Distant Relatives
African diaspora flavor meets Central Texas smoke
Distant Relatives is a barbecue restaurant in Austin, Texas.
Distant Relatives is one of the most ambitious barbecue concepts Austin has produced in years. Pitmaster Damien Brockway builds on Central Texas smoking technique and threads it with flavors from across the African diaspora — West African spice, Southern soul-food tradition, and Caribbean touches — so the plate tells a bigger story than the pit alone ever could.
The brisket is pure Central Texas, dark-barked and oak-smoked, but the sides are where the concept comes alive: jollof rice, collard greens swimming in pot liquor, and a mac and cheese that draws from both Southern and West African kitchens. Smoked oxtails add a deep, sticky richness that most Texas boards never reach for. This is barbecue that honors several traditions at once without diluting any of them — the rare fusion that deepens the smoke instead of decorating it.
- Style: Central Texas Style
- Price: $$
- Neighborhood: East Austin
- Serving since 2021
What to order
- Brisket
- Oxtails
- Jollof Rice
- Collard Greens
How it scores — 9.1/10 overall
Visiting
- Address: 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744
- Phone: (512) 766-8906
- Website: https://distantrelativesatx.com
Hours: Wed–Sun 11am until sold out
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