Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q

Came back and the again the staff was really friendly and helpful. Our food tasted much better and we all were glad that we came here. Thanks again to the management for making sure we enjoyed our time here.

Delicious! SO MUCH FLAVOR! it was me and my boyfriend’s first time; they offered us samples of their meats and sides, which we thought was great being our first time and all :) for two our bill was about $ 34
(Not bad). Nice out door seating. They fall off the bone ribs were amazing and my favorite was the cream of corn! Our overall experience was great. Food was definitely a 10!

BBQ at a gas station?! Who would think this place would have such amazing BBQ?! I got the extra moist brisket and hands down its the best brisket I had so far during my Austin visit. Don’t forget to get the creamed corn too! Ahhhh-​mazing!

Really neat place with an even better vibe. Fun to assemble a crate o’BBQ with your friend and they weigh out the portions in front of you, which was something new to me as an out-​of-​towner. The turkey was pretty fantastic, the coleslaw was just the right amount of sweetness; the sausage was a little too greasy but great flavor, and the beans were pretty killer as well. A great place to make memories with a group of friends!

With so many other BBQ places in town you may think Rudy’s is just average BBQ but it’s not. I’ve been to many Q joints and what I like about Rudy’s is that is always consistent, some of the famous joints have served really bad BBQ at times which is a big disappointment, hit or miss kinda deal.
This location is my favorite, it’s big with plenty of seating and I like that you can order by the slice or pound. I usually go by 3 – 4 times a year and it’s always good as is the sauce. Some folks don’t know but they have a sweeter sauce but you have to ask for it when you order the BBQ, give it a try.

The combination of a slice of brisket, smoked turkey with pickles, onions bbq sauce and the bread with a little bit of coleslaw was the best! Washing it down with some Lone Star made it even better! Very well AC-​ed, got our food in a timely manner, all was well except I thought the moist was too fatty. I’ll be getting the regular next time!

If you wanted to see the country side of Texas and feel the country side of Texas, this would be it. From the moment you walk in, there’s country everywhere — the rustic décor, the Southern accents, the picnic tables, even the hordes of trucks parked outside in the lot.
I will say that while the barbecue is good here, it isn’t amazing by Austin standards. What you really get here is the availability and the country vibe. There will always be briskets, ribs, etc. any hour of any given day of the week. The line is usually not too bad and they’ll let you sample everything if you would like to.
I usually grab the most brisket because that’s probably the best thing they have on the menu here. The creamed corn is amazing as well.

When I arrived in Austin, one of my immediate thoughts were about the city’s BBQ! Franklin was on my list (after seeing Anthony Bourdain’s show), but I heard the wait time was ridiculous. I did visit La Barbecue, which I thought was pretty delicious, too (sad that the wait time was 2 hours). On my last day in Austin, I decided to hit up another BBQ joint and also bring some back home for family. I was told that Rudy’s was a good spot. Unlike Franklin’s and La Barbecue, there is no wait! However, the food isn’t as great — compared to La Barbecue. But, I think that can be expected. Apparently, they are known for being located next to a Shell gas station.
If you’re new to Rudy’s, they will give you a special shout out. Unfortunately, I was new and my cashier did not offer me the friendly, loud greetings like some of the other customers around me. I was there for the brisket, which came in 3 cuts — Cutter’s Choice, Lean, and Moist. Don’t forget to ask for a sample! I personally liked the Cutter’s Choice. Moist was way too fatty for me. Don’t ask to try the ribs because they won’t let you. If you’re looking to bring it on a plane, they would be more than glad to wrap it up with extra paper and saran wrap. What I thought was funny, after they get the meat, they put it on a big open tray… that was completely new to me! As mentioned above, the food was good, but not as great as some of the other smaller BBQ joints.
I recommend this place if you’re looking for some good Austin BBQ, but want to skip the super long waits at Franklin and La Barbecue. I had Salt Lick and I prefer Rudy’s.

Break in our workday for lunch. If you have to work on a Saturday… you deserve a tasty lunch and Rudys was that for me. What’s better than seeing a couple fools in their business attire eating lunch off butcher paper with bbq sauce all over their faces? I’ll tell you what is… nothing.
We had moist brisket, smoked turkey, chicken, jalapeño hot link, pinto beans, creamed corn, and chocolate pudding. Every single thing was spot on. My friend has never been, so he got the royal treatment and had samples of several things. The service was amazingly friendly and even though the atmosphere was extremely casual (like, you grew up in a barn type casual) it was great. Definitely recommend Rudy’s to anyone who has never had them before.
They also have breakfast tacos in the am that are crazy good. I’ll be having some in the near future!

This place is excellent. When I got up to the counter I was asked if I had ever been here before and I’m glad I said no. The gentleman did ask where I was from and shouted newbie from Chicago (which actually isn’t as embarrassing as it sounds). I was able to sample the meats and the creamed corn. After tasting the samples I went with the moist and it was excellent. The creamed corn was out of this world. Also got a side of the red potatoes and thought they were going going be mashed, but they weren’t. Good but between the meat, corn and bread I barely touched them.
I think I’ll try the chicken tomorrow!

