Brianna E.

Best BBQ I have ever had in my life, I don't think I can go back to eating regular bbq after this. The hype is real! My friend has been trying to take me here for years! We came on Sunday morning, arrived at about 11:30 am, and there was already a line around the corner. The line was moving slowly, but an employee was giving us live updates as the meats were being sold. Letting us know how much inventory was available. It's crazy how fast their meats sell! We were nervous when we heard they were almost sold out of the cuts we wanted to try, but luckily we were able to get everything we wanted. As we were ordering, I saw the owner herself cutting up the brisket and plating the trays. Working hard, and I love to see it! We got a great variety of meats and sides, so I will break em down for you -Lambchops: Delicious, very aromatic, cooked perfectly, not too fatty (employee suggested to eat this first) -Brisket: TENDERSISM gah, best briskey I have ever had -Ribs: Loved the sauce on this -Turkey: Good turkey, a lot of people were ordering turkey, and I see why -Jalapeno and cheese sausage: Omg, the cheese was oozing out, so yummy -Potato Salad: Solid, I liked it -Charro Beans: Black charro beans? I'm here for it. And they loaded the beans with weenies! love that GREEN SPAGHETTI: MY FAV YOU MUST TRY! It was creamy and delicious, not too spicy either -Cinnamon swirl bread: Nice change from your typical white bread, I liked it! It gives it an interesting twist -Pickles: They make their pickles in-house. If you are a pickle lover, ask for extra! They are delicious The inside is small but cute. Highly suggest getting here early if you want to get certain meats or find a seat. There are indoor and a couple of outdoor seats. The inside has really cool merch! I ended up buying a t-shirt. The staff is so friendly, oh my goodness, I felt like I was eating a friend's house. I love the energy, I love the food, I WILL BE BACK!

Mike R.

Took a day trip to Austin from the Houston Area and decided to check Barbs BQ off the list due to their Texas Monthly and Bon Appetit Accolades. We weren't disappointed. We arrived about 10:15 on a Saturday morning and there was probably 25 people ahead of us in line. As other reviewers have mentioned, once they open at 11, the line moves relatively slowly. But the staff is so friendly throughout the entire experience, even before when they go over the menu, specials and helpful hints for the ordering process with the crowd waiting in line. It took us about 1 hour to make it up to the counter to order directly from the Pitmaster Chuck. She was extremely friendly and I was really impressed with how she carefully created our platter of smoked meats. She was purposeful in placing each cut of meat in certain spots and making the platter look like artwork. Never experienced that in a BBQ restaurant before. The restaurant is pretty small as far as seating goes and it was too brisk to try to sit outside. My wife and I happened to get our food when there was no place left to sit. The staff was very helpful though and they found us a comfortable place to be as a table that had been eating the entire hour we were in line was finally getting ready to leave. So, maybe a 3 minute wait for the table. Now we finally get to eat the food - We ordered moist brisket, ribs, herb sausage, turkey, and they had a special grilled and marinated chicken thigh available. Our sides were the signature green spaghetti and potato salad and we got a strawberry cheesecake cobbler for dessert. A bunch of food. The food was the star of the show. Great brisket, very tasty ribs and ribs aren't normally my favorite smoked meat. The lime zest they garnished the ribs with was unique, and a great addition. The turkey may have been the best smoked turkey I've ever had and I could have eaten a dozen of the chicken thigh special. The only meat I wouldn't get again was the sausage. This might be because my palate has changed because I'm rarely a fan of BBQ joint sausage these days. The green (poblano) spaghetti met did not disappoint and the potato salad was good if not the most memorable. But between the brisket, turkey, ribs, chicken thigh and the green spaghetti we definitely had us a 5 star BBQ meal. Great job Chuck and the team!!!

Ruben C.

FML. Why didn't i make it here sooner? Literally kicking myself. Showed up on a cold Saturday and there was a small line; it took about 45 minutes to get through it. Worth the wait? That and more! I'd stand in that line again for the scrumptious meats and sides. Really unequalled. Ordered a nice spread of brisket, both moist and lean, pork ribs, turkey, sausage - both with and without chile, the incredible sides: potato salad and green spaghetti and for good measure, they threw in a chicken thigh for free. Now, we weren't going eat all that in one sitting so we also grabbed a few to-go boxes. I dont know where to begin as it's no hype. This is the real deal. Both briskets were juicy and melted in your mouth, with that salt and pepper bringing all the goodness out. The ribs were just stupidly mind-blowing; the last time I had ribs anywhere close to this good was like 15 years ago after LA Barbecue had just opened. The turkey was moist and so tender. The sausages, my god, how did they make these incredible treats? And the sides? Jesus F christ. Unparalleled! The green spaghetti and potato salad were to die for. And the staff? So friendly and approachable. If we get invaded by aliens who want to destroy our world for lack of culture, they will change their minds after eating here. There's reasons why Barbs B Q has won so many accolades, you just gotta try them yourself.

