It’s Time…..Spring 2026 Texas Hill Country MeatUp! Book Your Rooms Here!

[dpearce]

So close to my sister in New Braunfels!

Did a search for BBQ "along the route" in maps, and man, there's a ton of highly rated places! You guys are going to need about 3 weeks. And a treadmill. Or a gym membership in the area. Maybe a personal trainer...

Been meaning (for years) to visit my sister at her place, instead of her coming up here, but never seems to line up. It's tempting, but unfortunately, (not that I think I could make it, anyway), I'm out of vacation until May.

You guys have fun, and send lots of pics!

[WI Bubba]

I still have Panhead John credit card info from the last one I was at, so this one should be no problem. I'll have to see if Lisa wants to come along or not.

[Panhead John]

No problem…. I’m supposed to get that big check next week from the Prime Minister of the Bank of Nigeria!

[Panhead John]

58limited Hey numbnuts, you forgot to add WI Bubba to the roster as a “might possibly show up” 🥸

[WI Bubba]

He's just making sure others get locked in with non-refundable tickets before they find out another rude smoker will be there.

[Alan Brice]

Free cancellation up to 2 days before.

[Huskee]

I can only assume you looked into central or northern Michigan and everything was booked so you were forced to settle for TX again....

[Mosca]

Seriously: I sent out a feeler, a post with a poll, about organizing in KC, or Chi, or SC, etc; I don’t have to live there to organize there, after all. While they were enthusiastic, there weren’t enough responses for me to think it would be worth it. Texas is huge, and there are a lot of enthusiastic and participating pit members there… enough that even if 1/10 of them attend, those plus whoever travels will make for a pretty good Meat Up.

[WI Bubba]

Mosca We should chat about the KC idea. I've been there several times to visit my kid and could easily come up with places to eat and a few to avoid. Including some non-BBQ joints for Thursdays dinner. We would have to get an Uber for Panhead John if he shows up. Driving in KC is a challenge, even for someone that pays attention while they are doing it.

[Huskee]

Mosca It's ok, I get it. FireMan and I will just meet 1-2x annually and cook steaks over oak & maple flames and call it a Michiagn Meat-up.

[captainlee]

Since we'll be on the Front Range in Castle Rock that week I'm sure that MBMorgan will be available so that we can have our Mini Colorado Meatup to compete.

[theroc]

I’ll be helping to represent the West Coast again in San Marcos. flyingpiglet has a conflict, though, so I’ll be flying solo. Panhead John, I’m packing my stretchy pants.

[Panhead John]

Woo hoo Roc! Glad you can make it.

[Alan Brice]

Thinkin about packing my rainbarrel.

[jayjordan]

Room booked, wife and I will be there.

[Panhead John]

Alright Jay, glad y’all can make it!

[klflowers]

I just might be able to swing this one. Our Boys Night Out weekend is the 9th through the 12th, and if we have it in New Orleans it will work out great. I am planning on being on the RV, so I won't be in the hotel, but I'll try and find a RV park the is close. I should know for sure next week.

[CandySueQ]

Let me know about RV park -- Got one I haven't gone anywhere in (yet)!

[klflowers]

By the way, I passed over Cardi for Rihanna. She is rolling with me

[texastweeter]

What happened to Tyra?

[klflowers]

texastweeter I kicked her to the curb. Or she kicked me…

[texastweeter]

Ahhh, she got too old for you. What about Meg The Stallion?

[58limited]

texastweeter What about it Tweety Boy?

[texastweeter]

klflowers just a warning, I have found out thigs look a lot better on her when modeling them than on myself.

[Panhead John]

Boy, that’s a shocker! 🙄

[klflowers]

texastweeter I find that hard to believe

[Panhead John]

To highlight the abundance of top notch BBQ in the area of our MeatUp, I thought I’d start a list of places nearby which have made Texas Monthly's Top 50 in Texas. All of the BBQ joints I’m listing have made the most recent 2025 list, if they’re in the Top 10 I’ll list their ranking next to their name. All of the places will also be an hour or less from the hotel, most of them will be less than an hour though.

AUSTIN:
1. Briscuits
2. Franklin Barbecue
3. KG BBQ
4. La Barbecue
5. Mum Foods Smokehouse and Delicatessen
6. Stiles Switch BBQ
7. Interstellar BBQ……Ranked #7
8. Leroy and Lewis Barbecue…….Ranked #2

LOCKHART:
1. Barbs BQ

SAN ANTONIO
1. 2 M Smokehouse
2. Reese Bros Barbecue

SEGUIN
1. Burnt Bean Co ……..Ranked #1

I was a little surprised after compiling this list, I’ve only been to one of the places listed 😳 The Burnt Bean. I’m definitely gonna plan on hitting at least 1or 2 on the Austin list. For anyone attending this April, if you’ve never been to Lockhart, you owe it to yourself to try and make a visit. It’s a cool little town with a beautiful downtown area. It’s officially listed as The BBQ Capital of Texas, and for good reason. The town’s full of great BBQ spots, most of them within a couple of miles of each other. In addition to the aforementioned Barbs BQ, there’s also Terry Blacks Barbecue, Kreuz Market, The Original Black’s BBQ, Smitty’s Market, Lockhart Chisholm Trail BBQ, and Riley’s Pit BBQ. I highly recommend visiting Terry Black’s in Lockhart if you go. Not only is their BBQ some of the best, the “experience” of the visit is the best of any of the places I’ve been. When you enter the restaurant from the parking lot, you walk right by row after row of their 1,000 gallon smokers. The pit masters working them are more than happy to give you a tour and tell you all about their processes, and answer any questions you might have…..large indoor and outdoor shaded seating area. Even when they’re packed, the lines move fast. It’s just the coolest BBQ joint I’ve ever visited IMO!

[Mosca]

lol Panhead John, you don’t have the patience to eat at Barb’s!

[Panhead John]

Got that right Tom! 😂

[jayjordan]

Another contender if going to Lockhart is Kruez Market. Walking through the door into the pit room where the meat is cooking to order your meats….sublime. If you have never had shoulder clod, this is the place.

https://www.kreuzmarket.com/history

[Mosca]

Where to find the 50 best tacos in Texas (8 in Austin, 10 in San Antonio)

The 23 best taco spots in San Antonio

The 22 best taco spots in Austin

The best Mexican and TexMex bites of 2025 (Blue Corn Crispy Dog at Gimme Gimme in San Antonio)

[Panhead John]

Alan Brice and others who will be flying in to the MeatUp……There are 2 choices for airports nearby when flying in, Austin-Bergstrom airport in Austin or the San Antonio International Airport. Your choice. From the San Antonio airport it’s about 45-50 miles to San Marcos…..from the Austin airport it’s about 30-35 miles. It would be cheaper to take an Uber or Lyft from the airport to the hotel, rather than rent a car. Once you get to the hotel, there will be plenty of us Texans with vehicles that you can ride with during the MeatUp!

[Purc]

Oh yeah, please remember which airport you are using...............just saying.

[Mosca]

Breakfast tacos: Loli’s in San Marcos. Drive up only. Don’t bother with the continental breakfast, go to Loli’s and bring it back to the hotel.

[WI Bubba]

I'm not going to miss out on the breakfast tacos this time. Thanks for the heads up!

[Purc]

Just booked Thursday to Sunday

[Panhead John]

Glad to see ya coming again Bill! 👏👏

[Alan Brice]

Whoo Hoo! Hell Yeah!