Louie Mueller Barbecue

Killer authentic barbecue. Get there early! They run out quick on certain days so don’t be surprised if it happens to you! Try the pulled pork sandwich. The sweet bbq sauce is great on everything. End it all with some banana pudding! It’s a bit pricey for certain things, so be aware of what you’re ordering off the menu. You might end up with a pound of brisket if you’re not careful!

Overview: Literally the best BBQ I have had in my life (and I have had Franklin BBQ before too). Seriously Franklin had nothing on this place. I know it’s a bit of a drive from the Austin area, but it’s a relatively scenic country drive.
Food: when we got there, they were out of the brisket. So my friends and I decided to get the pulled pork and chopped brisket (which is day old brisket cooked with sauce). It was all good but meh (not life changing). Then the butcher (?) gave us all a piece of the butt of the brisket and. Oh my god. The fat falls off the meet and the meat is so soft, my friend actually freaked out. I definitely need to come back to get the brisket.
Price: $ 21 for a lb of brisket. Around $ 9 for half pint of pulled pork or chopped beef.
Service: the people here are great, friendly and sooo soo proud of their BBQ. Love it.
Note: on Saturday, they have the famous baby back ribs. Like fall off the meat ribs. Nom.

We arrived at around 3pm and they ran out of brisket :’(
Apparently you can call ahead and have them reserve a pound for you!
Update: They gave us a piece of brisket to try… and oh my goodness… it was so moist and soft. Definitely go for the brisket.

Very good brisket and my dining partner enjoyed the turkey. Looks like it has been there longer than I have been alive and the building is in about the same shape as me also. Old and a bit beat up. Really what can I say, good place to eat.
Just a tip if this is your first time, sign says line up in one line but there are no arrows as to where that line is to be. If you are one of the first in the door, line up beside the tv and ice machine.

Louie Louie, oh no
Me gotta go
Aye-​yi-​yi-​yi, I said
Louie Louie, oh baby
Me gotta go
No doubt The Kingsmen wrote this gem after a weekend trip to Taylor ingesting some of the finest bbq around. This level of meatspertise would no doubt inspire chart topping anthems. Book ending an old town street in Taylor this joint has the charm you didn’t know you were looking for. They move the line pretty quick (in relative terms to other lines in Tx cough cough Franklin). And not unlike any other bbq line in Texas what awaits you at the end is nothing short of spectacular. The brisket is perfection. Right up there with the best I’ve had from the other aforementioned lines. I like the thick cut on the brisket. Another highlight was the jalapeño sausage. It wasn’t wimpy. It was Texas mighty with a nice kick. Pork ribs were solid and that drippings butter sauce, perfection. The sides were solid but those desserts. I can’t believe I almost skipped them. While in line we read the Unilocal reviews that said you can’t miss the cobbler and pudding so we jumped in. Daaaaaaaamn. I HATE peaches. I HATE them the way I hate stone washed jeans, and I ate every last bite of that stuff! And that banana pudding y’all! I’d almost call it a banana cool whip. It was a light banana explosion with ‘melted’ nilla wafers. I know that doesn’t make sense but once you try it, you’ll be like «Man, she had a nail and hit it on the head.»
Got to meet the pitmaster himself who was truly gracious and gave us a behind the scenes tour, despite me calling him Louie when his name is Wayne (can I evaporate and die now?)
BBQ perfection and just another reason why Texas remains at mythological BBQ levels.

Best beef rib of the trip. We are ate 44 places this year. Always the best.
Thus our 10^th year in a row doing a BBQ trip.

