Texas is known as having the best barbecue in the country! We all hear about the big names that stretch from Austin to Dallas to Houston. I've been to probably all of them. Well, there's another one called "City Market" that skipped right past me. Or, no one thought to tell me. It's one or the other because this place is pretty popular with lines out the door! So I heard about City Market BBQ, the same day I drove to Luling, Texas! It's an hour outside of Austin. City Market is in the downtown area, and parking was a breeze; the line I saw on the sidewalk coming from City Market, I must admit, was long, but it was a breeze, too. Now, this is on Wednesday, not the weekend. I hopped in line, the line moving fast. People are friendly, telling me that once I'm inside, there's another door I will go into to place my order. I like to call this the secret door with all the good smells of smoky barbecue. Check out my pictures of the secret door; you can't even see inside. I'm there, I made it inside, and there's 3 of the most friendly older gentlemen I will ever meet in my life. One of them caught on that I haven't been in a kitchen, never in my life, when he started asking if I wanted 1/4 of brisket. I whispered, "Give me three or four, because I'm not good at math either." Oh, we had a great laugh! I sat down, picked on a rib, and the meat slid from the bone! It was so tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The skin had the right burnt in the right spots. The meat was moist and easy to chew. I was like the Flintstones cleaning the bones before I bit into my sausage and brisket. The sausage was very good, and my brisket was smoky, like my ribs. I have to brag about the sauce. It came in a skinny bottle. It was a new flavor for me; it wasn't spicy, but it had a nice heat to it that I loved! I'm so happy I chose to ride down to Luling to visit City Market as soon as I heard about this BBQ place. I would have been so mad at myself if I had waited and forgotten! read more

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City Market in Luling was established in either 1957 or 1958, depending on the source. The restaurant's own website says "Established in 1958," and most historical references use 1958. So as of 2026, the barbecue place is about 68 years old. It's considered one of the classic old-school Central Texas barbecue joints and still operates much like a traditional meat-market-style BBQ house. This is an older building, including bathrooms... One of which was not working. Was disappointed that their sides include potato salad, and beans only because when I go to barbecue, I love Colliard greens, potato salad, beet salad, etc. not available here. The brisket slice I had likely the best piece of brisket I've ever had in my life. Now... Don't go crazy. I don't eat brisket typically when I do barbecue. The rib that I had was decent. The sausage I had by comparison to other barbecue places was unfortunately the worst that I've ever had. I'm not sure what grind they use, but it seems like it was more beef and somewhat sweet to my pallet which I personally don't care for in sausage. Overall, if I just wanted brisket, I would return but next time I'm in Luling I likely will go to the place right next-door to them and try them. read more

The BBQ was very tasty! FIVE BBQ meats, brisket - moist and flavorful, rib were fall of the bone good and the sausage was made fresh and delicious! Potato salad - Okay Beans BBQ Sauce read more

City Market - A little of everything. - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

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This was an accidental find through Yelp on a road trip and ... wow! The sausage here is truly blissful -- probably the best I've ever eaten. It's a course grind with just the right amount of black pepper, and it's juicy like no sausage (in this style) that I've experienced. The brisket is in my top ten with a decent/not overbearing smoke flavor. It was also extremely moist, but that could be because I always ask for the deckle. The pork ribs here are good in flavor, but they could've been more moist. Either way, the service here is very friendly and efficient. The joint is crowded -- as it should be. A wonderful experience. I wish this place was closer to my home. read more

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Here's the situation: you need barbecue. Youre craving that slow smoked brisket, you wont be satisfied until you have indulged in expertly cooked beef. Well look no further than the Luling City Market! You can tell this place is the real deal because as soon as you walk in, you get a hint of that smoke smell and the decor has been here for what looks like 70 years or more. Which is EXACTLY how a barbecue spot should look and smell. None of that ali express decor that some shops put on the walls to fake being authentic, just some old pictures of Luling and an ancient menu that hasnt changed since the place opened. You also know they are doing something right because this place isnt giving you many choices. You can get brisket, pork ribs or sausage. You can choose from potato salad or beans. And theres only 1 sauce available. Pickles and onions and bread? Of course! But if youre looking for turkey or chicken or tofu, look elsewhere (preferably back in California if youre serious about that tofu, you heathen!) Prices are actually reasonable, pound of delicious brisket or ribs for $25 is a bargain for this quality! Each whole sausage is $3.25. Small sides for $1.50. Not even sure how they turn a profit on those! Everything is perfectly smoked and you wont need the sauce, honestly. There is a line to get into the smokehouse to order your meat, then you take your box if meat to the front counter to get sides and drinks, but its well organized, efficient and friendly. We'll definitely be back when the need for top quality barbecue hits us, its worth the drive and much better than heading up to Lockhart to be disappointed by that "world famous" spot thats more corporation than heart now. read more

