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Southside Market & Bar-B-Q Inc
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
8 reviews for Southside Market & Bar-B-Q Inc
I'll skip a description of the entire menu and go straight to atmosphere, service, and product consistency details.
Atmosphere_The original downtown market opened in 1882 and later moved to this highway spot in 1992 where a big "new-ish" looking metal barn stands at the crossroads. Step inside and it honestly feels like this location could be 127 years old and I'm not talking "retro feel" but "The Real Deal Feel". The "Elgin Hot Guts" factory is attached at the rear of the restaurant/meat market. BBQ tradition and charisma out the ying-yang!
Service_They've got some folks who clean up the place after you've done et but this is your typical Central Texas BBQ belly up to the counter self-serve service. You order what ya want, they wrap up in pink paper, ya haul it back to your table, and you wolf it down. I'd brought a bottle of vino along so I asked for some plastic courtesy cups, grabbed my tray and proceeded to our perch. My group of four sat down at our table and I began to uncork the bottle of Zinfandel. This takes all of about 10 seconds. Suddenly a door swings open about twenty paces to my left and an aproned fellow steps through heading straight towards our table carrying a tray of glassware. Wearing a big smile he plops the glasses down in front of us as the eyes of other patrons swivel in our direction. Not just any old glasses but big bolla grande stemware like I have at home. I guessed we'd been spotted because it was a rather large bottle. Now I'd have been just fine with the plasticware but this went way beyond the call of duty. I don't believe they even sell wine.
Product consistency_ Now this is the big issue with me. If I'm gonna trek 35 miles outside of Austin the last thing I want is dry brisket! In fact I've traveled 1,535 miles as I don't live in Austin but in L.A. ( City of the Damned ). I've been to Southside 3 times and the brisket is never dry. The same with Meyer's (3 visits) located about another 2 miles further east. Elgin beats Lockhart on this issue alone. I've been to Smitty's 3 times 50/50 dry and had similar experiences at Kreuz.
ALWAYS order the fatty end !
A native born Texan, I've made the loop of The Central Texas BBQ Trail about 3 times. I drive out to Elgin every time I'm in Austin and I'll be doing it again when I return home for The Texas State Fair in Oct.. I LOVE Central Texas Q!
Notice the majority of "left coast" reviewers. Just so we're all clear on this subject, except for maybe The Rib Nest in El Segundo, BBQ in L.A. bites it !
Kudos for offering many meat choices for carnivorous human beings, and for cheap! Less stars for not really having a star player in the lineup.
Amazingly, for having such a mainstream sort of atmosphere, e.g. huge dining area, commercialized clothing, selling meat, doing a restaurant, all at the same time, this place holds some classic BBQ character.
The first thing to cross my mind was WHOA, beef ribs at 5.99 a lb. and pork ribs at 7.50 per. Then: mutton ribs. So I had 1 of each rib, and wasn't terribly hot on any particular organ-encaser (rib). The baby back was not tender, and the spare rib was unflavorful. The beef rib definitely had that great beefy, smoky flavor, but some parts were tough like jerky, and others yielded almost no meat. Not worth $3.50 IMO. The mutton rib is an absolute must for any game-flavor lover. It yields that insane tanginess, which I am actually not too much a fan of. Aside from the flavor, it was a definite winner in texture. Silky tenderness made it fall clean apart from the bone.
Brisket: not bad, tad on the lean side.
Pork steak: BAD... think of a pork chop. But a little drier.
All in all, a good place to take a large group as it accommodates well. Not the greatest BBQ, but if you're in Elgin, pick up some sausage de Elgin.
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Anyone who does not give this place at least four stars is clueless.
I've had BBQ all over the country and (so far) Southside has the best brisket bar none! If you like your brisket lean, boiled, smoked over sawdust/chips or some other half assed way; don't eat here.
Southside brisket is smoked over REAL wood (look at the woodpile out back) and has the smoke ring to prove it. The sausage is also good, but the brisket is the must. I've had the mutton ribs too and they were just OK IMHO. Who cares about sides, you eat BBQ for the MEAT not the slaw.
