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Distant Relatives

4.5 (122 reviews)
Closed • 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

Distant Relatives Photos

DISTANT RELATIVES ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Distant Relatives

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Menu
Christopher P.

TLDR: Distant Relatives brings a thoughtful, African-influenced twist to barbecue with smooth service and steady meats, but it doesn't quite justify a special trip. Overview: Set in an East Austin food park next to a brewery, Distant Relatives is Chef Damien Brockway's "modern African American" smoke shack. The spot has earned praise over the years, landing as a part of Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ Joints in 2021 and receiving an honorable mention in 2025. I arrived right at opening on a Wednesday and breezed through ordering. The staff were friendly, the process was straightforward, and seating was plentiful. Parking is shared with the brewery and was easy at that hour. Food: The brisket showed solid fundamentals: noticeable smoke, clean beefiness, and a reasonable salt-and-pepper profile. The texture was tender but not especially lush, and the smoked mustard butter added novelty more than depth. The pork spare ribs were the better bite of the day, with a touch of extra spice in the rub. They were cooked well, coming off the bone with minimal tug, and stayed juicy and flavorful. The chicken leg quarter was moist throughout with balanced seasoning; the chili butter tasted mostly of straight chili heat without much savory backbone. The sides were the letdown. The marinated cabbage eats like a spicy slaw with real kick; heat lovers may enjoy it, but it can overwhelm a plate. The smoked and roasted peanuts are mostly roasted peanuts with a dusting of house spice, light on aroma and complexity for the price. The bread, apparently a toasted Pullman sourdough according to articles online, was a miss: below-average buttered toast that felt out of place. A small win came from the sweet onions on the plate, which appeared yassa-adjacent, both sweet and bright and dotted with what looked like mustard seeds. The value is mixed: meat pricing sits around the average for Austin, with brisket at $36/lb and spare ribs at $30/lb. Here, the pricing felt justified given the quality. On the other hand, the sides, coming in at $7 per 8 oz, felt steep for what you get. Final Thoughts: There's thoughtful intent and a pleasant setup for hanging out with a beer, and the meats are competently executed. On this visit, though, the food didn't deliver the distinctive character suggested by the concept and accolades. If you're already in the area, it's a solid stop for a twist on Texas barbecue; if you're planning a barbecue trek across town, there are stronger options ahead in the queue.

Brisket platter with Cole slaw
Leah L.

Brisket was *chef's kiss* The Cole slaw was kinda spicy, in the best way. And the sauce was so uniquely tasty! Kind of buttery/spicy/garlicy...can't really pinpoint but it was really good! This is one of the food trucks at Meanwhile Brewing, be prepared for a bit of a wait but it's worth it. Grab a beer and kick back on the lawn and listen to live music while you wait. You're welcome.

Brisket & a Tomahawk
Stephanie K.

No laurels here! Just a 2x Michelin winner holding up their good name and carrying the gospel of great BBQ to the Meanwhile Brewing park. Head Chef/Owner Damian has been serving for 20 years, pouring all that home-grown love into cooking that tastes like dad's (but better) starting with the most proper buttery Brisket (sample by the 1/4 lb) and rich peppered BBQ sauce. Recommended: the Pork Tomahawk topped in slender onions and a savory mustard sauce: smoky, peppery, porky goodness! The smoked chicken leg is also impossibly moist, made extra special with a side of mustard sauce. If you like spicy pickles, their Pickled Cabbage covers veggies, reminding of a chilled spicy kraut - slow burn on the back-end. All that with some roasted peanuts and a smile! Meanwhile, they do have a stellar craft brew, NA, and coffee program to keep you watered down in warmer weather or as temperatures drop - seating is plentiful and events abounding!

Ribs + a side of black eyed peas w/burnt ends
Harry P.

Super unique bbq spot, taking African culture inspired flavors and putting them into every dish! I got the spare ribs and the black eyed peas+pork burnt ends. The dry rub on the spare ribs was unlike any rub I have had (spicy, but such a depth of flavor), and the meat was super juicy and Smokey. The black eyed peas were a tender flavor bomb, loaded with burnt ends which added a nice porky dimension to the dish. So Glad I got to try this spot.

Brisket and chicken leg
Ron A.

