was good. We couldn't, for the life of us, figure out the difference between the small plate and the regular plate, aside from the $8 price difference, as the actual amount of food was the same (despite the extra side) I mean otherwise a pretty good place to eat! Super cute, fun vibe.... Very very very loud but fun! The servers were stellar considering how busy it was.

    Outside
    Anthony H.

    Service was great! I was expecting more since I'm from California, however this was ok, I wasn't super impressed for my standards. Baked beans - too salty Coleslaw- good Potato salad - ok Brisket good Rips fine Cobbler good. Ambiance - Great Overall ok, personally I wouldn't go out of my way to come back but happy to have tried it once.

    The magic pit
    Tommy C.

    Love this place. Been going here for years and it never disappoints. Got my favorite, the pork ribs, also ordered the beef ribs which were good but not as good as the pork. Sides were kickin for sure. Love the vibe.

    Blackberry or Peach Cobbler
    Minh D.

    Really great space with relaxing ambiance. Outdoor patio is dog friendly and they also sell alcohol (beers & wine) in their Salt Lick cellars. There was also live music when we visited on Friday. Just bought the Thurmans plate with a little bit of everything. The pork ribs were very tasty. Best part of the meal was the blackberry cobbler. We went in July so its blackberry season, so so fresh and tasty. Would highly recommend.

    Kelse S.

    Been thinking about this BBQ since our visit in early March. It was absolutely delicious and a total vibe. There was a wait, so we got a bucket of beers at the bar area next to the restaurant. Lots of great spots to sit and soak in the sunshine. When you're on your way to being seated, you walk past the grill where you see alllllll of the bbq. It is HOT and the staff is working hard! This place is a well oiled machine and definitely has its customer service down. I ordered a plate with turkey and brisket with some Mac n cheese, and we also got the beef ribs. It was truly delicious and I would love to be able to go back and try other options! Definitiely seems like a Texas bbq staple.

    Pit BBQ
    Wendy J.

    Atmosphere is fantastic and great for families & large groups wanting a Texas feel. Lots of parking available and even a welcome shed to greet you & give you directions for drinks and getting a table. Once inside we were quickly seated and waited upon. Drinks & food were quickly delivered. I've been to Salt Lick many times in the last 40 years. While the buildings and space have increased and expanded, the food is nowhere near what I remembered. We ordered the chicken & brisket plates. Both were a disappointment. The chicken was dry and the sliced brisket overcooked. The sides were coleslaw beans & potatoes. The coleslaw was a heavy vinegar type. Highlight of the evening was the country musician who sang in the hallway. Great touch and really set the Texas mood for the evening,

    K H.

    This place is iconic. A friend took me out to lunch. We ordered the all you can eat platter. They brought out ribs, brisket, and sausage. For sides, they brought out coleslaw, beans, potatoes, and rolls. Had the cobbler and ice cream for dessert. The food was good but the service was what made this place. Loved the experience and will go back. It was a great value, compared to a lot of bbq places, as well.

    Exterior
    Marissa G.

    4.5 My family and I decided to go to the Salt Lick BBQ for lunch. We went during the week at around 1:30. There was plenty of parking. As we walked in we were greeted by a friendly host that seated us. As you walk to one of the dinning rooms you pass by the room where the BBQ Pit is and where the meat is being cooked. It's cool to see. After being seated we were greeted by a friendly man that brought us some menus and took our drink orders. After a few minutes he returned with our waters and we ordered. We ordered some bread. My son ordered some ribs, my husband ordered two meats on a plate with two sides. I ordered the sliced brisket sandwich with coleslaw, potato salad and beans. My son loved his ribs and bread. He said that the food was good. My husband enjoyed his meal and ate everything up. For me the sliced brisket sandwich was okay. It had thick brisket meat but it was greasy with a lot of fat. I added some onion and pickles to my sandwich for extra texture and flavor. There were two choices of BBQ sauce. One was spicy and the other was regular. I preferred the regular sauce and used it in my sandwich. The coleslaw had a crisp texture but not a lot of flavor. The potato salad had some good sized potatoes with a slight flavor. The beans had the most flavor of the sides. Overall Salt Lick BBQ was an okay place to get BBQ for lunch. The restaurant had lots of seating, everyone that worked there was friendly, and the food was okay.