Go! My standard refrain for this place. If you love Texas style Q,want to give it an ( authentic unadulterated try),go back in time, people watch or all of the above. An exception exist here that applies no where else. I worship the sausage. It's worth the trip alone. My favorite thing to do is pull into town,grab a stack of meat and big Red,drop my pick up tailgate and visit Nirvana. Everyone is chasing the Texas Monthly lastest top 50 list. Standing in lines ,1,2 hours and more. Spending outrageous sums on sides ( unessential) and dishing out $50,60,70 each. At City Market you'll be stuffed with plenty of leftovers for $30. Go! read more

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We came in for lunch on our way to Shertz. We sampled all the meat with the brisket the winner. The ribs and sausage were just ok imho.The ambiance was good ole little town Texas. The service was top notch as well. They offer pies and banana pudding for desert at a low price. read more

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City Market was so great. There are two lines, one that goes into a smoke room to order meat. The other, which is before the smoke room, is for drinks and sides. The service was great. The restaurant and bathrooms were very clean. The tables were also wiped off. The meats were fabulous! The ribs and sweet pickles were a dynamic duo. The mixed brisket was perfect! And I suggest you don't skip the banana pudding! read more

City Market - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

This was the first stop on a weekday BBQ crawl. Rules were brisket, sausage and wildcard, this locations wildcard was rib... the rib was the surprise. Very tender and fall off the bone deliciousness. Something about going into smoke room to order and the screen door that makes me keep Coming back to this place.. read more

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Drove past here a million times and never stopped. Sampled the brizzy and sausage. Both were top tier against Blacks, TerryB and Kreuz.. with the outlier quality being awesome heavy smoke! Small joint that feels like you want a hometown bbq joint to be. I'll be stopping again to try the rest. *neat ordering experience in the smokin cave too read more

City Market - Bad a** Pit b*t**es and meat slingers! - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

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Line was to the door but probably only took us 30 minutes or so to get to the smoker room and get the meat. Food is great. We did not even get sides.... Pure BBQ for us this trip. Excellent mustard based (?) sauce! Brisket was good! Ribs a little overdone But sausage was great and made it worth the trip! read more

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The food is excellent. Had brisket rib and sausage bread, pickles, and onions and their amazing sauce. The service is great very friendly staff. The ambience was wonderful lots of friendly people driving through town. read more

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Smokehouse was not too hot, plenty of staff behind both counters. Service was fast, food was hot, tables were clean. read more

City Market - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

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I waited many years to visit city market based on all the hype I read and I was disappointed.. staff were courteous I ordered sliced brisket and sausage. It had the appearance of some very dry shoe leather flavorless fat and dry. Maybe this place did in fact had great bbq years ago or maybe the people going here are use to poor quality of meat the sausage itself was meh and I wasn't moved either way the mustard based sauce had a slight tang nothing to write home about The brisket and the sausage costed 27.00 I won't be back read more

City Market - Dried brisket and crackers - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

Always delicious, there was no line Friday when we went. Best sausage in the world. This is a must go BBQ joint.

Brisket was a bit on the dry side but dipping in the pinto bean juice helped. Sides, potato salad and pintos, were great. Sausage and pork ribs were great too! If the brisket had been more moist 5 stars for sure. read more

Sausages were good and had a very satisfying snap. Brisket was extremely underwhelming , dry and fat failed to render. hate to say it but it wasn't any better than Rudy's or Bill Miller. Not worth the wait ,line or price. Visit 3/11/26 read more

No comment. Nice people that make this what it is, an integral part of the fabric of the Luling community.

