Austin barbecue in 2026 is still the smoked-meat capital of the universe, and the pecking order just got shaken up. For years the conversation started and ended with Franklin and la Barbecue, but this time the readers handed the crown to LeRoy and Lewis, the trailer-turned-trendsetter that bet everything on beef cheeks and off-cut creativity instead of the usual brisket gospel. That's a big deal: the upstart out-pointing the old guard tells you exactly where Austin's taste is heading. Here's our take on the winner and the heavy hitters that kept it close.
← From our complete Best of Austin 2026 guide (all 246 winners)
The new champ, and honestly nobody who's stood in their line is surprised. These folks built their whole reputation on going off-script, beef cheeks instead of brisket-by-numbers, weekly specials you won't see anywhere else, and a willingness to put weird-good cuts on the menu before anyone else dared. It's modern Austin barbecue with swagger, and the crown fits.
Franklin Barbecue
The legend, the line, the brisket that put modern Austin barbecue on the map, and yes, you should still go stand in that famous queue at least once.
KG BBQ
Where Texas smoke meets Egyptian spice, and the result is some of the most exciting flavor in town, proof Austin barbecue keeps evolving.
La Barbecue
The perennial brisket royalty whose fatty cut still sets the standard a lot of newer joints are chasing.
Stiles Switch
The dependable, no-line North Loop classic where the brisket and ribs deliver without the four-hour wait, a local's pick for a reason.
See the whole thing — all 246 Best of Austin 2026 winners with our take on every one. Plus Austin CoffeeAustin FestivalsAustin Pads