Amazing customer service. If somethings not right, they will fix it. I would like to compliment the San Marcos location for great customer service. read more

ordered brisket sandwich,, brisket was very tough and dry... maybe few days old,,,not sure. I mentioned it to staff on way out and they were indifferent. $25 for sandwich and two sides,,, sad read more

If there was a zero star option..... we got 2 sandwiches, 5 small ribs, 1 slice of turkey, and 4 sides. It was over $100 and it was HORRIBLE! The brisket was fatty and oily, the pulled pork had no flavor, potato salad was chunks of potatoes and I don't even know what else but not good. We are so pissed we spent that much money for THAT. Also, the cats lurking at your feet and walking all over the tables begging for food is nasty. There is a reason it wasn't busy at all on a weekend. Seriously go to sizzler, or even McDonald's, your meal will be much better there. read more

This was absolutely amazing, would 100% go back, you have to order the jalapeno cheddar sausage and the Mac n cheese was so delicious. I smelled the deliciousness from the parking lot. I did also order some ribs. Even my 4 year old daughter tore up the ribs. That is an impressive statement. The staff was very helpful and friendly. This and the amazing food put together made this place amazing and the beverages are pretty good. Honestly debating on going back sooner than expected, service was good, very attentive. The decor looked the part of old time BBQ.... I am pleased with the outing! Respectfully, Bryan Oklahoma City read more

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Not the worst brisket I've ever had, but it's a close second. So dry it was hard to eat. Turkey was average along with the coleslaw. The best thing I ate was the pickled Jalapeños. At least coming from a can they are consistent. No problems with the service, everyone was cordial. The ambiance was nice but the restaurant was dead, a red flag I overlooked. 1/4# sliced brisket, 1/4# turkey, small coleslaw, 1 Dos Equis = $32. Reasonable for GOOD BBQ but not for this place. San Marcos Location read more

This place is tucked away down a little street. Plenty of parking. We parked right in front and walked up a few stairs and we were inside. The set up reminds me of a Chinese fast food joint. Their sides are all ready for you to choose from. Their barbecue is as well. When we arrived, they were cutting the barbecue up. Me and my friend shared everything. We ordered the beef ribs, the beef brisket, mashed potatoes, sweet corn, banana pudding, and mac & cheese. We also got a regular hot link. The hotlink was very delicious. The beef rib was still attached to bone, but it seemed a little bit over cooked on one side because it was very rough. Also, the banana pudding just seemed very basic to me. I've had better. Food was so bomb though!! The brisket melted in my mouth!! So freaking good. Potatoes are all natural and fresh. But the mac & cheese was the best part for sure. They have barbecue sauce bottles on the table. I definitely would recommend anyone near the area looking for some really good barbecue to head on over. read more

Black's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Ethan took care of us when we had something missing in our order. He even gave us extra brisket! It was absolutely delicious and we were all so thrilled! Thank you, Ethan! read more

Went here a couple days ago when I was in San Marcos. Gotta say, just like the Black's bbq in Austin (don't know if it's the same owner), I'm not a fan. I got the 'pork belly', which tasted more like pork chops than pork belly. Not that rich, fatty, bacon-y flavor and texture you expect from pork belly. More of the gamy, hog-y pork taste you expect from pork chops (which I don't like!). The brisket might be amazing, but it's very expensive (I think $33/lb). Which is why I didn't get it. Blacks in Austin also usually has very expensive brisket, which is why it's the one bbq in Austin where I don't get brisket. I usually opt for their pulled pork, which I find decent but not the best. The vibe is great though, a true old school Texas bbq joint feel. read more

Located on a side street, this popular BBQ place was a bit disappointing. You start by picking your sides and then pick your meats. Then you pay for the food and carry it to your table on a tray. For $38, I was able to try two sides, chicken, turkey breast, beef brisket, baby back ribs, hot sausage, and a soda. FOOD: For $38 I was able to try every meat they had available that day. For the sides I had the mashed potatoes (1/5), which was quite terrible. It was like eating unseasoned sandpaper. At least the gravy was good. I also got the creamed corn (2/5), which was ok, just severely under-seasoned again. The turkey breast (3/5) was unmemorable but tasty. The beef brisket (4/5) was nice and tender but a bit on the fattier side. The baby back ribs (3/5) were also ok but nothing special. The hot sausage (3/5) was interesting but probably not something I would order again. Funny enough, the best meat I had was probably the chicken thigh (5/5). It was juicy and flavorful. Delicious. One last thing to note, their diet soda was only dispensing water and I find issues like these to be irritating and a clear sign that management is not doing their work. SERVICE: Interacted with 3 people when ordering my food. Lady serving the sides was nice and said that all their sides were delicious, she clearly didn't try the sandpaper mashed potatoes from that night. The guy that carved the meats for me was nice and did not make me feel like a pig for wanting to try a little bit of everything. Finally, the cashier could have done a better job pretending to be happy working there that night. LOCATION: As mentioned, it is located on a side street. The facility itself is nice and they even have a merchandise corner with cool stuff. Their patio seemed infested with cats (at least 6 that I saw) which I'm not sure if that's good or bad. NOTEWORTHY: Not bad but nothing special about this place unfortunately. read more

