BBQ in San Antonio area?

[Swerd]

I just got a text from my brother Dan. He's in San Antonio, TX until Sunday for an ultrasound conference. Yesterday, on the way from the airport, he went to Driftwood to taste the BBQ at The Salt Lick. He says their brisket is great.

Anyone been there?

 

[markw]

Yes. Many times. Your brother is correct. Salt Lick just might be the best BBQ in the world, but that's just my opinion. ...but the beer in their liquor store is overpriced. Bring your own. I recommend Shiner Bock, or one of their seasonals.

But, if you want other options, take a sort drive Lockhart, Texas, The BBQ capital o the world where you have Smitty's Black's, Kreuz, and at least one other that we haven't tried yet.

 

[Swerd]

Thanks. I relayed your info to him by text. I hope he has time to get there before flying back to the cold East.

 

[slipperybidness]

Yes. Many times. Your brother is correct. Salt Lick just might be the best BBQ in the world, but that's just my opinion. ...but the beer in their liquor store is overpriced. Bring your own. I recommend Shiner Bock, or one of their seasonals.

But, if you want other options, take a sort drive Lockhart, Texas, The BBQ capital o the world where you have Smitty's Black's, Kreuz, and at least one other that we haven't tried yet.

You beat me to it!

Lockhart FTW!

Black's is where it's at. Also, get the sweet tea and some banana pudding for desert.

I don't like Kreuz, too much of a gimmick to me. I have not been to Smitty's yet. The 4th one is Chisolm Trail, it's good but not as good as Black's IMO.

Salt Lick, of course, is also top-notch.

 

[Dan]

Thanks all. I'm in a food heaven for me. A priest I met at abar last night (sounds like a joke I know) gave me a good Mexican hole on the wall place for lunch just now La Montanita. Real mom and pop Mexican . Ran into an old buddy of mine here. Might go to Lockhart. Is Rudy's in San Antonio worth it?

 

[its phillip]

If you ever get a chance to go to San Marcos, go to the Tap Room and eat the ribs

Tap Room Pub & Grub - San Marcos | Urbanspoon

 

[markw]

Thanks all. I'm in a food heaven for me. A priest I met at abar last night (sounds like a joke I know) gave me a good Mexican hole on the wall place for lunch just now La Montanita. Real mom and pop Mexican . Ran into an old buddy of mine here. Might go to Lockhart. Is Rudy's in San Antonio worth it?

When we were in Austin last month, Mrs W was devistated that her favorite Mexican joint, Casa Garcia, was now a hole in the ground. along with every other shop in that mall.

 

[slipperybidness]

Thanks all. I'm in a food heaven for me. A priest I met at abar last night (sounds like a joke I know) gave me a good Mexican hole on the wall place for lunch just now La Montanita. Real mom and pop Mexican . Ran into an old buddy of mine here. Might go to Lockhart. Is Rudy's in San Antonio worth it?

Nice. I am a native Texan. When you visit Texas you MUST get BBQ and Mexican food. I do believe that Texas has the best BBQ in the world, but I have had pretty dang good BBQ in other areas too (St. Louis, KC, Alabama come to mind).

Now, the Mexican food is a different story all together. The ONLY place I have ever had Mexican food better than Texas was on the streets of Mexico! If I'm outside Tx, then I will not eat Mexican food, I learned that lesson the hard way. Outside Tx, it is too bland and not worth it (New Mexico might be an exception). Usually, you can tell by the salsa how good the rest of the food is gonna be! And yes, a little sweat from Mexican food is a good thing!

As far as Rudy's....it is pretty good. It's not the best of the best, but it's certainly not bad and better than most. In particular, I think the one in SA is the original, I have been disappointed a couple times going to that one and they didn't have the meats that I wanted that day on the menu. If you do go to Rudy's, my goto items from them are actually the turkey and the pork as that seems to be where they excel IMO.

Enjoy your time in SA. Now, here is a brewpub that I highly recommend in SA! Pretty good food, a really good beer selection of Tx beers (and others) on tap, and they brew their own beers too. In addition, you can buy 22oz bomber bottles of their brew to take home. This place is certainly the most respected brewpub for SA. I have some business coming up soon in SA, so I will be making a pit stop here for sure in the next few weeks. If you go...the Oak'd La Muerta would be the top of my list to try.
Verify Age | Freetail Brewing Company

 

[Dan]

Sadly beer is not on my mandated low card diabetic diet. I make annexception for BBQ sauce. Hence bourbon and tequila are my libations of choice. You can see my favorites in the what are you drinking thread. It will be a group decision tonite but I think I have time to drive to Lockhart.

My other favorite BBQ place is in south Carolina in a small town called Holly Hill near I 26 and I 95 junction called Sweatman's. Awesome pork. Traditional yellow SC BBQ sauce and perfectly cooked ribs. Only open weekends.

 

[lsiberian]

Guajillo's(Mexican), Pork U(Chipotle if it were make with real barbecue), Holmestyle(BBQ and Soul), Smokin Joe's(BBQ and Burgers)

Look them up they are great.

The best BBQ in Texas is in Lockhart and Elgin. Elgin for Sausage, Lockhart for Ribs.

Normally any busy BBQ or Mexican place will have great food because in Texas we get very fresh beef. Don't' forget about steak.

 

[lsiberian]

Sadly beer is not on my mandated low card diabetic diet. I make annexception for BBQ sauce. Hence bourbon and tequila are my libations of choice. You can see my favorites in the what are you drinking thread. It will be a group decision tonite but I think I have time to drive to Lockhart.

My other favorite BBQ place is in south Carolina in a small town called Holly Hill near I 26 and I 95 junction called Sweatman's. Awesome pork. Traditional yellow SC BBQ sauce and perfectly cooked ribs. Only open weekends.

What is BBQ sauce? They don't use that crap in Lockhart. Seriously Go to Kruez, get the ribs, and jalepeno sausage. German potatoes for the side are a must. If you can go to Lockhart then go to Lockhart. I've had a lot of great BBQ and IMO Kruez is the best.

 

[Dan]

I want to thank every one for their help and suggestions. I ran into an old friend from my days in Pittsburgh days at the conference. I drove him and his fiancé to Lockhart and we ate at Black's. It was very good but not as good as Salt Lick. Brisket lacked the smoke ring depth and intensity of Salt Lick and was much more fatty. The pork rib was a little overcooked and cool. The sausage didn't have the magnificent spices that Salt Lick had. The Swerdlow family brisket recipe (mine and Swerd's) is better than Blacks but not Salt Lick. The Salt Lick cook said that they cook it for five hours freeze it overnight and give it another five hours. I don't see how that does anything but I might try it just to see if I ever have hat much free time.

Tomorrow maybe Mexican? I'm also going to San Diego in May so I figure I can ge some good Mexcan there too although more Baja style. Thanks again Texan audioholics!

 

[markw]

In Lockhart, we liked Black's best, too. Here's a little somethng from our 2007 picture album for ya. Guess where it was taken.

 

[Swerd]

The Swerdlow family brisket recipe (mine and Swerd's) is better than Blacks but not Salt Lick.

I am humbled by the comparison, but let's be clear, that should be worded differently:

Swerd's and mine.
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The Salt Lick cook said that they cook it for five hours freeze it overnight and give it another five hours. I don't see how that does anything but I might try it just to see if I ever have hat much free time.

Interesting, the freeze/thaw cycle might help tenderize it.

Then again, it might just be more convenient that way. The restaurant owner may not want to pay for an overnight pitmaster.

 

[Rickster71]

This thread made me so hungry my stomach hurts.