Was surprised when I heard that Distant Relatives was named best brisket in town. IMHO Barb's BBQ in Lockhart is the best in Central Texas. So I had to try Distant out. Bottom line? The brisket was AMAZING (and right up there with Barbs). The seasoning on the bark was WOW ). The chicken leg was ok (and surprisingly small IMO). Distant Relatives is in one of the best food parks in Austin. Would definitely recommend for any and all brisket lovers.

Brisket sandwich
Jeremy K.

Wow is Distant Relatives good! I've been waiting a long time to eat here and I'm glad I finally got the opportunity. The brisket sandwich was 10/10. Great portion size and loved the slaw that came with it too. The folks who work in the food truck are fun to chat with as they enjoy their job. Good work!

Pictures; Brisket sandwich and coleslaw to top it off with a side of their "Dirty rice"
Mark J.

Great BBQ and service here. Food comes out quick and their food is packed with flavor. Good pricing for side items, portion size is great and the guys here are always friendly. 10/10

Black eyed peas were the best part!
Randi B.

We saw Distant Relatives on Somebody Feed Phil and thought the food, especially the sides, looked amazing. Phil had pickled golden beets and roasted radishes. I LOVE both of those veggies, so I was pumped to go! I get that sides are seasonal, and unfortunately, those items were not on the menu when we visited. The friend that we met up with had been here before, but had not eaten at this food truck. It's housed in a really cool space adjacent to a large brewery. The outdoor area is fantastic! SO many benches, beautiful trees, lots of shade, play areas for kids, and a few stages. My friend said they have live music often and she loves hanging out there. She ordered a brisket sandwich, and we ordered chicken (bummed they didn't have turkey), brisket, spare ribs, pickled okra, and their black eyed peas with burnt ends. She said her sandwich was fine, and she didn't seem wowed. Our food? Honestly, forgettable. We maybe ate 1/2 of all the food we got. I did LOVE the black eyed peas with burnt ends and ended up mainly eating that. I don't know if this was an off day? Maybe if they had the sides I was hoping for, would I have liked them more? The meat was just whatever, certainly didn't blow our minds, and the was our least favorite meal we had in Austin. I couldn't even tell you how it tasted the next day, let alone three weeks later. Cool place to hang out, but not great BBQ in my opinion.

Brisket and Peanuts
Andrew L.

Came here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Had essentially no wait time and my food was ready pretty soon after ordering. Only one meat (I think pulled pork?) and two of the four sides were sold out by the time I ordered around 1230. I went for the brisket with a side of spicy peanuts and thought they were both great! The brisket itself was cooked nicely, had a good mix of lean and fat. Solid amount of smoke on the bark. Compared to the other meats this was very traditional, but the spicy mustard it was served with was a little different and really tasty. Excited to come back and try some of the less Texas traditional meat offerings they have The peanuts were just as fantastic as I was hoping for. The spice isn't too heavy, but definitely builds as you eat more. I could see this not working as a standalone side for some, but if you like your spice and peanuts, this is a must try. Overall they definitely lived up to the hype and I'm sure I'll be back here to try more of the menu!

Chicken and chili
cassandra a.

This food truck is located inside the Meanwhile Brewery. I got the chili chicken leg and my husband got the pork ribs. We also got the spicy peanuts and the black eyed peas. I really liked my chicken and the black eyed peas were delicious. My husband thought his ribs were good and bit dry. The spicy peanuts are not worth the price. Food was delicious but don't expect much. Tiny pieces not much food. That's probably why they give you a huge piece of toast to fill you up !

Ribs brisket sando and chicken
Mallory W.

Came here during my 3 hour layover in Austin per my cousin suggestion. I had the sampler plate that had the chicken, ribs, brisket sandwich. Everything was pretty good a bit salty. My favorite things were the sando I loved the slaw on it and surprisingly the chicken. I'm not a huge fan of BBQ chicken but it was still moist wasn't dry and very flavorful. Service was good he was patient with me and suggested the sampler (that wasnt on the menu) so that I can try everything!! I apperciate that. This was located I believe in a beer garden because there was a brewery in the same spot as it. It was a hot day out yet still beautiful day to have some BBQ and a cold brew.

Collard greens, brisket sandwich

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Fantastic flavor, generous portions! Had the brisket and pulled pork sandwich. Both awesome! And the rice was off the charts good!!!

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Distant Relatives - bbq - Updated May 2026

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