    Smoking pit
    Suzanne T.

    This is clearly a populate place! We arrived right as they opened at 11am on a Saturday morning. There was already a line that had formed to be seated but no wait to speak of. The hostess who greeted us was nice and friendly. Restaurant is huge and has tons of various dining spaces, as this was our first time here, we wanted to sample all of the meats, so we each got a combo plate in order to try the beef brisket, pork rib, pulled pork, sausage, and chicken. My favorite meat was the pulled pork, followed by the sausage. My dining partner's favorite was the beef brisket, followed by the pork rib. So we each had a different ranking and they were all excellent. Our server was great, despite being a trainee. She got everything perfect for us. My reasons for a star deduction: The potato salad was great but it is served room temp. That's odd to me. Potato salad, even if doesn't contain mayonnaise, should be served cold! The other "needs improvement" is the restrooms. At best, I would rate the cleanliness as a C+/B- Would I come here again? Not sure. I'm not a local so I'd probably be inclined to keep searching. Am I glad I came and would I recommend it? Yes, I think so.

    Brisket and Turkey Combo Plate
    Micaela C.

    One of my favorite places to eat bbq. I always order the pork ribs and turkey plate. However, this time I ordered brisket and IT WAS SOOO DELICIOUS. The service and the ambiance were really good. An amazing place to go, chill and eat yummy food.

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    2 months ago

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    20 days ago

    A few weeks ago, it was my first time there and i was kindly greeted and sat by the host alex, it was great experience!

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    The Salt Lick BBQ Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Salt Lick BBQ

    Arriving at 5pm on wed 6/3, should I be able to be seated gor dinner?

    Yes

    Does that mean you eat nothing but salt?

    LOL no, Salt Lick BBQ is named after the natural salt licks (or mineral licks) that animals use to obtain essential minerals. Their food isn't even salty.

    Does The Saltlick serve brisket burnt ends?

    Yes

    How long is the wait on Sundays typically? Is the wait outside? Thanks!

    one to two hours . Outside with misters.

    Is it easy to get an Uber at the Salt Lick back to Dallas? Wasn't planning on renting a car since I'm only in town for a day.

    That's a long ass drive, it would probably be cheaper to rent a car than to Uber.

    I take it from your lack of a response you do not offer a Military Discount?

    If I remember correctly, they do have a military discount

    They accept credit cards now and can customers reserve a table?

    The real trick is go to their gift shop, check out menu right there, order take out food from them (don't stand in line near hostess stand!), find an outside table, and in 15 minutes food is ready in pick up area, and you're dining! (We avoided 90m… 

    Do you offer a military discount?

    Is it still only cash? Or do y'all now accept debit cards?

    Yes they do accept cards.

    Is chicken included in the all you can eat family meal?

    No chicken is not included

    Is there a banquet menu?

    No there is not. But there are large rooms

    How much to cater a reception for about 30-45 people? Brisket, sausage and all the fixings. Someone will pick up. Thanks!

    Not very specific in my answer but to keep it real it will cost alot of money..lol but it's worth it.

    When is it the least crowded?

    From my experience between 2pm till about 4:30 PM during the week, on the weekend and for the most part on Fridays it's always busy.

    Is the dining room or outdoor seating open yet?

    Yes to both

    How easy is it to Uber or Lyft to and from the original location?

    I'm not a local. But I was staying in Austin. It was a good 30+ minute drive there. A little out of the way. But definitely some of the best bbq I've had. Worth the trip.

    What time do you open on Tuesday?

    Good morning! We open at 11:00 this morning! Hope to see you soon!

