There Are Dozens of BBQ Spots in Austin, But There Are None Quite Like Sam’s BBQ

I recently had the opportunity to visit Austin, Texas for a few days. I went to see Grammy-winning artist Billy Strings perform two shows in town – one at Austin City Limits Live’s Moody Theater and another at the larger Moody Center on the University of Texas at Austin. The shows were fantastic, but my companion and I had a lot of time to fill during the day between shows. We filled much of that time with food.

Austin is a big draw for foodies these days; there are countless incredible restaurants to try within the city limits and in the surrounding areas. I’d been to Austin before, but on both previous visits, I’d been a bit rushed, so I hadn’t had the opportunity to dive into the food scene. This time, I approached my visit in an entirely different way, and I was able to eat at a wide variety of different places during my stay.

Now, Austin is home to restaurants of all types and genres, but one of the most popular styles of cuisine in Austin is Texas Barbecue. I love all types of food, but barbecue in general is not one of my very favorites. I know, I know; this is unbelievable to some. However, I’m not a big meat eater – although I’m not a vegetarian, either, and while I’ve liked a lot of barbeque I’ve had in my travels, I wouldn’t say I’ve loved any of it.

I’ve tried barbecue in Kansas City, Memphis, Hawaii, and the Carolinas. I’ve had New York barbecue and homemade, on-the-grill-for-hours barbecue at the homes of friends who are accomplished chefs. It was all pretty good, sure, but it never really wowed me to the level that it seemed to impress others.

All that was about to change.

My companion had been to Austin in the past, and as soon as we planned our trip, he told me we absolutely HAD to go to Sam’s BBQ. I agreed, because who am I to protest, but I was more excited for some of the other meals we had planned. But Sam’s was on the list for sure, and we made our way there – quickly and directly - on our first afternoon in town.

I don't know Austin very well but Sam's is a bit off the beaten path and in a part of town that isn't tourist nor restaurant-heavy. I knew that was a good sign. This spot has been in business since at least 1957 - and maybe even longer. The current building is partially original, but much of it was lost and then re-built in 1992. It was passed down to current owner Brian Mays in 2009 by his father, Dan Ivory Mays, Sr., who started running the place in 1976. In 2018, Brian Mays was offered $3 million, and then $5 million, to sell the property for development, but he refused.

Sam's BBQ is famous and has been visited by many even more famous folks over the years. Most notably, it was the favorite BBQ joint of blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn. Vaughn not only visited frequently, but he also had Sam's shipped to New York City while he was working with David Bowie on Bowie's Let's Dance album in 1983. Photos of Vaughn and other celebrities can be found hanging on the walls of Sam's, along with a variety of other memorabilia and interesting decor.

As with most BBQ places, we stepped up to the counter to order. We'd timed our visit right because there was no line when we arrived, but one started to form soon after us. The menu at Sam's BBQ is very, very simple. There's brisket, ribs, mutton, sausage, and chicken. You can get any of those meats in sandwich form, individually, or you can order a plate that includes two meats and two sides. Sides include mac n' cheese, green beans, baked beans, or potato salad, and you can grab a drink out of the cooler. That's it. That's the entire menu - and at Sam's, that's really all you need.

My companion ordered ribs, mutton, mac n' cheese, and potato salad. I ordered a brisket sandwich with mac n' cheese. After a short wait, our food was ready, and we sat down at a booth to eat.

Right away I was enamored simply with the look and smell of the food. As simple as it was, the food on our plates looked like something that should be on the Food Network or in Bon Appetit. The meat was clearly cooked perfectly, and the sauce shimmered with perfection.

Again, remember - I'm not all that into BBQ. But when I took that first bite of my brisket sandwich, I was in heaven! This was, by far, the best brisket sandwich I'd ever had. It melted in my mouth, converged perfectly with the white bread upon which it was poised, and slid down with ease. There were no fatty bites and everything about it was just - smooth.

My companion was clearly enjoying his choices as well, but fortunately, he let me take a bite from one of his ribs. This, too, was perfect. I am someone who is hesitant to eat food off the bone - I don't know, it just grosses me out, kind of - but that wasn't even a concern with these ribs, because the meat just slid off.

Wow. And yum.

I equally enjoyed the mac n' cheese and even considered getting another cup of it. The potato salad wasn't the style of potato salad I generally like, but it was quite good, too. I was extremely pleased with everything, and if we hadn't had plans to eat elsewhere again in just a few short hours, I surely would have grabbed more food from Sam's BBQ to go.

As the title of this post states - there are dozens of BBQ spots in the Austin area. Of course, I haven't had the chance to try them all, but I can't imagine than many if any are as good as Sam's. I may not even be able to ever find out, because honestly, I'll be making a beeline to Sam's BBQ anytime I'm in Austin, and because of that, I likely won't try too many other spots. This place is fantastic in every way - from the food, to the historic aspect, to the overall vibe - and I'm glad I had a chance to check it out. Long live Sam's BBQ! It turned this non-BBQ lover into a true believer.