Rudy’s serves up some great, consistent BBQ every time I visit. This location is my favorite for my lunch BBQ urges, but all seem to serve equally great BBQ. The line can be a little long at times, but that’s expected for great BBQ! The BBQ sauce is mediocre, but hey, do you really need sauce with good BBQ? Here’s my opinion and experience on the important stuff — the meats:
Brisket — Rudy’s has some of my favorite brisket for a BBQ place coming in a close second to Black’s for me. The brisket is tender, flavorful, and always has a great smoke ring with equally great smokey flavor. By far my favorite item, both lean and moist, on the menu!
Ribs — The pork spare ribs here are always on point — falling off the bone and full of flavor. I never need any sauce.
Sausage — Rudy’s sausage is not the best, but very good — especially the jalapeño links. Never too salty, and always has that crisp bite with soft stuffing.
Turkey — I’m not a huge fan of turkey, but after trying a piece of turkey off a friend’s plate, I do end up ordering a ¼ lb more often than not. The turkey is moist, which is usually difficult for BBQ, and packed full of smokey goodness.
Overall, Rudy’s is a great BBQ option amongst the dozens of options available in Austin.

I was on a work trip and came here with a colleague of mine for lunch. Since I’ve been doing a tour of Texas for work, it only seemed appropriate to try BBQ while in Austin since I’ve always seen food network shows highlighting the great cuisine in Texas. I came to find out this is the hot spot my colleague takes corporate visitors when they are in town and they all seem to love it-​and with reason!!! This is a must go spot while visiting Austin. I came to find out that the original Rudys is based in San Antonio which I hear is even better which is extremely hard to believe considering this was delicious in my eyes! My colleague ordered a bit of everything so we can try and let me just say this place was packed but plenty of seating to accommodate the larger crowds. It was packed for a Wednesday though! They ask you in line what you want and as you approach the counter to pick up and pay for your order, there is a station for you to grab your cold sides. The sides include anything from pickles to coleslaw to jalapeño or banana pudding. I had a craving for the sweet but my colleague was treating and I didn’t want to look like the fatty even though we ended up ordering quite a bit of food! We got brisket, sausage the chicken for our meats. For sides we got the cream of corn, the baked beans –which I usually hate at BBQ places but this was so awesome! Also we got bread with the order and pickles and definitely have to pile on their BBQ sauce I just wanted buckets of this and I’m not always huge in BBQ. The brisket was juicy and nothing was dry. The sausage was savory and with the right amount of spice. I pilled my brisket with sausage as well as BBQ sauce and pickles and practically died and went to heaven. When I say no complaints I literally mean this! This is the flavor and ambiance I associate with any good BBQ place and it’s a must do when in Austin if you can make it out. It’s close proximity to the domain if you are a bit north of downtown.

IN YOUR FACE!!! That is where you should put this barbecue. Preferably in your mouth hole. Then you should chew it and blast off on a rocket ship of smokey spicy tangy Texas deliciousness. Let’s jump into the good stuff:
Creamed Corn — Why is this #1? Cause it is absurdly tasty and you can guzzle it by the gallon. You should eat it until it hurts.
Brisket — You ever been punched in the throat by a moist delicious flavor filled side of beef? No? Well, then you need to try Rudy’s brisket.
Service — The counter service guy was so nice I asked him to be my best man. That is saying a lot cause I am already married, which means I will have to get a divorce and remarry. Still, it would be worth it to have him in my wedding.
Turkey — Screw Thanksgiving. Eat this turkey year round and never eat another slice of inferior poultry again.
The BBQ Sauce — Skip the iced tea and just drink this straight. It pairs well with pretty much anything, so go slather your kale salad in it and then give the rest to a carnivore.
Price — I ate like a king for under $ 30. 3 meats (½ pound each), 2 sides, a drink, and fixings. This was enough for a family meal. Saying that out loud makes me simultaneously proud and ashamed.
So those are the highlights. Why isn’t this a 5 star review you ask? Well for a few small reasons:
Ribs — It was late in the day and they were a bit dried out. They were tasty, but not the best.
Beans — But seriously who cares about the beans? They weren’t bad, they were just boring. I would skip them next time and double down on the Creamed Corn.
Overall — The Q here is above average and if I were just rating it on the meats alone, I’d probably go 3 stars, but a restaurant is more than just it’s proteins. The experience was great and if you want to get some pretty good Q at a nice price, go to Rudy’s.