Black's BBQ - $38 - Barbeque Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

I thought the BBQ here was alright - nothing too crazy to rave about. I ordered 1 lb of brisket, jalapeño sausage, and some pork ribs. For the side, I got mac n cheese. Mac n cheese was more on the dry side like it had been sitting out for a while (I didn't finish it). Brisket was OK...it was not very moist - I would also say it's on the dry side as well. Jalapeño sausage was okay - also slightly dry but has a nice kick of spiciness. The ribs were probably the best item here out of all the items I got! I came around 1 PM btw. Service wasn't bad but staff could be a little more friendly. Well at least, look less annoyed when guests come in lol! But that's what happens when we hire young folks! Overall, I'd give Blacks BBQ a 6.5/10! At least for this location. read more

Way way WAY too expensive for what you are getting!! Save your money, go down the street to Riley's and get much better food for a Much more affordable price !!!! The service came across as very forced and fake !! The ambiance is very typical of a bbq joint. Save your money, and get Much better Bbq at Riley's !! read more

Food: 3 out 5 Service: 1.5 out 5 ( ordered food at front and bring your own food to find table yourself- not much service) Ambiance: 2.5 out 5 Price: 2 out 5 ( $75 for 2 on lunch at Austin,TX) read more

Blacks BBQ is the place to go to for bbq the place is convenient. Especially from my tree house and everyone else's tree to. And I think it's the best bbq here in smtx. So 5s from me and highly recommended. read more

Stopped in on a weekday to satisfy my BBQ craving after some disappointing meals elsewhere. Tucked away on a side street in San Marcos, you'll smell it before you see it (and it smells GOOD). Beef ribs are the reason you come here. Everything else is delicious too, but NOBODY does beef ribs like Texas. Kent Black's are up with the best I've ever had. I'm sure a BBQ judge will come in and give you a better breakdown, but they're fatty, beefy, salty, and delicious from the first bite to the last. If you are a newbie, know that the price tag is high, but worth it. You buy by the rib, and the minimum weight is over 1 pound, so when you see the price per pound on the menu (which changes with the market), know that is the MINIMUM you'll pay. A single beef rib is more than enough for one hungry person, so bring a friend to share the wealth. If you don't have any friends or you're traveling alone, drown your loneliness in tender beef and get a rib anyway. They can run out of beef ribs, so try and come by before 1pm. Special thank you to the counter staff, who saw my disappointment when they told me they might be out of beef ribs for the day. Another staff member heard the exchange and went to check, and returned with another tray of beef ribs! read more

Good BBQ, the pinto beans are amazing! Skip the peach cobbler, over cooked, few peaches, strange texture cobbler.

While in the area to attend a wedding, my husband and I met up with some of his friends from college and they brought us to Kent, Black's BBQ. They swore up and down it was the best barbecue in all of Texas, so we couldn't wait to try it. We were immediately greeted upon our arrival, and when the staff found out it was our first time there, they went out of their way to ensure we had an amazing experience. They even let us sample a couple of the meats before placing our order. I love that you can order as many sides as you want, and the meat is priced out by weight. We definitely ordered way too much food, but the leftovers did not go to waste. For our sides, we tried their mac & cheese, coleslaw, okra, banana pudding, and upon the recommendation of a staff member - their mashed potatoes with cream corn on top. All of the sides were phenomenal. For our meats, we ordered two beef ribs, pulled pork, turkey, brisket, and jalapeño sausage links. Everything was so juicy and flavorful. I will not argue with anyone who says this is the best barbecue in all of Texas. read more

Went around 2:00 pm on Friday. No line, went right to the counter and ordered 1 pound of ribs and 1/2 pound of lean prime brisket . Very meaty ribs. Both meats were good and tasty. At $30 a pound, I would think it would be good. Pickled okra and string beans accompanied. Nothing else, no tip, just tap water all came to $48. I believe Blacks charges more because of reputation. If I was a connoisseur of good bbq, maybe I'd appreciate it more. Seems expensive to me. I doubt I will go back. read more

