How in the Sam Hill have we not visited Opie's before! I swear we have driven past Opie's a gazillion times without noticing this 5-star BBQ joint. Operating since 1999, they have perfected the art of pit smoking and how to quickly move you from their entrance to stuffing yourself with some of the best BBQ I've ever had, period. As you enter, their smoke pit greets you, and here is where you order your meat. Everything is à la carte, and you order by the half or by the pound. Next, you order your sides, all of which looked awesome, but I was here to go into a meat coma and have the meat sweats. Once you have your bounty in hand, there is a long table with cauldrons of pinto beans, bread, pickles, onions, peppers, and BBQ sauce. Using Franklin's brisket as the G.O.A.T., Opie's is right there with Franklin's claim to fame. Their moist brisket is so tender and moist, and finished with their subtle but savory vinegar-based sauce. Their baby back ribs are fall-off-the-bone delizioso! They have a tad sweet and spicy finish to them. Neither required extra BBQ sauce. Our dining companions raved about their smoked chicken and brisket sandwich. Do not sleep on their pinto beans. I added some BBQ sauce and jalapenos to add a kick to them, perfecto. , Opie's slogan is "Life is good in Spicewood," and it certainly is when you are dining here. We can't wait to return to further explore their menu. read more

I am not going to do a long review on this. Not because it isn't good. Quite the opposite. This is still arguably the best BBQ I have had. We lived in this area about 10 years ago. This is the place that is partially responsible for turning me into a barbecue snob. It did so by ruining BBQ for me. I really don't enjoy barbecue most anywhere else! Let's just say that their meat is amazing. All of it. Immaculately cooked. The only BBQ place I have been (that is still open, RIP Schmidt) that actually smokes pork ribs PERFECTLY. All others I have had are either over, under or just ain't got smoke. But their sides. Nobody even comes close to their sides. All of them. Tastes from scratch. No opened cans here - even if they do, by the time they hit your table, they are far from what came out of the can. Their desserts. Amazing. Just like everything else. And they have so much to choose from. This place is the real deal. Has been since we first went about 11 or 12 years ago. So happy to see that some of the good things you find in life stay the same. If you like bbq. This place is an absolute must. You may not be blown away by everything, you can't please everyone. But I promise you can find things you will fall in love with. read more

Great food, great in dining experience. Unfortunately though we placed a large order to go for a party ($1300) and the person checking us out asked for a 15% tip. First off this is a counter order, no cleanup or waiting service done. No different than fast food pickup and they asked for $200 tip. Even with amazing product I will not be eating here anymore. Never ask for a tip when you do nothing other than make the food order. read more

I stumbled upon this place driving. Walking in, it smelled really good. I got 3 meats to go. Not impressed - flavor was just okay. The bbq sauce was very runny. It was overpriced - I got small portions and paid $50. One meat was all fat, so I couldn't even eat it. Doesn't even compare to Terry Black's. read more

We found this little hole in the wall back in 1999 and have been returning ever since. Today, we arrived in Austin from California with anticipation to making it to Opie's. Sadly, you will only see pictures of my left overs I was so excited I forgot to take good pics. This establishment is always clean and friendly. Matthew was super friendly and we enjoyed a fun conversation. We enjoyed brisket both lean and moist. The jalapeño creamed corn left my mouth burning! It is hot! Everyone was so friendly and answered my questions. There is pork in the butter beans so I avoided them. Order your meat and special sides with all you can eat Ranch beans, butterball beans, pickles, jalapeños, jalapeño sausage, and bread. Oh yeah! The sweet tea is awesome! read more

Opie's BBQ - Lemon blueberry cake, brownies with and without pecans - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

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Opie's is the best BBQ restaurant period! from the BBQ to the sides and ambiance. the fact you don't have to wait 3 hours to eat like other BBQ places. and the staff is amazing and its so clean. then the awesome merch you can buy with a BBQ music theme! had to drive through the monsoon on Saturday to get here but it always worth the effort to get here! Make sure you get Tater Tot Casserole, Creamed Corn and Butter beans in you go on the weekend! also the best Banana Puddin' I have ever had! read more

The food and service were amazing. A wonderful selection of brownies, pie and cobblers.

