8.8
Black's Barbecue (Lockhart Original)
$$Lockhart, Lockhart
Same family, same town, since 1932. The original.
LOCKHARTSINCE 1932FAMILY OWNED
AIAI-generated illustration — not a photograph of this restaurant. About our images
9.2/ 10
478 reviews“No forks. No sauce. No kidding. Since 1900.”
Kreuz Market has smoked meat in Lockhart since 1900, making it one of the oldest barbecue institutions in Texas, and its rules are famously non-negotiable: no forks, no sauce. Meat arrives on butcher paper, sliced to order straight from the pit, in a cavernous dining hall lined with long communal tables that feel like stepping back a century. The cuts set Kreuz apart from the Austin pack. The shoulder clod — a lean, beefy cut most modern pitmasters have abandoned — is smoked to a tender, peppery finish here, and the prime rib is a specialty you won't find at most joints. The original sausage carries a coarse, garlicky snap from a recipe as old as the building. This is Central Texas barbecue in its most elemental form: no plate, no sauce, no forks, just smoke and salt and pepper.
Know Before You Go
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 10:30am–8pm
- Closed
- Sunday
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Shoulder Clod, Prime Rib, and Original Sausage
What to Order
1
Shoulder Clod2
Prime Rib3
Original SausageWhy It Stands Out
**A living museum of Central Texas tradition.** Kreuz Market smokes the shoulder clod that most modern pitmasters abandoned to a peppery, tender finish — served on butcher paper, no forks, no sauce, exactly as it has since 1900.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 619 N Colorado St, Lockhart, TX 78644
- Phone
- (512) 398-2361
- Hours
- Mon–Sat 10:30am–8pm
- Website
- kreuzmarket.com
- Price Range
- $$
- Established
- 1900
Ratings Breakdown
6 dimensions, each scored 0-10
Smoke9.5
Bark9.3
Tenderness8.8
Value8.5
Atmosphere9.5
Consistency9.2
Back to Best BBQ in Austin
Good to Know
Kreuz Market — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Kreuz Market?
Regulars point to Shoulder Clod, Prime Rib, and Original Sausage.
What are Kreuz Market's hours?
Mon–Sat 10:30am–8pm
What days is Kreuz Market closed?
Kreuz Market is closed Sunday. Hours can change on holidays, so it's worth confirming before a trip.
Is Kreuz Market expensive?
Kreuz Market is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Kreuz Market serve?
Kreuz Market serves Central Texas Style barbecue — Central Texas BBQ is defined by its simplicity: salt-and-pepper rub, post oak wood, low and slow in an offset smoker. The meat is the star — no sauce needed. This is the style that put Texas BBQ on the world map.
When did Kreuz Market open?
Kreuz Market has been serving Austin barbecue since 1900.
More to Explore
Browse All You Might Also Like
9.9
Franklin Barbecue
$$East Austin, East Austin
The pilgrimage. The brisket that changed everything.
LEGENDARYBRISKET KINGLINE REQUIRED
⚡Opens at 11am, sells out by 1–2pm most days. Arrive by 8am for weekend visits.
9.3
Louie Mueller Barbecue
$$Taylor, Taylor
Taylor's cathedral of smoke. James Beard honored.
LEGENDARYJAMES BEARDTAYLOR
⚡Sells out by early afternoon. Arrive by 11am.