Black's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

The late Edgar Black established the ORIGINAL Original Black's Barbecue in Lockhart in 1932, so the "Original" offshoots in Austin, San Marcos, and New Braunfels deserve a more fitting adjective. Perhaps third-generation pitmaster Kent Black* should rechristen the ORIGINAL Original location as "The Primordial Black's Barbecue" and refer to the offshoots as "The Subsequent Black's Barbecue(s)." The Black family never consulted yours truly, however, so I shall relegate my neurotic grammarian ramblings to a mental shelf and proceed to the review. Misleading nomenclature aside, the San Marcos location does granddaddy Edgar proud, churning out tender, juicy beef-centric 'cue on par with the Lockhart "Original." Pitmaster Kent Black's approach to beef barbecue is undoubtedly the most eccentric in the state of Texas. His "pit crew" (hehe, see what I did there?) smokes the Black Angus briskets twelve to thirteen hours, removes them from the smoker, places them in a cooler for up to two days, and then returns them to the pit. A fellow Black's acolyte once assured me that this process tenderizes the beef and enhances the flavor (a dubious, pseudoscientific claim, I thought to myself), but the results speak for themselves. The peppery "fatty/moist" brisket is tender throughout and oozing with rivulets of smoky, rendered fat. The same approach also works its wonders on a "dino" beef rib, a hedonistic, eye-widening monstrosity bearing a mahogany smoke ring, a flossy, salty exterior, and an interior saturated with rendered collagen. A beef rib from Black's is the perfect introduction to Texas Hill Country barbecue, a primal, messy, carnivorous affair guaranteed to satisfy one's most base Paleolithic instincts. An average rib weighs in at approximately 1.5 pounds, but I had little difficulty polishing off a 2.5 pounder (cut extra large per my specification) in addition to hearty portions of brisket and sausage. Speaking of sausage, Black's has become world famous for its "horseshoe" links available in three varieties: original, jalapeno-cheddar, and garlic. The rustic, irregularly shaped links (90 percent beef, 10 percent pork, and a proprietary blend of spices) are saturated with the smoky, subtly sweet undertones of post-oak. The sausages pick up snap from the pits, desiccating the casings and intensifying the flavors contained therein. The recipe has remained unchanged since 1932, proof that some traditions are worth preserving. Surprisingly, the sides at the San Marcos location are measurably better than the locations in Lockhart and New Braunfels. An ooey-gooey mac and cheese hit all the right notes (i.e., an intensely Cheddar-American flavor with plenty of "la religieuse" on the edges), the pinto beans tasted of rendered pork fat (always a good thing), and the coleslaw was equal parts cream and vinegar. The star of the show, though, was a phenomenal, caramel-flavored pecan cobbler loaded with meaty Texas natives in a flaky, buttery shell. Black's Barbecue in San Marcos might not be "The Original," but it's a welcome addition to a college town bereft of world-class barbecue. The historic Lockhart location attracts the tourist trade, but this offshoot retains everything that made the original a heralded "temple of barbecue": outstanding brisket, beef ribs, and sausage. Come early, come hungry, and bemuse the rednecks and stoned college kids in line by referring to the Lockhart location as the "Primordial" Black's Barbecue. *Narcissism runs amok in the world of barbecue, as evidenced here. All three Black's locations claim Kent Black as their pitmaster, but how can this be? When I pressed the staff for information for this review (I'm a dedicated Yelper), they seemed uncomfortable divulging the name of this location's pitmaster, opting instead to say "Kent Black" in unison with a flat cult-like affect. Unless you've somehow mastered the esoteric art of astral projection, Mr. Black, I doubt you are truly the pitmaster at all three locations. Let someone else assume that title at your New Braunfels and San Marcos offshoots. read more

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The only issue with Kent Black's BBQ is that it's Hit or Miss... It's just not consistent. Today I had a sliced brisket sandwich and a sausage link. The sliced brisket was as dry as west Texas and the bread it was served on was hard and crumbly like old bread or refrigerated bread. So after the 1st bite the whole thing fell apart in my hands. I was driving home at the time so this was a Big Problem!! The sausage link had great flavor but was the diameter of one of my fingers. That a skinny sausage link.. I understand BBQ is hard work and I respect the craft, but this place could try a Little Harder. I normally favor Black's BBQ bit this particular location in San Marcos is Officially my LEAST FAVORITE location. read more

