Jim's is absolutely worth the drive out of the city center for great bbq and service. While I've typically driven out to Lockhart to visit friends and, inevitably, devour all that Tx agriculture has to offer, Jim's is easily my new favorite. All of the other places in Austin proper are crawling with tourists (yeah yeah, pot meet kettle) and are packed. Skip the obvious and you'll be rewarded with one of the best meals in town. Getting there: The drive out from the city is plenty fun and takes you over Pennybacker Bridge. Plenty of parking. Ambiance: Picnic tables are plentiful with shade. Or you can head to the bar next door to grab a cold one while you enjoy the juiciest, most tender, melt in your mouth brisket or dry rub ribs. Go for the plate of 2 meat and 2 side options for the full experience. Unsure of what to pick? Brisket, ribs, Mac and cheese, and scalloped potatoes. Your heart might hate you afterward but your tastebuds and stomach won't. I loved it so much I went twice. Hell, I'm sitting in the airport now at six something in the morning drooling wishing I could go back one last time. I might just go change my flight... read more

Jim’s Smokehouse - 2 Meats 2 Sides Plate - Black Angus Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, Mac and Cheese, Scalloped Potatoes - Food Trucks Near Me - Austin, Texas

Why 3 stars? Because this is a review I really hate to write. --- --- --- When I see a 4.9 star rating with nearly 300 reviews, you have my attention. I know that it's pretty much a guarantee that I am going to enjoy my meal, and I'll probably love it. Sadly, this was probably the biggest mismatch of rating:taste I've ever experienced. My friend and I had a lengthy discussion about this in our hotel room. He didn't trust the reviews and said the photos of the BBQ looked very underwhelming. I won the argument, because we ended up visiting, but he won the war because he was right. We ordered our food and then went and sat at the bar so we could enjoy in the A/C. We were chatting with the bartender for a few minutes, and then our plates of food came. I tried the brisket.... not good. I tried the ribs... woof. I tried the pulled pork... yikes. My friend and I were giving each other the eye in between bites, as the employee was only a few feet away from us and talking to the bartender. She eventually asked us how it was. To be honest, I would have probably just said, "good" and moved on, because I hate coming across rudely. But my friend? He cannot tell a lie. He just came out and said we were not into it. She was very nice about it and actually ended up bringing us more ribs. They were significantly better. Pretty good, actually. She also brought us some coleslaw. I wasn't a big fan, but it was appreciated. The brisket had a couple of good fatty bites, but everything else about it was pretty rubbery and not very flavorful. 2-stars. The original ribs were overcooked and tough. 2-stars. The pulled pork was the worst of the bunch. It literally tasted like a wet dog smells. I hate to say that, but I'm just being honest. 1-star. So to be honest, this was a 2-star experience for us. I'm upgrading to 3-stars because the customer service was excellent, and the 2nd round of ribs was a significant upgrade. But as my friend put it, why would they be okay serving us those original ribs when they were obviously not up to quality. What I assume happened here is that the owner or primary pit master was not working when we visited on a Monday at 11am. It's likely the case of a backup being pretty lackadaisical. But it was rough. We did enjoy the ping pong table afterward, I guess? read more

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GREAT PLACE FOR BBQ. MUST STOP IF YOUR IN THE AREA! we order the 2 meat 2 sides plate pull pork brisket mac and cheese and corn all delicious my wife really not a bbq person she love it. the sauce were good i liked they put on side.that way you can taste the meat we ate on the bench area alot of traffic but the food was great....certainly will return. read more

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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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fantastic bbq and best Pulled Pork Sandwich in town! it takes 2 hands to handle Great people, great brisket, great everything read more

Was out and about for the holiday and wanted to grab something quick from this food truck park. Brisket (2 good slices under there), pico, tomatillo salsa, avocado, & cotija. Brisket was on point, and everything was scratch made including the tortillas. Was worth every bit of $7.00 less read more

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

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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Service was boring and didn't get a hello. Brisket sandwich was basic but I was hungry so it met the assignment but add some sauce and don't forget to ask for it bc it isn't added. read more

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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Wow that was the best pulled pork sandwich I've ever had. And the turkey was amazing! Even the bbq sauces were complex and delicious. I'm impressed guys thank you! read more

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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Amazing pulled pork sandwich!!! For under $20 you get one of the best pulled pork' sandwiches I've ever had! read more

Jim's Smokehouse is a large food trailer at the intersection of 2222 and 620, that I stopped in by happenstance on a recent Sunday. On Saturdays and Sundays they serve a smoked pastrami sandwich with sauerkraut, good bread, and thousand island dressing. It was delicious! According to the restaurant's origin story, Jim was introduced to Texas BBQ as a youngster visiting his grandparents in Rockport, Texas, who were in the BBQ business. He is a Culinary Chef of America (CIA) graduate through their upstate New York, and he is retired from running restaurants like Mezzaluna, which was one of Austin go to restaurants when the Warehouse District was just beginning in the early 90's and Serna, an Italian restaurant out 2222 way, as I recall. Jim is a pro, and his passion for BBQ and taking care of his customers shows. He even curates the music track that plays while you enjoy your meal on a picnic table in the shade of the trees that surround his spot. I will check the rest of the menu out, but if you're out that way or want to take a drive for a great pastrami sandwich it's happening at Jim's Smokehouse at 2222 and 620. Like the many creative people we have in Austin, Jim's is a gem! read more

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

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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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

A turkey sandwich is $16.00 and includes JUST the sandwich....no sides. Just think what they would charge you if they had to pay for typical restaurant space. Other options available at better prices. 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 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

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

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

Went the other day with my daughters and ex husband. The food was great as always and they're always super friendly. This is my go to spot if I'm craving BBQ. read more

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

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

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

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 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

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