La Barbeque
Brisket
Pork Ribs
Turkey
Pulled Pork
Emerging from Chez Zee to find the temperature twenty degrees cooler than when I entered as light rain fell and the radio forecasted ice I was left with a decision; head for Dallas earlier than planned or stick to my Austin agenda – the later winning out when I discovered the inclement weather to have withered La Barbeque’s line to a mere two-dozen just moments after opening…a chilly 45 minute wait soon finding justification in barbeque that I personally found to be Austin’s best – even better than that of Franklin, where I would wait 4-times as long just four days later. Located just off 6th Street in a fenced off setup featuring food-trailer, smoker, picnic pavilion which you can see from far due to the UK wipe clean tablecloths being used as flags, and free beer for those willing to wait La Barbeque features the work of Franklin protégé, John Lewis and utilizing a long smoking process over aged, seasoned post oak that can be smelled throughout the day (and night) from distances of over fifty yards the resulting product, from beef to pork to turkey comes off smoky and moist, but also just a bit sweet – the fat literally caramelized on the ribs and far-less prominent in the brisket than in the sopping wet slices of Franklin. Friendly in service and communal in feel as hip youngsters turned out plate after plate of smoky cooked meat plus a few sides, mostly ‘to go,’ it is only in retrospect that I look back on a six hour 25-mph trip to Dallas and ponder whether La Barbeque was worth it, but taking into account the best smoked turkey I’ve ever tasted plus top-3 ribs and brisket along with the best pulled pork I found in Texas I know it is an experience I’ll look back on fondly for quite some time.
http://labarbecue.com