KG BBQ
Egyptian-Texan barbecue from a Cairo-born pitmaster
KG BBQ is a barbecue restaurant in Austin, Texas.
Kareem El-Ghayesh left a finance career in Cairo to smoke meat in Austin, and KG BBQ is the genuinely original result. From a trailer on Manor Road next to Oddwood Brewing, he layers Middle Eastern spice and technique over Central Texas fundamentals — a fusion the Michelin guide recognized with a Bib Gourmand.
The brisket holds its Texas backbone, oak-smoked with a firm bark, but the seasoning brings something new: dukkah's nutty crunch, tahini's richness, harissa's slow heat. The beef short rib is a showpiece, and the hawawshi — spiced beef baked into pita — pulls the menu fully into Egyptian territory without losing the smoke. The Egyptian sides finish the picture. This is fusion with conviction, where two cuisines meet as equals rather than one borrowing a garnish from the other.
- Style: Central Texas Style
- Price: $$
- Neighborhood: East Austin
What to order
- Brisket
- Beef Short Rib
- Hawawshi
- Egyptian Sides
How it scores — 8.8/10 overall
Visiting
- Address: 3108 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723
- Phone: (737) 294-8598
- Website: https://www.kgbbq.com/
Hours: Thu–Sat 11am–8pm, Sun 11am–5pm, or until sold out
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