I’m a BBQ lover, and based on the reviews I had seen, and their status in the Texas Monthly BBQ rankings, I went to Louie Mueller with high expectations, but was disappointed.
The brisket was just OK. I did ask for moist cut, but it had big chunks of fat. At the prices they charge (OK, really, at any price), I expect it to be a little better trimmed than that. I had heard that it was peppery, but I didn’t really find it peppery — actually kind of bland for my taste.
And then, they serve it with this watery «thin dip» BBQ «sauce». I guess that’s a thing (never seen it at any of the other 100+ BBQ places I’ve eaten at), but it’s not my thing. It added absolutely nothing to the flavor and was really just a mess.
The pork rib was tasty, but not falling-​off-​the-​bone tender — kind of had to work at it.
The beans were bland, and the coleslaw and potato salad were OK, but nothing special.
The cobbler had way too much dough and not enough fruit (and made with canned peaches).
It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great, and at their ridiculously high prices, it’d better be great.

Brisket: Great light pepper edges and melts like butter!
Sausage: Jalapeño sausage was extremely juicy without being chewy. Nice after burn from the jalapeño pepper, but not overwhelming.

Maybe the best BBQ in the state.
After waking up at 8:45 on a Tuesday morning running on the fumes of a 5 hour sleep, stale sweat, and the embrace of a 5 Hour Energy, we decided to go wait in line for food at Franklin’s. However, it being SXSW and UT Spring Break week, even though we were a couple hours before opening, we would not be getting any BBQ due to our place in line. Being the young roadtrippers that we are, we decided to drive the 30 – 45 minutes to Taylor to experience Louie Mueller Barbecue. And I’m so glad we did.
As with my pilgrimage to Hill Farmstead Brewery in Vermont, part of the joy in going to LM is the drive out there. Endless fields, open air, and a wander through a small Texas town will eventually give way to the small downtown area of Taylor, Texas, where Louie Mueller Barbecue exists as a cornerstone and Mecca like destination for intrepid SXSW hipsters to attempt to put themselves into meat comas. And luckily at opening, there wasn’t a huge line, so we were able to get food within 15 minutes. We went with ribs, brisket, sausage, and two sides to keep us limber.
The standout among the meats that I partook in was the ribs, followed by the brisket, followed by the sausage. But, it was a super close game the entire time, with the ribs nailing a fadeaway jumper as time expired. A little fatty, but still pretty god damn decadent.
The one big tip I would encourage everyone here to do is to bring your own beer. No beer sales at LM, so it’s a BYOB establishment. And something as good as their bbq needs to be complimented by a 3−4% abv macro beer out of a can. Because that’s the ‘murrican way to eat meat.
Clear eyes. Full stomachs. Can’t lose. Hashtag Texas Forever.

Two stars for taste and tenderness, the beef rib is good, the brisket tinder, but the PROBLEM is the price, we called in early to avoid the line
Picked up the heavy bag and paid our $ 170 and when we unpacking it I was super disappointed to find 5 pounds of pickles and onion, loaf of bread, 1 lbs brisket, 2 sandwiches, 1 beef rib = $ 155 +$ 15 tip = $ 170
@ 100 degrees inside this place is not a 4 or 5 star price level place !
Taste why’s yes it is good but not $ 170 good ! texasmonthly has hyped the place in to a giant tourists trap
One large beef rib $ 48.22
One lbs brisket. $ 24.35

It amazes me how there seems to always be great BBQ all over Texas. Louie Mueller Barbecue is another example of fine Texas BBQ with their own twist. I heard great things about Louis Mueller through the grapevine, as well as seeing a bit on Food Network about it. Although the usual suspects that show on Food Network end up being a bust, Louie Mueller was no the case.
I arrived on a late Saturday afternoon and found a line going out the door. After about a twenty minute wait in line, I arrived at the counter and ordered some BBQ. ½ pound each of brisket, turkey, a couple sausage links, and two pork spareribs to top it off.
The brisket was tender and flavorful but seemed to lack the deep smokey flavor I enjoy. It was still some great brisket — among the top three I’ve had in the past. The sausage links were good with a crisp casing and flavorful stuffing. The ribs were not my favorite, lacking a bit of flavor and seasoning.
The highlight for me was the Louie Mueller sauce and banana pudding. The sauce was a deliciously light au jus-​style sauce that allowed you to dip the cuts of meat into it without being overly salty. It was a great complement to the meats.
The banana pudding deserves it’s own review in itself. I’ve never had a banana pudding like this. Definitely not the standard bright yellow stuff with bananas and nilla wafers on top. The pudding itself had such deep banana flavor without being overly sweet. I could sit and eat a gallon by myself (albeit probably not recommended by my dietician.)
Service was quick and friendly, and the seating environment was rustic with a barn house feel. Overall, Louise Mueller is definitely worth the 30 – 45 min drive out from Austin — even just to have the banana pudding!

