BBQ Brisket Reigns
Supreme at Little Known
MANN'S SMOKEHOUSE BAR-B-QUE

Mann's BBQ brisket melts in your mouth. "TOP 50 BBQ
JOINTS IN TEXAS," HA! Mann's deserves way better. Photo/Wyscan

Mann's Smokehouse Bar-B-Que
8624 Research
Austin, TX 78758
(512) 459-5077

HOURS: Monday – Saturday, 11:30 am to 8 pm.

I love the BBQ brisket. I don't like Mann's location. Traffic and access issues. That's the only thing I don't like about this family owned, little piece of Austin BBQ magic.

Mann's is the kind of joint that makes Texas BBQ fun. Really. What a pleasant surprise to find such a wonderful little place almost under the elevated part of Research Blvd. The building is an old McDonald's. Humble and inviting at the same time.

Mann's is a real player when barbecue food Austin is discussed. The sides are numerous and good. An eclectic selection of sides for an Austin BBQ joint. Try the fried green tomatoes. Other sides include green beans, turnip greens (loved 'em) butter beans and even spaghetti.

Another hint, get the butter beans with corn bread sticks. Great combination. I swear a vegetarian would not have any complaints about this place.

Now let's get serious. My husband is a rib expert. That's all he eats. At Mann's it's ribs, mashed potatoes and gravy. RD also drinks three (!) Dublin Dr Pepper shorties. They're made with Imperial sugar (not corn syrup). Yum, yum.

I like the BBQ brisket here. Good crust. Not overly smoked and the texture is perfect. Juicy without sliding off the table.

Other menu selections include sausage, chicken (very nice, not dry, shriveled or overpowering). Ham, turkey, pulled pork, pork loin, Frito pie, baked spuds, pot roast, chicken fried steak and an EXCEPTIONAL fried catfish.

The list of deserts include pecan pie (my choice) and fruit cobbler, very good, Southern style.

Mann's is going to continue to do very well. They try real hard to be a genuine Texas BBQ joint. Many of their meat selections could compete with the best out there.

What I can't resolve about this place is the menu. Hamburgers for heaven's sake. French fries and MILKSHAKES.

Amazingly they pull it off. This Texas BBQ joint aims to please and the food I ate was very good to exceptional. No disappointments. I'm going to start eating here more often and work through the menu.

And that's what makes Mann's a great BBQ brisket and rib joint. You want to come back to try other stuff because they do the basic mesquite smoked Austin BBQ very well.

Mann's serves good barbecue food. Austin BBQ is enhanced by this little known underrated gem. If you can't enjoy Mann's you can't enjoy a winning lottery ticket.

AUSTIN TRAVEL TIP: The Dr Pepper shorties they serve here come from Dublin, Texas (west of Ft. Worth). The oldest Dr Pepper bottler in the world, Dublin Dr Pepper is bottled with Imperial Pure Cane Sugar (the original Dr Pepper formula). The bottling plant opened in 1891, six years after the invention of Dr Pepper. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Big bargin! Pulled pork plate one of
many surprises at Mann's. Photo/Wyscan

MENU: Smoked meats; BBQ brisket, beef and pork ribs, pork loin, chicken, pulled pork, sausage, ham, turkey. You can get a plate, sandwich, tortilla wrap or order by the pound.

Sides include; fried green tomatoes, spud salad (it's whipped), fried okra, cole slaw, French fries, black-eyed peas, tossed salad, onion rings, mashed potatoes and gravy, fruit salad and corn on the cob.

Blue-plate specials vary daily; Frito pie, bake potatoes, hamburgers, fried catfish, chicken-fried steak, pot roast.

Desserts; banana pudding, fruit cobblers, pecan pie, brownies, Blue Bell ice cream.

Sodas (including Dublin Dr Pepper), coffee, tea and beer.

CATERING:

DON'T MISS: BBQ Brisket and Dublin Dr Pepper

MAIL ORDER: N/A

LOCATION: About 9 miles north of downtown. Go north on IH-35. Take the ramp on the left onto IH-35 N/Hwy. 290 E. Continue to follow IH-35 for 5 ½ miles. Take exit 240B, merging onto Hwy. 183 north toward Research Blvd.. Take the exit toward Ohlen Rd/Peyton Gin Rd., merge onto Research Blvd. Make a u-turn at Ohlen Rd.

LINK: No web site.

Artz Rib House, Austin :: Ben's Longbranch Barbecue, Austin :: Black's Barbecue, Lockhart :: Central Texas BBQ Assc., Austin :: City Market, Luling :: Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Que, Llano :: County Line Bar-B-Q, Austin :: Crosstown BBQ, Elgin :: Green Mesquite Barbeque, Austin :: House Park Bar-B-Que, Austin :: Iron Works Barbecue, Austin :: Kreuz Market, Lockhart :: Mikeska's Bar-B-Q, Taylor :: Louie Mueller's BBQ, Taylor :: Ruby's BBQ, Austin :: Rudy's Country Store & Bar-B-Q, Austin :: Salt Lick BBQ, Driftwood :: Sam's BBQ, Austin :: Smitty's Market, Lockhart :: Stubb's Bar-B-Q, Austin

Leave Mann's BBQ brisket, ribs, Dublin Dr Pepper and go to TEXAS BARBEQUE.

Click here to go to Austin, Texas HOME.