It was time to get my drivers license renewed at the courthouse and afterwards headed to pickup some BBQ to take back home. It's a routine I do when I have to do some government business. Kreuz Market is one of my favorite places among their stiff competition in Lockhart. It was in the mid very hot afternoon and not a lot of vehicles parked. I walked inside to get blindsided with extreme heat of an oven. It was hot making the outdoor 100 degrees feel like a cool Fall day. Not sure how the pit masters take it but they gathered my meat order of Half Chicken, Beef Brisket, Spare Ribs, and Hot Jalapeño Cheese Sausage together. The crew were very nice and friendly and headed inside a sealed room where got a blasted of extremely cold air where you order your sides and drinks. Ordered Macaroni & Cheese, Beans, Potato Salad and Sweet Tea. You can site inside this refrigerator or in the oven, but luckily had to go back home with my order. There is plenty of tables in both rooms. I did not see outdoor seating but wont stop you eating in your vehicle like at Buc-ee's. It's truly mouthwatering where the brisket was thick and juicy, chicken roasted with a perfect wood smoked taste, jalapeño sausage addicting with flavor, and spare ribs stripped to the bone after a few wonderful bites. Even the sides were delicious. Tourist will defiantly love this place deep in he heart of Texas culture in BBQ. read more

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I used to love this place but now I would only come if I was in the area. It is far from where I live. This is a smokehouse and you walk in and get the authentic smell and smoke coming from the pits. Employees are all super friendly and nice and helpful and efficient. We got brisket, pork chop, and jalapeno sausage. The sausage was okay, the casing was way too tough and very hard to chew and the flavor was mild hardly any jalapeno flavor. The brisket was tough and cutting it so thick made it a challenge to chew. The pork chop was a bit tough as well and lacked smoke flavor. For the price you pay there are other BBQ places with more tender meat, more smoke flavor, and better flavor. The Mac and cheese was overcooked. The sauerkraut was too sweet and they did not offer us any bread. This is my last visit. read more

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My experience was fantastic!! Pricey, but fantastic! On the way to a family event with roughly 25 adults, my dad ordered 24 pounds of bbq. - 6 pounds of prime rib (would NOT recommend unless that is your favorite cut) -6 pounds of brisket (Oh how I wish he ordered 12 pounds!!) -3 pounds of jalapeno sausage -3 pounds of sausage -6 pounds of baby backs We picked it up from the catering department and they helped us load it (wonderfully packaged) in our cooler with dry ice that they provided. They also gave us 2 quarts of bbq sauce. They gave us instructions on how to reheat, cut and serve each one, and it was fantastic. All that was leftover was the sausage and prime rib. The food was delicious! read more

Kreuz Market was the first stop in Lockhart on day 2 of our barbecue safari. We ordered sausage, ribs, and brisket, and like the last time I was here, the meat had good flavor, but was overcooked. The best meat was the sausage. Kreuz is an old-style bbq joint, where the line goes through the cooking area and the meat is cut on old butcher blocks. There's lots of seating and plenty of sides and drinks are offered. read more

Kreuz Market - Sausage, ribs, and brisket. - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Lockhart bills itself as the Barbecue Capital of Texas, and Kreuz Market is one of the names you hear early and often. I've seen it featured on multiple shows, and it's been on my list for a long time. I was about 30 minutes away and slipped over on a Sunday afternoon, thinking I'd catch an early dinner. I left pretty disappointed. I live in North Carolina but travel to Texas several times a year for work, and when I'm here I eat tacos and brisket. By day two of any Texas trip, brisket is usually the priority. Unfortunately, this stop was a miss. I arrived around 4:30 pm on a Sunday. I understand they close earlier on Sundays, which is fair, but something I didn't realize going in. They were already sold out of several items. All I really wanted was brisket and sausage, both of which were still available, and since they still had pork ribs, I added one of those as well. The brisket was mediocre at best. Somehow it managed to be both greasy and dry at the same time. I actually had to put a napkin on my butcher paper to soak up excess grease. For a place with this reputation, that was surprising and underwhelming. I get that it was late in the day, but 4:30 pm isn't scraping the bottom of the barrel. The pork rib was large but forgettable. It was tender-ish, the flavor was fine, nothing offensive, nothing memorable. I understand ribs may not be their main focus, but I've been to plenty of great Texas barbecue joints that still execute across the board. The sausage was good, though not quite what I was expecting. I know every place does sausage differently, but it still had butcher twine wrapped around it, which felt sloppy. It wasn't bad, just not standout. A few operational things stood out in a negative way. There are no trays. Your meat is wrapped in butcher paper, you pay, and then you walk into another room to get sides. Meanwhile, you're carrying greasy butcher paper around, trying not to drip on yourself or the floor. I know butcher paper is part of their "thing," but a tray would go a long way toward basic practicality. They were out of German potato salad, which I was really looking forward to. I settled for the sauerkraut, which was watery, bland, and honestly kind of gross. For a place that even offers German potato salad, you expect better sauerkraut than that. Pickles and onions are handed to you in small sandwich bags, full of juice, with no container. You're basically hoping you don't spill pickle juice everywhere while juggling your food. The sauces, two options, were average, nothing special, and again, no small cups, just another awkward detail. The building itself is impressive, and walking in, the smell of pit smoke absolutely sets the mood. Sitting in the parking lot afterward, I watched multiple families leaving, everyone seemed happy, and it made me wonder if timing really is everything here. Maybe if I'd come during the heart of the lunch rush, this would've been a different experience. Customer service didn't help. For 4:30 on a Sunday, about 90 minutes before closing, the vibe felt like, "Let's get this guy through and be done." No warmth, no engagement, no sense that they cared much at all. I hate leaving a review like this for a place with such history and reputation. I wanted to love it. Maybe this was just an off day, or maybe timing matters more than it should. Either way, based on this visit, Kreuz Market didn't live up to the hype. I might try it again someday, but this trip left me disappointed. read more

Kreuz Market - No, the napkin to absorb the grease. How is this both greasy and dry? - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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So, so good. Best brisket and ring sausage (get the jalapeño sausage) in all of Lockhart in my honest, tested opinion (tried all the spots in town) read more

Took a drive to eat some delicious barbecue. Kreuz starts cooking at 5 am and you can taste the tlc the pit master puts into the food. Get there early to avoid the lines but if you have to stand in line it's worth the wait! Plenty of seating for large parties. When you order you do have to walk into the smoke house. So you will smell like smoke after. Lots of sides to choose from as well as desserts. My favorite was the pork belly burnt ends read more

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Last Friday at Kreuz Market I ate some of the very worst fatty brisket I have eaten. The pork rib was overcooked. The sausage, eh. I don't even want to go into it, really, because it was all just bad. No wonder we were the only people here on a Friday night - the place was completely empty, like a ghost town. Kreuz Market was once decent - a long, long time ago - but never will I consider eating here again. This town is filled with excellent BBQ, but it's not here. Keep driving. read more

Kreuz Market - Blah! No good. - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Was driving from Austin to San Antonio for the Knicks game and saw a sign saying that Lockhart was the BBQ capital of Texas. Good enough reason for me to stop over. Saw this place and had to try it. Likely the best BBQ I've ever had. And the experience was amazing. Being in the wood burning smoker room was a treat (although it's probably still warmer outside than in there). The experience is was one of a kind. And the loaded mashed baked or whatever they called it and the corn mess were both delicious. I had the shoulder of some animal amongst other meats too. Yum. I enjoyed the service as well. Really enjoyed this place. read more

It was just about everything I expected and hoped it would be. Great meats and sides. Friendly staff that cut it exactly to order. I left satisfied and smelling like a fire! Loved it! read more

Kreuz Market - Brisket, 1/2 chicken, sausage, side of baked tater casserole and mac. - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Pretty great spot! We were on a random day trip and made a detour to Kreuz (pronounced Kritz) for a late lunch. We ordered more than we needed! 2 sausage links, one jalapeño and cheese and one original. 1/2 lb of pork ribs and a 1/2 lb of shoulder clod. Everything was tasty. The place is heavy on the pork, so if you prefer beef bbq this probably isn't the place for you. There is a ton of parking, the place itself is huge! Bathrooms were clean, they have both indoor and outdoor seating. The staff is incredibly friendly. If only they had EVchargers! read more

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Kreuz Market needs no introduction. It is legendary for a reason and they continue to put out damn good BBQ. The clod is a refreshing change of pace from brisket, the sausage is exactly what a smoked link should be. The pork chop, though! It is perfection read more

Kreuz Market - BBQ Beef Shoulder Clod, Smoked Pork Chops, sausage - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Iconic historical location. Large scale smoked meats from old pit style smokers. Best known for brisket , beef ribs (huge) and sausage. Plenty of indoor seating. Excellent sides we had sauerkraut and creamed corn. read more

Absolutely great food! I can't wait to go back and have more! Everyone was friendly, parking was easy!

