I'm jealous that you guys lived in such a cultured town. Pull pork bbq is something I wish I had an affordable proprietary sample of... DC sure sux everday I think about it.
Franklin's is the standard, it's #1. That being said, I really enjoyed Kilen's bbq and several of the Central BBQ community showed up (Freedmen's BBQ, Wayne Mueller of Louie Mueller). BBQ is a brotherhood. Wayne Mueller told me he's trying to open up a downtown houston location. That would be a big win for Htown cause Louie Mueller's of Taylor is one of the originals. I'm still recovering from the meat comma. It was damn good.Brought some home of course. Killen's fatty brisket is really fatty. He doesn't trim off much or any, it helps with the moisture and flavor. The sides were great too. I've heard that there's no reason to go to Gatlin's or Corkscrew, that Killen's is the best in Houston. Here are my pics. here's a blogger who went there: http://thesmokingho.blogspot.com/2014/11/killens-barbecue-pop-up-austin.html
I've been wanting to go to Killen's for a while now. Sounds so good. I went to Rudy's for the first time a few weeks ago because my friends were always hyping it up. It was pretty lackluster. I had a chopped brisket sandwich and it was maybe the worst I've ever had from a BBQ joint. And I wasn't overly impressed with the much-lauded sauce either. I went to the one on Katy Freeway, maybe that's just not a good location.
dude, why do you order sandwiches? just order the brisket and they'll give you bread, pickles and onions so you can make your own. you get a better meat too. that's for all bbq joints. go to killen's. it's really good.
I order chopped beef sandwiches at pretty much every BBQ place. It's one of my favorite things. I know they'll give you sliced bread, but buns are better. Also, I don't see how the chopped beef they give you would be different on a sandwich than by itself. Besides, other people that went with me ordered different things and had the same "meh" reaction to their food. I would definitely branch out and try something different at Killen's though.
I went to Rudy's a while back. I thought it sucked, definitely not impressed. Haven't tried Killens yet.
Rudy's is great standard fare bbq now. Its not the same small shop bbq like the original in San Antonio. I remember going to Fiesta TX as a kid and parents stopped by the original Rudy's and had some of the best bbq there. Rudys is a huge chain now and you probably got teenagers making min. wage cooking your meat. Of course its going to be lackluster. But for a quick bite to eat, its still pretty solid.
Hmm... I don't think I've had bbq in months. I may have to take a trip to Houston or Austin to try Killen's.
Killen had a pop up like a pop up dinner. I don't know when he'll be back in Austin, but it was a successful showing. The line was long at the beginning but around 115 you had no wait. I think he brought lots of brisket. Wondering if he wants to open a brick and mortar shop in town?
Chopped beef is usually made from the ends of the brisket and from other scraps after the briskets has been sliced. It definitely isn't the same quality as the rest of the brisket. I agree with Tinman, but to each his own.
Maybe I went on an off day but I wasn't impressed by Killen's BBQ. I had the brisket/ribs/pulled pork plate. The pulled pork actually was pretty good not dry. However the brisket was really too dry for my taste. It doesn't just compare to J Mullers or Franklins brisket. Also the ribs had a musty smell to it like it came from an old pig. The other time I had musty ribs was from salt lick. I might give Killen's another try but J Mullers and Franklins BBQ are far superior to Killen's On a side note his steakhouse is the best Steakhouse I have ever been too. You have to try his crab cakes, they have more crab than breading.
Definitely, unless they're only chopping or slicing it for one sandwich at a time, and do it right front of you at the counter where you can see exactly where it's coming from, exactly the same order to order. I like the really course chop they do like that at one of my favorites here (in brazoria co.), but never the finely chopped beef that's already been prepared, it sounds like some are only familiar with, especially when they've already mixed it with sauce.
I'm a regular BBQ snob who rarely eats sauce at all and agree a chopped beef sandwich is no way to judge a bbq restaurant... but there are occasions when I crave a presauced chopped beef sandwich. It takes me back to when I was a kid and my grandpa would stop at this little store in Dayton TX on the way to our river house and he'd go in and buy some gold fish and minnows for bait and a bag of chopped beef sandwiches.
I've been to both Killen's and Franklin's. I rate Killen's ahead by a nose. My girlfriend quipped that Franklin's was overrated--I agree. The meat was tender, smoky, and flavorful, but not quite up to par with Killen's. Then there are the sides. Killen's won overwhelmingly here (OMG, salivating just thinking of the slaw with bits of ramen noodle....mmmm). The Franklin's sides were unremarkable. Sauces. Killen's had more variety with better flavor.
