I try to give places a chance before deciding they are not for me…read more When I first moved to Hutto, I was intrigued by Southside Market and their history. I had known about the historic location in Elgin that claims to be the oldest barbecue spot in Texas. They have updated their processes to keep up with the times and in the last 15 years have begun opening new locations throughout Central Texas, with one in the Co-Op District of Hutto. I have had plenty of barbecue in my time, from chains to Texas Monthly recognized and Michelin star winning locations. I understand that not all barbecue is the same, but I also understand that barbecue served all day like at Southside Market can still be good. I do not think that is truly the case, though. My first experience was when Southside Market catered a holiday party for my work. I thought it was alright, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt, saying that it was catered. You do not judge a meal based on it being kept warm in a pan that was probably cooked at 8 am that morning or the night prior. It is not the same game. I went back a few months later for a birthday lunch and got their combo plate with sausage and sliced brisket. My first thought: This tasted like it was catered. The Jalapeño Cheddar sausage was decent but tasted a little too smoky, and the brisket really did nothing for me. The side of potato salad was good, but you cannot mess up potato salad that badly. Their mac and cheese was good, I think. I do not remember it whatsoever. I went back recently after almost nine months with a desire to get a baked potato with chopped brisket for lunch. I got it without sour cream but kept the rest of the toppings of cheddar cheese, chives, and butter. I took it to go, which I rarely do, but it was a busy day. I cannot describe how disappointing the potato was. First, the potato was smaller than I had expected. The saucy chopped brisket tasted like a smoked Sloppy Joe thrown on a spud. It was really too smoky for me to even enjoy it. I felt like I was eating a chimney. It did nothing to raise my spirits and like that, I was forever out on Southside Market. I am probably one in a million because they have steady foot traffic inside on a frequent basis, but I wonder if the name is doing all the work. The staff was great and the space is well done and spacious, but the food actually has to be good to make that a plus factor. I have no idea if the food is any better at their original Elgin location, but I would rather go to Smokey Mo's across the tracks in Hutto because the potato is a good size and the brisket had a good flavor to it. Here, I just was not impressed. I will not ever return unless I am invited with co-workers or something, and even if I am, I will debate the idea of saying yes.

The restaurant was clean, the staff was super friendly, there wasn't a wait (this should've been a…read morewarning) but the food was mediocre. I excitedly ordered the combo plate so I'd be able to try a few things and sausage/ brisket are my favorite meats. The sausage was not good. It didn't have a snap but instead the casing was chewy and I wasn't a fan of the texture or taste of the meat. The brisket was seasoned well on the outside but lacked a Smokey bbq flavor throughout the meat. The potato salad was tasty but overall the food wasn't that good.

My first encounter with Southside Market came three decades ago, back when its lone outpost sat in…read morea weathered building just outside downtown Elgin. If you wanted authentic Elgin sausage in those days, there was no shortcut--you pointed your vehicle east and made the pilgrimage. The reward was a link of the town's famous "hot guts," a sausage with a snappy casing that gave way to a coarse, peppery filling infused with the unmistakable flavor of slow-smoked meat. It was the kind of sausage that lingered in your memory long after the last bite. Thirty years later, Southside is still turning out the same quality sausage that built its reputation over more than 140 years. While the sausage remains the headliner, the supporting cast is impressive: brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, sandwiches, and an array of classic Texas barbecue sides. On this visit, I opted for the daily special, a boneless New York strip smoked to a perfect medium rare. The smoking process transformed the steak into an exceptionally tender cut, one so yielding that even a plastic knife sliced through it with ease. The lone disappointment was that the steak itself carried only a faint hint of smoke and could have benefited from a more assertive seasoning profile. Still, it was a quality piece of beef, and a drizzle of Southside's distinctive barbecue sauce elevated it considerably, adding a sweet-and-savory punch that brought the flavors into focus. The sides rounded out the meal nicely. The beans were rich and satisfying, while the potato salad delivered the familiar comfort expected alongside Texas barbecue. Southside's legacy may have been built on sausage, but after more than a century in business, it's clear the market has mastered far more than just hot guts.