If you're a fan of authentic Texas BBQ, Kreuz is a must-visit. The food is consistently delicious -- smoky, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. Whether you're going for brisket, ribs, or sausage, you really can't go wrong. One of the things I really appreciate is the spacious seating. There's plenty of room to sit and enjoy your meal without feeling packed in, even on busier days. The atmosphere has that classic BBQ joint charm, and the vibe is always welcoming. They also have some super cute merch -- think T-shirts, sweaters, and other fun souvenirs that make great gifts or keepsakes. Customer service is another strong point. The staff is friendly, helpful, and efficient every time I've been. You can tell they take pride in what they do. My only small gripe is the price -- it's a bit on the higher side. That said, the quality of the food and overall experience make it worth the splurge. read more

The food. The ambience was amazing. Perfect service is great. Price is right. The chicken was so flavorful. The sausage was amazing. read more

Kreuz Market - half a chicken wondering Jalapeno Cheese Sausage pickles, cheese, and pepper outstanding food - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

The barbaque was excellent . The Brisket and Sausage were amazing. The restaurant was cleaned. They had a big variety of food. read more

Kreuz Market - Sausage and Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Considering that Kreuz is highly regarded and recommended, my experience was disappointing. First, the place is poorly ventilated, so it was not only stifling hot during the summer when I went, but the indoor pits produce lingering smoke and heat that sting your eyes and burn your throat. And I LOVE when that thin smoke rolls off a smoker, but this was overwhelming. I genuinely worry about the health of the workers. Secondly, the sausage texture was "unique". There are obviously people out there who love it, but I was not a fan. It was crumbly and coarse, and I simply didn't care for it. Flavor was good, but texture ruined it. To be fair, I was full from an earlier bbq stop elsewhere and only tried the sausage here, so I can't speak to other items. But the overall experience was a let-down. read more

Wow, this place was amazing! The pork ribs were finger licking good. We also got the jalapeño cheddar sausage & the brisket. Nothing disappointed. Our sides were the loaded baked potatoes & the mac & cheese.....soooooo delicious. Run, don't walk to this place. Ps expect to wait for a bit, but totally worth it. read more

Kreuz Market - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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As much as it pains me to admit this, Kreuz is not what it used to be. I first visited back in 2019 with my now husband, who was born and raised in Lockhart, so this place is nostalgic for him. I was blown away by the seasoning and the quality of the meats, especially the brisket and pork ribs. Every subsequent visit was a hit or miss - many times the brisket was dry. We stopped by again this past Friday, and sadly we have agreed that that would probably be our last visit. This bbq is not worth the detour on our way from Houston to Austin anymore. The brisket was way too dry, and the prices too high for the quality of what you are getting. Kreuz was what I used to compare every other BBQ place to. So it is with great sadness that I say, we will not be returning. read more

Meh. We ordered brisket and a beef rib at the meat counter and then pickles, cheese, onions and green beans at the sides counter. They did package up the meat nicely in the butcher paper but I was still underwhelmed by the whole process. The beef rib was the star of the show and quite good. The brisket was.....edible, barely. Another review mentioned how the brisket was both greasy and dry simultaneously and that's a good description. Honestly , I spat out a couple of bites of brisket because it was so dry and I don't waste calories on c*** food. The green beans were slightly better than canned with visible bacon bits, though they did not taste very "country cooked" at all. Prices were SUPER high, especially for the quality. Will not go back. read more

One of my stops during my Lockhart trip. If you love Nostalgia, this definitely is the place. Lots of history here. You walk in and there's a haze of smoke. The orgasmic smell of smoked meat is in the air for sure. You see the old smokers that are still doing their damn thing. I ordered my meats: brisket and jalepeno cheddar sausage. Then you go to another room for your sides. On top of that, they got a station for your drinks, sauces and all. Plus the people working here are super nice. The brisket was disappointing. Probably the driest, most flavorless brisket I've ever had. The Jalapeño cheddar sausage and the poblano creamed corn were definitely a hit! read more