Just off of 183, right next to the Outback, Rudy’s is a barbecue restaurant that you simply don’t want to miss. The restaurant is fairly large, with two sets of dining rooms set up cafeteria-​style. It was a little confusing trying to figure out what to order, but when they realize that it’s your first time at Rudy’s they really welcome you by walking you through the menu and allowing you to try some of their meats. I tried the moist brisket, the turkey, and the chicken. By «moist», they mean super fatty :) but that’s what makes it so tasty. I also tried the cream corn.
I ended up ordering a half pound of the moist brisket and a small cream corn. All orders come with complimentary white bread. The brisket was very tasty, though I had to discard some of the fatty pieces. The cream corn was amazing because I love cream corn and this was creamier than what I usually can get.
There are cartons of bottled drinks that you can pick up on your way to the checkout counter, or you can buy a fountain drink. Everything is self-​service after you order. The condiment bar has a huge pump for Rudy’s barbecue sauce, sliced pickles, and onions. I wasn’t a huge fan of the onions, and thought they were a little stale. Utensils are available next to the checkout counter and napkins are mounted in dispensers near the tables.
Overall the food was great and the service was friendly. I highly recommend Rudy’s if you’re in the Austin area.

I love how this place lets their delicious meats speak for themselves. They’re served in different styles, with the «moist» brisket being the one I chose — happily so. Generous portions given the price, delicious sides, and lots of beverages to choose from. Quick self-​service format as you go up to the counter, and lots of room to spread out at seating areas with benches in the rear, with lots of different sauces available. A great find thanks to Unilocal

Wonderful breakfast tacos. Nice Texas flavor. Choice of three delicious sauces. Welcoming and non-​judgmental staff. Open, accepting attitude.
Very consistent, reliable cleanliness.

Rudy’s is a great, old fashioned BBQ place. It’s extremely popular and has a long lineup to order and after you grab your food and drinks, there is a large self seating area with big old picnic tables and benches.
We ordered 2 pounds of brisket (moist, which is more fatty), some turkey slices and some ribs. The brisket and ribs were the main features and were excellent. They also sell sides like cream corn (we ordered a large) and also a small coleslaw. Again, both sides were excellent. And of course, we also had some sweet tea with those big Rudy’s cups that are kind of like a souvenir cup. They also provide complementary bread.
After you order, it’s self serve for how many pickles, onions and sauce you want. Again, this place is busy! So you need find a place to sit to enjoy your BBQ but seating is covered so it’s not like you’re exposed to the elements like if you go to one of the food trucks in Austin.

The Rudy’s decorum features local artwork and graphics as well as neon beer signage. And on every table is a bottle of Rudy’s famous Bar-​B-​Q Sauce and famous it is. Famously delicious with a hot kick and sweet punch perfect for dipping their brisket into.

You don’t want to go to this place — trust me. They serve the absolute worst BBQ ever.
I mean, who wants ultra moist, fall off the bone tender, seasoning packed, amazing slabs of meat? Who wants to drive past a gas station to a uniquely placed BBQ joint? Who wants to converse with friendly staff who let you try anything on their menu and make amazing recommendations? And who wants to fight for seats in an extremely large dining facility with row after row of large picnic style tables and benches where you may even be able to strike a friendly conversation with a Texan? You? No… stay away.
I am so glad that my friend Kristy introduced this place to me, because my life (at least in terms of BBQ) is forever changed. You’re not going to want BBQ from this place. In fact, I’ll do you a favor and eat at Rudy’s on your behalf…

* A couple slices of brisket (moist, please)
* Cream corn (small)
* Free bread, pickles, onion, and «Sause»
* Sweet tea, in the ubiquitous Rudy’s plastic tumbler seen in offices throughout town
For like six or so bucks, you have a pretty good meal.
Like the Macaroni Grill (though M.G. somehow became terrible when they went nationwide), Rudy’s started in the northern hinterlands of San Antonio, Texas. A little gas station/​auto garage/​grocery store in Leon Springs decided to sell smoked meats in 1989, and Rudy’s BBQ was born. Now they’re in [too tired to count] locations across the southwest.
Sure, there’s turkey and other stuff, if you’re a girl (ok, i find the sausage is fairly good). But we stick mostly with the brisket, which is about eight bucks or so a half-​pound (you can get any amount you want, not just half-​pound increments). Which makes it just a couple bucks or so less than Franklin and the «big boys of BBQ» pricing.
We actually got some Franklin and Rudy’s side-​by-​side the other day.
And yes…
It’s certainly no Franklin. It won’t melt in your mouth, and the flavor is a bit more one-​note. But it’s a pretty good note.
And I can live in denial with how caloric that cream corn must be. It’s really the best side I’ve gotten at a BBQ joint. Every single dessert isn’t gluten friendly (I’ve wondered about picking the ‘nilla wafers out of the banana pudding, but wouldn’t risk my wife’s health for that), but all protein choices except the pulled pork contain NO wheat. Though with the free Mrs. Baird’s bread flying around there, it’s not friendly to those extremely sensitive to gluten. Though they say the cream corn «contains wheat», my wife oddly has never been affected by it.
And finally… The «Sause».
Yes. I’ll say it.
I like their BBQ sauce better than either of the three Franklin sauces, at least for brisket. Though, to be fair, sometimes it’s just great to savor Franklin’s brisket without sauce, which I probably wouldn’t really do at Rudy’s.
And they do a pretty decent catering job.
Sure, I’ve walked away when I’ve seen the line go all the way to the door (ain’t nobody got time to wait 25 minutes there), but we do like Rudy’s.
4.1 stars.

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