Hippy M.

Barbs lives up to its accolades. Unique and creative dishes that compliment tried and true, traditional BBQ. The sides were as good as the main course. It's worth the wait, if there's a line. Delicious down to the bone. I cannot thank the owner enough. You provide the best service of any restaurant I've ever reviewed. We felt welcome, swept away by your signature flavors, and grateful that your food exists. You're one in a million!

Max G.

I had read a lot about Barb's and welcomed the chance to try it during our Austin-area barbecue safari. A line started forming an hour before they opened, and although we were about 20th in line, the line crawled very slowly. It took an hour to get food. This is the one drawback to Barb's The food was delicious. We ordered: --Ribs: tender, moist, flavorful --Brisket: moist --Lamb chop: Perhaps the best lamb chop I've ever eaten. Seating in the restaurant is limited. Barb and her team were very friendly and helpful. Definitely one of the top 3 joints we visited on our barbecue safari.

Josh P.

I've been wanting to checkout Barb's for awhile so we stopped on the way to Corpus on Friday. It was less crowded than expected but probably because the bbqfest was two days later. We got there at 10:30 and were about 20 in the line. We got our food at 11:30 and got to briefly meet the owner Chuck as she was at the main/chopping location. Everyone was super friendly and welcoming before, during, and until we left. We decided to get the Tray for two to make it easy and because it was a good deal and included everything we wanted, plus some. Its 1/2 lb of each turkey, brisket, and pork ribs, with 2 sides and a dessert. We got the green spaghetti and upgraded to a bigger size and then the pork stew and the cobbler. The pork ribs, pork stew, and cobbler are spectacular. Brisket/turkey/green spaghetti are pretty good, in my opinion. The green spaghetti was actually really good leftover too, better than fresh. The only thing I didn't really care for was the sauce. Its sweet and I didn't care for the flavors either. It's in my top 10 and I'd like to come back and try the beef rib sometime when they have it.

Joe T.

Solid 4 from my experience on a Friday. Arrived at 10:30 (28th in line), set foot inside at 11:05 and took almost an hour to get my food. To be fair, lots of people were taking a ton of pics / video which slowed the line down. The BBQ is solid, I appreciate the cinnamon bread & green (Mom's) spaghetti, but I'm not sure if it's worth the drive from Austin + the wait when there are plenty of BBQ options nearby.

Zachary S.