Kreuz Market - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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Man. I have to say, posting this review is a tough one. Our first time dining at Kreuz was the end of 2021 when we moved to Lockhart. We were blown away at how amazing the food was. The one item that stood out the most to us was the rib. I also appreciate their different sides they have available compared to other BBQ spots here in town. Pricey, yes. However, all of the BBQ spots in town are. Service has been great the couple of times we have been. And there is plenty of seating available, inside and out. Not too noisy at all, and nice and cool in the dining room where you purchase your sides. I also like that they have ice cream available as well if you have any room left after your meal. Why the 3 star review? Well, we were there maybe 2 weeks ago, and the food wasn't as great as before. They were out of nearly every meat except brisket and sausage. We were really hoping for a rib and some chicken...Anyways, we went with brisket and sausage (plain and jalapeño) and proceeded inside for the sides. They were out of Mac & cheese and everything left looked like it had been there a while. Mind you, we were there at least an hour (maybe 2) before they were closing. So, we were quite disappointed to say the least. The brisket seemed a bit dry, and weren't the biggest fans of their regular sausage. The jalapeño was tasty, and had a little kick to it. Will we return? Likely so. Just hoping next time they are stacked with meats and sides. read more

Pork ribs - awesome, some of the best I have ever had!! Brisket - a bit dry. Regular sausage - very poor quality, texture and flavor. IMPORTANT NOTE: The food may be flavorful, but I was deeply concerned by the working conditions I witnessed. The serving room was over 100°F, and staff were working in visibly uncomfortable heat. It's hard to enjoy a meal knowing the people preparing and serving it are enduring such conditions. I hope the owners reconsider their setup and prioritize staff well-being--perhaps by relocating the pits outdoors or improving ventilation. Until then, I can't support a business that overlooks its team's health. read more

If you want good Texas BBQ skip this place. Brisket is flavorless. They rely on their sauce to flavor their meat. Beans are undercooked and pretty much tasteless. read more

Amazing bbq, the best Mac n cheese and the nicest people! After eating we ordered more sausage to take home. We will be back soon. read more

Kreuz Market - Sausage, turkey, and brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

We came to Kreuz upon recommendation but it was a last minute decision. I called about 30min before we left our town and asked for an update on food. We wanted to bring a visitor from NY who smokes BBQ himself. Great experience. We had our 3 young kids and we all managed to enjoy something. Ribs, pork sausage, brisket, potato salad, beans and beans. Simple and delicious! read more

3rd stop on my BBQ crawl.. brisket was perfect. The was probably the best sausage link on this trip. Always one of my favorites..for a weekday lunch plenty of space and open tables. read more

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This place is so cool. You go into the hot pit room to order your meats. That was an experience in and of itself. You pay separately here. Then you go to a room to dine and order sides. We liked the brisket sauerkraut and the twice baked potato casserole. A LOT. The turkey is what the pit crew recommended and it did not disappoint. The brisket was well flavored and a great quality meat. I loved the chicken too. read more

Kreuz Market - Meats all wrapped up neatly - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Food was ok. Nothings to write home about, but was worth the money and the stop. Service seamed very overwhelmed but calm to where they have to rush through everyone because of such a long line. They were nice, but insanely busy. Speedy for sure!!! I don't know if the line ever stopped moving or paused at all. I love the layout of the place and how the line snakes through the building. TONS of seating w/some very large tables. Def stop in and try this place and see what you think. read more

Kreuz Market - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

Sliced brisket and jalapeño/cheese sausage was amazing love the beans and the corn also. It's fast service and friendly staff. Will be back read more

Kreuz Market - Restaurant front - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

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First...I have, for YEARS claimed Kreuz was one of the very best BBQ places in Texas...no more! Was there yesterday, and frankly, it was absolute crap! worse than crap, as I also felt like the cutters cut so heavy you feel stolen from....ripped off! Sausage - Mid at best...and had the texture of old. Flavor was just OK, and definitely not up to Kreuz of past! Brisket - is this from Saturday (visited on Sunday mid afternoon)? ordered moist, and got dried out and stringy brisket (or shoulder) that couldnt be cut with a knife, was chewy, and the fat partially was yellowish and congeiled as if it had been sitting around overnight. Shockingly bad...cant remember worse in Lockhart, ever. And somehow asking for a half pound and ended up with just under a pound of mostly fat and stringy meat... Burnt Ends - WOW...hard meat nuggets, WAY WAY overcooked and OLD, with some funky sauce. AND, I asked for a QUARTER POUND and ended up with $24 worth of this dog food on my receipt for meat I ate like 2 pieces of and trashed the rest. Such dishonesty...passing old, shitty, dried out, and overcooked meat off as quality meat to willing customers. SHAME on Kreuz owners for not training your pit help (please dont tell me one of these guys was a Pit Master) better. OPEN LETTER TO BBQ SEEKERS VISITING LOCKHART...KREUZ IS NOT, REPEAT NOT, WORTH THE VISIT and should NOT be on your tour of Great Texas BBQ!!! I will NEVER go back especially considering Terry Black's is right across the street. Kreuz stole from me, but NEVER again! read more

