KG BBQ — Restaurant in Austin

KG BBQ is one of my favorite BBQ restaurants in Austin. I first heard about it before it won the 2024 Bib Gourmand award. The food here is consistently excellent, and the wait time isn’t bad at all — even on weekends during lunch, it’s usually around 30 minutes. I've visited more than 5 times in the past 4 months.

What sets KG BBQ apart is the variety and uniqueness of its meats and the sauce. I've tried everything on the menu multiple times, and my personal top 3 are:

Lamb Chop This is the best lamb chop I’ve ever had. Cooked to perfection — tender, juicy, and well-seasoned. The lamb fat adds an incredible flavor and richness. I can’t get enough of it.

Chicken Kebab Made with chicken thigh, it’s tender without being overly soft. The texture is spot-on, and the flavor is satisfying.

Kofta Think of it like a more solid, flavorful sausage with a rich smoky aroma.

Of course, other meats on the menu should not be missed.

Brisket Brisket is the heart of Texas BBQ, and KG BBQ delivers. It’s moist, with evenly distributed fat and great bark. On my first visit, I even got a burnt end — absolute perfection.

Pulled Lamb Shoulder This is the second BBQ spot I’ve seen offering pulled lamb. It’s tender and flavorful — a great alternative to pulled pork.

Pork Ribs These are the largest pork ribs I’ve seen at any BBQ joint. One bone can weigh up to a quarter pound. The use of pomegranate in the seasoning is clever and adds a sweet, tangy touch.

Pork Sausage This was my first time trying a pork-only sausage at a BBQ place. It’s a great option for anyone who doesn’t eat beef — I highly recommend it.

Lamb Bacon Ribs Smaller and fattier than pork ribs, these are a must-try for lamb fat lovers.

If you’ve still got room, don’t miss the Egyptian Baladi Salad. It’s light, refreshing, and balances out the richness of the meats. The banana pudding is also a standout — not too sweet, with a deep hazelnut flavor.

What I love most about KG BBQ is that the food isn’t overly heavy, and is friendly for people who don’t eat beef. I even brought my Indian friend there, and they found plenty to enjoy. I’ll definitely be back to try the few remaining dishes I haven’t gotten to yet, and I’m already planning to bring more friends here...

When lamb calls, I answer, and I answer hungry.

TL;DR: KG BBQ isn’t just a food truck, it’s a lamb-chop-laced fever dream kissed by cumin and backyard pitmaster magic. I parked across the street and walked into a smoky Egyptian oasis. The lamb was thick, smoky, and glorious. The salad? Crisp. The dessert? A sweet pistachio-laced pyramid of joy. 8 down, 42 to go.

Let me paint you a picture: It’s mid-afternoon in Austin, the Texas heat is whispering sweet BBQ nothings, and I’m on a mission: lamb chops or bust. I rolled up to KG BBQ, the food truck that dares to blend Texas smoke with Egyptian spice.

Parking was tighter than a brisket wrap, so I hoofed it across the street like a man on a quest. But you know what they say, if the parking is easy, the food probably isn’t worth it. A short line had gathered, clearly aware that this wasn’t your average smoked-meat stand. This was smoked meat with hieroglyphic swagger.

Now, I spent a chunk of my childhood Down Under, where lamb is practically a food group. When I see lamb on a menu, the choice is made before my boots hit the pavement. KG’s lamb chops were the crown jewels. Bone-in beauties, thick as a Texas twang, smoked to a perfect medium, dripping in juice and kissed with a spicy chimichurri that made me question every life choice that didn’t lead me to this very moment. I didn’t just eat them, y’all, I communed with them.

But I’m a gentleman, so I brought something home for my wife, the Side Dish Queen. First, the Baladi Salad: fresh tomato, cucumber, red onion, with a tangy vinegar punch and a whisper of cumin. She gave it a nod of approval so fast I knew it was a winner. Then came the Cardamom Pistachio Rice Pudding. Rich, creamy, lightly spiced, and topped with a crunchy crown of crushed pistachios.

And as for the lamb? Let’s just say, I didn’t bring any home. She doesn’t like lamb anyway… which is exactly what I was counting on.

KG BBQ is what happens when global flavors take a sabbatical in Texas and discover a smoker. It’s food with soul and swagger. The kind of place that makes you think twice about what BBQ can be, and then makes you come back for more.

That makes 8 stamps on the Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ tour. Only 42 more smoky...

My wife and I thought a day trip to Austin from N. Fort Worth, that's 3 hours each way. Why because we like Med., middle eastern foods, why not a BBQ twist. We where focused mostly on the lamb options. This review does not represent the brisket nor sides (ketovore). This was a to go order. What we ordered; Sumac & Cin. Lamb Shoulder, can not give a recommendation. did not receive 1/2 pound 18, did pay for it. Smoked lamb chops, yes these where well done, not over cooked right bit of smoke, seasoning spot on, 2 @ 8.50 each. Lamb bacon ribs, talk about richness, I doubt anyone could eat more than 1 in a sitting, probably the best item we had. 1/2 pound at 18. Smoked Kofta, nice but I think the amount of smoke, I would rather just have straight kofta, again 1/2 pound at 16. And last 2 Med, Pork Sausage, would have to say these had a nice smoke ring, moist, good snap on casing, and the olive in the mix was a great add. 2 each at 8.50. Pita, yes got a side just to try,(not strict ketovore) probably the worst pita I have ever had. Pomegranate BBQ sauce, Ill thumb's up it. Mint Chimichurri a double thumb up. The Tahini Sauce, absolute waste of good sesame seed, was absolutely bitter, you could not taste anything but bitter. Now here is the issue I had. My bill came to just at 100.00, I do not tip, no one served me but if you total up what we got that comes to 68, with tax no where close to the 100. No they where not that busy, waiting for our order that changed, line got probably 20 groups of people. You could say I should have checked my order prior to leaving, you would be correct there. I had no reason that you could screw up a simple order, but than again it is Austin. Than again they might have been pissed I did not tip? Or why did 3-4 groups after me get their orders before me? Coincidence? Would I recommend this place, No, mainly for the service. you might ask, when I noticed we where missing an item, already in the truck driving, and the line that built up yea right. I guess they needed the 18 dollar tip more than I needed the...