RUSTY BUCKET JAWSMACKING BBQ — Restaurant in San Antonio

Today (8/12), I visited San Antonio from Houston with my man and our son for a day trip. A couple of hours after we arrived, we decided on trying some of the best BBQ San Antonio has to offer, and Rusty Bucket came to mind after I looked up the menu a few days prior.

I made an online order and got a few items from the menu. I ordered the Rib Plate and an extra Rib with 2 sides (Potato Salad and Broccoli, Cheese and Rice Casserole), a Mac Attack Sandwich with an actual side of Mac and Cheese and a Coke. I also got a Sausage, Peach Cobbler, and a Popsicle.

First of all, I took my 1st bite of the Ribs, and I was amazed at how tender and seasoned it was. I just know in my heart that the rest of my meal will be just as good as those Ribs. Out of all the Ribs I tried so far, this is in the top 2 hands down. The Ribs was seasoned to perfection and slow cooked. Low and Slow is the best way to go if you want your Rib meat to fall off the bone and your brisket to melt in your mouth when you take that 1st bite. I will get that again when I return.

The Brisket Mac Sandwich called the Mac Attack was so tasty. The brisket (once again) was seasoned to perfection, and I saw that smoke ring around that brisket. I tasted the Mac and Cheese by itself, and it was a bit bland by itself, but with that sandwich, the brisket made it up for the blandness of the Mac. It's a good thing, though, that they gave us salt and pepper in the bag when I picked it up along with onions and pickles.

The Sausage was juicy and very delicious, even my son was eating every last bite of the sausage, some of my Ribs and some of his dad's brisket. The Peach Cobbler was decent, the Broccoli and Rice Casserole was decent as well, but the star of the show besides the ribs and brisket is the most delicious Potato Salad I had ever in life.

That Potato Salad was perfectly creamy, and it left me completely speechless. I need a bowl of that Potato Salad as soon as humanely possible. I'll get that again, again, and again. The service was great. I loved the 2 ladies who helped me. They were phenomenal. The ambiance was like an actual Texas BBQ party when you invite your family over for the 4th of July or just a summer get-together. That's what it felt like.

In conclusion, I can't wait to come back for more. San Antonio, we're off to a great start!!...

So I'm a little split with my opinion of Rusty Bucket BBQ. First of all the staff was super friendly checking up on me continuously to see if I needed anything while they kept the place tidy and clean. The place is kinda small (I counted 10ish picnic style tables inside, no seating outside) but it had great decor and set up. The place was super clean and was comfortably cool in temperature. Unfortunately I can't give the food I ate as much praise as the restaurant itself 😕. Although I have not tried all the meats as of now I'm not so sure I'll make it back there to do so. On this visit I had 1lb of brisket (marbled), a regular sausage link, mac and cheese, spicy green beans and a drink (free refills 🤘). Unfortunately I wasn't blown away by the brisket. It was at a good hot temp and very moist but it definitely lacked flavor. It didnt have much smokiness to it. The sausage wasn't too bad but it too did not knock my socks off (the sausage kinda had a store bought feel to it but I could very well be wrong). I used their bbq sauce on the meats to enhance the flavors but it didnt help as much. The bbq sauce on the table was very mild and lacked bold flavors that other bbq joints have in their sauces. The mac was good with little bits of bacon in it (I'm sure the kiddies love it) and the spicy green beans were ok'ish. Just so you know I am not being overly critical in my opinion. I did go in to the restuarant hungry and ready to eat and this is just what my thoughts are on the food. The prices are comparable to other bbq places in this town which is why I will probably seek elsewhere when I need to satisfy my bbq urges 😐. Sorry Rusty Bucket, your building and staff are nice but I wasn't quite impressed with the food I had. I hope others have a better opinion about it than I do. 👍 OH! And one other thing... Rusty Bucket, please consider a different, more durable sheet of paper to place under the food on the basket. Maybe pink butcher paper like the bbq places in Lockhart, San Marco and other well established restaurants use. The paper you are using cannot withstand the moisture in the meat and bbq sauce. I did pluck out a small wod of that paper from my mouth as I had the meal. Just a...

Not sure why it took me so long to write this review, but here it is! I visited Rusty Bucket Jaw Smacking BBQ again last week, which is probably my 20th time—and for a good reason. This place consistently delivers jaw-smacking BBQ that lives up to its name.

From the moment you walk in, the vintage Texas-themed decor transports you back in time, filled with antiques that add to the charm. It’s like stepping into a true Texas BBQ haven.

Now, let’s talk about the food—because that’s what truly makes this place special. I ordered the Farmer’s Chop Sandwich and brisket, and once again, they knocked it out of the park. The brisket is on a god-tier level, with a perfect smoke ring, melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, and just the right amount of bark and smokiness. The Farmer’s Chop Sandwich is an absolute beast—packed with all the meats, making every bite feel heavenly. If you love BBQ, this is the kind of sandwich that makes you stop mid-bite just to appreciate the perfection.

The portions are generous, the flavors are authentic Texas BBQ, and the overall experience is nothing short of amazing. If you’re a BBQ lover or just visiting San Antonio, this is an absolute must-visit. Trust me, you’ll leave full, satisfied, and already planning your next visit.

🔥 Rating: 5/5 – A BBQ...