Opie's BBQ delivers the full Texas experience, incredible food, friendly service, and a laid-back, rustic vibe. The brisket is smoky, tender, and full of flavor, while the ribs are perfectly seasoned and fall-off-the-bone good. Don't skip the potato salad, creamy spicy corn and or the standout tater tot casserole, which is rich, cheesy, and unforgettable. Staff are welcoming and make you feel right at home. Whether you're a BBQ lover or just passing through, Opie's is worth the stop. Great food, great service, great music atmosphere, Texas Hill Country at its best. read more

Opie's BBQ - Tator Tot Cassrole - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

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This is a great, homey place to stop by on the way to or from Fredericksburg. When we arrived on Sunday mid afternoon there was a line but it moved quickly. They have the meats right out on display for you, which is so cool. You order the meat first, which is followed by picking up the sides and ordering drinks. The cash register is after that. They provide Texas toast, two soups, and a variety of sauces/pickings free of charge in the dining room. They have live music sometimes. I preferred their meats over Terry Blacks. The peach cobbler was good, but melted quickly and there was so much I had to save room for the main course. The potato salad was okay, nothing special. Wish I could have tried the mac n cheese. But what me, my mom, and dad all loved was the white bean soup that was piping hot and felt like a warm hug. The atmosphere is what you'd expect in a Texas BBQ location, and the bathrooms were surprisingly clean. You eat on the table without plates, but rather a food-grade film to separate the two. All trash is left on the table to be bussed by the servers. There are to-go wrappers and takeout brown bags near the exit. The parking lot is sizable. read more

Opie's BBQ - Peach Cobbler with Soft Serve - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

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The BBQ is below average at best. When you walk in a BBQ RESTAURANT you want to smell BBQ and almost taste it, not smell bleach and cleaners right when you walk in the door. When we asked why does it smell like cleaners and bleach during lunch time and it literally takes your breath away. We received blank stares. I have been twice and the smell of bleach took our breath away each time. I know there are smokers outside but where is the smell and taste! Tastes like grocery store pre cooked food. Very disappointing. read more

If you're not familiar with this place, you'll need to know that as soon as you walk through the door, that is when you place your order. In other words, the pit is directly next to the entrance. Everything on the menu is à la carte, there are no two or three meat plates. The sides are sold separately, but the beans are free, although there is no brisket mixed in. The Coleslaw and potato salad is pretty average, but definitely recommend the tater tot casserole. When you check out with the credit card, the tip screen will be waiting and you'll get an emailed receipt. The brisket was smoked to perfection and moist as were the ribs. Even their mildly tangy barbecue sauce goes well with all the meat. They do have some good dessert options and we really enjoyed the blackberry cobbler. When you're done eating, just leave all the scraps on the table and they'll clean up after you. This is definitely a destination point if you consider yourself a barbecue aficionado. This place may not have much parking upfront, but they have a huge lot at the rear. Lots of seating inside and a few picnic tables out back. 10 photos for more insight. read more

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One of my all time favorites to eat bbq. Meat was excellent sides were top notch and prices were good. You will not leave here hungry!

Honestly some of the best barbecue ive had in this state! We had brisket both fatty and lean, and I've got to say it was incredible. Along with the main meats, the sides were also excellent. The spicy corn and green beans were above and beyond your standard sides. The vibe of the building was rustic and very awesome. Tons of room and lots of screens for watching sports. The staff was super nice and helpful as soon as you walk in. Highly recommend! read more

Opie's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

We were not expecting Opie's to be as good as it was! We happened to be in the area for vacation and decided to give it a go. It was 5 pm and they were out of several things we ordered brisket, sausage, and ribs. For sides we got the corn, tater casserole, and green beans. We didn't realize there were also free beans available too! The ribs fell off the bone. The corn was very spicy and the tater tot casserole was a little spicy too. Green beans were delicious as well as the brisket and sausage. There was plenty of seating inside. Only complaint is that the chairs are too low and the tables too high. The staff was very friendly! I wish we were local so we could frequent Opie's! read more

Just visiting with friends and seen Opie's place off highway 71 in Spicewood.We thought we stop at trie it always looking for good b.b.q while visiting new places. Glad we stopped it's really cool how they presented their sections of meats, in a super huge looking smoker,ok let me get to it the service was good, ambience is very causal, like music but not over bearing you can still have a conversation. The food was great, especially baby back's, so good, the brisket just right and the chicken tender . Definitely worth trying, you can go wrong that's for sure read more

Opie's BBQ - Opie's B.B.Q - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

Great bbq in Spicewood! It's set up a bit like a cafeteria line with knowledgeable staff at each stop to assist. We tried the ribs, brisket, sausage, and pork belly. All amazing! Don't fill up on just the great smoked meats, as the sides are just as delicious! read more

