re: Austin, Texas...are there any must do’s or must see’s?

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Look, I’ve been to all the bbq spots outside of Austin.

For history’s sake, and then experience it may be worth it. But for the actual bbq all the stuff in austin is better than anything you can find out there in Lockhart or wherever.

Terry blacks, Valentina’s, La Bbq, and franklins are all just as good as anything you can find on the outskirts.

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I live here and have been to all of them. Couple of notes:

1. Founder/pitmaster of La Barbecue just died. No idea if the restaurant will be GTG in the short term.

2. Terry Black's does live up to the hype, but is pricy. Don't confuse it with Black's BBQ, same family but NOT the same Q. Terry Blacks out in Lockhart is a good bit cheaper.

3. Franklin's is overrated. Fight me.

4. If you go to Salt Lick, try the bison rib and get a side of moist cut brisket. Bear in mind that the Lick was founded by an actual trained chef, which means the sauce, rubs and sides are properly flavor palate matched. What that means to you rubes is that you should drizzle a bit of sauce on the sides too and try them.

5. If you're going to drive out of town, I'd take Louis Mueller's BBQ up in Taylor over City Market. City Market is good, but Mueller's is better.

6. The Southside Market BBQ location in N Austin is seldom busy - they stuck it in a strip mall that doesn't attract Q eaters - and can be as good as anything downtown.