If you're living in or around the Lakeline area near our Northwest Austin apartments, you're in luck when it comes to BBQ options. Within a 10-mile radius of Lakeline Mall, you'll find everything from legendary Texas BBQ joints that have been smoking meat for decades to newer spots making waves on the Texas BBQ scene.

Whether you're craving traditional Texas brisket or want to try your hand at some Korean BBQ, this guide covers all your options near our Lakeline apartments!

BBQ Restaurants In Lakeline, Austin

InterStellar BBQ

InterStellar BBQ sits at the northernmost tip of Austin city limits, just south of Cedar Park, and you'll know you're in the right place when you spot the two smokers in the parking lot!

Owner and pitmaster John Bates opened InterStellar in 2019 after spending 30 years in the restaurant industry, having previously owned Noble Sandwich Co. in the same location. His hard work paid off when the restaurant landed at #2 on Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas list in 2021.

The peach tea-glazed pork belly is their signature item, but don't skip the brisket and beef ribs. They also serve creative sides like mac and gouda and Mexican chocolate rice pudding with crumbled Oreo cookies. 

Stiles Switch BBQ

Stiles Switch offers Central Texas craft-style BBQ in a cafeteria-style setting decorated with historical pictures, where they serve both lean and moist brisket options as well as beef ribs, pork ribs and their popular brisket burger with bacon jam. You can dine in, order online for pickup, get delivery or hire them for catering, and the traditional sides include potato salad, coleslaw and beans. In other words — our classic BBQ fare!

The Salt Lick BBQ

Salt Lick BBQ in Round Rock brings a piece of real Texas BBQ history to the area’s culinary scene. The Roberts family founded the original Salt Lick in Driftwood back in 1967, and the current Round Rock location is a rustic reproduction of the original.

Unlike the cash-only original location, Round Rock accepts credit cards and has a full bar. On weekends, they feature "Margaritas, Music and Meat" on their stone patio, and the fan-favorite all-you-can-eat family-style option includes beef brisket, sausage and pork ribs with traditional sides. They also have a banquet facility for meetings and special events, making it a popular spot for groups and parties!

County Line on the Lake

County Line has been serving Austin since 1975 and offers two locations within driving distance of Lakeline: one on Bull Creek just off Lake Austin, while the County Line on the Hill offers a spectacular 20-mile view of the Texas Hill Country.

Both locations started in historic buildings, with the Hill location being a former speakeasy and gambling house. They're known as THE places to take out-of-town guests, offering legendary beef ribs, extra-lean brisket and spicy German sausage. The Lake location features live music nightly on the patio, and weekend specials include smoked prime rib. Don't miss their homemade wheat and white bread or Mom's bread pudding with Jack Daniels bourbon sauce! Your guests will thank you!

Smokey Mo's BBQ

Smokey Mo's is a family-owned Texas chain with 21 locations across Central Texas that has built a reputation for consistent quality and family-friendly atmosphere. The restaurant offers both business catering and personal meals, with family packs providing the best bang for your buck, in our humble opinion. Their smoked turkey breast is particularly popular, along with traditional brisket, BBQ chicken and their flavorful beans.

Alzer's Barbeque

Located in Cedar Park, Alzer's stands out as a halal smokehouse where everything except the turkey and beef sausage is halal, making it a great option for those with dietary restrictions! The restaurant features a clean, well-decorated environment with outdoor seating, and their beef brisket and ribs are melt-in-your-mouth tender. The cream corn and potato salad are standout sides, and they offer online ordering and catering services for whatever event you’re looking to have!

Southside Market & BBQ - Leander

The newest addition to the area, Southside Market & BBQ opened in Leander in April 2025.

This isn't just any BBQ joint, though. It's the oldest BBQ franchise in Texas! Founded by butcher William Moon in Elgin in 1882, the Leander location is their fifth, joining their existing locations in Elgin, Bastrop, Austin and Hutto.

What makes Southside unique is that it operates as both a restaurant and a meat market. The restaurant offers drive-thru, takeout and online ordering for their BBQ dishes, while the meat market sells a variety of cuts perfect for home barbecuing, including briskets, pork ribs, smoked turkeys, chicken halves and sausage slammers. They also stock BBQ sauces, seasonings and pre-packaged gift sets. What more could you need?

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q

Bill Miller Bar-B-Q in Cedar Park brings San Antonio’s own unique  BBQ tradition to the Austin area. What started as a small fried chicken-to-go restaurant in 1953 has grown to 74 locations across Texas, with the Cedar Park location opening in October 2018!

This cafeteria-style restaurant cooks all meats in pits smoked with 100% live oak wood and is known for its fresh-baked breads and pies made daily. The menu includes brisket, sausage, bar-b-q chicken, pork spareribs, ham, turkey and fried chicken, making it a fast, affordable option when you want BBQ without the wait or high prices of some other spots.

Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q

Rudy's has multiple locations in Northwest Austin, including spots in Round Rock, Austin Hills and Four Points. This Austin institution is famous for its gas station and BBQ restaurant combination, complete with their tongue-in-cheek "Worst Bar-B-Q in Texas" slogan.