I think this is my favorite bbq in Austin! Granted it is pretty far out if you're in the central Austin area but if you're ever in Spicewood, this place is a must try. The staff was so kind and friendly and oh my god the bbq was fantastic. I highlyyy recommend the brisket and jalapeño cheddar sausage. I also tried the spicy creamy corn and tater tot casserole, both were great. I also tried some of the blackberry cobbler which was super yummy. This place has plenty of seating and was super nice and clean. Excited to come back here at some point! read more

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I've been here about 5x and it is consistently good. It's one of my favorite BBQ spots in "Austin" and I drive all around the area. They have the best turkey (although I usually get brisket). TATER TOT CASEROLE!!! read more

Unique BBQ in the Texas Hill Country! Good lunch place since they close at 4 pm. I had turkey (since I cannot eat beef). It was yummy! Self-serve as in a cafeteria style. My side was potato salad. Hubby got coleslaw. The only service we received was the woman slicing the meat. A little higher priced than expected, but a good lunch. read more

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This is such a great spot to get some barbecue, especially if you're coming from Krause Springs, which is like 5 min away. We got here on a Saturday afternoon and it didn't take us long at all to find parking, get in, order, and find a seat. I love love love the "toppings" counter they have in the middle of the restaurant, where you can help yourself to barbecue sauce, two types of beans, pickles, spicy carrots, onions, and bread. They also had a live singer at the front, who created a really nice ambiance. The meat was really good, (the chicken was actually quite tender). But some parts of the brisket was not as juicy as I had hoped it would be. But the star for me anyways was the sides: the potato salad and slaw to be exact. And the tator tot casserole and cobblers were also super yummy. The green beans were a little too salty for my taste and I wish the corn had a bit of a sweet element along with the spiciness, but everything was still tasty anyways. And I really wanna come back to try the banana pudding. We weren't able to get any this time around, but it looked so good! read more

Opie's BBQ - Cherry cobbler, green beans, tater tot casserole, spicy corn, peach cobbler, mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

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Excellent Texas BBQ in a town not noted for its food imho. It's an interesting place, in a good way. When you walk in there's usually a line. An array of meats awaits you, which you order by the pound. Then you mosey over to a section where you grab your cold salads. We got the slaw and their pea salad. Then off to the hot bar where they have Mac and cheese, green beans, cobblers and other things. Once you pay there's another section where you can get beans, sauces, butter beans and corn bread. Bottomless drinks too. We got the brisket, baby backs and a sausage. All excellent. The brisket is the real deal. Moist with a bark. The ribs and sausages were moist too and full of flavor. The pea salad and slaw were amazing as were the butter beans but only on weekends. The green beans were southern style and full of flavor. Todd the owner is a friendly man who greets you at the door if he's up and if he's not he's sitting in the middle of the restaurant at a desk. People go up to talk to him. Of course. Why wouldn't you? What I loved most was he hires people. So I can bus my own table, throw away my own trash. But he hires people to do this. A sweet old guy sits in back and sings Texas songs in a quiet unassuming voice that isn't annoying at all. Pays him too. Wonderful young people work for him and they seem happy doing it. I love this business. It's clear what he's doing. Since we're passing through I didn't sit at the desk for a chat but if I come back I'll surely do this. read more

Decided to stop by Opie's for lunch on my way back to Austin. 1. Really friendly staff- smiles and polite 2. I got the sausage sandwich: definitely a good portion. It wasnt as hot as I would have liked. I also go the potato salad and i wasn't in love with it. 3. It is definitely a nice spot and give you the ambience of a typical bbq spot. read more

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Stop here after visited the springs. Really fun place were there on a Tuesday so wasn't that busy. Food was really good. The jalapeño sausage is delicious. Tx atmosphere read more

Opie's is the real deal. Order up front while you view the meats. Once the meat is gone for the day, they close. So don't dally. We're we're there on a Thursday around 12:45 and it was not too busy. Large Brisket (fatty) sandwich and half a link of jalapeño sausage w/o cheese. Beans and bread are complimentary serve yourself. Lots of sides available (and they looked good) but I stuck with meat today. Only downside is the location 45 minutes outside Austin. But if you are driving up to the horse shoe bay resort, you need to stop here. read more

Opie's BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

We visited Opies last Friday night after a long drive back to Texas. It did not disappoint. We were met by the owner and he greeted us with a huge smile and legitimately treated us like family. We recently moved nearby and this has become a go to spot for us. It's the best barbecue in the area and I prefer it over some of the top Austin spots. It is not over seasoned! So many places over do the rub but not Opies...it's just right. The green beans and tater tot casserole are just like mamas. Oh and the cobbler is the perfect send off! Overall, we love the food and the family friendly atmosphere. Getting your food and table is a very short process which is great for littles! We will be back!! read more

