7.8
Archie's BBQ
$East Austin,
East 12th smoke that runs on regulars' time
Sam's BBQ
East Austin, ·$·Est. 1957
AIAI-generated illustration — not a photograph of this restaurant. About our images
8.3/ 10
0 reviews“East 12th's generations-deep beef-rib pit”
Sam's has fed East 12th Street for generations, a bare-bones barbecue counter that has never traded its honesty for a renovation. It runs on smoke and reputation, the kind of long-standing East Austin pit where the room is plain, the paper is greasy, and the meat is the entire point. The beef ribs are the signature — a big, beefy cook with a hard smoke edge that rewards the trip across town — and the brisket carries genuine smoke beneath a peppery bark. Pork ribs and smoked sausage fill out a board that has looked the same for years, and it works. This is exactly the kind of institution the East Austin barbecue map is built on: unpretentious, generations-deep, and worth crossing the city for when you want the real, unadorned thing.
Know Before You Go
- Hours
- Wed–Sat 10am–10pm, Sun–Mon 10am–8pm
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Price
- Budget-friendly ($)
- Don't miss
- Beef Ribs, Brisket, and Pork Ribs
What to Order
1
Beef Ribs2
Brisket3
Pork Ribs4
Smoked SausageWhy It Stands Out
**Generations-deep, and the beef ribs prove it.** Sam's runs on smoke and reputation from a bare-bones East 12th counter — a big, hard-smoked beef rib and genuinely smoky brisket that reward crossing town for the unadorned thing.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 2000 E 12th St, Austin, TX 78702-1702
- Phone
- +15124780378
- Hours
- Wed–Sat 10am–10pm, Sun–Mon 10am–8pm
- Website
- samsbarbque.com/
- Price Range
- $
- Established
- 1957
Ratings Breakdown
6 dimensions, each scored 0-10
Smoke8.1
Bark7.9
Tenderness8.0
Value8.3
Atmosphere7.6
Consistency7.9
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Good to Know
Sam's BBQ — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Sam's BBQ?
Regulars point to Beef Ribs, Brisket, Pork Ribs, and Smoked Sausage.
What are Sam's BBQ's hours?
Wed–Sat 10am–10pm, Sun–Mon 10am–8pm
What days is Sam's BBQ closed?
Sam's BBQ is closed Tuesday. Hours can change on holidays, so it's worth confirming before a trip.
Is Sam's BBQ expensive?
Sam's BBQ is budget-friendly ($).
What kind of barbecue does Sam's BBQ serve?
Sam's BBQ 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 Sam's BBQ open?
Sam's BBQ has been serving Austin barbecue since 1957.