The BBQ was solid. The ribs were definitely the standout. They were tender, flavorful, and easily some of the best in the area. The brisket was good as well, but the ribs take the lead for me. The menu is limited when it comes to sides (only potato salad or pinto beans) and the drink options are pretty minimal too. Overall, great ribs and worth a visit if you're looking for quality BBQ, just don't expect a wide selection of sides or beverages. read more

I just love the charm of nostalgic small country towns characterized by a railroad track running along the edge of town. Luling is that type of town and I visited for City Market BBQ. The layout of the restaurant is a little quirky with two separate ordering areas: one for the smoked meats (brisket, pork ribs, sausage, the other for sides (potato salad and beans). My wife and I ordered a little of each. By little, I mean more than two people should eat for lunch. We favored the ribs over the other meats, as they were flavorful (with or without sauce) and tender. The brisket was good, but a little light on flavor (seasoning). The sausage was lean and juicy with good flavor, but impossible to eat with knife and fork because the casing was loosely packed. All the meats were a value compared to other BBQ restaurants. The sides were good and the portions were generous for the price. Nostalgic BBQ, in a nostalgic town, at a fair price, ...worth a visit. read more

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Just got done eating at Luling Bar-B-Q, and wow--this place did not disappoint. We ordered the barbecue brisket, jalapeño sausage, and the regular sausage, and every bite was packed with that slow-smoked, Texas-style flavor you hope for when you walk into a BBQ joint. The brisket was tender, juicy, and had that perfect smoke ring with just the right amount of bark--melt-in-your-mouth kind of good. The jalapeño sausage had a great kick without overpowering the meat, and the regular sausage was classic, flavorful, and snapped just right with each bite. No frills, just solid barbecue done the way it should be. If you're in Luling, this spot is a must. Might need a nap now, but totally worth it. read more

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Not what I expected. Very subpar Won't be back Beer was cold on a higher note Brisket was gray and not rendered properly Ribs overdone Sausage very grainy and no flavor read more

City Market - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

In my top five Texas BBQ stops. Easily located in central Texas for your long-awaited BBQ-hopping excursion. Best for brisket and sausage. Stepping in to their smoke room is a joyous experience. read more

Really great customer service! Food is delicious!! Brisket has great flavor. Ribs are a little sweet and a lot greasy but so worth the messy fingers! Sausage is different. Not bad just not what I am used to. Texture seems blended, loosely packed. Maybe beef? Not your typical BBQ sausage! Free bread. Free drink refills! Oh and the sweet tea... The Best!!!! I do recommend this for everyone!! read more

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meat was a good but a bit dry. didn't care for potato salad, but it's personal preference. place was clean and people were friendly

Well was a little disappointed today with City Barbecue. You can tell they are stuck in the past, which is okay if your product is world class...but. Let's start with the positives the pork ribs were very good tender and sweet. The potato salad was also pretty good. Now let's talk about the brisket it had no flavor at all, unfortunately was dry as a bone as well. I would guess they are using the cheapest, lowest quality brisket available on the market. The problem with this level of Barbecue is there are so much better choices out there buccies brisket is better. I would rather pay couple more dollars to eat prime seasoned brisket. Lastly even if the food was amazing I would not eat here again with the guy vaping behind the service line. I did give 3 stars because the meat cutter was super nice. read more

City Market - Dry Brisket. - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

Excellent Food and service you definitely want to make this short drive . The sauce is very good.

Around 12:30 on a Saturday we pulled up to what looked like an old west movie set. Friends that live in Austin told us that for good BBQ we should be prepared to wait. The line was all the way to the door but moved up pretty quickly. Whatever you do, don't stand in any door way and hold open a door. You will get hollered at to not let the ac out or the smoke in, it's all in an afford to keep the dining area comfortable, which I appreciate. The long line gets you into the back room where the magic happens. The menu is not complicated and it doesn't need to be; beef brisket 4.5 stars, pork ribs 4 stars, and sausage 5 stars. For less than $3, try at least one sausage. Or just try some of everything! Get your bread and pickles here too, if you want to make a sandwich. Yes the BBQ has its own separate register. I asked if I could take a picture of the cutting board and they gratefully did that and more! One by one they opened the smokers and invited me into the pit to snap a few closeups! I was in BBQ HEAVEN!! Once you finish fan-girling over the meat (oh was that just me?!) take your paper wrapped package back up to the front counter and pick out your sides, drinks like Big Red or sweet tea, and desserts like banana pudding. Now find a table and dig in. There is sauce on the tables but it doesn't really need it. My son and I are usually die-hard rib fans but surprisingly the sausage and brisket were everyone's favorites! read more

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Best Texas BBQ! Hubby has been eating here for over 40 years! Great customer service! It's all good to the Brisket to the sauce! read more

City Market - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

A very unique restaurant. You pick the meats sausage, brisket, and ribs that you would like to eat and they slice it for you. Then you go upfront and you can choose your sides. I have brisket, ribs, and sausage. What I like about the restaurant as you get exactly what you would like to eat and how much. The food is excellent. read more

We stop here on the way to Canyon Lake from Houston cause the meats are wonderful and delicious!

