Made the trek up to Jim's finally! I've heard so many good things about this place that I'm glad to check it off my Austin BBQ list. It's a BBQ truck & on a Saturday evening they had ALL MEAT ready! Nothing was out so we had our pick. We ordered the 2 meats and 2 sides plate to share with brisket, pulled pork, mac & cheese, and scalloped potatoes. Favorite part of the dish was by far the brisket which was close to perfect. Pulled pork was seasoned with peppers or something, so found it a little distracting. But everything was good. Service was great, we ordered at the truck & they brought it to us at the bar next door, which has seating, twinkle lights, and on Sat college football all around. A very good austin BBQ spot - would like to try more of their meats to taste it all. read more

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I was the first and only customer at around 11am - 12 noon on a Friday in September 2025. I was very excited to try some great bbq at one of the most highly rated food trucks on Yelp and by others. It's about 25 minutes over curvy roads thru the hills outside of Austin central metro area. I was glad that I went because I've been to Austin many times yet had not been northwest of the city. I tried many items. The sides were only $4 for the "small" portions (which weren't that small), so I tried all of them. The mac and cheese cork screw pasta was especially delicious. In fact, every side was delish and decadent. The jicama cole slaw was good and crunchy, the scalloped potatoes delish, the sriracha cole slaw had a good kick. I also liked the green chili corn and the pinto beans (very hearty). There was a side of pickle chips and onions. Now for the most important part, the brisket. It had a delicious bark on it, but it was just a bit dry. When I told my native Austinite friends this later, they all got very quiet ;). I believe that perhaps the truck makes the meat every other day, and I was there on the second day and so the meat got a bit dry (I'm being purely speculative about this and could be wrong). But it was still amazing! The special that day was "The Volcano Sandwich" (see photos) with brisket, potato salad, bacon jam, jalapenos, and pepper vinegar sauce on a hamburger bun. By the ingredients list, I thought it would be spicy, but it really was not. It was excellent. I also got the straight slices of brisket in its purest form. Again, delicious but a bit on the dry side. I also opted for some pork and got the Maui Waui Taco with pulled pork, pineapple pico de gallo, and chipotle sour cream. It was very tasty and I recommend it for the pork. It had a good kick and just sweet enough, but too much so. I was unsure whether Jim's Smokehouse had a second location along Barton Springs Road in Austin because it was listed on the web. I tried calling a few times to get more information, but got voicemail both times. I confirmed later that, as of this writing, the dt Austin location was closed down. Jim's Smokehouse is co-located with a few other food trucks. There are picnics tables, shaded in the back and a ping pong table. That day, I was served by Cecil? who was incredibly friendly and very welcoming. Such a nice guy. He brought all the food out to me along with the entire napkin holder. He appropriately waited for about 15 minutes to bring me the dessert which was the Keylime Pie with strawberry sauce (on the side). I tell you the pie was fantastic - get it! I think Jim's Smokehouse is 5/5 overall. I would go again in a heartbeat. read more

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We originally found this spot because we had wanted to try another food truck in the same area. But it had apparently closed, so we decided we would just eat there anyways at the other food trucks. So I was so surprised to see such a high rating and so many reviews for this spot, considering I hadn't heard about it before. The pricing is pretty decent for barbecue. I ended up sharing a 2 meat 2 sides plate. They were sadly out of moist brisket (we came on a Saturday around 6pm), so we got the lean brisket and baby back ribs. With the Mac n cheese and sriracha cole slaw. The brisket was a little drier than I would have liked, but I imagine the moist would have been really good. And I really enjoyed the ribs. Really flavorful and decently tender! The sriracha coleslaw was really unique and I enjoyed it. But the more you eat, the more the spice builds, and it got to the point that I didn't really want it anymore. But I definitely want to try the jicama coleslaw next time. The Mac and cheese was really cheesy, and not too thick, but it was pretty typical. I think based off of food alone, I might have given 4 stars. But the service is what really pushed me to 5 stars. When we first u wrapped our food, we noticed there was a long blonde hair on our ribs. We let them know and they were so quick to rectify everything and give us a new batch of ribs. The dessert might have been my favorite part besides the ribs. We got the key lime pie, although I do still really wanna try the banana pudding too. It had a good mix of tartness and sweetness. And it really doesn't need the strawberry syrup. But we did try the strawberry syrup and that was also really good. It kind of tasted like watered down strawberry jam, but in a good way. I liked that it actually tasted like real strawberries, and it wasn't sickly artificially sweet. read more

