Round Rock (Austin), Texas – Smokey Mo’s BBQ

Restaurant: Smokey Mo’s BBQ
Cuisine: Barbeque/American
Last visited: July 26, 2010
Location: Multiple locations – Round Rock, Texas
Address: 1601 S I H 35
Price Range: $10 or less

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Food: n/a (Only tried the brisket)
Service: 4
Ambiance: 3
Overall: n/a
Additional comments:

• Locally owned
• Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
• Multiple locations in and around Austin
• Very popular to locals
• Known for best BBQ sauce
• Homemade breakfast tacos available
• Online ordering
• Catering available
• Very casual
• Budget friendly
• Great for families
• Free parking
• Mon-Sat 7-9pm
• Sunday 11-8pm
  

**Recommendations: Moist beef brisket, pork loin, sausage, BBQ Sauce, potato salad, pickles ( I haven’t tried them all, but this was recommended by trusted locals)

Smokey Mo’s BBQ was my last beef brisket before leaving Austin, Texas. I already tried Salt Lick BBQ, Rudy’s and Smitty’s Market and to be honest I was really comparing the creme de la creme of beef brisket in Texas. None of them were disappointing, but of course there is always one that reign supreme. Surprisingly, I actually think I enjoyed Rudy’s “moist beef brisket” the most, even though I didn’t have it on this visit to Austin. Smitty’s Market was in close competition an Smokey Mo’s BBQ was to follow in my opinion.I don’t even have an obsession or huge love for beef brisket, but it’s THE Texan food so I had to go for the hunt… I do have an obsession with trying to find the best though. See my search for Vancouver’s best poutine on Davie Street.

I got the recommendation for Smokey Mo’s BBQ by an Austin local and it’s pretty much the real locals place for great BBQ for a cheap price. It’s located in a strip mall in a no fuss atmosphere that’s packed with hungry manly men during lunch hours.

It’s not a touristy restaurant, or a “foodie find” (in some random location that’s impossible to find), or a “foodie hot spot” (that’s been featured on Food Network) – Smokey Mo’s BBQ is simply the restaurant where real locals go for some good old fashioned Texas BBQ. It’s a classic local favourite offering every kind of meat, in big portions at a cheap price. The quality is good and the BBQ sauce is fantastic! I even brought home a bottle of the famous Smokey Mo’s BBQ sauce (available in original or spicy).

Smokey Mo’s BBQ is one of the rare BBQ joints that also serves breakfast. I really wish I made a bigger dent in the menu, but I had just finished a portion of the famous Texas-sized Round Rock Donut and was on my way to check out the ever so popular Shady Grove for lunch. Nonetheless I was beef brisket focused and had to try this highly recommended Smokey Mo’s BBQ or my search for the best beef brisket would feel somewhat unfinished. The search is really never finished though as I discover more places for my next visit.

On the table:

**Moist Beef Brisket – 4/6

• 1 pound for $9.95USD
• They offer lean, moist and cutter’s choice all for the same price. I tried samples of each before ordering and the moist and cutter’s choice and pretty much the same thing. ALWAYS order moist when you’re ordering beef brisket in Texas.
• “Moist” is pretty much fatty brisket. The fat was well marbleized and the meat is smoked in ovens rather than open fire pits. I sound really spoiled right now, but that’s because I was – if I didn’t see or smell an open fire or BBQ pit, I was immediately turned off a bit. Salt Lick Bar-B-Que and Smitty’s Market did that to me so I blame them for my high expectations. The brisket was still very good, but it just became a little unimpressive after hitting Smitty’s market the day before.
• The moist brisket here is still very tender and falling apart. You don’t even need a knife and fork and it just breaks away easily. It’s quite juicy, but the flavour was not as good as Smitty’s Market. This brisket needs BBQ sauce, where an excellent brisket shouldn’t really need it.
• The BBQ sauce at Smokey Mo’s is a definite winner. It was the best BBQ sauce of all the places I tried. It’s rich, thick, sweet and has a nice kick at the end. It’s the perfect balance of flavours and fit for adults rather than children. The spicy version has an even bigger kick and that’s the bottle I got to take home!

Lean Beef Brisket – 2/6

• As soon as it cools down it’s very dry and chewy, but when you eat it hot as a sample it’s actually not too bad. I’d just stick with the Moist Beef Brisket.

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