Came to City Market looking for a great brisket and sausage. The staff was courteous and attentive. Brisket was gray, not properly rendered and almost no smoke ring. The sausage was grainy and lacked flavor. When I cut the sausage the meat crumbled out of the casing. Pork ribs were dry and chewy. Somehow this was the greasiest bbq I have had. This was a very disappointing experience. read more

Hands down the best brisket and ribs! Don't even get me started on their BBQ sauce! It is a lovely mustard based sauce which is a delightful break from the ketchup based red sauce which people often make way too sweet. But let's back up a moment. Their brisket and ribs are SO good they do not need the sauce at all. So what to do? Enjoy half without sauce and half with sauce. A total win-win. There has not been one person I've brought here through the years that hasn't absolutely loved the food here. The beans and potato salad are good though I prefer to go solely carnivore here as the meat is so good and I feel why waste the stomach room when there is brisket? I love this place in its quaintness and that you walk into the pit to order, pickup and pay for the meats. People come from all over to eat here and you can always strike up a conversation with the people at the next people or by waiting in line to get in the pit. It's fun. Today's chats were all about football! Be sure and purchase a bottle of the BBQ sauce for your take home meats! read more

City Market - Brisket, ribs, sweet pickles, onions, and white bread. - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

Food is amazing never disappointed, but you got to get there early, or you miss out on the brisket

This is the first time and last time I will eat City Market BBQ. It won't let you give a 0 star rating. The meat department has pricing and taste issues. The brisket was extremely dry and 40% of the weight was fat. The sausage was also really dry and completely lacking in flavor. Sign says pickles are free. We were charged $3+tax. Was going to use a credit card only to find out, after WE asked, he charges a 4% credit card fee. Waste of time and money. The front takes care of the sides and is an independent business. The beans, potato salad, and banana pudding were all wonderful and priced at a great value!!! The sides get a 5 star rating! read more

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This is Truly One of the Mt. Rushmore of BBQ in Texas !!!! The sauasge links alone can stand on there own.....This is a No Nonsense OG Pit Smoked JOINT. Ribs, Brisket & OMG the sausage links are all on point. The Respect is 100% Earned Here..... If you looking for FuFu Chipotle Burnt Ends or Blue Corn Torta Compote......BYE !!! THIS IS GROWN FOLKS BBQ. Dont play around here Ok. Give it the Proper it Deserves. Do Not Pass on the Peach Cobbler too....... read more

The food was absolutely amazing definitely worth the drive from Houston. However, my experience was impacted by one employee, who seemed just a few years younger than me. When I walked in, I noticed her being dismissive and rude to an older customer, even rolling her eyes when the customer left. I wasn't sure what the situation was, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt. But when she helped me shortly after, she had the same attitude and again rolling her eyes and acting irritated when I simply asked for a to-go bag. With my own experience in customer service, I know how much a positive attitude matters. This was my first time visiting after six years, and I had really been looking forward to it. While the food didn't disappoint, the way I was treated left me hesitant about coming back. read more

City Market - Sausage links, Ribs,Brisket, potato salad and Pinto Beans - Barbeque Near Me - Luling, Texas

It is the best bbq I have ever had. The atmosphere is authentic old school and the aroma will have you hooked as soon as you walk in.

Finally got to try some of the best bbq they say. Such a cool place unfortunately it's always so busy no matter what time or day you go but for good reason it's good food you see them make it. Just for me personally I felt like it was missing some sauce because I am not really into dry rub bbq and they didn't have sauce here. Overall though it was good. read more

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Food was great tasting! Service- not friendly!! Ambiance- layout of restaurant, Strange - restrooms, extremely filthy and full of graffiti. The overall ambience of the restaurant was rather weird energy. But if you close your eyes and eat, the food was great. read more