    Are dogs allowed on your outdoor seating area?

    Yes...we take our dog all the time. 😃

    Are dogs allowed to dine in with us?

    Absolutely! They are allowed outside on the shaded patio. I have not seen any dog bowls during any of our previous trips so make sure to bring your own, and some water!

    What kind of meat is in the sausage?

    Delicious Delicious meat from animals...it's BBQ!

    Is there a location near downtown Austin?

    Nope. One in Round Rock, one in Driftwood and a small location in the airport.

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    Vista Brewing

    Vista Brewing

    4.0(240 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Vista is one of my favorite local-ish breweries. Day tripping to Dripping Springs for good…read morebreweries and wineries is such a fun thing to do. So, if there's a place I like, I'm gonna go again and again. Vista is one of those places. I like their approach to beer making. They are vigilantly local when it comes to ingredients and offerings. The brewery/restaurant sits on over 20 acres in hill country. Large, clean, and modern interior with large outdoor seating areas and patio setups. Picnic tables, fire pits, etc. The food is good, gang. Love the grilled sausage board and the cheese board (all local cheese). Soft pretzel & cheese also super good. Lots of other items in the menu that look incredible. Sunday brunch too. Farm to table. The pours...oh, the pours. Excellent beers! I love the black pilsner (Dark Skies), the chocolate notes come through in such an aromatic and roasty manner. The pale ale (Driftwood Pale Ale) is the perfect summer pour. It's light, crisp, and refreshing. In addition to the regular pours, they've got a lot of seasonal offerings too. They also serve wine/wine cocktails and n/an options. Spending a day in hill country? Vista makes for a nice stop!

    My family and I went to Vista Brewing for dinner. We drove there, parked, and walked in. There are…read moreplenty of places to park. It's a very spacious indoor and outdoor restaurant with lots of seating and places to explore. As we walked in I noticed that it's very bright with a lot of windows. You order at the counter. When we walked up to the counter the menu was on the bar top. We looked at the menu and placed our order with the man working behind the counter. He was really cool and answered our questions. After ordering he gave us a number and told us to seat ourselves. After figuring out where we wanted to sit we went to the water station and grabbed some water. We looked around inside at the decor and talked while we waited for our order. We started with two sharables and each ordered the burgers of our choice. Unfortunately when they started bringing out our food they made an error in how it was made. We told them, the took the wrong order back, and after awhile they brought us everything and apologized for the error. Our sharables were the Grilled Chimichurri Avacado which comes with a half avocado, corn, and tortilla chips, and the Hummus Board which comes with hummus, veggies, and pitas. Both of these sharables were tasty in different ways. The Grilled Chimichurri Avacado was delicious. You could taste all of the delicious flavors and the tortilla chips were strong enough to hold a mix of the ingredients. The Hummus Board was also very tasty. The Hummus was garlic flavored and the veggies were fresh and crisp. The pitas were warm and soft. For my main dish I ordered the Driftwood Cheeseburger. It comes with a beef patty, bacon jam, onions, pickles, sauce, and cheese. I opted for no cheese. The burger meat was really good. You could taste the Smokey flavor from the grill on the meat. The bacon jam was sweet but not overly sweet and gave the burger a sweet and savory flavor. The pickles added texture to the burger. It was a really good burger. I ordered my burger with a side of kettle chips which were nice and crispy. Overall it was a great place to visit. The service was good, the atmosphere was spacious, nice and bright, and the food was fresh and delicious.