Black's BBQ - Really Skinny Sausages - Barbeque Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Our Saturday plans included shopping in San Marcos and then eating some good ole Hill Country BBQ before heading home. Black's is considered one of the top BBQ destinations in Texas so I was excited to see they had a location in San Marcos. We got there around 6 pm, tired and hungry from some major shopping. The place was pretty empty and we were the only ones in line. Customer service was really good. The prices were higher than most places I've been. You start with your sides. There's so much to choose from. I went with Mac & Cheese and seasoned rice. I saw the banana pudding and had to get that to warsh down all the savory foods. When you get to the meat, you pick what you want and how much you want. No maximum or minimum, you pay for what you get. I took this as an opportunity to try a few different items. I got a couple of slices of moist brisket, a sausage link and some pork ribs. He threw in a piece of burnt end as a bonus! They then give you as much bread and crackers as you want. The food looked amazing and we couldn't wait to dive in. The meats were good, but not mind blowing good as I expected with this place's rep. The meat was tender, but lacked any real flavor other than heavy smoke. The sauce helped for sure. The sausage was my least favorite. The sides were very delicious as were the desserts. All in all, I feel I would give this place another chance or try the OG spot in Lockhart. I'm pretty sure I came late and maybe even hit them on an off day. read more

Black's BBQ - Pork ribs, burnt ends, moist brisket, sausage, rice, Mac, and banana pudding! So much food, so little room! - Barbeque Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

The folks were so friendly and helpful. I avoid gluten and they were super informed and accomodating. The place was cute and clean! Outside seating area was fantastic! We loved it. read more

Dropping them down 2 Stars .. Ordered two links of sausage, beans, and mac n cheese for dinner via Door Dash. The Norma Jeans Beans were delicious. The mac n cheese was alright at best. I was disappointed in the sausage. One link was falling apart and filled with grease, the other just the opposite and dried up like jerky. See the pic's !!! The last disappointing thing is I'm traveling and staying in a hotel. The order came with no napkins and no plastic utensils. Come on Man !!!! read more

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Absolutely fantastic BBQ and friendly staff and laid back atmosphere. Definitely won't leave hungry. Highly recommend!

Black's BBQ is ALWAYS a good idea. Many locations, but the San Marcos one is by far my favorite. They have mashed potatoes! My favorites: Brisket, ribs, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, MAC AND CHEESE, pecan cobbler, peach cobbler. If you're wondering if you should visit, the answer is yes. Short sweet and to the point, this place is yum. read more

Black's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Everything was great...had door opened for us even (nice) try the pecan cobbler! Margs were yummy read more

Good food ,good prices, good service and atmosphere. What's not to like. Seriously good barbecue. The brisket is awesome as is the sausage. The sides are pretty good as well but I mainly rank the place on their brisket, This place does a top-notch job.Knocks it out of the park highly recommend! read more

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Black's BBQ in San Marcos is just as good as the other locations. Great sides and tasty meat! I had the brisket (wet) and turkey along with beans and potato salad. The bread, jalapeños, onions and pickles are of course free. They had two types of cobbler (pecan & peach), but no ice cream. When you are in San Marcos, there are several places you can get BBQ, Blacks is one you should try. Go get Full read more

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Nice cozy restaurant and service was fast. Great beef brisket. Nicely made bbq sauce. Potato salad and coleslaw just right and perfectly seasoned. Disappointed in the beef rib because while smoked to perfection, you pay for extra fat, membrane and a huge bone so out of 1.5 pounds at $30 per pound, you might net a little over half a pound. This makes it super expensive as compared to the brisket which is a considerably less expensive proposition. Lesson learned. We shall be back for the beef brisket for sure! read more

Great BBQ, below average sides. When you come here stick to the meat. Especially didn't like the waxy feel of the Mac and cheese.

Texan native and first time trying Black's. Really loved the brisket, not salty at all. The turkey was just the right flavor! We will be back! read more

Really good meat. Sides could be better. Very good beef rib! Nice environment. Friendly staff.