3.5 feels right. Scale 1 no good / 5 - outstanding Ribs 4 Cold 4 Brisket 2 Sausage 2 Potato salad 4 Corn 3 Green beans 3 They let the smoke do the work. Nothing overly seasoned. Although the brisket could def use some salt. It's old school Texas bbq. Nothing fancy. Solid spot. Better than Black's (by a country mile) and Smitty's. Nice back pocket option, which it was for me as Barb's BBQ was sold out and Terry Black's (a model of high level consistency). read more

Kreuz Market - Ribs, smoked chicken and Jalapeno Cheese Sausage - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

A sprawling BBQ atmosphere, where you order in the smoke pit room itself. Definitely a fun experience (although I feel for those who work in the smoke pit - more than 10 minutes in there would be quite difficult!). We split the shoulder cut, turkey and boneless prime rib. All were tasty - and BBQ sauces that complimented them were a good addition. For sides, we ordered the string beans (highly recommend), cole slaw (standard, and good compliment), and sauerkraut (definitely skip). A great Lockhart BBQ destination, would highly recommend! Also lines were not too long on Saturday at 12:30 p.m., prime lunch. read more

A TRUE TEXAS SMOKEHOUSE! WOW! You walk in and are greeted by the smell of some fresh-off-the-smoker BBQ! This is a huge place and with a lot of history. Really enjoyed the original decor in addition to the food. You walk in and head straight to the meat room. Here you get whatever the meats of the day are available by the lb (or 1/2 or 1/4lb). In total, I usually eat about a 1/2 of meat if I'm hungry. Then you head in to the sides area for your pick of warm or chilled sides. We tried the mac and the green beans. FOOD REVIEW: - really liked the sausage (unique - much less chewy than regular sausage which I don't usually like), the pork belly burnt ends (crispy with a great sauce on them) and the turkey. - sides were pretty standard cafeteria style, so specific standout - brisket was also good if you mixed the fat with the leaner parts , but since it's mostly leaner brisket it was a bit dry & needed some BBQ sauce They DO have forks!! (Just trust me, it's a question I now ask prior to going to eat BBQ) Overall solid 4 stars for historic location, the sweet staff, and the yummy food! read more

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Had a great experience there. The restaurant is very authentic and of course.so.is the barbecue. A bit expensive but it's takes a lot of time to make the food so if you're on a budget, I recommend waiting until you have the money to eat out. read more

Kreuz Market - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas

I cannot say enough great things about this place. I ordered 2 links of sausage and a couple slices of brisket and they were so good! I ate some of their mac n cheese and that was all creamy goodness. I was very impressed and satisfied with the whole delicious experience. I cant wait to go back! read more

It is Lockhart BBQ, Hard to go wrong. Granted they like all BBQ places have food they do better and others they do not as well. The sides were not as good as I hoped but the Brisket, Turkey, and sausage were all very good. The service is okay. They are slow but that is do to their system, they only have a few registers and a very long line with not the friendliest people which I guess you don't need if your food is good enough. A good place and worth the trip, it is not my favorite BBQ place but it may be yours, so stop in, give them a try. Any Lockhart BBQ place is worth at leas one visit. I had thought I had done this review back then so trying hard to remember things, lots of seating, they sell hoodies and other merch. read more

I mean I've been coming here a long time but have been out of the country for a good bit. After 5 years since my last visit not only is everything still amazing but now they have pork belly burnt ends that were my favorite bite of the day! So worth the visit. Great ribs, brisket and sausage. Yummy sides. read more

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As someone from out of town, I highly recommend this experience! The food is great and the ambiance is a memorable Texas staple! read more

Kreuz Market - Barbeque Near Me - Lockhart, Texas