    Photos
    Vista Brewing - Interior Merchandise and Decor

    Interior Merchandise and Decor

    Vista Brewing - Kettle Chips and Driftwood Cheeseburger No Cheese

    Kettle Chips and Driftwood Cheeseburger No Cheese

    Vista Brewing - 5th Year Anniversary

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    5th Year Anniversary

    Duchman Family Winery - Fried Brie

    Duchman Family Winery

    3.9(298 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    We've visited this winery twice to try their tasting menu. Both times, the staff have been very…read morekind and helpful and it's been a great experience. We came as part of a larger tour across multiple Driftwood area wineries with reservations for their tastings. They have a set tasting menu and a staff member will guide you through each of the pours with explanations of the flavor profiles. On our last visit it was a mix of whites, reds and a sweet wine at the end. The pours are generous and all their wines have tasted great. You can order some snacks like a charcuterie plate on the side. The space is beautiful and I've heard they have a venue on the estate for hosting parties or weddings. They have a beautiful outdoor garden that makes for gorgeous photos or relaxing outside. Check this spot out on your next Austin area winery tour!

    The winery is lovely. The people are really nice. We showed up for our wine tasting appointment and…read morewas told they did not have it, in fact had no tastings at that time. Luckily my sister had the reservation email to show them because the girl just kept repeating the same thing until someone senior came by to help us. The wine was tasty but the tasting itself was only moderately enjoyable. The main reason was the tasting was 30-40 minutes long and we just had to stand at a counter. We couldn't order food at the counter either. We are used to tastings being at a table where we do the tasting, order bottles we enjoyed while noshing on food from the menu. Standing for 40 minutes at a counter was not expected or enjoyable. One of our family members has a disability and is unable to stand that long so he and my husband sat outside while the ladies did the wine tasting inside at the counter. It was really disappointing as the expectation was a nice afternoon at the winery with the group and it ended up being two separate groups and standing the whole time at a counter wasn't enjoyable. The wine was good. We brought two bottles home. The experience left a lot to be desired.

    Photos
    Duchman Family Winery
    Duchman Family Winery - Entryway to the tasting room

    Entryway to the tasting room

    Duchman Family Winery

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    Driftwood Estate Winery - Our award-winning Dry Rosé ~

    Driftwood Estate Winery

    3.4(395 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    My friends and I had a wonderful experience! We called ahead and found out we didn't require a…read morereservation. We got there and it was a little late for them with a reserved party already seated, but they acted like it was no problem at all and we were delighted that we could do a tasting and enjoy the view outside, admiring the beautiful grounds in between going to the bar for another wine to taste. We fell in love with the Lone Star Cab and got a case while it was on sale and then decided to join the wine club with a purchase of the smooth and delicious Alamo Red. We are ready to go back with a new set of friends and try some others!

    Exploring Austin's Hill Country was one of the best decisions we made when visiting friends in…read moreTexas. There was not enough time to go on a wine tour, so I had to figure out which winery to visit. I wasn't familiar with the area and randomly chose Driftwood Estates, which was a surprising highlight of the weekend! Was this real life?! Was I dreaming?! Standing on top of the hill, I was in deep admiration of the panoramic, gorgeous, and breathtaking views! It made me forget about busy city life and I only wanted to appreciate the beauty of nature and all its glory on such a perfect day (while sipping on a glass of wine)! I really did feel like I was in another world - filled with serenity, solitude and relaxation! We did a tasting and enjoyed the reds, which were more on the dry side, but I didn't mind because I prefer dry red wines. I definitely recommend the Sangiovese and Alamo Red. The bar area was a little crowded that day, so we didn't get to interact too much with the staff to learn more about their other wine offerings. There is a store next to the bar area. You can buy cute wine themed souvenirs for family and friends back home. They also have a small cafe - you can get some light bites and head outside, find your perfect cozy spot, and enjoy those breathtaking views! (Caution: There is plenty of parking at the winery, but please be careful and drive slow because of the bumpy gravel road).

    Photos
    Driftwood Estate Winery - A selection of the many varietals that we make!

    A selection of the many varietals that we make!

    Driftwood Estate Winery - Wine by the glass.

    Wine by the glass.

    Driftwood Estate Winery - Become a wine club member today, and get our wine shipped directly to your door!

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    Become a wine club member today, and get our wine shipped directly to your door!

    The Salt Lick BBQ - bbq - Updated September 2026

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