I really enjoyed this place; in terms of taste and quality, it's close to Terry Black's. The highlight for me was the al pastor pork ribs, which were super tender and had perfect flavor. Some of the best I've ever had. The brisket was great too, no complaints. Another thing that really impressed me was the sauce, tangy with just the right kick. My only minor gripe is the sides, which were only ok. Some of the prices are also a little high. Another plus: There was no line, which is rare for good barbeque.

Michelle E.

JNL Barbecue is seriously underrated when it comes to best barbecue joints in Austin and I KNOW it's going to blow up in popularity once more people catch wind about how amazing it is! I got a big spread on their final day at the brick and mortar location on E Cesar Chavez before they return to Buzzmill and enjoyed every single bite! SERVICE - The gentleman and lady who helped prepare all the meats, sides, and sandwiches could not have been nicer! The guy arranging the meats by the pound kept the slicing area super clean and took such delicate care arranging each item on the tray... it was truly like art! He cut off a few small pieces of burnt ends as complimentary samples for us and the people behind us in line while we waited AND included a few pieces of burnt ends from the pastrami (part of the special that day) on our tray for free. Amazing customer service and made the experience of ordering barbecue even more enjoyable! PRICING - The total was just over $200 after tax but before tip for all of the following: * 2 lbs brisket * 1 lb pork ribs * 1 lb turkey * 0.5 lb pulled prok * 2 BLT sandwiches * 1 pastrami sandwich * Pint of green beans * Pint of mac & cheese BRISKET (9.5/10) - I'd put this brisket right up there with Franklin and Interstellar BBQ, which are my two favorites in Austin. Incredibly tender and moist, as you would expect with any brisket in Texas. The bark has great flavor but the seasoning is light so the flavor of the meat really shines which is exactly what you want for great brisket. AL PASTOR PORK RIBS (9.5/10) - Some of the BEST pork ribs I've ever had! They were SO tender, but not to the point where the meat is actually falling off the bone (which is a good thing because you want to still be able to eat it like a rib). The al pastor seasoning on the outside is delicious! PULLED PORK (8/10) - Pulled pork is never going to be the highlight of my barbecue platter but I always love to try it out anyway. It was tender, juicy, and had great flavor. It pairs nicely with the sauce since it's Carolina style with a vinegar base. CAJUN BUTTER TURKEY (8/10) - Similar to the pulled pork, turkey is just never going to be the BBQ hero and that's okay because Thanksgiving is it's day to shine. That being said, this turkey was very juicy (it's hard not to be when doused in butter) and wasn't dry at all. The seasoning is a little more peppery than the bark on the brisket which helps make up for the lack of natural flavor turkey has. BLT SANDWICH (10/10) - I understand it's just a BLT sandwich but this was the BEST BLT sandwich I have ever had and probably ever will have in my life. I'd probably trade a kidney to have an endless supply of these... it's that good! There are no words for that bacon besides LIFE CHANGING! PASTRAMI SANDWICH (9/10) - This was a special... half pound of pastrami served on a dark pumpernickel with housemade 512 Pecan Porter mustard and pickled red onions. The pastrami was INCREDIBLY flavorful... wow! The mustard and pickled onions were delicious as well... it was just hard to beat the BLT. MOM'S GREEN BEANS (7.5/10) - When you add that bacon into anything, it's going to be good! These were a nice palate cleanser between bites of meat! MAC & CHEESE (8.5/10) - SO CREAMY! Pretty basic flavor wise but the texture was incredible! Having good mac n' cheese with my barbecue always elevates the experience and this didn't disappoint! I almost don't want to tell people about JNL Barbecue because I don't want to have to wait in ridiculously long lines to get it... but if you're reading this review, the secret is already out. If you want a barbecue place where ANYTHING you get is going to be amazing, JNL has you covered!

Surge C.

Quality meat. Quality Service. Quality Sauce. Austin and Texas are no strangers to making some mean BBQ, and JNL is now one of my faves. My friends and I ordered the ribs (Al pastor style), brisket and turkey. Everything was smoked to perfection and the sauce helped the meal come all together. I wish I would've ordered more of the ribs because they were phenomenal! Don't skip on this item when you're here- the seasoning is delicious!

Chopped brisket sando was amazing. Corn was okay. Vibes were immaculate. However wait time was rough--55 minutes from arrival to plate. Would go again on a lazy day, but not as a stop en route to the airport.

Will C.

Exicited to check out JNL at the location that had previously hosted La Barbecue and Kebab Inn. The choice of sides--potato salad, beans, mac, green beans--suggest it shares Franklin's old-school approach to BBQ, but the meats are definitely trying to be innovative. The results were good, but a bit hit-or-miss. What was good was the delicious brisket, as befits owner/pitmaster Ben Lambert's experience at Franklin BBQ. The Cajun Butter Turkey Breast was moist and tasty, though I could have used a bit more cajun seasoning. I also loved the green beans, cooked with bacon. However, there were some significant misses. Most of all was the al pastor pork ribs. Lamber says that it's in homage to his favorite taco style, and smothers the ribs in an al pastor-like chile marinade. But the marinade never seemed to get into the meat, resting instead only on the surface. Likewise, the coffee & chili rubbed pork tenderloin was an intriguing use of a rarely-seen BBQ cut. But while the tenderloin itself was tender and moist, the coffee and chili bark didn't add much. I think they're just too dry/astringent flavors for such a lean cut. Overall, I still think JNL is a good BBQ option, especially if you're coming from the airport. I applaud the experimentation, but there's still a little room to improve on the execution.

