Recommendation for a BBQ joint in San Antonio

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

big andy a

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
Nov 7, 2011
438
12
Loudon, Tennessee
I'm going to be going to San Antonio and I'm looking for a BBQ recommendation.  I'm not looking for anything fancy, the food is the star in my opinion.  What do you recommend??

Thanks for the help,

Curt.
 
This place looked really good on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives...http://www.bunnbarrel.com/index.html

Simple Q and big portions. Here is a link to the Video clip of the show featuring the Bunn n' Barrel... 

I would check it out, been around a long time...JJ
 
If you can make your way 1hr 16min north east of SA you will find yourself in BBQ capital of the world.  I recommend Smitty's or Kruez market.  They were both featured in Travel Channel food wars.  Hope you can make it.
 
Lockhart is ABSOLUTELY worth the extra drive.My wife has family in San Antonio, and Bunn n' Barrel is a good choice for Q. For Tex-Mex, Chuy's is a favorite of theirs.Good luck, and bon voyage!
 
If you can make your way 1hr 16min north east of SA you will find yourself in BBQ capital of the world.  I recommend Smitty's or Kruez market.  They were both featured in Travel Channel food wars.  Hope you can make it.
I was just about to suggest that, not because they were on Travel Channel, but because they are what Texas Q is all about.  Lockhart is about 60 miles away, however New Braunfels is only 35 miles away and there is a Coopers Old Time Pit BBQ there as well as it's original location in Llano (more than a 100 miles), it will be the closest of the legendary Central Texas joints, Elgin (Southside Market) and Taylor (Louie Mueller), both are more than 100 miles away.  80 miles away in Austin is Franklins as well.  Rudy's is good and easy to get to since it's in gas staions off the interstate, but if your wanting heritage and smoke stained walls, they fall a bit short there.  I think there are 3 Rudy's in and around SA.  Hope you enjoy our great state of Texas and it's Q!
 
Wow, thanks for all the recommendations. I'm sitting in the airport getting ready to get on the plane. After San Antonio we're driving to Houston so I'm thinking of a couple different stops for Q.

Thanks again and I'll let you know how it goes.

Cure.
 
Update on the San Antonio trip. Today,per Chef Jimmy's post, we went to Bun 'n Barrel in south San Antonio. I had their sliced beef sandwich and the misses had the chopped beed Sammy. The beef was tender with a nice smokey flavor. They have two sauces, the regular house sauce which I didn't really care for and another, darker sauce with great flavor and enough heat to really warm you up. I expect this is the sauce highlighted in the Diners, Driveins and Dives video that Jimmy posted.

A couple of days ago we went to Two Steps in NW San Antonio and I had a real tasty beef rib there with great smoke flavor. We might go back tonight to watch the 49ers chew on some Bears tail!

Tomorrow is Lockheart and it's famous Q on our way to Houston.

Curt.
 
Okay, here's the final Texas Q search report.

Yesterday we went to Lockhart to try some to the famous BBQ there. We went by the Kruez Market, it's been smoking meats since 1900. However they moved to a new location in 1999 and it was a little too big and impersonal for us. We then went to Smitty's Market which is in the original locations of the Kruez Market near the town center. There's some relationship between the two families but I'm not sure the details.

First, the building and smoke area are amazing. The walls are black but it's not paint, it's 110+ years of smoking that have colored the walls. We ordered 1/2 pound lean and two hot links. Everything is served on butcher paper and NO FORKS per the tradition in this area. No sauce either. You choice of saltines or white bread with your meal.

The Q was smoky and tender and the links were very tasty. Very different from what I'm accustomed to but well worth the trip and the experience.

Thanks to all who gave us directions and suggestions.

Curt.
 
Yep, Kreuz and Smittys had a big family split years ago and are now competitors.  Glad you enjoyed some quality eats.
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky