In a city of barbecue heavyweights, InterStellar BBQ continues to hold its own in a small Northwest Austin strip mall. Sandwiched between a beauty salon and a Korean chicken and karaoke bar, owner and pitmaster Jon Bates and team serve some of the Texas capital's best smoked meats.
After seeing success at the exact location as his previous restaurant, Noble Sandwich Co., Bates pivoted to barbecue and reopened the restaurant as InterStellar BBQ in February 2019. A few months later, it received a glowing review from Daniel Vaughn, Texas Monthly's barbecue editor.
My girlfriend, Kel, introduced me to InterStellar BBQ in 2021. It was her favorite local barbecue spot, and as I began to spend more time in North Austin (eventually moving there), it became one of mine, too. We arrived fifteen minutes before opening, and there was no line.
Note that this was a few months before Texas Monthly named InterStellar BBQ the #2 best barbecue restaurant in the state. The hallmark lines that come with such notoriety followed.
Our order included brisket, pork ribs, and peach tea-glazed pork belly. The large, luscious cubes of pork belly are one of several items that stood out to me that day, and I've yet to taste better pork belly anywhere in Texas.
The sides were also noteworthy. We got the mac 'n Gouda topped with breadcrumbs and broccoli with a chili aioli. Both were a bit fancier than what you typically find at BBQ joints. And InterStellar remains the only place I've seen Mexican chocolate rice pudding for dessert (and boy, was it delicious)!
My Latest Visit to InterStellar BBQ
Kel and I returned to InterStellar in 2022 and again on the last Friday of 2023. The latter occasions required more patience, as InterStellar's reputation had skyrocketed since their listing just below Goldee's in Fort Worth as the best BBQ in the Lone Star State.
For our December 2023 visit, the temperature was in the mid-40s, and the sun was shining. We arrived at 10:30 a.m. to find a medium-sized line. The wait was about 70 minutes outside and another 20 minutes inside before it was our turn to order. For comparison's sake, our wait was double that (three hours) at Goldee's.
Jon Bates was behind the counter, offering each guest as much time as needed to place their order. He's maintained his emphasis on producing high-quality barbecue despite InterStellar's meteoric growth. Given the time we spent in line, we ordered enough to ensure there would be leftovers to take home.
Our lunch order at InterStellar BBQ included:
- Brisket (¼ lb)
- Pork rib (one)
- Peach tea-glazed pork belly (three cubes)
- Lamb taco (special)
- Chorizo cheese grits
- Potato salad
- Banana pudding
- Egg nog rice pudding (seasonal)
- BBQ beans (free if you ask)
The total cost for our feast for two, including tax and tip, was $73.30. After paying, we walked into a new room added to the main dining room since our last visit. It features a counter for collecting take-out orders and additional (albeit tight) seating.
I began with the fatty brisket-smoked low and slow for 12 to 14 hours over post-oak wood. Then, bites of the sticky pork belly, each cube larger than it appears in photos. I leave the other two for Kel and move on to the giant lamb taco.
See also: Kansas City-Style BBQ
The shredded lamb meat was garnished with salsa verde, cilantro, and chopped onion and placed on a handmade flour tortilla. I've discovered an affinity for certain barbecue meats over others when it comes to tacos. I much prefer lamb or barbacoa to brisket.
All of the sides were tasty, too. I enjoyed the cheesy grits more than Kel, and we both appreciated the complimentary beans made with chopped ends and spices (available upon request). Aside from slices of white bread, I can't recall another Texas BBQ joint offering a free side as a standard part of their menu.
Sadly, the Mexican chocolate rice pudding with Oreo cookies wasn't available. But that didn't stop me from trying the seasonal eggnog rice pudding. We also got the banana pudding, which was better than average.
Overall, I left my latest lunch at InterStellar BBQ feeling like they'd found small ways to continue improving the menu and diner experience. Perhaps next time, I can break the habit of ordering meat by the pound and try one of Jon's $13 single-meat sandwiches. Lamb, turkey, chopped or sliced brisket, and sausage are all available.
InterStellar BBQ
12233 Ranch Rd 620 N suite 105, Austin, TX
theinterstellarbbq.com