Chastitie A.

I don't know if it was the smell of the smoked brisket or the kind and welcoming attitude from the owner that made me want to try this food.....ok, I can't lie... it was the smell first, but the kindness made it even better! When I attempted to go yesterday, they were already sold out, but I told him I would be back the next day, in which I kept my promise. I believe the owners are a married couple, who both exerted great energy and customer service. They saw I was a first responder, and gave a discount. But more importantly, you want to know about the food... let's just say it's 5 stars for a reason. The brisket is off the chain! And they are one of the few places that actually know how to make good potato salad! I am so glad I live so close, because I know I will be a consistent customer!

Caitlin A.

Tried their food truck outside of the Buzz Mill. Best cole slaw I've had in my life. Great service and friendly staff as well.

Marissa V.

Old school BBQ food truck serving some of the best smoked meats in Texas. . : Food (5/5 Stars): Again - no doubt some of the best smoked brisket we've tried in Texas! They offer a simple menu of meats, sandwiches/plates, and sides. The Brisket and Carolina-Style Pulled Pork were both SO tender, moist, and delicious. The other meats (Cajun Butter Turkey, Pork Ribs) were already sold out when we arrived - so definitely try to get there early! The sides did not disappoint either - especially Mom's Green Beans. . : Service (5/5): Fast and friendly service! The staff were very welcoming and happy to give recommendations. Our food was ready within minutes of ordering. . : Atmosphere (5/5 Stars): Very casual atmosphere - located inside of Buzz Mill. Plenty of picnic tables with fans to keep you cool outside.

TC A.

Welcome to some of my favorite bbq in Austin List JNL BBQ! This was a great experience from both the service and food standpoint. I would say that this bbq has its own unique style it's Texas BBQ with a twist. The ribs fall if the bone, the brisket was moist tender and most of all flavorful. The hidden jewel here is the Turkey! Yes I said it! They changed the game for me with their smoked Turkey that wasn't dry, had great flavor (buttery). I could have really eaten a whole pound of just the Turkey. The owners were very friendly and accommodating and very gracious hosts. Definitely a must!!

Christine Y.

Mmmm yum! JNL Barbecue is located in the Buzz Mill Shady backyard. The pitmasters are Franklin BBQ alum and it shows. The brisket was perfectly moist. JNL is definitely smoking top-tier meat in a very competitive town. I'm happy that I can eat such good brisket with NO LINE! The pulled pork and pork ribs were tasty too. The ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender. The sauce leans on the more vinegar-y side. No complaints about the potato salad. Go check out JNL! You'll be glad you did. PRO TIP: When ordering brisket at any BBQ spot, you should always specify 'extra moist'!

Christian C.

Best bbq I've had. Seriously unbelievable, if you want to get away from the downtown area and enjoy a cool spot this is the place. It's situated inside of a market, has indoor seating and plenty of outdoor. Big beer selection in the fridges. The food was awesome. Went with ribs and brisket, both were insanely tender, barely had to chew lol. Loved the flavors of both. Coleslaw and smoked jalapeño are a must as well, the sauce was just right vinegary and a good amount of spice. Will for sure be back. The service here is also outstanding they really care and you can tell

JR L.

What a time to be (deathly afraid with the pandabeardemic climate) alive. As noted in the first review, this lil ol' food truck is located in the Buzz Mill Shady backyard surrounded by a few other specialty food trucks. I unfortunately was unable to pinpoint the other food trucks as I was just picking up food, but the place looked pretty cozy and nice. By the time I got to JNL Barbecue around 2PM, they only pulled pork and ribs left! If that's already any indication of their popularity, well park your horseas cowfolk and get yourself some early barbecue! Inside(maybe?)/Outside - N/A I can't give the surrounding area a score as I only picked up food, but I imagine since it's next to Buzz Mill you may be able to bring food inside? I'll swing back around when we're allowed to play outside again to check, but if anyone knows beforehand let me know! Otherwise the outside is huge with plenty of picnic tables and relaxed scenery. I enjoyed the open sky and space while I waited for my food. Food - 5/5 My first go-around I got pulled pork sandwiches, a pint of pinto (say that three times fast) beans, and a pint of potato salad (say this maybe once). First off - damn the pulled pork sandwiches were g o o d. Starting from the outside-in, the buns were fluffy and large! A great juxtaposition to the juicy pulled pork and slaw in the inside. The crew really were generous with the portion that I ended up only eating half of the sandwich. TIP - make sure you eat 'em hot! Or the meat will get tough as it cools down. The beans were had a nice viscous sauce, not too runny, with enough sweetness. The potato salad was chunky, but soft - love me a good potato salad. Service - 5/5 Food trucks are hard to grade because a person's interaction is usually with the order and pick-up of food. Nevertheless the crew of two were in great spirits given the public health circumstances and conversed with me as I waited. Real fun and joyful individuals that I wouldn't mind getting a beer with. TLDR; Overall - 5/5 - Get food early or you'll miss the different meats! - Take a seat, the outside is nice and from what I can see in pics, Buzz Mill looks pretty dope too - Pulled pork sandwich is hefty and you can save some for later! Just make sure you eat it while it's hot - Talk to the crew; they're funny people and you'd get to know the locals just a bit more

Adrian S.

WOW! Simply amazed at this BBQ restaurant, nothing better than good old Texas BBQ! The brisket is moist and nice cuts! Love their BBQ sauce, it's homemade and comes out warm. Coleslaw is acidic, which i like.