Rudy's "Country Store" and Bar-B-Q — Restaurant in Austin

I always say, any Texas BBQ spot should aim to be better than Rudy’s. That’s not a diss—it’s a testament to the high standards of Texas BBQ, and Rudy’s sets the bar. It’s the benchmark of solid, reliable BBQ that serves as a baseline for comparison. I was surprised to learn that Rudy’s isn’t limited to Texas—they’ve expanded to Florida, Oklahoma, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Tips:

Get it To-Go: Always say “yes” when they ask if you want bread and take the whole loaf. Bag up all the fixings like peppers, pickles, and onions—they’re generous, and the onions are versatile enough to sneak into home-cooked meals. Stock up on their BBQ sauce to go, it’s a staple worth having.

Skip the baby back ribs—they’re quite awful and not worth it.

The Food: Rudy’s brisket is everything you’d want—tender, juicy, and full of flavor. It’s the kind of brisket that keeps you coming back. The quarter chicken is another standout, with a smoky flavor that’s bold yet balanced. It’s a leaner option that’s lower in saturated fats, making it a healthier choice without sacrificing flavor. For something sweet, the banana pudding is a sleeper hit. My wife pretends not to love it, but I’ve learned to always grab an extra because it’s too good to share.

The sides are no slouch either. The cole slaw is a classic with finely chopped, tender cabbage and just the right amount of sweetness. And the loaded baked potato topped with chopped brisket is indulgent BBQ decadence and a satisfying main dish in its own right, but it’s not for the faint of heart—it’s heavy on grease if you opt for the “wet” brisket.

One weak spot on the menu is the baby back ribs—they’re consistently underwhelming, with a poor texture that seems to come from low-quality meat, making them best skipped in favor of other options.

Final Thoughts: Rudy’s is a Texas BBQ institution for a reason. It’s dependable, flavorful, and the perfect introduction to what makes Texas BBQ great. While it may not push the boundaries of BBQ innovation, it sets the standard for quality and consistency. Whether you’re dining in or taking it to go, Rudy’s is always a...

To start what an entrance, greeted immediately. If your new it is a little bit of a maze. This is my first time in this Rudy’s so it I will say keep walking until you see the ropes. As you can see here I am indulging in turkey 1/2 lbs some potato salad pickles Rudy’s bbq sauce and white bread, for my drink sweat tea I added one lime one lemon and it needed some extra sugar I will say it’s not real Texas sweet tea. The pickles alone are a little bitter, the Rudy’s sauce has quite a bit of pepper, if your looking for a hot bbq sauce this is more family friendly until you put a pill of it then your kick comes in.The potato salad is a slam dunk. It’s creamy the texture is just right. The potatoes were cooked to perfection so it’s all blended perfectly. Not too overpowered with pickles or mustard this has the perfect combination. Great job here. The turkey test is now happening both with and without sauce. To start without sauce, mind blown wow I am shocked! Delicious my mouth is watering from the moisture, it’s like that thanksgiving turkey you wait for all year cooked to perfection!!! Damn I don’t even need the sauce however let’s try with the Rudy’s sauce....I will say it does give it a bit of a honey spice kick as my mouth is tasting all the different flavors hitting at once. Last but definitely not least let’s make a turkey sandwich sooo not a fan. Gonna stick to keeping it all separate. So recap pretty amazing place. Even the cleanest place been to so far!!! Keep it up and you will definitely be the best restaurant operation in America! This is why you get 5 stars it meet all...

I was in Austin on business, and really wanted to try some good Texas BBQ. I ordered through their website, and it was user friendly. I ordered for delivery to the hotel so I didn’t get to see the restaurant. For some reason my order was late and still didn’t show that it was even picked up from the restaurant on my end so I called the store. The you guy I spoke to said it was already picked up, and if my app still shows it wasn’t picked up in 30 more minutes to call him back. About 20 minutes later, it showed my order was just picked up from the store and on the way. So, there was definitely a miscommunication somewhere, whether it was the restaurant or door dash.. I do not know. I did get my order about 30-35 minutes past the expected time. I won’t hold this against them since I don’t know the root cause… NOW ON TO THE FOOD

The moist brisket was cooked perfectly. The fat rendered really well, and it easily pulled apart. The pulled pork sandwich was delicious as well. I had the original and sissy sause both were good, I liked different things about each one, but I think original was slightly better because I liked the little extra spiciness. The only thing I didn’t really care for was the green chile stew… I think that was the name. It was OK, but nothing I would personally order again. I wish I would have been able to try their sausage, it was an oversight when ordering. Overall, I would definitely eat here again when I am near one of their locations. I should have taken pictures, but by the time my food arrived I was STARVING, and didn’t think about pictures...