Gluten-Free BBQ in Austin, Texas
Hi everyone! I made a list of our favorite gluten-free BBQ spots in Austin, Texas. Luckily, BBQ and most sides are usually great options for gluten-free eats. Beware of any BBQ sauce made with beer or soy sauce. But most rubs are either salt and pepper or spice based and shouldn’t contain any wheat. Always ask, though.
And as long as the bread comes from a bag and is kept separate, it should not be a source of cross-contamination.
Also most desserts are probably off limits, too. But ask for a few burnt ends. It’s like candy.
I feel safest when the server or owner asks if I need to eat gluten-free for my diet or because of celiac disease. Then I know that they understand the difference. And they will try to reduce cross-contamination and keep it safe for my level of sensitivity.
It has been pretty incredible as I’ve started to eat out more often in this town. It’s so exciting to have so many options and an ever-growing list of gluten-free restaurants and BBQ spots y’all!
Gluten-Free BBQ in the ATX
Franklin BBQ
We finally got to try a full plate of the amazing BBQ at Franklin when I won tickets to the Hot Luck Festival. It was so good. I asked and everything is gluten-free except the bread and dark BBQ sauce.
La Barbecue
I’ve had La Barbecue at the Food & Wine Fest, the Texas Monthly BBQ Fest and ordered for to-go pickup. All of the meats are gluten-free and delicious, but I’m not sure about anything else. So best to ask about the sauce and sides.
Lambert’s Downtown Barbecue
Located downtown, Lambert’s has many items on the menu besides barbecue that are gluten-free. Although not marked on the menu, the staff is very knowledgeable as to what is safe for the celiac. Don’t miss out on the spicy deviled eggs with smoked trout roe, olives and pickles. You can also catch live music upstairs on the weekends, too.
LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue
I was so excited to try LeRoy and Lewis BBQ. Evan LeRoy used to be the Pitmaster and Executive Chef at Freedmen’s, which was one of my favorite BBQs in town before it shut down. Now he has a food truck on South Congress just North of Ben White.
I went to an event where they were serving brisket, smoked chicken, kale Caesar slaw, potato salad, kimchi, dill pickles and beet BBQ sauce. And I got to ask him myself if it was gluten-free. And it was! So yay. Another awesome gluten-free BBQ option in Austin. BTW the brisket was amazing.
menu | address
Loro
Loro is an Asian smokehouse and bar collaboration between the James Beard Award winners, Chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue. It has a friendly atmosphere and huge patio located on South Lamar. Plus it was named one of Texas Monthly’s top new BBQ Joints!
You order food and drinks from the bar. And they will ask you if you have any dietary restrictions or Celiac disease when you order. Then bring your food out! So good!
Also, they have happy hour on weekdays from 2-5 pm. There is a limited happy hour menu without gluten-free options. But what I could eat was the burger with red onion brisket jam without the bun. It was awesome. So are the $4 mango sake slushees. 🙂
Salt Lick
Everything is gluten-free at the Salt Lick except the bread and dessert. Usually we make the trip out there (Driftwood, TX) for special events or when friends come to town. But now we live a little too close because we’ve been driving out there on a weeknight just for dinner. It’s so good. Check out that beautiful meat pit up top.
You can order family style, which is all-you-can-eat ($25 per person), or by a variety of different meat combos per plate ($15-18 per person).
Each plate comes with a lot of beans, potato salad and coleslaw (sometimes I have leftovers, sometimes I can eat the whole plate…). Remember it’s cash only at the Driftwood location (they do have an ATM) and it’s BYOB. They also have a lovely wine tasting area and sell beer and wine now, too.
Tell them you need it to be gluten-free and they will use a clean block to cut the meat for you.
menu | address
Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew
Stiles Switch is located on N. Lamar and serves up some pretty good BBQ (made the Texas Monthly top 50 BBQ joints in Texas). You walk in and order at the counter and they will cut the meat in front of you. Then you take your ‘que and find a seat. There are TVs everywhere so you can hang out and watch a game, too.
All of the meats are gluten-free, the sauces are gluten-free and so are most of the sides (not safe sides are the corn casserole and mac and cheese). You can order by the pound or by the plate. Make sure to tell them you are gluten-free and they will change gloves before cutting the meat.
Here is the 3 meat plate served with 2 sides. I ordered the smoked turkey, spicy sausage, and brisket with cucumber tomato salad, and spicy cajun coleslaw. And I really liked the mango habanero BBQ sauce and the pickles, too. They also have specials that might be safe as well – just ask because they are knowledgeable!
Terry Black’s Barbecue
Pretty delicious Texas barbecue. All of the gluten-free sides and smoked meats are indicated on the menu. I absolutely loved the smoked turkey, brisket, coleslaw, and potato salad, and spicy sauce. Currently they are taking pre-orders for pick up. The small family pack here included three pounds of meat and 5 pints of sides. You can also order meat by the pound and sides separately.
The Peached Tortilla
The super popular Peached Tortilla food truck now also has a brick and mortar location on Burnet. This original concept combines Southern comfort food with an Asian flair. The gluten-free offerings are clearly marked on the menu.
Some of the GF dishes are Asian pear miso salad, charred brussels with bacon jam (amazing!), BBQ brisket tacos served with creamy apple slaw and smoky roasted peach BBQ sauce (awesome!), the crispy umami chicken wings, and cauliflower three ways with nori butter.
On Taco Tuesday, the tacos are $4 and margs are $5.
Texas Monthly BBQ Fest
Although we haven’t been to the gluten-free restaurants themselves, we did get to try lots of GF deliciousness from these BBQ joints at the Texas Monthy BBQ Fest held here in Austin.
The Original Black’s Barbecue in Austin & Lockhart
Cranky Frank’s BBQ in Fredericksburg (he told me the meat and sauce were gluten free)
Lockhart Smokehouse in Dallas (all meat except sausage is gluten free)
So cheers y’all! I hope this helps you find safe and fun places to eat gluten-free BBQ in and around Austin.
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