4 & 1/2...Aside from longtime Marc Maron/WTF listeners like myself who were put on by the irascible hosts citing of this spot as his personal favorite that he always tries to make a point of visiting when in the Austin Area, I feel like this place is a little bit under the radar in the Central Texas BBQ pantheon, and in my estimation, it can go toe to toe with many of the other much more widely known spots, both in terms of food quality and authentic vibes. All of the meats have always been uniformly excellent and masterfully prepared. This would go for the most traditional of the meats on offer, "The Texas Trinity" of succulent, smokey and impossibly moist brisket (I particularly recommend a fattier cut here), zesty and saucy spare ribs, and delightfully snappy, fatty and unctuous links of jalapeño cheddar beef sausage. It's also the case there the pit-master goes deeper into more rarely seen offerings like pork chop or pork loin. Even the turkey breast, usually a good bet to be the driest, most blah protein to be found in a Texas BBQ, here is consistently and astonishingly juicy and flavorful to the point that it actually rapidly vanished from the tray. The also buck the normal trend of sides in great bbq spots being forgettable afterthoughts by having some truly delicious ones on offer approaching the greatness of the smoked meats, namely a creamy and zesty creamed corn and a truly addictive tator tot casserole that deliciously combines crispy, creamy and cheesy notes. As I mentioned the delicious food is matched by it's location and decor which only further serves to complete a truly authentic and singular Texas BBQ experience. The large roadhouse-like wooden structure, outfitted with a classic retro style sign, is located right behind a gas station which also houses both a country store and, even more conveniently a liquor store, the better to serve the customers who want to take advantage of the establishments glorious BYO policy. Like at any great Texas BBQ, the smell of the delicious bounty within will hit you as soon as you park, leading you inside in a meat fume fueled trance. When you walk into the massive wide open interior dining room, the first thing you'll be greeted by is a large smoker on the floor displaying all of the days available delicacies. Obviously you should come with as big a group as possible, the better to sample the most of what's on offer. You'll then proceed with your packed trey to one of the many large communal tables and proceed to having an incredible meal, and likely need to be rolled out on account of how stuffed you all are, despite maybe still having some leftovers because it's just so hard to to order soooo much at a place this great. Really a wonderful BBQ experience worth a drive up from Austin for this alone, or even more clutch should you be visiting the nearby LBJ Ranch, a truly interesting Hill Country historical site just a short drive away. read more

Opie's BBQ - Turkey, pork loin, cheddar jalapeño sausage, spare ribs, brisket; spicy creamed corn, tator tot casserole, green beans - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

I've never been more happy to be pregnant with a huge appetite than this afternoon while visiting Opie's. I was a little nervous seeing the parking lot and the line out the door - but was pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the front of the line, ready to order in less than 15 minutes!!! Seating wasn't too hard to find either which was such a relief. The meat is INCREDIBLE. We ordered the baby back ribs, brisket (lean and moist), sausage, a slice of turkey and a slice of pork. I felt like I looked crazy just going in on the sides. We got the Tater tot casserole, green beans, spicy corn, and Mac and cheese. They also have bread, beans, sliced onions, and pickles available after you order. I could not for the life of me stop to breathe. And finishing it off with the banana pudding was the move. I just about licked the container it came in. We now have a serious problem on our hands as we live about 40 minutes away and I will be craving Opie's at least twice a week. Amazing food, amazing staff, amazing service, just an overall perfect first time experience. read more

Opie's BBQ - Brisket - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

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Drove in from Round Rock. We tried a little bit of everything (see receipt). - The brisket was good and had a slightly different flavor from your traditional brisket. Try it! - The Turkey was probably the best BBQ Turkey I've ever tried. Nobody in my family wants to eat Turkey so I got just 1/4 lb and I wish I had gotten more. So moist and perfectly smoked. It didn't even need sauce. - sausage was thick cut with a good texture we got 1/2 links each of the regular and the jalapeño cheddar. - we got 1/2 rack of baby backs (haven't tried them yet!) and some regular pork ribs. Hubs said they were good! -The tater tot casserole was amazing. We get this at our local bbq joint but this blew that one away. So cheesy and moist! We also got the spicy corn (had a kick but the kiddos could eat it), the cranberry slaw and both kids of beans. I love their self service set up. Finally, they had a few little 2 person tables outdoors to eat. I would drive out here again to eat at Opie's. Great hometown joint. Please like my review and photos if you find them helpful! read more