One of the best Beef Ribs restaurant!! Texas has so many BBQ places and all do it their own way. They know their meats! So Ken's Black BBQ is part of 'The Original Black Barbeque' chain. This is one of the must try BBQ' restaurants that you need to try here in Texas. During the weekday, this place was pretty crowded during lunch. I see many construction workers ordering here for lunch. Their line is like an amusement park. LOL. Before coming here, get to know what meat to order as the line flows quickly. The staff knew it was our first time and they assisted us how it worked. We had to order all the sides first then the meats. They also offered dessert like banana or chocolate Oreo pudding or pie. The puddings tastes like instant pudding mix so it was ok but desserts are not what you go here for! I ordered steamed green beans, Mac n cheese, pickles and fresh raw onions. They do have potato salad, macaroni salad, pickled peppers. They do serve sandwiches and alcohol, too. The meats are ordered by 1/3 lb , 1/2 lb or whole pound. We ordered their Giant Beef Rib which is a must as I thought was the best one of all the meats. It was larger than my husband's hand! We ordered the Fat Beef Brisket, Pork Belly, Baby Back Rib and sausage. They were all so good, flavorful and tender. Next time, I want to try their Pulled Pork and Chicken. Pretty decent prices for what was given. Pretty generous in their portions. My next fave here was the Fat Beef Brisket as it shredded nicely or like butter; no knife needed! So tender and flavorful. Staff still wore masks and gloves. They were pretty helpful. I would definite recommend this place. Good for big groups as they also offer large tables inside and outside. Not sure if I can live in Texas as their portions are definitely not small! I probably gained 5 lbs from this vacation! LOL [16th/100] read more

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the service was awesome. I had 3 sides, 2 meats, a perfect sweet tea it comes in a reusable plastic cup, which is branded, pickles and onions and bread not pictured. the meat was amazing. the sauce was very good but didn't overpower the meat. The green beans were the best Ive ever had. The hostess brought me a sample of the mashed potatoes w cream corn on top; so good I said I may be back for Thanksgiving. So good. Definitely worth the drive. read more

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Three stars for how organized the restaurant is, there's no confusion on where to go to get your food and what they serve, also there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. My husband and I didn't care for the brisket, that may be just our bbq taste preference though, pork ribs were decent and my husband liked the sausage. The sides were just bad. Service was good read more

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Stopped by Blacks while visiting San Marcos for a wedding. Using Terry Black's as a comparison for barbecue this place is mediocore at best. I ordered the half chicken, brisket, baby back ribs and both sausages original and jalapeno cheddar. By far the best is the chicken which is surprising for a BBQ joint. The brisket tasted generic and the baby back ribs had mostly the flavor of black pepper. For the sides the mac and cheese did not stand out much and the coleslaw almost seemed to made from the pre-mix you find at Walmart. Overall would not go out of my way for barbq here. read more

Came here late night hoping for some beef ribs. The pit is lit...old bbq secret to keep people coming. You want to get here early, otherwise you'll end up with dried out brisket. Pretty disappointing that fresh sliced brisket was dried out. The burnt end crust was like rocks. I'll be sending smoke signals from my back yard when it warms up. Just needed a bbq fix and it wasn't it on this cold night. I've been here many times before and it just seems to be declining. One thing that is consistent is when the cutter ask what I want, I say cut me some off the point....it never fails they cut the flat any ole way. They have a sign in dining area that references the point. How do staff not know the parts of a brisket? All they ever know is moist or lean. It should be moist or dry. The downtown Austin location was on "point" late night, why can't this location? read more

Black's BBQ - Lean Beef Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Had a quick break between games and needed lunch so gave this a try. First time and we will be back. We sat on patio since we brought our dog. Loved the ambiance of the older country tunes and the resident cats who enjoyed a few scraps but weren't aggressive ably demanding food. Now to the Bbq. Only reason they didn't get a 5 was that the meat was a little greasy for my taste ( brisket, pork ribs, sausage). The beans were ok, but not why I came. The corn on the other hand 5 delight! Going to try the new braunfels location next time we have to travel there. Enjoyed! read more

We often stop by here, to pickup takeout BBQ, on the way to "grandma's house". The brisket and sausage links are awesome! I know that hill country BBQ is about the meat, and not the sauce, but I find the sauce here kinda ho hum. The sides are good, but haven't really found anything that "knocks my socks off". Standard counter service, but pleasant people. Lots of seating. Nice bathroom for a road trip potty break. Always enjoy seeing the "mooching" cats in the outdoor seating area. read more

I do not recommend this location at all !! Everything taste different than the one in Lockhart or new Braunfels, I would never go back, food is overly cooked, super dry!! It was a waste of money!! read more

What was weird from the start is how the menu on the website has combo options, but when you arrive in person they say everything is separate, you can only order combos togo. So you screw your customers over that wanna dine in by charging more? and then on top of that expecting a tip too for slapping food on a plate. The mashed potatoes were cold and the sweet tea wasn't sweet. HEB true tx bbq is better than this. If you eat here don't let the website confuse you. If you dine in, there's no combos. Everything is expensive à la carte. read more