There are so many things I love about Austin. I was born here for one. Great music, fun bars on 6th Street and...THE FOOD! I get giddy as the plane descends into AUS. My mind races like untrained puppy. What will I have first TexMex or BBQ.
I don't come home often...I know shame on me. (Trust me I hear it from my mother.) Anyways, some how because I am the only family member that is an expat and lives at the beach I somehow qualify for celebrity status. Translation: A 35 mile trek to Elgin,Texas
I have been coming to Southside Market since it's original location in downtown Elgin. A huge scale, sawdust on the floors, picnic styles tables, butcher paper for plates and tender cooked to perfection sausage, brisket, and perfectly smoked ribs. The sides are nondescript beans, potato salad, coleslaw, pickles, and white bread...(yes as in Wonder.) I think there is a method to the madness..it's all about the meat.
The new location is glitzy and and a lot bigger. And, ahem...decked out with animal busts...kinda a like a pro NRA commercial. Still, I come for the meat not the décor. Order the cut with a fork brisket...it is smoked for 24 hours. Yes, there is some fattiness to the meat, but that is indicative of the cut, plus it adds to the flavor of the meat. Next, do not miss the main attraction...Elgin Hot Sausage!!! Douse it liberally in the homemade vinegar hot sauce. Wash it down it with a Big Red or Shiner Bock. Save room for the thick and creamy Blue Bell ice cream.
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Yeah, uh, I don't get it. I'd heard this place was AWESOME barbecue... and, I mean, it's okay... but I was expecting more, guys. The prices are okay, there's no selection as far as sides go (beans and/or slaw), and the meat? Well, it's good, not spectacular, and really pretty fatty (and I'm a guy who usually orders 'a little bit of flava' at my favorite place, Mann's on 183-- be there!). Also, the sauce (a personal thing, in my opinion), sucks.
If I pass through Elgin again I may give Southside another shot (assuming I've hit Meyer's up at some point)-- but for out of town guests, gosh, take em to Mann's, Rudy's or Ruby's.
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Ah yes, Southside!
My first and second Texas BBQ experience.
A carnivores paradise.
Beef brisket, sausage, ribs all served on butcher paper. Get them with a loaf of bread and a cold bottle of Big Red. I don't remember ordering any side dishes. Order your bbq meats at the counter, bring your tray to the picnic tables and go to town.
I swear, I never had BBQ this good before.
My uncle had to FedEx me a couple beef briskets to SoCal so I can re-live the experience.
Like Arnold says, "I'll be back!"
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In a word ... wonderful! THIS is my fav place for BBQ chicken and sausage. The brisket is lean, fork tender, and has that authentic, black char on the edge. The half chicken is recognizable and just melts in the mouth; the mesquite flavor soars taking the pallet to hights of celestial BBQ ecstacy.
Seems as I travel around the state I will stop and sample a new (to me) BBQ eatery often. It is not unusual to find all their offerings cooked at the restaurant EXCEPT the sausage and will have a signboard exclaiming their's comes from the Southside Market in Elgin! Now that is as good an endorsement as I can think of.
The place is easy to find right on U.S. 290 and is LARGE! Besides all the usual brisket, chicken, ribs, Southside Market offers turkey and other meats plus the beans, slaw, potato salad. One gets white bread, dill pickle chips, fresh onion, and a very good sauce. I only taste the sauce though and am not much of an expert on it but my honey is and gives the sauce an 8 out of 10.
Long, wooden tables and lots of taxidermy plus a Blue Bell ice cream shop and fresh meat to go area are nice bonuses.
Prices are quite reasonable (especially compared to the sky high Salt Licks in Austin and Driftwood. Couldn't get the $ sign thingy to work but I would have selected $$ out of 4-$. Elgin is only about 45 min from Austin making it comparable to the Salt Lick in distance.
Great food prepared in the TRADITIONAL Texas style. Ask for a tour of the cook pits if you want. We did so and almost swooned from the aroma alone.
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This place spoiled my anthropology experiment at Hutto Hippos Homecoming. I thought an alien baby was eating through my intestinal lining. Maybe I just don't respect my elders, but this is Exhibit A in overrated through longevity.
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