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Service on the place was on point. Staff are so familiar with ppl coming in and guiding them with how to order and about the meats. The ambiance is very relaxed too. Lots of open seating tables and a center island of beans and Breads. So cozy and relaxed. Food was super good when we started eating but as we are and tried things it all just became kinds meh. It was good... but a place in washington outside olympia was better. Maybe we caught it on an off day being before the eclipse, but Opies just didn't make me want to go back for more or even take what we had left back to the hotel. read more

Opie's has been a favorite stop for our family for as long as I can remember. We've stopped there on the way to or from Ruidoso NM since their early days... probably since their 1st year in business. Now that we have family in Llano again it will give us more excuses to stop in for Lunch! We've always thought the brisket, sausages, and even the chicken are among the best in TX. Their sides are unique and fantastic and we love how you can serve yourself their unique beans & sauces if you so desire. The large open dining room is cheerful and it seems we often run into someone we know from the region. Spicewood is a special place and Opie's is an institution woven into the fabric of the area. This restaurant is a must when you or your family is entering or leaving the gateway to the Hill Country. Check out their very interesting merch too. With an homage to vintage heavy metal bands, it's some of the coolest and most interesting I've seen anywhere. read more

Great spot for a group, live music playing some classics..Easy parking. Brisket was solid! Ribs as well. My buddy had some pulled pork and gave a thumbs up. Our local hosts didn't steer us wrong.. Bean station and sides could use some attention. Solid overall. read more

Great bbq, desserts, sides. Grab your food and the hit the bar for beans, bread, onions, pickles, and warm bbq sauce. Some people pick it up and go to the vineyards. read more

Always great BBQ. I like the sliced brisket sandwich the best. Service is always great, and the ambience inside the restaurant is just what you'd expect. Lot's of tables and chairs for big get togethers. read more

Huge dining room, clean, bright. Fast service and reasonably priced. Food was delicious! read more

Opie's BBQ - Brisket, potato salad, blackberry cobbler - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

Great flavor and the butter beans are delicious and free!! The apple cobler is fantastic.

Food and drinks were good. Would go again They have an outdoor seating as well. Staff was attentive to our needs read more

Opie's BBQ - Bearpaw - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas

Great food have driven by it for years. Wish I had stopped earlier. Plenty of sides for free, and multiple sauces and accoutrements.

Ten stars for this place! We got here early as once it's sold out, you're outta luck. Good thing because as soon as we ordered, I looked behind us and the line was out the door. Go early. You walk in and the huge BBQ is right there. You pick what you want. We ordered ribs, brisket, sausage and chicken. All of it was excellent. We also got some mac & cheese, tater tot casserole and green beans. They were good and I'd definitely order them again. But, the spicy corn. OMG...I could eat that daily. It was so good. Sadly, we're only visiting Texas so we won't be able to go back as often as I would like. But I will definitely request to go there next time we're visiting relatives. read more

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Great bbq and sides. Old school atmosphere. Better than the other bbq joint in the area.

New to TX but a long time foodie and Opie's is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I first came to Spicewood in 2021 while looking at property and a local friend recommended Opie's for some "genuine" BBQ. I was anxious to try since we had already been to a few other recommended BBQ places by other friends. Some good and some not so good but they were all down the road in Austin. For starters, just make sure you are aware although they might have some hours posted, they close when they run out of meat and some days, it seems that happens quite early. When we walked in, you are right at the grill where someone will take your order. The meat is already cooked and they will slice up exactly what you want. After the grill, you can pick up and hot/cold sides you want. Highly recommend the spicy corn. There are traditional sides like potato salad and cole slaw and if by some chance you are still hungry after a full plate of BBQ, they have some hot desserts you can enjoy. This is a pretty "no frills" place but when I'm going for BBQ, this exactly what I expect. I care far more about the quality of the food than anything else. But they do have plenty of seating and even some flat screens playing whatever sports happen to be on that day. I've been several times and this most recent visit, they had live entertainment which was quite good. I read through some of the other reviews from other patrons and really just don't understand what people are looking for. This is as authentic as it gets and beats most BBQ places I've been to in my short time living in Texas. But just because I'm new to Texas and Texas BBQ doesn't mean I don't know good food. Of course though, I am a little biased because I will be moving to Spicewood around summer 2022 and without question, this will be one of my regular spots! But until that time, I'll get up here as often as I can and when I'm craving BBQ, there is no other place I will go than Opie's. Surely I'll still try any other BBQ place but in Opie's, I know I'm guaranteed great BBQ every time. If you are in Austin or just visiting, you really owe it to yourself to drive up here to check out this amazing place! read more

Opie's BBQ - Baby Back Ribs and assorted sides - Barbeque Near Me - Spicewood, Texas