Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que

I couldn’t resist going to Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que TWICE during my time in Austin—and both visits were outstanding. From the moment you walk in and see the pit loaded with smoky, mouthwatering meats, you know you’re in for something special. The brisket was melt-in-your-mouth tender with that perfect smoky bark, and the beef and pork ribs were absolutely packed with flavor. The sausage had just the right snap, and everything was made even better with their housemade BBQ sauce. The beans were flavorful, hearty, and the best complement to the meats. And I have to mention—the Parkay! I had to take a pic of the bottle they had available; it just added to the charm and authenticity of the experience. Sharing a meal here with colleagues was such a treat—we all left full and happy. Cooper’s is the real deal: authentic Texas BBQ at its best, hearty portions, and absolutely worth a repeat visit (or two!).

This place should be in your must list! You can choose any beef cut you like and they are all fresh. It’s juicy, very very delicious. You pay by pound, and although price, it is definitely worth it. I’d recommend to be cautious when adding sides, because you can add pickles and beans with pork and bread for free. You can ask for well done, or for any other term of your preference. When ordering ribs, you can actually as them to remove the bone so you only pay for what you actually eat. Amazing and delicious place! There’s a bar inside as well. Sides are just ok.

A very solid choice for BBQ! A central spot with a lot of seating and options. I highly recommend the jalapeño cheddar sausage and the beef rib! The corn on the cob side and tricked baked potato casserole were phenomenal! Service was good, they were quick and snappy and kept the line going.

Great Spot to eat at in Austin! The Beef ribs were really good, the brisket was juicy and tender, I will say the sausage was ok, and the cornbread was really good as well, but the Peach Cobbler stole the show for me, probably the best I've ever had. I recommend sitting upstairs, less people. Overall, great meal.

Cooper’s Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que in downtown Austin is an excellent choice to experience Texas Hills meats from the pit. I didn’t know any better and went later in evening when the food and atmosphere were not at peak, so I would encourage an earlier visit. This is not like a restaurant where you sit down at a table and steak is cooked to order. Rather, this is more like a backyard BBQ where you sit down at a picnic table after picking your meats from the grill master. If a picnic table is not your thing you can always sit at the bar. At Cooper’s, a friendly server will grab your meat selection and cut it to desired size - you pay by the pound here - then you are led to a counter where another friendly server wraps and weighs your meats while you decide on your sides. After that is the fixings bar where you can get utensils, napkins, and endless bread, sauce, and other options. For me, I had the prime rib and pork loin (both of which were done a little more than I like - see my comment about coming earlier - but were otherwise very tasty), along with cornbread and coleslaw (both very good). The margaritas were also very good. Overall, it was a nice experience in an old-time, saloon-type setting with friendly people and good food. Very much recommended.

Consistent barbecue that you get at their other locations. I've frequented their Fort Worth location many times. This was my first time here in Austin. Fun little place in downtown. Very different from the expansive locations in other places. Not sure if pricing was the same, but appeared similar to other Cooper's locations. This time I got the brisket and turkey. Both were done well and were delicious.

They served me more than I expected after telling them this was my first time having bbq in Texas. Definitely a tourist trap. Brisket, and ribs were dry and over salted. Sides were average. I’m sure there are much better BBQ joints in town.