Drive south….further…part the Y in Oak Hill…finally…you get to FM 1826..turn left…drive…some more 13 miles later you get to Salt Lick Barbeque. Salt Lick Barbeque offers some of central Texas’ best barbeque in a unique rural setting. Part of the charm of going to Salt Lick is leaving the city behind.
Thirty years ago, Thurman Roberts, Sr. and his wife Hisako T. Roberts started the Salt Lick Restaurant on the ranch where he was born. The stones of the building were quarried from that same ranch. In the winter you can sit inside one of the Texas limestone and cedar buildings with stone and concrete floors, and a constant aroma of sweet smoke drifting out of the open barbecue pit; in the spring on the outside patio.
So what to order? Order family style and get unlimited helpings of brisket, sausage, ribs and of course the wonderful vinegar based sauce. Meals come with lots of side orders, pinto beans, potato salad, and cole slaw. On special nights, they also serve prime rib, habanero chicken, beef ribs, or baby back ribs. You’ll be stuffed–probably won’t have room for dessert (Pie and Peach Cobbler). Oh yes, remember to bring your own beer because Hays County is dry.
Don’t have time to drive out? You can get Salt Lick Barbeque at the Airport and also in Davenport Village on 360.
Salt Lick Barbeque, 18300 FM 1826, Driftwood, 512/894-3117
Central Texas is blessed with some great barbeque. We can’t possibly review them all…like other places (Kreuz, Black’s, Ruby’s, Louis Mueller, County Line, Ironworks….). Like a place, leave a comment.
Funny that you are reviewing the Salt Lick. I had my parents in from NY this past weekend, and I thought BBQ would be a fun change for them. I made the drive all the way down to the Salk Lick since it’s a good family place. Little did I know how commercialized it has become. There were more buses than cars, all of them full of people wanting Salt Lick BBQ. Then there was kareoke or something, not sure, but there were literally hundreds of people. The wait was 2 hours. Are you kidding me!? That place isn’t THAT good. So we drove all the way back to Austin and went to Hyde Park Bar and Grill (excellent, as always).
My recommendation has always been Kreuz’s BBQ in Lockhart and will remain that way. Unfortunately their hours are terrible, so they wouldn’t have been an option this past friday. I won’t be back to the Salt Lick anytime soon, that’s for sure.
Podna, if you don’t like waiting in line, don’t go to the Salt Lick. But if you go, do what frequent barbecue eaters do when they go – take along a coupla folding chairs and a cooler full of your favorite beverage. And mebbe a book or a magazine or the Sunday paper to read. There’ll be plenty of friendly folks to chat with till your turn comes round.
I had my parents visiting last weekend and decided to take them to the Salt Lick WAY outside of Austin. I have only just moved here from Atlanta myself so I was anxious to see what everyone was talking about. The wait was twice as long as what they said it would be but still under an hour. A book would have been a good idea to pass the time. The food was EXCELLENT – some of the best BBQ I’ve had and the service was pretty good too. Oddly, one of the managers got mad at an employee and started arguing with her right in the middle of the restaurant. Seemed kind of inappropriate and I was embarrassed for her but all in all, I would go back but it wouldn’t be worth a 2-hour wait as some have experienced.
where may I call or write to purchase Saltlick bbq sauce for someone? His birthday is Sept 17th…Please let me know…he is a total lover of great bbq sauce and I saw a write up on this one…thank you…