While most tourists head to the hill country behemoth Salt Lick to lose their Texas BBQ virginity, I recommend going one step further and driving Southeast through a decidedly less picturesque landscape to Lockhart for something with a little more history behind it. Several establishments compete for supremacy here (the feud has been widely written about) but the best is Smitty’s, located on a nondescript block of this tiny Texas hamlet. I don’t want to spoil the experience, but try to keep your cool when ordering from the uber-serious, ever-intimidating pit masters. You’ll order by the pound so ask them how much is right depending on the size of your party. Once you’ve paid, take your food into the dining room, grab the requisite drinks and sauces, then take a seat and dig right in. When it’s all over, if you’re curious why it tastes so good, check out the painstakingly-curated piles of wood in the backyard. NOTE: Rather than waiting around, strung-along vegetarians should use their time to walk around the town square instead.
RECS: Anything and everything when it comes to the meat—the side dishes are nothing remarkable. Don’t miss the pork ribs, “fat” brisket, and “hot ring” sausage.