The cafeteria-style ordering and communal seating create a casual atmosphere, and first-timers get free samples to help them decide. They offer three brisket options (regular, moist and extra moist), and the Austin locations also serve St. Louis ribs. Don't overlook their breakfast tacos if you're there in the morning, and while the creamed corn is excellent, BBQ purists might object to their mayo-based potato salad. 

Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue

Tucked away in in Pflugerville, Brotherton's has a particularly inspiring backstory to it. Pitmaster John Brotherton opened it in 2017 after his first restaurant, Curly's, closed in 2014, and by 2021 the restaurant made Texas Monthly's Top 50 list! Though John Brotherton passed away in January 2024, the restaurant continues under co-ownership of his staff, who are committed to maintaining his legacy.

Brotherton's is known for exceptional sandwiches, particularly the grilled cheese with brisket, Monterey jack and provolone on Texas toast. They also serve breakfast items like brisket omelets and their creative "Briscuits and Gravy" which includes biscuits, gravy, brisket, hash browns and eggs. Save room for their famous strawberry cobbler, too!

Terry Black's Barbecue

While Terry Black's on Barton Springs Rd is technically outside the 10-mile radius, it's worth mentioning as a major Austin BBQ destination. The twins Mike and Mark Black, sons of legendary pitmaster Terry Black, run this massive operation that serves thousands of pounds of BBQ daily and has earned Michelin Guide recognition for their prime sliced brisket and behemoth bone-in beef ribs. The cafeteria-style service moves quickly despite the crowds, they offer tours of the smokehouse, and they're open until 10pm on Friday and Saturday.

Micklethwait Barbecue

After 12 years as a successful food truck, Micklethwait Barbecue moved into a brick-and-mortar location at the corner of Springdale Road and Tanney Street in January 2025. Yeah, it’s kind of a drive and not technically anywhere near Lakeline, but it’s a personal favorite so we’re including it anyways. 

Everything at Micklethwait is scratch-made, from the sausage to the pickles, and the new location is in a renovated former church building with indoor and outdoor seating. Try their smoked pork steak special with salsa macha and candied pecans, or stick with classics like brisket and house-made sausage, and don't miss the jalapeño cheese grits and house-made moon pies.

SLAB BBQ & Beer

SLAB has two Austin locations and gained fame when Guy Fieri claimed their sandwich was at "the top of Best BBQ Sandwiches I've ever had" on his show. They take a fusion approach, bridging flavors from Memphis, the Carolinas, Alabama and Texas. The McDowell (all rib meat sandwich) and The Big Po-Yo sandwich are menu highlights, they often run $4 draft beer specials, and they serve solid sides like potato casserole with cheese.

Korean BBQ options

Honey Pig BBQ

Located right next to the H-Mart in Cedar Park, Honey Pig offers Korean BBQ with an à-la-carte menu rather than AN all-you-can-eat. The industrial dining room features circular metal tables that give it a Korean pub feel, and what sets Honey Pig apart is that servers cook the meat for you, making it perfect if you're new to Korean BBQ or just want to relax. They serve a wide range of marinated meats, Korean soups, noodles and traditional banchan side dishes. 

Chi'Lantro BBQ

This fast-casual concept offers bowls and ssams (Korean wraps) where you choose your base, protein, vegetables, toppings and sauce, making it a quick option when you want Korean flavors without the sit-down Korean BBQ experience.

K BBQ Austin

Located in The Crescent shopping center at Airport and Lamar, K BBQ is a family-owned restaurant that opened in September 2021. They offer all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ with multiple tiers starting under $40, and the premium tiers include wagyu ribeye and freshwater eel. The semi-industrial atmosphere features robot delivery carts, and you'll grill selections like garlic samgyupsal and beef bulgogi at your table.

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot

While KPOT's current Austin location is in Sunset Valley (south Austin), it's worth knowing about as the chain expands through the region. They offer a unique combination of Korean BBQ and hot pot at the same table, with nearly 100 options to choose from. The all-you-can-eat format includes premium cuts for grilling, various broths for hot pot, fresh vegetables and traditional Korean sides, with each table having individual hot pots and communal grills.

Making your choice

The Lakeline area's BBQ scene offers something for everyone. If you want a special occasion meal with a view, County Line delivers with its lakeside and hilltop locations, while those seeking authentic Texas BBQ that's earned statewide recognition should plan their day around InterStellar BBQ's limited hours. Families looking for reliable, affordable options have Rudy's, Bill Miller and Smokey Mo's within easy reach.

The addition of Korean BBQ restaurants adds variety to the area's dining options. Whether you prefer the interactive grilling experience at K BBQ or Honey Pig's server-assisted approach, you can find Korean BBQ without traveling to central Austin.

For those interested in BBQ beyond just dining out, Southside Market's meat market lets you take home quality cuts for your own smoking adventures, and if you have dietary restrictions, Alzer's halal options ensure everyone can enjoy Texas BBQ.

The best part about living near Lakeline is that you don't have to choose just one favorite. With over 15 BBQ options within 10 miles, you can work your way through the list, discovering what each place does best. From food trucks turned brick-and-mortar success stories to establishments that have been smoking meat since 1967, the Lakeline area proves that Austin's BBQ scene extends well beyond the city center.

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