Kerlin BBQ
East Cesar Chavez's small-batch, oak-fired pit
Kerlin BBQ is a barbecue restaurant in Austin, Texas.
Bill Kerlin's trailer has held down the East Cesar Chavez barbecue corridor since 2013, growing a small crew into a proper Central Texas force without ever leaving the parking-lot ethos behind. It is small-batch by choice — oak-fired, hand-tended, and gone before dinner most days, which is part of why the line forms early.
The brisket comes with a deep smoke ring and a bark that carries real pepper, and the pork ribs are among the best in the city, tender with a clean pull. Beef ribs bring the big-cut drama, and the jalapeño cheddar sausage is worth a detour on its own. Kerlin also earned a cult following for its BBQ kolaches — a Czech-Texan pastry stuffed with smoked meat that is the ideal thing to eat while you wait for the counter to open.
- Style: Central Texas Style
- Price: $$
- Neighborhood: East Austin
- Serving since 2013
What to order
- Brisket
- Spare Ribs
- Beef Ribs
- Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage
How it scores — 8.8/10 overall
Visiting
- Address: 2207 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
- Phone: (512) 412-5588
- Website: https://kerlinbbq.com
Hours: Wed–Sun 11am until sold out
358 words
Related Pages
Archie's BBQ, Austin, TX
Archie's BBQ in Austin is an East 12th Street counter pit serving salt-and-pepper brisket, pork ribs, chopped beef sandwiches, and coarse smoked sausage.
B Cooper Barbecue, Austin, TX
B Cooper Barbecue in Austin is an under-the-radar Manor Road trailer smoking post-oak brisket, rare smoked lamb breast, and weekend Mangalitsa pork ribs.
BBQ Fiends, Austin, Texas
BBQ Fiends in Hutto near Austin is a Texas Monthly Top 50 trailer serving dark-bark brisket, pork ribs, and coarse smoked sausage on a first-come basis.
Bee Caves B-B-Q, Austin, TX
Bee Caves B-B-Q in Austin brings Schmidt-family Central Texas tradition west with salt-and-pepper brisket, big beef ribs, pork ribs, and house-made sausage.
Bert's Bar-B-Q, Austin, Texas
Bert's Bar-B-Q in Austin is a Northwest Hills pit open since 1970 and named a 2022 Texas Treasure Business, serving traditional brisket, pork ribs, and sausage.
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q, Austin, TX
Bill Miller Bar-B-Q on Slaughter Lane in Austin serves the Texas chain's hickory brisket, sausage, and famous breakfast tacos from early morning through dinner.