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I was so hungry all day today. I had a big breakfast, but as soon as I got to work, I was snacking, I ended up eating my lunch early cause I just couldn't shake the hunger feelings. On the way home, I stopped at Jim's Smokehouse. Their brisket is amazing. Their Mac & cheese is creamy and gooey. I love everything I've ever gotten here. The brisket is my favorite. What a gorgeous night, sitting outside at one of their many picnic tables. Just enjoying a Jim's brisket sandwich. The meat is juicy with added bbq sauce. Pickles and onions come on the side. Mac & Cheese is creamy, rich, hot and gooey. About half way through, I really started feeling full. I ended up eating the meat inside and leaving the rest of the bun. And I brought back home about half the Mac & cheese. Completely satisfying. Great service. Great food. And a very good value. Parking lot is small. It's shared with a bar and 3 other food trucks. It's always packed on the weekends. read more

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I love AUS food truck parks - lots of great options for fabulous BBQ and tacos, and Jim's is another fantastic truck serving Smokey goodness. We ordered a 2 meat meal with 2 side plate, also 1/2 lb of turkey. They smelled and tasted so good... love the smokiness and tenderness of their meat, and oh my, mac & cheese...! Heavenly. Highly recommended! read more

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In recognition of National Food Truck day, I decided to try another food truck today...Jim's Smokehouse. This morning Yelp sent out a listing of the top 100 food trucks and Jim's Smokehouse is #2 nationwide (4.9 rating with 259 reviews...pretty impressive!!!). So, why not give it a whirl? I am very proud of the mark that Austin is making on the food scene with several Michelin restaurants and now the #2 rated food truck. Jim's Smokehouse is relatively close to where I live with emphasis on "relatively". Jim's is located on Highway 620, which is so deep on 620 you almost feel like you're driving to another city. It is situated in a food truck park that is more linear than circular. I met Brad Yerkes today (owner) and he is Austin proud of his food truck. He burst with passion regarding his BBQ. I asked him why he has such a high Yelp rating and he said that the people love his BBQ. He allowed me to sample the brisket (no fat present), two types of sausages and a piece of rib. He also allowed me sample the chili, which was seasoned well but a bit too spicey for me. All the meats tasted good, but I settled on the ribs and turkey (trying to be a bit healthy now). He said his most popular sides were the mac n cheese and scalloped potatoes, so I bought small portions of both (I know...not healthy; will go back to healthy tomorrow...lol). His small cups are small, not thimble size like some other BBQ places. After we ate the meats and sides, we are certainly Jim's Smokehouse raving fans!!! The ribs were the standout for me...sweet and tangy at the same time and super tender (meat was falling off the bones). The turkey was good also. The mac n cheese was hot, cheesy and the perfect flavor. Those scalloped potatoes were super yummy...thinly sliced, and not greasy...so, so good. There is outdoor bench seating if you want to eat your food at the food truck park. Also, there is some open parking if you "grab and go" with your food. Important to note, there were no lines close to 1:30 pm, which was a pleasant surprise. The only downside of Jim's is that it is far out Highway 620...hope he expands and bring his food truck more central Austin. However, it is so worth the drive. Highly recommend Jim's smokehouse!!! read more

