Ben’s Long Branch Barbecue

As good of bbq you are going to find in Austin — without driving to Lockhart! The service here is great and the ambiance is exactly what you would expect of an authentic Texas bbq joint — laid back and bit rough around the edges. The ribs here are the true standouts but the brisket is great, too.

Ben’s Long Branch Barbecue used to be a favorite of mine as a college student and new grad. Sam’s on the east side gets all the hype (and movie/​TV spots), but Ben’s is better. While Sam’s is tiny and deep in the east side, Ben’s is spacious and just east of IH-​35.
What drew me to this place in college was that it was an authentic soul bbq place, and it used to have really late hours (a la Sam’s). There used to be entire east side families eating family style in here at midnight. Not anymore; the place is now only open from 11am to 4pm Monday through Saturday.
They have lots of meats available, including mutton. The people were really nice, even calling cocky college students «sweetheart». It’s been around for 31+ years, and it oozes Southern hospitality and authenticity. I like the flavorful bbq sauce here better than at Sam’s, and my standby favorites were the brisket (of course) and the ribs. You order at the counter and watch them fetch the meats out of the rotating pit fire smokers/​grills.
I heard that from 2002 – 2004, they leased the restaurant out to people who nearly ran it into the ground, but Ben came out of retirement in ’04. I need to go back the next time I’m in town for a re-​visit — and to try the much-​hyped mutton. Also, gotta love their slogan — «We ain’t pizza».

Awesome. Authentic, perfect taste, friendly folks– best sausage on the east side. great brisket too.
Lots of Capitol officials, right along with the locals. I have never been dissatisfied.
this place has been closed the last few times i’ve driven by– anyone know the story?
Great food, and Ben is a wonderful character.

Given all the attention that is showered upon Sam’s BBQ, the excellent brisket at Ben’s is often an afterthought. It’s rather unfortunate that Ben’s has been tossed aside like yesterday’s garbage; instead, it’s an absolutely acceptable alternative to the BBQ offered over at Sam’s. If you haven’t been to Ben’s and you enjoy Sam’s, you owe it to yourself to at least check it out.

Whenever I’m in town this place is a bar-​b-​que must have. Its a bit of a hike from where I usually stay, but the taste of the rubs and sauce they use on their meats is fantastic. I’m not going to recommend anything because I would have it all… all the time if I could. It closes at four every day and is closed on Sundays so plan accordingly. This place is not fancy by any means, with the paper plates and hearty servings, but rather it is a hole in the wall on the east side that is completely worth the drive for me.