Louie Mueller is a long time historical BBQ spot in the state of Texas. This amazing spot has existed since 1949 and pass down through family generations. Several BBQ pit masters have history with this place.
Louie Mueller is located in Taylor, TX which is about a 30min drive from downtown Austin. The SH 130 tollway makes getting out to Taylor a very easy drive. Place is located in the heart of the small town of Taylor. As soon as you walk in, the BBQ pit smoke just smacks you in the face. You cen see the charred and smoky walls from decades upon decades of BBQ cooking. This place feels like you stepped back 30 years ago or longer.
The menu is what you would expect. Brisket, beef ribs, pork ribs, 2 kinds of sasuage and pulled pork. You have choice of typical sides of coleslaw, beans or potato salad. They serve bottled cokes, big red, rootbeer, and ice tea to drink with. The line for a Tuesday was under 20min so very little wait. All the people working there are quite friendly as they ask you what you want to order.
It should be know that Louie Mueller is the king of beef ribs. At $ 23/​lb this is no laughing matter since the average rib is around 1.4−2.0lbs. I got a mid sized 1.6lb rib and that’s all I needed. Sides are good, but why fill up on those when you have this amazing smoked meat. My friend got the brisket, and I agree the brisket is a sub-​par ³⁄₅ score. It is certainly good, but I have eaten way superior brisket in Austin & Lockhart. The beef rib is true smoked cook perfection. The seasoning is heavy black, pepper, salt, and some other spices. This rib’s flavor was a bit bolder with a slight sweetness to it. Just seems like a bit of sugar was added to the rib. The texture of the meat is great, cuts easy with a knife, and just has a fantastic smoke ring to it. If you can devour an entire beef rib in one sitting, you are a better person that me. I just took the spare home.
Now to close, all Texas BBQ goes great with some desert at the end. I ordered freshly made peach cobbler over the banana pudding. Add a scope of blue bell ice cream on top and it was the perfect closer to this great bbq meal. Louie Mueller is old school bbq. I mean they have been doing it their way for several decades. The only modifications to this place is they have wifi and a few LCD tv’s with ESPN playing. BBQ is highly contested and rated in Texas. Louie Mueller deserves 5 stars because it is truly one of the best beef ribs I have ever eaten. The brisket certainly could have been far better. The brisket is season well, but could be a bit more tender. Staff is exceptionally friendly and nice. The atmosphere when you walk in makes you realize you are in a true BBQ spot. Its hard to say Louie Mueller is the best BBQ place in the state, but it certainly deserves to be one of the pillars of true Texas style BBQ.

The beef rib.
No sauce.
No bread.
No inhibitions.
Just close your eyes and say yes.
Will update soon.