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Darn good Q! Jim's is pushing stellar meats and other eats out of his food truck. With the actual smokehouse just behind, everything is fresh and legit. My fav is a special request: lean brisket, chopped, with sauce and bun on side. I build my own. :D The absolute perfect balance of smoke, sweet, and tang. So happy to have them by Lake Travis. Also recommend their bomb mac & cheese, sriracha slaw, and do I need to even suggest "bacon jam?" Come on! All drool worthy. Good prices, high quality, the nicest staff ever - heart them!. 5 stars all the way! Order ahead online for even faster pickup. Several shaded picnic tables to use if you want to "dine in." If you want to add a cold adult libation, simply grab one from Rock House Bar & Trailer Park on the same site. Cheers y'all! Please, tell 'em I sent ya. ;) Support local. Support small. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Tomorrow dinner. Yum. Lean brisket. :D - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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May 8, 25 - Yelp just published their Top 10 barbecue spots in the USA. Jim's Smokehouse is listed as #1. Heck, they made Yelp's "2023 Top 100 Best Places to Eat in Texas." I've been trying to tell y'all folks. Get on over there and tell them Kelly sent you. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Mom and I stopped here and grabbed a 2 meat 2 sides plate which was $23 at time of review. There wasn't a line late in the afternoon on a Saturday and even though it's December it was hot and now the trees have less leaves. There are two shaded tables at this hour and was occupied by employees or friends of the employees because after they smoked for 20 min they went inside the food truck and we didn't see them again before we left... and the other is directly in wind of smoker. We ordered the beef brisket and pork ribs, with sides Mac n cheese and green bean casserole. Everything was great but I wish we had specified lean brisket because I hate super fatty meat and that's what we got. The ribs fell off the bone with ease and had great flavor. I liked both the sauces but mom wasn't a fan of either of them. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - 2 meat 2 sides - $23 at time of review (12/2024) - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Visiting ATX, had to have bbq. Found this place. Awesome bbq. Had the Dino-Beef rib, pork ribs, brisket, and burnt chicken ends. You can eat at the bar next door. They being the food to you and you can enjoy a cold beer at the bar inside. Great hospitality at the bar. Got free entertainment watching the bartender kill flies with a salt gun. Nice guy and super friendly. Highly recommend getting great bbq and cold refreshments next door. read more

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Great spot! Delicious fatty brisket, pork tacos, chop beef sandwich! The sides (macaroni and jicama coleslaw) were also really good. Grabbed a drink at the bar next door and found one of many shady picnic tables. Kids enjoyed some ping pong and cod hole while we hung out. Definitely gonna return. read more

The five star rating is a huge deal--we had to give this food truck a try. Our experience was positive. The food was good, but nothing that would be outstanding or extraordinary. Staff are super warm and friendly. Patient too, as I took forever to decide what I wanted to eat. $7 sliced brisket taco was a good deal, with quality slices of meat. The flavors were on the bland side though, so I'd recommend getting one of the juicier items, like sandwiches. $4 Mac and cheese [side] was bland and meh, so skip this side. $12 chopped brisket sandwich is THE thing to get. It was massive--so much meat, that you will be full or be taking leftovers home. Meat was good quality--not too fatty. Chopped meat was drowning in BBQ sauce. I love copious amounts of sauce, so I appreciated this. BBQ is very sweet & sour, so be aware of its pronounced flavor, which might be overwhelming for some. It gets coooool up there in the mountains, so sitting outside, at the picnic tables, by the food truck will get cold. We were grateful that we were encouraged to go inside the nearby bar and consume our food there. read more

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I'll pass on Jim's Smokehouse in the future... I consider it a rip-off....mediocre bbq for a ridiculous price.....BEWARE...This is what I got for my $23 two meat plate....one slice of brisket, and 2 small ribs. WTf?? I'll stick with Rudy's BBQ.... I always thought food truck prices would be a good deal...since they don't have brick and mortar store fronts. BUT...apparently not...they are out to screw everyone! Jim's Smokehouse is no exception....a RIP-OFF. $23 for THIS?? One (and I mean ONE) slice of brisket, and 2 small ribs....GIVE ME A BREAK! WHAT A RIP-OFF read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Decided to try Jim smokehouse. The brisket, ribs and turkey were so tender. We also had the sausage and beef rib, which were delicious as well. I did not care for the jicama coleslaw. I thought the mac & cheese was good but not outstanding. I liked the diversity in the sauces. I thought the corn and beans were also very good. I liked the food truck park and the ability to sit in a picnic area. We will definitely come back. read more

Food is excellent! Brisket is fantastic, Texas Twinkie Wednesday is a must! My go to for BBQ read more

This food truck has a nice view as it is by the road. It has plenty of seats as there were other food trucks behind them. The service was nice. There were two guys who were in the truck working on food. The food came out about 10-15 minutes. It was not that busy, but I can see how only two employees it can be. The food was delicious! The meats were tender and soft. However, it was not warmed up enough which we thought maybe they were not as fresh as we thought. The Mac and cheese was just okay. The scalloped potato had to be the highlight of the dishes we ordered. The scalloped technique created a different texture than regular potatoes, which we enjoyed a lot. The hassinator potato was delicious, and the Mexican twist on it with pico and pickled jalapeño really turned up a notch from regular bbq places. Overall, we enjoyed this place and would still come back again! read more