This was my first time in the "BBQ Capital of Texas." Some of the oldest barbecue joints were established in Lockhart. Their traditional BBQ joints are iconic, but they aren't innovating. They know what they're doing works, so they continue pushing the same old-school barbecue, slowly getting lost in time as these new cats in Austin, in DFW, and all over the great state of Texas keep doing something new and elevating what makes barbecue special. For Lockhart itself, Barbs B Q feels like the new heavyweight breaking through in the BBQ Capital. Barbs is located in the middle of downtown Lockhart. I arrived at 10:30 with a book in my hand as I waited for their 11:00 opening. There was a decent line of people ahead of me, but nothing too scary. Before the place opened, two nice employees came outside, introduced themselves, and talked about how the line was going to move as well as shared some recommendations. They also had a cooler of beer and a water dispenser. The line at Barbs moves very slow. Slower than most joints I've been to thus far, but once you start moving through the line, it makes sense. From Chuck, the pit master, to the rest of the staff, everyone is super chatty and friendly, and it really makes you feel special in the line when most places are trying to push you through to help move their line more efficiently. Chuck seems grateful to every person coming in and thanked me (some random guy) for coming to try Barbs B Q. Now for the food. Brisket: I wasn't fully sold on my first piece, but once the juicier second piece landed in my mouth, it was some of the best BBQ I had tasted. It is seasoned so flavorfully, and it's absolutely immaculate on the tongue. Sausage: Their fajita sausage link is stuffed full of jalapeños and cheese. While it is pretty similar to a lot of basic jalapeño cheddar links I've had, this one happens to take the cake at being the best of its iteration. I don't know how you make jalapeño cheddar have this much of a kick and still be so sweet and enjoyable. Chuck did warn my white ass that it would be spicy, and she wasn't wrong, but I handled it. I'm not a coward. Lamb Chopis: I would never think to try lamb chops at a barbecue joint, but after countless recommendations (one from the pitmaster of San Antonio's Reese Bros), I did what had to be done. It's so good. It's soooooo good. I don't know who needs to hear this to try it, but if they have any when you go (yes, you random Yelper), order it. It's pricier than any other cut on their menu, but even the two lamb chopis I had took the cake. This was easily the best thing I had at Barbs, and I was impressed by everything. Green Spaghetti: My buddy told me if I didn't get the green spaghetti, he would be disappointed in me. I find green spaghetti so fascinating because first of all, spaghetti shouldn't be green, and second of all, it is so creamy that you would expect it to be mild and help cool you down from the spices of the sausage link. Instead, its mild kick does nothing to save you, but you can't stop eating it. The pasta is cooked pretty al dente, so it's not too soft. Very impressive. Pork Stew: Another recommendation from my buddy. The calabacita con puerco on top of the white rice with added corn is super tasty and was crushed by yours truly. Cinnamon Bread: Maybe the most hyped item on my tray was Barbs B Q's homemade cinnamon swirl bread. No potato rolls here. No white bread here. A true magical experience eating these slices. It's decently subtle, not making the bread feel like a dessert versus a slice of bread, but it's nonetheless super tasty, and I could find myself buying a full loaf of this to take home with me. Barbs is super impressive and makes the classics in the BBQ Capital look like pop-up shops in comparison. RIYL: Sonic the Hedgehog or Texas BBQ. Or both!!

Lauren S.

No review is actually needed as the hype and public knowledge is vast and wide... but... YES, the line is absolutely worth the wait. Someone is right there clearing seats, making sure you're hydrated outside while you wait, and moving things along seamlessly. Clean, bright, and welcoming! We arrived at 12:30 and waited about 45 minutes in line. Try everything, seriously, there are no wrong choices. Sauce was the best I've had in Texas, and note they zest a little lime over top your BBQ before handing it over in its majestic glory. Don't forget to order bread! You're welcome LOL.

Rick S.

After having first set foot at Barbs almost a year and a half ago, I can't believe I haven't reviewed this restaurant. I read about a really great new Lockhart barbecue place in the Statesman and determined I needed to make the trek down. In the home of Texas barbecue with many able competitors, it really means a lot to be recognized. I was not disappointed. I managed to get into the line early enough on a Saturday morning to be able to order what I wanted as the supplies run out pretty quickly here. I love the ribs and brisket the best, both moist and deliciously decadent, but the green "spaghett" is a must have. Based on a recipe from the Valley, it's a tasty spaghetti pasta doused in a flavorful pepper cream sauce (Poblanos I think). The restaurant has some seating but it's not huge. The last time I was there, a television video crew was interviewing patrons and staff. Barbs B Q has become famous as one of the best new American restaurants (New York Times) and is listed in the Michelin Guide. If you want to eat here, you have to come early on the weekend or you may miss out. Highly recommended.

Best barbecue I've had in 25 years. Unbelievably delicious. Try to get there early. When we arrived at 11:00 (opening time) there were already 30 people in line. Took us 30 minutes to get to the front and order. But, Well worth it.

Brandon L.

Words won't do this review justice but I will try. Barbs has reset my tiers of bbq, and this spot stands alone at the top. Went on a bbq tour of Austin and its surrounding towns. Did all the classics and a lot of the top new bbq spots. We also drove further south to Burnt Bean (Texas monthly No1)...Barbs smoked them (figuratively and literally). Barbs is top tier. Best of the best. Still in shock. If I had more time, I'd go back again and again. If I was on death row, I'd ask for barbs.

Dora S.

Don't underestimate a modern, new bbq spot in lockhart. I came in 20min before they closed and they only had chicken and chopped brisket left. The servers were incredibly patient and nice, even at the tail end of their shift. I was pleasantly surprised at how good their sauce was. Don't ask me to describe it because i cant. I wanted to get it to go or buy a bottle to take home, yes, it was that good. The brisket was moist and so flavorful. The green spaghetti? So worth it. It had a strong broccoli flavor and it paired so well with the chopped brisket. I went and tried blacks bbq and smittys, i gotta say, barbs was my favorite by far. I will be back earlier to try all the other items on the menu!!