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Lockhart, Texas, has been featured on The Travel Channel, The Food Network, on countless foodie shows, and in countless articles and books on authentic Texas BBQ, and with good reason! Lockhart is home to four well known, world-class examples of pure Texas BBQ, but there is also BBQ scattered throughout Caldwell County that is just as authentic and tasty, even if less well known and off the beaten path.
Lockhart is about 30 miles due south of Austin on Hwy 183, 17 miles north of I-10 on 183, or you can get there from I-35 by exiting on Hwy 80 in San Marcos, and turning left on Hwy 142 in Martindale. Lockhart feels like south Texas, and when you arrive in town you’ll be able to smell all that lovely lovely mesquite smoke coming from the 4 most famous BBQ establishments in town: Black’s, Smitty’s Market, Chisholm Trail, and Kreutz Market. We all know the quickest way to get in an argument in Texas is to talk about how one place has the better sauce, sides, brisket, or what-have-you, so the safest way to experience Lockhart’s famous BBQ is to go eat it and find out for yourself!
Luling is 17 miles south of Lockhart on Hwy 183, as well as being situated on I-10. Luling is the crossroads of railroad, road, and river as well as being one of Texas’ oldest oil boom towns. There are two well known BBQ restaurants in Luling, both on Davis St, just north of the railroad tracks. City Market BBQ is on Davis just west of Hwy 183 and Luling BBQ is an almost identical distance east of 183 on Davis. Both places have that pure small town Texas BBQ charm, and once again I won’t play favorites, so y’all need to sample these places yourselves!
McMahan is northeast of Luling on 86. It’s a very small, quaint little town with a “well known to those that know” BBQ joint called R&G BBQ. Hope you’ll take the time to get off the beaten path, enjoy some beautiful country, and head out that way (it’s a back way into Bastrop and Hwy 71).
What is your favorite Texas BBQ? Please let us know by leaving a comment below, as there’s nothing we enjoy more than navigating across Texas by sauce! Also, if you’re BBQing, don’t forget to visit PPL Motorhomes for all your gas grill and propane needs!