No sweet BBQ sauce. Only sauce on the table is thin like water and says "Hot Sauce". Chopped (no…read morepulled) pork is spicy, so if you can't tolerate some hot spice you won't like the chopped pork. They do have sliced pork that is just smoked with no sauce at all. Didn't try the brisket, sausage or chicken this trip. Skin-on potato salad was OK, but not as creamy as Rudy's. They also feature an in-store deli meat selection which looked pretty good. For me, the no sweet sauce is a deal breaker so I probably won't be back, but if you like spicy hot you will probably like it. That's the reason fir only 3 stars.

My first Southside Market & Barbeque dining experience was in Elgin, TX, its first location. On…read morethis day, I was visiting the Austin at Arbor Walk location. It has been a minute since I visited this location. For lunch I ordered the pork ribs, chopped pork and beans. This BBQ reminded me of homemade BBQ slow roasted in a smoker that your uncle or father may make at home. The pork ribs were the standout with being moist and flavorful simultaneously. Every bite was an explosion of goodness. The pinto beans tasted very similar to ones my mom use to make...so good. In addition, service was fast and friendly with me flying through the line. It was lunch time and the restaurant was about 80% full and buzzing...overall laid-back atmosphere. They also have an attached meat market with an assortment of meats.

Dry Brisket! We went…read moreto Southside Market for lunch with some mentors after church. The brisket was so dry I was embarrassed for having suggested the restaurant. The sausage slammers were also less impressive than I remember. My husband liked his lamb ribs. The acoustics in the dining room aren't great either. It was hard to hear each other. The only reason it gets more than 2 stars is because I don't remember it being so terrible in the past. I was still craving good brisket throughout the day, and finally got satisfactory brisket from H-E-B True Texas BBQ for dinner.

There is some irony in discovering a new meat shop when I'm not eating meat. I can let my friend…read moreknow that have her favorite goat meat is car here. Demi Meat is right next door to Big Bazaar. Cesar, store manager, was super kind to point out the assorted meats. Desi Meat is a small shop with an assortment of meats including goat, tripas, chicken and seafood . It is important to note they carry halal meats, which tefers to what is permissible or lawful under Islamic law. Meat must be sourced from animals slaughtered according to specific guidelines. This is definitely a store to explore when I'm back to eating meat. The store has a very laid back atmosphere.

Like all good Texans we like steaks. So when we had a chance to try these authentic Wagyu Gold…read moreRib-Eyes we got a sous-vide cooker, got some good red wine and invited some friends over. The steaks are phenomenal. Over 1 inch thick, beautifully marbled. They are grass fed and organic. We cooked them sous vide and then finished on the charcoal grill. My god, they were delicious. Every guest loved the steaks and more than one said these were the best steaks they have had in a long time. Juicy, flavorful, and like all authentic Wagyu should, the fat melts quickly and provides incredible flavor. Then we learned Colinas sells all kind of Wagyu, Prime, and other steaks including seasoned and pre-cooked meat form their sister company Takavron, which is a food truck. They also sell chicken, fish, some produce, and essentials like tortillas! Plus. they are local. They will deliver for free any order over $75. If you like steak, you need to give these guys a try.

I've been ordering meats and produce since they offered retail to customers after COVID. I can't…read moresay good enough things about: 1) prices 2) service 3) quality Truly the trifecta of how to run a business. So impressed and I continue to be a customer. They even delivered my order yesterday (week of the power outage).

