Best Open Pit BBQ in Texas

Feb 26/2018  Weather hit 79 today in Llano!  tonight low of 54.    Every Texas tourist magazine you pick up talks about Old Time Open Pit BBQ.

uuggghhh we had to turn around

We head west on some county back road enjoying the undulating terrain of limestone canyons bristling with prickly pear cactus and shaggy with cedar trees, until we hit a creek overflowing onto the road where we stopped and walked into the mud and water - we had a vote - unanimous to turn around.  If we dump the bike out here, there is no one for miles to help us so it is not worth the risk.

taking the back roads

We head back to a highway, then north to Llano.  A little town 3,350.

don't expect much from the outside

pitman serving up whatever you crave

Cooper's Old Time BBQ burns scads of mesquite branches to embers, then shovels the coals into the pits, where they smolder directly beneath the meats. The method, drawing on the cattle drives of bygone years, is called “cowboy style.”  You walk past several rectangular pits, admire the small mountain of mesquite wood, and line up at an old steel closed pit, salivating as the aroma of smoking meats wafts through the still Texas air. When it is your turn, consider all the choices......the 2 " Big Chop (pork), brisket, beef or pork ribs, sausage, turkey, chicken and cabrito (goat) on the pit’s grate. Tell the pitman exactly what you want, and he will slice it to order. We ordered the brisket and pork rib.  

picnic tables dining area

Then you walk inside and pay by the pound for your meat and have at it on the benches!  Nothing pretentious here just the best BBQ we have ever had.   The brisket had a smoky spicy crusted rub on it and melted in your mouth. Oh yes we are meat eaters!!!

let's dig in