This trip to TX was purely a culinary one, so I had to get my mouth over to this joint… But was my mouth pleased with the flavors it tasted…
The line was long when we got there, but not so long I wanted to chew my arm off, which is a good sign. My fiancé and I ordered brisket, spicy sausage, pulled pork and a ½ chicken… I ordered the chicken as I don’t eat red meats from restaurants but… I was willing to push that «rule» of mine aside to try a tiny bit of the beef to see what all the hubbub was about… And for all of you who want to know if this place is worth it…
The brisket was insanely tasty… Juicy, fatty, crusty… Everything you’d ever want in a beef brisket. That being said, a little something was missing, however we couldn’t quite pin point it.
The spicy sausage was on point too, but again insanely fatty… I never expected to be served up DIET FARE at a BBQ joint so I’m not complaining about this.
I know the pulled pork was good even though I didn’t try any… Because my fiancé didn’t complain at all while wolfing it down.
As for the chicken… I was actually kind of expecting a LIFE CHANGING meal that would make me want to move to Austin, alas, it really didn’t do the job for me. Now I cannot say the meat wasn’t juicy, because it was… But it was also just kind of bland. The skin didn’t really lend any flavor and I honestly love crispy skin… And I’m going to eat chicken skin if I go to BBQ… But this skin wasn’t, thus I left ½ of it in the little paper serving dish. Dare I say the BBQ joint I go to in LA has better chicken?
My fiancé has actually been to LM before and remembered it being ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL but… When we left, he reported that it was 30% less tasty than what he remembered and he agreed that the BBQ place we frequent in LA is better… With a few more days left in Austin though, I’m sure we will find the BEST BBQ in town!

Where do I begin… the beef rib.
I feel like there’s nothing else I could say. But, the beef rib. You know that scene in Ratatouille where the food critic takes a bite of food and is transported back in time to his childhood because that bite was so comforting and familiar and you felt surrounded by love. This would be me if my parents were the pitmasters at Lou Mueller.
Yes, it was that good. No matter that it was 90 something degrees outside and even hotter inside. Or the small line. Or when the lady behind the counter yelled, we’re out of pork ribs. No matter. The beef rib. That’s what I wanted. And yeah, a slice of brisket. And a few slices of sausage too. All delicious. All worth it. Driving up to see that American flag posted outside the door. Like an American BBQ beacon of light. So delicious.

Another BBQ restaurant crossed off the bucket list. The accolades for Louie Mueller are extensive. James Beard Award, Guy Fieri Triple D visit, Texas Monthy, BBQ guru Steven Raichlen claiming it has no equal. Fine, I can see the appeal. Old building, smoky interior with tattered asphalt parking lot. As for the digs, its a win.
We waited for a very short time; way less than other Unilocalers have noted. A fellow car club member and I chose to brave the 45 degree temps with our convertible tops down. Hence, the «polar bear club» was born on this very day. We met other local members here; then enjoying some BBQ and usual staples followed by a show and tell at the local airport.
I always over order; which is beginning to hurt my girlish Unilocal figure. A fatty brisket sandwich, jalapeño sausage link, two pork ribs, and a side of slaw. I’ve always heard that LM stuck to salt and pepper as it’s rub or seasoning. This flavor profile is quite apparent on the brisket. Tender and as requested cuts of the good stuff adorned the sandwich. Decent cole slaw.
Same flavor profile on the tender ribs. I must say for St. Louis style ribs this is the closest I’ve found any BBQ outlet has come to matching the original Salt Lick in Driftwood’s prowess. I found the sausage appealing; but there is better hot gut elsewhere. Sauce is unique to the restaurant. A broth number with minimal incorporated tomato and ample diced onion. Fared quite well with my first bites of the sammich. First BBQ jus FTW!

Solid BBQ place; I’ve eaten a fair amount of BBQ if you check out my other reviews and I can definitely say that this place is a cut above average. Which does make sense given that Mssr. Mueller had a big hand in making Texas style BBQ what it is today. The place has a divey ambiance that is as much old-​time saloon as BBQ joint, which I liked.
While they proudly claim that their brisket is their ‘calling card’, I’d only give it 3 stars. This is damning with faint praise as it is excellent; I just have to give the nod to other places like La BBQ or my personal favorite, Snow’s in Lexington.
However, the pork spare ribs are standout; among the best I’ve had. I would make the 45-​minute drive from Austin again to try the baby-​back ribs, which alas are only sold on Saturday (shame on you LMB for not stating this on your online menu!). Of interest is the «thin-​dip» BBQ sauce, which is a watery tomato-​and-​onion based sauce that’s very good for dipping. I liked the onion-​y, peppery flavor though two others in my group did not, so YMMV.
The sides are uniformly good, the service friendly, and the parking more than adequate in the lot next door.
Highly recommended as a place to round out your BBQ pilgrimage.
This place gets 3 stars on the ‘CTJ Scale’, as noted below.
5 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​Jesus good. Would be OK passing away after finishing a meal here.
4 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​Mary good. Would be OK being seen eating here by Mother Mary.
3 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​Joseph good. Would be OK having a beer here with Jesus’ Dad.
2 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​the-​Apostles good. Meh. Wouldn’t have my last supper here.
1 out of 5 stars: Come-​to-​Nobody good. I wouldn’t have my penultimate supper here, either.