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The moist brisket was out of this world. The flavor was incredibly delicious. Sriracha Coleslaw is great, tasty with just a little heat. Loved the pinto beans. The BBQ sauce is tangy and delicious. It is pricey, but worth every penny! read more

The Black Angus Brisket and Ribs here are insane. In all my travels in TX, this is my new favorite Brisket. The rub is complex. The meat is incredibly fatty and tender. The smoke deeply penetrates the fat. The Ribs are just as tender and smoky. This spot is a gem. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - The perfect brisket pull - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Everything is amazing. There are always great special sandwiches like the B-Rad and the Dirty McCurdy that rotate and are great. On Wednesdays they have Texas Twinkies (smoked Jalapeño poppers bacon wrapped with chopped brisket). Always delicious! read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Dirty McCurdy - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I've already raved about this place, but they've branched out into pastrami and I'm compelled to write about it. Previously Pious was our go-to pastrami restaurant, but Jim's has handily dethroned them, while being much, much closer to us! Wowzers, no joke, the best pastrami I've ever had, full stop. read more

Jim's catered delivery to my office at the domain. I only provided my budget per person and Jim's took care of the rest. Everything was excellent and arrived on time. The ribs are incredible here. My new go to instead of brisket. read more

Fast , very delicious and friendly staff here. Guys came out and made sure I had everything I needed. Appreciate y'all read more

This place was close to our hotel and it was exceptional. We can't wait to go back! They have a fun spot with a ping pong table. Food was incredibly delicious and not just a regular BBQ, but almost gourmet style! Also, great portions, 1 taco will fill you up! read more

Amazing food in a good truck. The majority of our group had the Dan's special - pulled pork, saracchi coleslaw, pickles, onions on a soft bun. I wanted smoked turkey which was not on the menu but they made for me. This place deserves the high rankings because my husband always is underwhelmed at barbecue so I was so happy he said I'll try the barbecue. Delicious!!! read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Dans special- so loaded with meat and flavor - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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A couple of friends and I meet up once a month for a bbq rendezvous.....we use yelp to find those better rated joints....half the time the highly rated places don't turn out so well....Jim's Smokehouse is currently the highest rated and it's well deserved....I had a two meat two side plate with fatty brisket and jalapeño cheese sausage....the brisket was excellent: moist, tender, barky with perfect smokiness....sausage was very good, not greasy and full of flavor....had both slaws for sides...they were different and very tasty....ordered a topo chico for a great meal....the menu offered lots of other more craft fare.....plenty of reasons to come back...this time the yelp rating is 100% accurate.... read more

WOW! Jim's Smokehouse just catered a 35 person party for us last night! Brian and team were great to work with, very reasonable price, for outstanding BBQ! Good mix of Ribs, Brisket, smattering of burnt ends, turkey went very quick should have ordered more... I know Brian you told me so. The sides rocked it. All the guest were from out of town and just loved it. Thanks everyone, we had a blast! read more

I tried this place yesterday and was pleasantly surprised! The sides were off the chart. That Mac and cheese though... I loved all the sauces. I probably would try other menu items then just the brisket next time. I could tell this food is made with love and attention. Bravo Jim's!!! read more

Whilst upon a work trip to the Capitol, my colleague invited me out to this joint with their family. I actually passed right on by and had to kick it in reverse. We came through early to mid afternoon, after the lunch rush had dissipated. The staff were quick and efficient. They a covered seating area, everything is out doors. They have a portable potty out back as well. The food came out quick and came in hot. The brisket had excellent far content, and moisture level. The ribs were a little dryer than I was hoping for, but flavorful. Between the Original and the jalapeno cheese sausage, the jalapeno was my favorite. The jicama salad/slaw was really tasty too. The tacos are supposed to be really good, but I didn't try them out this trip. Next time for sure. On your way to the lake? Stop in! read more

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This is the best food truck by far. The cleanliness, attentive & friendly service coupled with amazing BBQ is unmatched. New to the neighborhood and feel lucky to have this place right down the street. read more

