Cooper's Old Time Pit Bar-B-Cue

M

MaximumBarnes

100+ Posts
So I lived a quarter century in Austin without ever making it out to Llano for some of this stuff. I finally got my slack-*** around to going there last week and all I can say is that I have wasted a substantial portion of my life eating so-called barbecue that can be purchased in and around Austin and elsewhere. I hate it when food or movies or bands get overhyped before I ever get to check them out but Cooper's lived up to the hype. This is the best barbecue I have ever had by far and I'd be surprised if there is any better anywhere on the planet.
 
Sing it, brother.

I used to be a Kreuz's worshipper, but once I tasted Cooper's, they have my allegiance.

It is a thing of beauty. It almost makes me cry.
 
So now you see why so many defended it in the BBQ thread awhile back. Some were comparing Salt Lick to Coopers.
 
Someone post directions. NOW.
I have guest coming into town from Israel/Russia and I want to take them to this place.
 
It's about as easy as can be.

Take 71 west all the way to Llano. After you cross the river (which is damned pretty), you hit Highway 29. Turn left. Cooper's is about 400 yards down, on the left. Make sure you get there for lunch -- they're out of meat by 4:00 or so, and the good stuff is often gone by 1:00.

Pick your meat off the pit. They slice it and weigh it inside. Don't buy sides -- they have a pot of beans for free inside that are some of the best pintos around.

Brisket, goat if they have it, some pork ribs, and a BIg Chop (split this among some folks). Sausage ain't really good. Never tried the chicken.
 
Ate there last Sunday as well. Had to go out to my lease in Llano to pick up some gear for a dove hunt this weekend and stopped by. Incredible as usual - I'll second the "don't buy sides" comment as the beans kick ***.

I will take issue with their sausage sucking, though. Their jalapeno sausage is the dookie.

Directions above are right on too, Crayon. Very easy to find.
 
I thought I had heard the Llano location had taken a big drop off in results, I assume I'm mistaken? Isn't there another Cooper's somewhere?
 
Texas Monthly did a best BBQ edition a couple of years ago, and mentioned that Cooper's got in based on history/tradition, but that they weren't overly impressed..

I've been probably 10 times or more and have NEVER had a anything less than a spectacular meal. Pork chop is my favorite.
And as for the sides, should you choose, the potato salad is awesome.
 
I think the Texas Monthly people may have been smoking crack when they wrote that. I have never had a bad experience there.
 
Around 5-6 years ago, Cooper's in Llano was picked in the top-3 cue joints by Texas Monthly, along with Kreutz's in Lockhart and Louie Mueller's in Taylor.

About 2-3 years ago, TM came out with a new list. This time they had a top-5. The Llano Cooper's was dropped from top honors, due to a perceived dip in quality, which was attributed to their increased popularity (TM did not take credit/blame for the increase, but obviously they were a factor). The magazine did place the Cooper's in Mason (about 30 minutes west of Llano) in their top-5. Having eaten at both, I think I still prefer the Llano location, though timing can be critical at any cue joint. Judging a place on the old dried out lunch rush leftovers can be misleading, though one could argue that a quality place places a premium on consistency. I've had a less than stellar experience at pretty much every establishment that I frequent. Sometimes an eatery will have a bad day. Too many of them, however, and they get dropped from my rotation.
 
i doubt cooper in llanos is complaining about the increased traffic due to TM.

i have been to coopers in llano, john & louie muellers, kreuz, schmittys, blacks, city market in luling....

kreuz is my favorite. been to the new & old locations of it. kreutz is still my favorite.
 
don't know if its a sign of the current quality or we just caught them on a bad day, but the last time i went to coopers in llano it was utter shite. worst bbq i have had in a long time.
 
Both Cooper's, Llano and Mason, are good.

I think Hard 8 BBQ in Brady is just as good.

I've been to all the Central Texas BBQ places discussed on this BB and I find the two Cooper's places, Hard 8 in Brady, Mueller's in Taylor and the places in Lockhart to be the best.

I've eaten at those places many times without disappointment.

smokin.gif
 
Head out there for the Big Chop... it's pretty nice. Everything else is so-so... tried their bbq sirloin (for some reason) once and it was god awful. One plus... THEY HAVE SWEET TEA!!!

Kreuz wins hands down on the bbq side though.
 
been to muellers in taylor, john muellers in austin (when it was open), coopers in llano, kreuz in lockhart, black's in lockhart, schmitty's in lockhart and luling city market.

i would rank them kreuz #1, louie muellers #2, schmitty's #3, coopers #4, luling city market #5. black's a distant last.

i like rudy's better than black's. but then again, i think rudy's is some of the best meat i have had.
 
Went to Cooper's this past weekend.

They scored points for the system in place. I liked to grunt my meat request to the pit guy like a caveman, and then get herded through the building like a cow.

Food: 6 (Subcategories below)
Service: N/A
Authenticity: 10

The food was average at best. Broken down:

"The Big Chop": 6
Sausage: 8
Brisket: 7
Ribs: 7
Sauce: 5
Potato Salad: 5
---------------------------------
Overall dining experience: 7

My advice: Go if you are in the area or haven't been before. But don't make a special trip. More info on request.

Sincerely yours,
The Hungry Texan
 
The only Coopers I've been to is the newer one out in Junction. It was actually pretty damn good. The brisket was a bit salty, but I'm ok with that. Didn't try much else.

Kreuz's is still #1 for me, but I have a long list of places I need to visit before finalizing my Top 5.
 
I haven't been to the Coopers in Junction, but my understanding is that it is not in the same class as the Llano and Mason locales.
 
Black's has had troubles keeping a good pit man. It has affected the quality and consistency, no doubt. You can get great food there, or you can get, well, an average meal at best if you go on the wrong day.
 
Got to Cooper's in Llano this past weekend. I was extremely disappointed. I got beef ribs and beef sirloin. My mother got pork ribs and both kinds of sausage. My dad got brisket and goat. None of us were all that impressed.

Junction Cooper's was better.

And Kreuz's still kicks both their asses by a mile.
 
"i think rudy's is some of the best meat i have had. "

thats like saying, "i think mcdonalds has some of the best burgers ever."

come on, man. rudy's? that is the applebees of que.

coopers
opie's
ruby's
southside
kreutz
meyers
sam's
everything else (including the generally lame and overrated lockhart que)

lets be real folks
 
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