Lunch review.
Beef rib — ⁴⁄₅ — Not quite as good as LA bbq.
Brisket — ³⁄₅
Pulled pork — ²⁄₅
Baby back ribs — ⁴⁄₅
Sausage — ³⁄₅
Chopped beef potato — ⁴⁄₅
Sides — ³⁄₅
Desserts — ⁴⁄₅
Overall, «I’m a fan.»

Texas BBQ royalty? Louie Mueller Barbecue has spawned more of the current Texas pitmasters, either directly or indirectly, than any other single institution, so this title probably suits them perfectly. Their influence extends far beyond our border as well, like Billy Durney of Hometown Bar-​B-​Que in Brooklyn, NY, for instance, who considers Pitmaster Wayne Mueller «like a brother.» The Texas BBQ family tree has a significant portion of its roots in Louie Mueller Barbecue.
Louie Mueller Barbecue traces its origins to Louie Mueller’s arrival in Taylor in 1936 to operate its first Safeway Grocery Store, and opened its current location on W 2^nd St. in Taylor in 1959. Stepping into Louie Mueller Barbecue is like stepping back into Texas history. From the creak of the wood plank floors, to the smoke-​stained decorations and wall of business cards people have been leaving for years, upon entering you get the sense you’re experiencing something special. We arrived about 11:00 am, and were in line just before the lunch crowd.
At Louie Mueller’s, you order the beef rib. It’s what you do. It is the gold standard of the big beef plate ribs that have become so popular in recent years. Why so popular? Visually, they are stunning, with a heavy black peppered bark, and rendered in the slow smoke to the point of release from its structure, the big plate bone. No sauce is necessary; one bite and you’ll want the deep, rich flavors of the beef rib to stay true to the end. We also had to pick up just one of the house-​made original link sausage, from which we were treated to the familiar snap of natural casing and clear running juices. The rib and the sausage were excellent, and worthy of a visit by themselves.
Pro tip: if you have a Q Card, you get a free peach cobbler a-​la-​mode with your order!

What’s in a name? Apparently a lot.
Louis Mueller, John Mueller, LeAnn (LA BBQ) Mueller, Aaron Franklin (former L. Mueller employee). Coincidence???
First time visit here after a very quick romp up TX 130, highest speed limit in the country.
Arrived at 2:30 and no line. Also guess what? Very little meat remaining. Brisket, sausage and pulled pork. No beef, spare or baby back ribs. No chicken, just a few sides. Completely out by the time we left.
Mound up the brisket and sausage along with a sample of pork and a few sides. Did I mention that jalapeños are $ 0.39 each? This has to be at least a 100X markup. Pretty good business if you can get it.
Anyway this place is basically a huge screened in porch. No air conditioning and plenty of flies. Really authentic feeling though from some time a long long time ago.
The brisket is super tender, a bit dry in parts, I asked for moist. I could use some more smoke flavor but the seasoning was about right. The sausage was good with firm casing and medium grind. The jalapeño version was spicy, the plain needed a bit more seasoning.
The sides were good but I sure would have liked to have tried more meat. Next time I will get here early enough to get in line and have my choice Mueller-​family-​style.