Oh wow!! We went for their Friday Special: Smoked Wings and collard greens but they were sold out…read more So we opted for the 4 meat plate to try everything instead. It was STELLAR!!! Chicken, sausage, ribs, brisket, all finger licking good. Even the BBQ sauce is on point. Can't wait for next Friday to try the smoked chicken wings. Going early though because they sell out

107 Yelp Reviews with a 4.7/5.0 rating...real or not...that was the question!…read more Bigg Belly BBQ is located in a food truck in the food truck park at the intersection Anderson Mill Road and Pond Springs Road. Today, I finally got an opportunity to taste this highly rated BBQ. People...the hype is real!!! We purchased a turkey leg, sausage, brisket (what they're known for) and chicken. We also got two sides of potato salad and dirty rice. I am not a big fan of brisket. However, the owner allowed me to have a sample of the brisket. I fell quickly, madly in love with the brisket. The brisket is so flavorful, tender and moist. So, so good!!! Next, I tried the turkey leg. The meat literally fell off the bone. Yummy to the Nth degree!!! Now, let me talk about this sausage...I have never eaten sausage this good. The sausage was (yes was...we ate it all!) dense, yet moist and super tasty. This sausage did not have a spec of grease. I think I ate most of the sausage. The chicken was also super moist and tender...made you want to slap yourself. The sides were good, however, the standouts without a doubt were the meats. The owner/chef was very personable, and highlighted the preparations associated with his menu items. He created a welcoming and chill environment... I highly recommend trying Bigg Belly BBQ...you will certainly enjoy your dining experience. Pro tip: Sunday and Monday Bigg Belly BBQ is closed. Also, the number listed on the Yelp website is for their catering business. I submitted corrections to Yelp today.

Pok-e-Jo's BBQ began with a simple Texas challenge...after a disappointing barbecue dinner in the…read more1970s, a group of friends decided they could do it better. What started as a joke about the name "Porky-Jo's" eventually became Pok-e-Jo's, and in 1979 the first restaurant opened on North Burnet Road with a mission to serve authentic, satisfying Texas barbecue. The atmosphere is casual, welcoming, and unpretentious, with the kind of comfort that comes from a place focused more on barbecue. The menu covers all the Texas staples...brisket, ribs, sausage, and pulled pork...served in generous portions alongside traditional sides like potato salad, mac and cheese, fried okra, and baked potato casserole. Since our trip is close, we decided not to cook to avoid leftovers. We ordered ribs and chicken that were flavorful and tender. Our sides included potato salad (a bit bland), broccoli salad (delicious), fruit (fresh), blonde brownies with nuts and chocolate chips (excellent). The meal also came with Texas toast. The Pok-e-Jo's staff was friendly and helpful. It has been a minute since we have eaten at Pok-e-Jo's BBQ. Good experience...we will keep them in mind in the future.

With me being in Texas I also had to make sure to try some Texas BBQ. This place was nearby and…read moredefinitely didn't disappoint. The deal you get with this meal is a drawing point as well. For this being my first time having Texas BBQ, I was not disappointed at all. I liked the sort of heat the BBQ had and how different it is to what I'm used to on the East Coast. The service here also was pretty good, as all of the workers were consistently ready to help out.

I always want to support food trucks and black owned businesses…read more Service: Outstanding customer service and made you feel like family. Asked about the special and they notified me to which days it was being offered. This later in the afternoon and they advised that they were running low on items which was helpful to choose from the menu. Food: Unfortunately, I would like to give them a better rating but I was not satisfied what was so-called soul food. Only thing that was good was the fried ribs. The mac-n-cheese, and greens were not well cooked. Soul food to me is oven baked mac-n-cheese and not stove top mac-n-cheese. The greens were missing a lot of flavor. Again, the fried ribs were okay but nothing to be too excited about. Overall: I would like to give them another chance but I hope other items will taste a lot better than what I was able to experience. Once again, Mrs. Tonya was wonderful with excellent customer service and made you feel like family. Unfortunately, the food was not as good as I was expecting.

I tried their banana pudding - vanilla pudding with banana slices and plenty of vanilla wafers. My…read moreideal banana pudding would have more banana slices and be topped with a little whipped cream, but I still enjoyed every bite of this sweet treat. It's definitely good for the soul. And the owners are super friendly! When you know your food is made with love, it tastes even better.