The Salt Lick

best bbq in texas! more

Great food. The best BBQ in Austin by far! more

If the BBQ joints in Lockhart and Luling are rated 8-10, the food at the Salt Lick would be about a 3. I've had tastier sausage from HEB. And the prices are about 2-3 times as high. Once is enough, but glad that we went. more

A destination worth seeking out. Don't make solid plans for after because there's usually a wait. Prices keep going up but I'm still paying. Totally unique sauce and sides (try the slaw!) make it worth the trip! more

Bad experience....asked for a salad, and their salad was not washed! It was gross! NEVER AGAIN! more

Great atmosphere....beautiful drive to Driftwood...and the food is ALWAYS worth it! If you're not from Texas, make Salt Lick one of your stops!!\r A true Texas TREASURE!!!! more

went there for a Team celebration. i had a good time. it was nice to be celebrating a good November. more

Great BBQ, friendly people. Love this place! more

Round Rock just opened up a location next to the Dell Diamond or at least within the past year, it's good BBQ, but for the price I actually stopped at Rudy's for BBQ on the way out to Dell diamond recently. I'm not saying it's bad, but it's Texas so you know it has to be great to charge a litte extra.\r \r JP more

Props to Sarah (our server) for making it a great experience..!\r \r We learned of The Salt Lick from Man v. Food so it was time for a day trip. Beautiful location. I like the old school cash only and BYOB policy as well..\r \r As far as the food goes, we all loved the turkey.. Super juicy and tender. The beef ribs were great as well, and I really enjoyed the sample of the burnt ends Sarah brought me... The brisket was a little too lean and dry for my liking. I prefer a moist brisket. The sausage was average or about what I would expect from a good BBQ place.. The beans were pretty bland, as was the potato salad. The slaw was good. Neither the slaw or potato salad use mayo so if that's what you're expecting, you'll be disappointed. I lived in Germany so after Sarah told me how they were prepared, I knew what kind of flavor/texture to expect. The sauce surprised me.. I like spicey sauces, so the sweetness/ mustard flavor of the sauce concerned me at first. That said, it grew on me and we ended up buying some to take home (along with the rub). I still prefer spice, but their sauce is very good.\r \r I recommend that you try every meat. That's what we chose to experience The Salt Lick.. Every BBQ place has a strength and weakness... If you try just one thing, you may leave disappointed. Read the history as well. Pretty cool how The Salt Lick came about... The bottom line is we'll be back! Pros: Turkey, Burnt Ends, Beef Ribs Cons: Average Sides more

Great food, atmoshphere, and service!! Drove from Lubbock to go eat at salt licks! Very yummy and a great vaction stop! more

After seeing this restaurant on TV and reading rave reviews, we ate there tonight. My first bite was into a pork rib, expecting it to fall off the bone. Instead, I chewed and chewed and chewed that first bite finally realizing I wasn't going to be able to swallow it, so I put it into a napkin. I took a bite of the coleslaw, and it tasted like raw cabbage. I had to look close at it to see if there was anything on it, and I think there was something, but am not really sure. The waitress didn't know what, if anything, they put on it. The potato salad tasted like German style potatoes, and not good ones. The beans were great, as was the sausage. The beef was dry without drenching it with sauce. The best thing was the peach cobbler with ice cream! When we left, the lines to get in were very long. People must like it, but we were not one of those people. We will never, ever return there. Pros: Nothing I can think of Cons: Park bench tables, inconvenient location more

I think this place is good...average. The location is awesome and is a nice getaway with a group of friends. You need to at least try it and see for yourself.\r \r I spent many months on a jobsite across the street and have visited SLBBQ countless times over a 3 month period; weekdays and weekends.\r \r First of all I am a little put out that the same sandwich is $2 cheaper during the week. Am I going to get charged more because it's the weekend and MORE people are here? I don't get that. It's the same sandwich; same size!\r \r As far as the meat goes it's ok. I don't see great smoke rings and the cuts are a little too fatty for me with their brisket. Not much of a rub on the brisket either. I like the sausage but I have had better. The ribs are also good but usually dry and same goes for the turkey. I am not picking up on much of a rub and not even the basic S & P. I’m not looking for anything fancy just some good old seasoning to bring out the flavor of the meat.\r \r Which brings me to the sauce. I think the meats are prepared the way they are because the norm is to cover them with that awful sauce. Heavy on the mustard in a sweet and tangy mess. I am not a fan at all. I think the meats should stand on their own and a sauce should accent or supplement in flavor. I am happy and enjoy finding a place that can smoke a meat that is fine on its own. The sides are plain and I might have had better at Luby’s.\r \r The service can vary from great to a long wait. Most are very friendly there. If you are looking for OK food with a great Texas hang SLBBQ is your place. Take your own beer and make an afternoon of it but you could save time and gas by finding a better BBQ place right here in Austin. If you are going to drive all that way I would keep driving a little bit further and spend the day with the Mandola family instead at The Mandola Estate Winery.\r Pros: great hang, family style Cons: cash only, awful sides, bit of a drive & BYOB more

I used to work in Austin the Salt Lick several years ago was a favorite place, we recently took the train from Oklahoma to Austin, took friends to the Salt Lick, the sides were NOT good and the meat was cold, really disappointed Pros: good service Cons: bad sides more

All the BBq you can eat for one price. Bring cash, they do not take credit cards. more

Every one there was having a great time, except the jerks trying to cut infront of the line! Which people where doing. Inreturn the waiter was a jerk to them. Not fair we had to wait a little over an hour to be seated, and they cut! But besides that mess. They trully have the best BBQ this side of South Texas! Take the back roads to get there the drive is amazing! Even better that it had finished raining seeing the water cascading as you drive over the bridges. This place is BYOB! So even if you have to wait for a while you can enjoy your booze! In the end just go for your self. Its great all around! Just dont be those jerks who cut and in return get horrible service! more

Salt Lick has a distinct sauce which I love which is their biggest plus for me. I had their pork ribs (they don't offer beef) which were quite good. I went on a Saturday evening and it was CROWDED. Very long wait so if you don't like waiting 45 minutes or so you might want to avoid Salt Lick. The place is very large with 2-3 different eating areas which are all used on busy days. Attracts many students and large groups, you'll see lots of parties of 8-12 people. You also need to BYOB and many people have large ice chests with them. Pros: The Sauce Cons: Crowded On Weekends more

Drove up from Houston because of the hype surrounding this place. The location, including the scenic drive are great. The building itself is pretty cool. I was having a great time until the food arrived. Sides - Dry and in editable. The beans where hard, the colslaw had saw too much celery and the potato salad was like nothing I'd ever had. Meat - The ribs are not baby backs so beware. Personal choice but I like my ribs saucy, tender and not fatty. Salt Lick's were none of the above. The brisket and turkey where tasty at first but very dry. Also - no credit card ($2.50 for ATM), min charge of $5, 15% charge for parties 8+ and various other rules. Pros: Locations and general setting outstanding Cons: Food was simple aweful more

My friends and I always enjoy coming here after a fun day of floating the river. They let you bring in your own cooler and the food is great so you should definitely check it out more

Best meat near Austin hands down. The ribs are huge and very tender. Ask for the spicy BBQ, it's not too hot and it's way better than their original sauce. Don't bother with the sides, just get a sampling of all the meats. Great stuff. Pros: The Ribs are Amazing, All the Meats, Spicy BBQ Sauce Cons: Awful Side Dishes, BYOB, Far Away more