San Antonio has more to offer than its extensive list of buildings showcasing historic architecture, stunning riverwalks, and old-world charm. As you stroll around downtown during the Spring season, the aroma escaping from the doors of barbeque joints and the sizzling sounds of well-rubbed brisket will not let you take a step forward before you grab a bite.
A cultural attraction for tourists and locals alike, BBQ in San Antonio will leave you in what would perhaps be the best food coma of your life.
Below are all the BBQ joints where you are sure to find your new favorite. Ensure your tummies are empty enough to devour the Texas-sized plates of the most tender smoked meats rubbed in homemade spices and served with the most delightful sauces.
Who Has The Best BBQ In San Antonio? These Guys!
If you are looking to try out the best BBQ in San Antonio, the list below is where you should go. You don’t want to miss out on the juiciest and crustiest Texas-style meats served around this town.
One of the two barbeque places in San Antonio that made it to the monthly list of ’50 Best BBQ Joints’ in Texas, Pinkerton’s Barbecue is a restaurant known for its wide range of dishes, flavors, and quality of food. Be it the meat or side dishes, everything is made from scratch daily, giving it the freshness that we can taste on our tongues. This BBQ joint is a must-visit to try a mix of true-to-its-roots family recipes and original, innovative dishes in the Southern part of the country.
Address
107 W Houston St San Antonio, TX 78205
Timings
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Sundays: 11 AM to 9 PM
Thursdays to Saturdays: 11 AM to 10 PM
Closed on Mondays
Cuisine
Southern American
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Pork Ribs, Bacon Mac
Augie’s is known for its traditional and authentic barbecue in San Antonio, serving the town for over two decades. You will find it all here under one roof, from Southern hospitality to Southern recipes. The restaurant’s homemade BBQ cream sauce will leave you licking your fingers.
Address
909 Broadway St San Antonio, TX 78215
Timings
Wednesdays to Fridays: 11 AM to 9 PM
Saturdays: 12 PM to 9 PM
Sundays: 12 PM to 7 PM
Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays
Cuisine
Southern American
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Dark Chicken, Beef Brisket
Alamo BBQ Company is perfect for experiencing the classic pit BBQ in San Antonio. This restaurant also has a bar serving drinks that pair well with every BBQ they do. Turkey breasts, briskets, ribs, and sausages are prepared in their kitchen daily to ensure you are only served the best of the best. Visit this restaurant on weekends to cherish an experience complete with live music performances by local artists.
Address
511 E Grayson St San Antonio, TX 78215
Timings
All days of the week: 11 AM to 9 PM
Cuisine
Southern American
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Turkey Sandwich, Smoked Sausage
Beer and meat are perhaps a match made in heaven, and nothing proves it better than Bandit BBQ. This is among the modern and minimalistic San Antonio BBQ restaurants. While it is a relatively new spot in town, this is where you will find well-done, tender that drips smokey flavors. To add to that, the sauces served here have the right amount of acid that helps balance the flavors of the dishes overall.
Address
1913 S Flores St San Antonio, TX 78204
Timings
Tuesdays to Saturdays: 11 AM to 9 PM
Sundays: 11 AM to 5 PM
Closed on Mondays
Cuisine
Southern American
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Brisket Frito Pie
If you are looking for a famous BBQ in San Antonio that has the heart of locals around here, this oldest restaurant is a must-visit. The menu is filled with classic recipes passed down from one generation to another. If you visit this restaurant during the workweek, you can check out their special lunch menu, mostly BBQ chicken, two sides, bread, sauces, and pickles. They are also a drive-through restaurant for those with insufficient time on their hands.
Address
2619 Pleasanton Rd San Antonio, TX 78221
Timings
Tuesdays to Saturdays: 11 AM to 9 PM
Sundays: 11 AM to 8 PM
Closed on Mondays
Cuisine
Southern American
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Beef Ribs, Po Boy
To relish the best BBQ in San Antonio, 2M Smokehouse is popular with tourists and locals. Not only is the food that is served here delectable, but the story behind this BBQ joint is also quite inspiring. This restaurant results from countless pop-ups, handcrafted furniture, and endless late nights. Every dish that you can find on the menu here is prepared on-site every morning. When you visit this BBQ restaurant, freshness and authenticity are what you will get to taste.
Address
2731 S WW White Rd San Antonio, TX 78222
Timings
Thursdays to Sundays: 11 AM to 4 PM
Closed from Mondays to Wednesdays
Cuisine
Southern American
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Pork Ribs, Sliced Brisket Sandwich
The Big Bib BBQ is the best in San Antonio if you seek wood-smoked meats and plates completed with hearty sides. Their lip-smacking comfort food and perfectly cooked steaks have led to them winning multiple awards and recognition. If you are visiting on the weekend, make sure you try out their generous serving of Turkey leg, it will be the best Sunday brunch meal you’ve ever had.
Address
104 Lanark Dr San Antonio, TX 78218
Timings
Wednesdays to Saturdays: 11 AM to 7 PM
Sundays: 12 PM to 5 PM
Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Turkey Breast, Jalapeno Sausage
Voted best BBQ in San Antonio by the renowned USA Today, Two Bros. BBQ Market serves some of the juiciest meats bursting with flavor. If you cannot choose one dish to order (it can get overwhelming, we know), you can try out their Big Bro Sandwich. This is a great choice to sample their sausages, smoked brisket, and pulled pork, often topped with pickles, homemade sauce, and coleslaw.
Address
12656 West Ave San Antonio, TX 78216
Timings
Sundays to Thursdays: 10:30 AM to 8 PM
Fridays & Saturdays: 10:30 AM to 9 PM
Cuisine
Barbeque
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Chicken Thighs, Baby Back Ribs
BlackBoard Bar-B-Q is the baby of the celebrity chef Jake Gandolfo. While the restaurant has only recently opened its gates to the customers, it has still received recognition from big names, like USA Today and Texas Monthly, among many others. The recipes served by the chef here are classic, with a hint of innovation. Since everything is made from scratch, the quality of the barbecued dishes is unmatched. So give your weekend a kickstart at this restaurant, savoring the mouth-watering BBQ in San Antonio.
Address
1123 Sisterdale Rd Boerne, TX 78006
Timings
Fridays: 12 PM to 9 PM
Saturdays: 12 PM to 7 PM
Sundays: 12 PM to 4 PM
Closed from Mondays to Thursdays
Cuisine
Barbeque
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Wild Boar Sausage, Wagyu Beef
If you ask locals who have the best BBQ in San Antonio, Blanco BBQ will be among the top names. Famous for their 14-hour smoked briskets and meat-filled breakfast tacos, the location of Blanco BBQ turns a lunch visit to a restaurant into a gourmet food experience. But, of course, you must also try their turkey legs and chicken tenders if you search for comfort food.
Address
13259 Blanco Rd San Antonio, TX 78216
Timings
Mondays to Thursdays: 6 AM to 9 PM
Fridays: 6 AM to 10 PM
Saturdays: 7 AM to 10 PM
Sundays: 7 AM to 9 PM
Cuisine
Barbeque (Comfort Food)
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Smoked Briskets, Breakfast Tacos
Barbecue Station is the right choice for the best BBQ in San Antonio that defines authenticity. From the variety in their menu to the doneness of the meat, everything you find in this restaurant is perfect and inspired by the small towns of Texas. You don’t have to travel far now to try out traditional Southern meats.
Address
1610 NE Loop 410 San Antonio, TX 78209
Timings
Mondays to Saturdays: 11 AM to 6 PM
Closed on Sundays
Cuisine
Barbeque (Comfort Food)
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Beef Ribs, Pork Loin
Known for serving the best Thai BBQ in San Antonio, Curry Boys BBQ is the true master of doing perfectly smoked meat. Every bite you take of the barbecued meat served here, you can feel it melting in your mouth. It is so juicy and has perfectly balanced flavors. As for their specialties, fragrant jasmine rice and smoked brisket are a must-try when visiting this BBQ joint.
Address
2334 N St Mary’s St San Antonio, TX 78212
Timings
Wednesdays to Sundays: 11 AM to 9 PM
Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays
Cuisine
Thai
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Brisket Curry, Smoked Sausage
Serving the most scrumptious BBQ in San Antonio, B-Daddy’s BBQ is a restaurant and a food truck, offering a whole Texas food experience. This outdoor BBQ joint is nestled in the historic Old Town Helotes. The brisket prepared in the kitchen is crusty on the outside and tender, well-done on the inside. While they take on-the-go pick-up orders, it is best to take time to sit and enjoy the freshly barbecued meats here. You don’t want to miss out on this perfection.
Address
14436 Old Bandera Rd Ste 3 Helotes, TX 78023
Timings
Tuesdays to Sundays: 11 AM to 7 PM
Closed on Mondays
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Chicken Leg, Sausage Link
Smoke Shack BBQ is where you will find the best BBQ in San Antonio if you seek a traditional Southern twist on your barbequed dish. While everything they serve on the menu is worth trying, the ribs and turkey are must-order dishes. The moment you bite into either, your teeth will simply slide into the meat without becoming too chewy.
Address
3714 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209
Timings
Mondays to Saturdays: 11 AM to 9 PM
Sundays: 11 AM to 5 PM
Cuisine
Southern American
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Pulled Pork Sandwich, Chicken Tenders
South BBQ & Kitchen is perhaps the best BBQ in San Antonio to enjoy a laid-back environment as you savor the excellent rub on the meats cooked to perfection. Whether you are here to try beef, chicken, or pork, the fresh flavors of smoked meats will leave you coming back for more.
Address
2011 Mission Rd San Antonio, TX 78214
Timings
Wednesdays to Sundays: 11 AM to 5 PM
Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays
Cuisine
Southern American
Price Range
$$
Must Try
Creamed Elot, Brisket Plate
Conclusion
There is no dearth of places to indulge in authentic BBQ in San Antonio. The barbecued meat in these restaurants above is so juicy and tender that it would quickly fall off the bone. So when you are in town, you must plan a visit to either of these BBQ joints to have the time (and meal) of your life. We promise the food here will make your tongues crave for more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Places To Eat In San Antonio
Is San Antonio known for barbecue?
It won’t be wrong to say that San Antonio is not the mecca for a barbecue when in Texas. But the overwhelming list of restaurants with extensive menus certainly offers hearty and well-cooked barbecued meals.
2M Smokehouse and Pinkerton’s Barbecue are two restaurants that found their way into the monthly list of ’50 Best BBQ in Texas, owing to the well-marinated and perfectly done meat. Regardless of whether or not it is known for barbecue, the restaurants in town certainly know how to deliver (in a big way, too!).
Why is Texas BBQ famous?
For the locals in Texas, barbecue is more than just a meal. It is a complete food experience that helps them create memories with their friends and family. Texas BBQ is an excuse for the locals to just get into their cars and take a trip to some of the best BBQ joints in the country, each with an experience of its own.
Additionally, compared to the meat served in Carolina, Kansas City, or other Southern regions cooked in their regional BBQ style, barbecue in Texas is famous for its spiced rub, smokiness, and flavors of oak wood.
While every meat is rich in flavor, the Texas-style brisket takes the cake. Rubbed with simple salt and pepper, the brisket simply melts in your mouth with every bite you take.
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