I'm only rating based on my own taste, not debating how it's supposed to be (if you really like it, good for you and maybe we have gotten the wrong stuff in the menu, or a bad day?)The $17 brisket was very dry and tough, with only one juicy slice. That slice earns one star, and the sauce, which was pretty good, earns another. I have nothing against the place--I was just visiting the city -- but my disappointment prompted me to write this review. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Brisket, $17 for 5 slices. - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Don't be hesitant of this small truck, it packs a big punch with their meats! This truck is owned by Brad, whom I have learned is the grandson of Jim who opened this spot. The brisket here is outstanding and very moist. The thick slices with a crisp and flavorful bark that you can simply pull apart with your fingers and just a slight amount of tension, it's ridiculously great. This screams Texas to me and brings me comfort every time I fly in to visit. The mac & cheese so cheesy so ooey-gooey, and a little spice to it too. Loved the pickles on the side and the onions as well. Come early and line up. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Stopped by for a quick lunch and it was a very good decision. We tried the brisket sandwiches and the portion sizes were wonderful. The food tastes good as well. We will be going back soon. read more

This is my Old Reliable Bar B Q spot. They have been near Lakeway/Hudson Bend for years providing excellent food at a reasonable cost! Their staff are experienced and always greet with a smile! read more

From NJ, this place slaps!!! Got the $18 plate, two meats and two sides. I chose brisket and ribs, and my two sides were the Mac and cheese and jicama coleslaw! Absolutely fantastic! The place is essentially a food truck with outdoor seating, restrooms are porta Johns and a manual hand washing station that's outside. If your looking for a full restaurant, this is not it, this is an outdoor food truck with picnic tables! Perfect for those outdoor bbq fingers! The food is 10/10. The only cons is that since it's outdoors there are many flies and I walked out with a ton of bug bites, make sure you bring mosquito spray! If management see's this, please fumigate the outdoors and treat it for mosquitoes so your patrons don't get bit so much by bugs! Again for food, it's great, delicious, came here on Friday, no lines! read more

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Jim's was the first of several barbecue joints that I tried while in Austin. I stopped here on my first night and the bar was set very, very high. I ordered the cheddar jalapeño sausage, smoked turkey, and a side of mac and cheese. I came fairly close to closing time, but everything was super fresh, hot, and delicious. The portions were definitely generous and I had enough for two meals. The location that I visited was near a few other food truck type setups, but Jim's was definitely the busiest. Coming from out of town, that told me that I made the right choice! The staff was super friendly as well and took their time in explaining the menu and my options. Texas barbecue is a foreign concept to me, so this was appreciated. There are also some picnic benches near their truck so you can enjoy your meal alfresco. Overall, this was a fantastic meal and Jim's will be somewhere I visit on my next trip south! read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Outside - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Had a pound of brisket, and it tasted like heaven when paired with a cold beer. It was amazing! read more

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Being generous as the only good thing was the brisket. That was good but not life changing or anything. I just didn't want to mess with waiting forever in line so I chose something out of Austin. No problem here no line. Had turkey rib and brisket with scallop and the corn. Turkey dry but decent smoke flavor. Rib was small and tough. Brisket was fatty and good. Two sauces I found the sweet one better with the food than the other. Key lime was ok. If ppl think this is at top don't feel like I want to try other bbq as I'll just be disappointed. Did see their pork sandwhich looked like it would be good but considering rest was ok probably same. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Key lime was ok. - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Got brisket, ribs, and turkey (along w/ scalloped potatoes) last weekend for a family get together - soooooo good!!! All of it! And the guys were so nice, even gave the AAA man a free bottle of water for fixing a couple flat tires in their lot. Great place, good food, can't go wrong stopping here! read more

Jim's smokehouse is definitely the best barbecue on this side of the Austin area. I've eaten here a fair amount of times and never had a side or entree that wasn't a 5/5. Also--they manage to make their prices reasonable at a time when Austin barbecue can be prohibitively expensive. My go-to is any of their sandwiches, which are overloading with meat--and the Dan's Special sandwich even has their Sriracha coleslaw on it. I think every side and meat here is delicious but their best items are probably their brisket and ribs. They do sometimes run out of things, especially ribs, but I think that's the sign of a good barbecue place. Jim's Smokehouse deserves all the customers they can handle, but I honestly hope they stay as a food truck so they can just focus on making the food great. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - Corn chowder. Chopped brisket on macaroni and cheese. - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This trailer is in Barton Springs Rd. And wowza !!! Way better that I thought it would be. The Pimento cheese was on point and smothering the brisket on the toasted bun. Yum. The Mac and cheese was above average and also tasty. Will return. read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - DIRTY MCGURDY. sliced brisket and homemade pimento cheese. Side of Mac. - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas