Big O's Pit BBQ

When you are in Austin and you want tasty, down home bbq, this is the place. From the time I walked in, Orlando and his team made me feel like I was home. From the friendly service, to the delicious brisket tacos, to the fresh smoked brisket, Big O’s is a real treat you’ll love. I’ll never forget my visit and the kindness these Austin folks showed me. I even got a tour of their smoker! These are good people. Drop by and give it a try. You won’t be sorry you did!

Fantastic experience at this quintessential neighbourhood barbecue. Rudy and his team deliver a great brisket - rich marbling and toothy bark with a nice slow and low smoke flavour. The banana pudding was a nice added touch!

I happened to be working across the street when I noticed this BBQ joint. I’ve worked the Austin area many years and I had never noticed this joint before. I’m glad I decided to stop in and try it out. The ladies (Amy and Shirley) were extremely nice and gave me a tour of the place. As soon as I saw that big pit in the back where one has to have the passion to manage the fire and it wasn’t a thermostat controlled pit I knew this was my place. Brisket sandwich was awesome and the sausage was excellent. Brisket was not over salted nor was it bland. The meat was the star. The bbq sauce was not over powering and it still allowed brisket to shine. I will be back. Nice job Big O’s Pit!!!

Very below average. I got the chopped beef sandwich which is advertised on their sign outside. Not good. A lot of black pepper and that’s it. It’s an overwhelming taste of black pepper. No bbq sauce flavor at all. Not good. The potato salad was very bland no taste at all. The cole slaw was decent. Do not recommend.

My dad who loves BBQ was in town. He also likes a non-crowded experience and Big O's was the perfect place for us to stop. Mac n Cheese was tasty, serving sizes are appropriate and service was great. Highly recommend.

Straightforward, no fuss BBQ Found this spot on a whim while driving around. Had a craving for BBQ so I went in and ordered some brisket. Staff was pretty straight to the point but honestly considering they handed my food right off to me that is not a negative Portion size is good and comes with bread. They have a serve-yourself bar in the back with pickles and onions. The flavor was good on the brisket and it was juicy. Would recommend for anyone trying to get a quick and reliable BBQ in town

Great chopped beef sandwich. We added sausage. Beans are fantastic. We also love the smoked chicken and green chile mac and cheese. They have a nice patio .

I am from Utah and I was in Austin for business. I had the pleasure of eating here and it was soooooooo good. Super friendly staff and the food is delicious. I would highly recommend this plase if you like smoked meat.

This place is super good. Hadn't been in a while and I definitely love the new fresh feel inside. The staff the day I went was so nice very helpful and kind. I was greeted right as I walked in which I was surprised by. That doesn't happen often any more. So very nice plus. The space is small but perfect for the type of place. I love it. (Photo attached) I ordered the chopped sandwich large with the potato salad. Was a perfect size for a good price. I didn't feel I paid more then I should have for what I got. You know how sometimes you get your order and are questioning where the food is. Not this time. The parking is a bit rough in the front because of the street being so busy but it's so worth the stop. I highly suggest you go and try out the eats. I'll be going more often I think since it's so close to work.

The best BBQ Turkey I have had in a long time. We ended up there by accident because we couldn't get a table at Picknic, best accidental restaurant find ever. Burned ends, turkey and delicious chicken. Great potato salad and good Cole slaw...the only reason I didn't give them a 5 star is the lack of AC, it was a bit warm in there and I definitely walked out smelling like a big moving slab of BBQ. I will go back soon.

Chopped brisket sandwich was just ok. The pinto beans were inedible. The soda machine isn't working properly so it took several minutes to get a drink. The reason it got 3 stars and not two is because of the good customer service from "U". He was nice and kind and got right to the order as soon as he could. What threw me off the most was the sauce!! It was very bizarre. I have worked as a pitmaster and barbecue specialist for 20 odd years and I've never had one like that. It was almost flavorless. Not sweet, seemed like a corn starch slurry was used to hold it together. Not exactly what the deal was with that but it was so off I couldn't eat it. Probably won't come back.

So disappointed in this place. The brisket was a bit dry and sub par for this amazing bbq town. Same folks that own the delicious Taco Shack chain.

Food was great, and the service was prompt and friendly. The only complaint I have is when you get an order to go, the cheap plastic flatware is so flimsy, it makes it extremely difficult to enjoy eating the delicious baked potatoes and amazing BBQ. Other than that, love this place.

Very nice customer service, cute small place. Good is good taste and portion for price.

We had an absolutely incredible lunch here!! The gentlemen working allowed us to sample and ask a ton of questions. The food was so delicious and we had the best time! The entire experience was 10000 / 10!

Tried this for the first time the other day and enjoyed it. Deep smoke flavor in all the meats, excellent sides. Best of all was the service, which was friendly and helpful. I'll definitely return.

The place is permanently closed as of 5/1/2024. Apparently another BBQ place plans to move in, as per the sign on the door. I hope the new folks keep the same chopped beef, it was a north Austin staple.

So flipping good, I've enjoyed this bbq for years and years and years. Staff is always delightful. Dine in or take out, doesn't matter just don't miss out -- go.

By far the BEST BBQ I've ever had. Was visiting eldest son in Leander and my other half came back with food from here. It was all wonderful. Lots of love and time goes into this food. The meats are so tender that they just fall apart in one's mouth, add the amazing smoke flavor. Just WOW! Can't wait to have some more the next time in Hill Country. I know it's called Big O after the owner.....it's a Big O for one's taste buds! Get you some! (Please bring a location to the Metroplex!)

Stopped in for a quick lunch - good food & excellent service!!!! Check it out for a quick bite of good Texas BBQ :)

Very friendly staff. Had daily special-sausage plate. Came with two sides. Green chili Mac-n-cheese was spicy but not too spicy for this gringo. Asked for lean brisket and was pleased that it was actually lean. Just hate it if I get a plate of fat. Didn't care for the coleslaw but I'm pretty picky. Prices were reasonable. Overall very pleased.

BEST. LUNCH. EVER. We were greeted with such amazing service. They let us taste a few things before ordering and explained the process. The staff had a very kind and goofy personality. We felt very accommodated and welcome! Would highly recommend trying out this small business! Side note: the BBQ sauce didn't stain my pants!

Its absolutely fantastic!! We got a family brisket meal with hatch chili mac n cheese, coleslaw, and potato salad as our sides. The brisket was amazinggg, so juicy and easy pull apart. It was honestly the best brisket i ever had. The hatch chili mac n cheese was beyond words. It was cheesy and had the perfect amount of spice to it! So good! The employees were so friends and sweet, just felt so comforting going in. I would definitely recommend this to everyone!!

Ok, here's the "skinny" (word that should never be in any BBQ involved sentence) Interior: Tired and dated, badly in need of AC or updated AC, Rusty, BO smell. I'm not asking for the Ritz here, I get it.... it's BBQ, but c'mom man! You can't have that much visible rust on everything from the vents to the floor. BBQ: Flavorless, I don't know how any BBQ sandwich with moist brisket can actually be dry. If suicide was an option for overlooked flavorless meat, then this sandwich would make the jump. Sauce: Watery red/brown colored stuff? That make sense... = face-palm. Pricing: Pretty cheap, for the flavor of air. Parking: Atrocious, don't get booted. Avoid.

My husband grew up in South Texas and knows good brisket. The only mistake we made today at Big O's Pit BBQ was we ordered about two-thirds of what our group would have enjoyed - the flavor is PHENOMENAL, the meat was lean and tasty, and the sides of pintos & hatch mac & cheese were delicious. Ten out of town to the staff - there was a L O N G line when we arrived, and the gentlemen behind the counter were super polite, fast-paced and engaging with every customer. We have found our new favorite BBQ spot and can't wait to try their amazing smoked turkeys for Thanksgiving. We were at a super-fancy event last Christmas where these turkeys were donated by the owner and they were amazingly delicious - all the highbrow catered food was enjoyed but those turkeys were picked clean!

Pretty darn good bbq and the service is great! The employees are engaging and funny. They have daily lunch specials that can save you a little off the regular prices. No prices on the website which irritates me when restaurants do that. But I am posting pictures with prices as of 6/4/2020.

If you are the kind of person who insists on waiting four hours in line to get "just the right" brisket, this place isn't for you. Just for starts, most of the customers are working stiffs. If its not lunch hour, they are supposed to be on the job. If you insist on lots and lots of Texas Smoke flavor in your barbecue, this place isn't for you. Fancy pants food critics probably want to go to a Yuppie trailer. The dishes here are very mild. There are two star attractions. One is a Jalapeno Cheese Sausage that will beat the band. No need to dip this in any sauce. This has all of the flavor you will ever need, and none of that flavor is Texas Smoke. And yes, with enough jalapeno in you, you WILL be going for the white bread to put out the fire. The other star attraction are the ladies behind the counter. A sweeter more colorful group of people just can not be imagined. Keep in mind, the two of them knew Governor John Ireland back in the 1880's. They served him barbecue personally at the groundbreaking for the Texas State Capitol. They are complete charmers. They are worth the trip just to chit chat over the counter. You want Texas Tourist BBQ? Go to Lockhart or Dripping Springs or wait in line You-Know-Where. You want a lunch near 45th Street that will do you okay? Stop by Big O's and get jalapeno sausage.

Good food and service, large portions. Nice staff. Clean and well maintained. Excellent BBQ!

Nice little neighborhood BBQ joint! Meeting some friends last night and ended up here. Had the baked potato and opted for the smoked turkey instead of the chopped beef and WOW! The turkey was amazing! I tend to be the person who goes to a bbq place and gets the turkey, so while I can't attest to anything else, the turkey was On Point. Staff was friendly and they have a wonderful covered patio in the back.

Small shack like place for lunch. Tables inside; not a whole lot of seating and it isn't a large interior. If you're in the area on a lunch break or just want a quick meal, this may be your place. They have by the pound BBQ, sandwiches, combo plates, and other stuff for lunch or a family dinner. I settled for a sausage sandwich with their own sauce, which was a little better than the traditional barbecue sauce. You can also put pickles, onions, and other stuff on your sandwich or for the side since those go good with any meat. The sausage by the pound plate might have been a better deal, but I wasn't too hungry. My dining companion had the brisket sandwich and wasn't too happy since it was a little dry; yet again he didn't have any sauce so... I tried a piece of brisket and it wasn't too bad. I may want to splurge on a combo plate if I have a chance to come back here soon. They also have chips, sodas, and other stuff to go on the side, but I wish I could've tried some of the sides like potato salad and okra. Still on the hunt for the best BBQ in central Texas. Not here, but I may be back again.

Food was really good and the service was even better. Since it was our first time I wanted to try a few things. We got the chicken/brisket plate with Mac n cheese and potato salad, added a rib, and the sliced brisket sandwich with Mac n cheese, 2 drinks for $25. Very fair prices. Very small and cozy booths and they have reserved parking spots out front (there are clear parking signs everywhere indicating where you can and can't park...) The brisket was really good but the chicken was my favorite. Fell right off the bone. I also loved their bbq sauce. The people working are very friendly - one of the few restaurants left in Austin with a truly small town feel. Will be back!

Had not gone back in 7 years after going a few times in the 80s and 90s. The Pit keeps it simple in decor but the food and prices are more than fair. Standouts were the brisket and ribs. The green beans lacked a bit of flavor but the beans and cole slaw were just what you want when looking for a bbq meal, not too much messing with the originals and good flavor. Nostalgia wins and it's good that management kept it the same and you can get affordable bbq for one or a big group.

If I could give 0 stars I would. I have never had such greasy, flavorless BBQ. It was almost inedible. There are so many other places in Austin - I'd spend my $ there if I were you.

Awesome food and I'm selective about my Q. Sausage is the best I have had locally and the difference maker.

Great food and great dude, peach cobbler was amazing. He even let me bring my own beer.

The Wednesday Special Turkey plate for under $8 with coleslaw & potato salad hit the spot as the joint serves nice quick lunch. For you health food types, you can request whole wheat bread slices like I did for my meal. If you pay attention you might see one of the family owners working the Grandfather's pit that has cooked lots of BBQ meat. When you walk into this place, it will transport you back to the 70's of old Austin as the rustic appeal with no frills is unique and most of the folks that eat there are working folks from around the area.

This place is really a hidden gem. My husband and I *finally* found an amazing BBQ spot! The staff is really friendly and they have great food. I would highly recommend the moist brisket, as it's one of the best that I have ever had. Also, the prices are extremely reasonable, as compared to some other BBQ places we have been to. If you want real, delicious BBQ, I would 100% recommend this place.

Ever since the Taco Shack folks bought The Pit the level of service has declined a bit. Staff behind the counter come off as scatter brained and routinely forget desert and or have to be told twice what sides I want. However today they redeemed themselves with excellent service! The meat and jalapeño sausage is still tops. As a matter of fact I think the brisket here is some of the very best in Austin! Way to go guys!!!

Great chicken and sides. Been by a bunch of times figured I'd give it a try. I'm pretty selective about bbq. Really glad I tried it out will definitely be back. Thanks Orlando great job.

Good bbq and sides. Sliced brisket sandwich was tasty. Chili Mac mmmm. Pinto beand were good

Food was cold, bbq sauce was tangy. Just a horrible place to eat. Chicken and ribs poorly seasoned . Hair was in my mac n cheese

If consistency is the key to success in the food business then the people who work here are the key masters!! continually making great BBQ!! here's a tip....mix some chop beef into the mac and cheese!!

It's not great bbq. Picked up moist brisket, sausage, and ribs plus a side of potato salad. Ribs had the most smoke flavor but still weren't great. Brisket and sausage was edible but no more. Sauce was bland and had consistency of runny baked bean juice and potato salad lacked any flavor. I've been eyeing this place for some time but won't be back. Sad. Staff was great.

I went here for the first time this afternoon and had SUCH a great experience! Jalapeño sausage was incredible, and my friend got the frito pie and said it was delicious! If you can believe it, the service was even better! I cannot remember the names of the man and woman that helped me today, but they made me feel so welcomed! Will definitely be back to try more!!

I used to eat frequently at this place when it was owned by the previous folks back when my now-adult kids took music lessons nearby. Today, when I happened to be on Burnet and noticed the new signs, I stopped in for an early lunch. Major disappointment. There was a very young guy (high schooler?) trying to cut the brisket, and he clearly did not know how to do it. As a result, for a rather highly priced brisket "plate" (actually served in a polystyrene carry-out container), I received tough dry strings of flavorless beef. My sides -- miniature servings of cole slaw and pinto beans -- were very "Sysco-esque", as if they are not made on site, and, like the brisket, flavorless. As a few other reviews have mentioned, the sauce is very thin, which could be okay, but it also lacks any substance. To say that the best part of my lunch was the iced tea is the truth. I would have asked for a better cut of brisket, but the place, which is quite small, filled-up with a large number of laborers (a painting crew and some road construction guys), and I felt compelled to leave -- "O" certainly is not following Covid-19 guidelines when it comes to occupancy. I cannot understand all the good-great reviews. Either these folks don't know anything about much better barbecue places not that far away or Yelp is posting fraudulent reviews (again).

This is an old school, no-frills BBQ joint. I regularly get takeout here and enjoy the counter help's down-home charms as well as the reliable smoked turkey and sausage. If you are wanting to do a postprandial name-drop, you might two-step along to one of the downtown or eastside joints. However, if you're happy with a big brown bag full of properly smoked meats to get your Q on, this will more than do!

Theres a reason this place has 3 stars and its not cause you get booted for parking there. I had the unfortunate experience of eating here last week, (11-2-17) While the atmosphere seemed pleasant, the cashier was pretty abrupt with me and seemed like I was bothering them. I ordered Brisket and sausage. While the sausage had a semi decent flavor, it was obvious it had been sitting for quit a while as it had the texture of a slim jim. Brisket had a small smoke ring but was super dry. So I had to sop it all up with bbq sauce. Fortunately that had a good enough flavor to cover up the sadness i was consuming. And if the culinary experience wasn't trough enough, instead of smelling the loveliness of smokey meats, all I could smell was some kind of cleaner that my nose told me was the same scent of a urinal cake. Not my favorite scent. All in all, I guess for a quick and cheap bite, its acceptable but unfortunatley this place is as drab as most of the reviews I've read. 3-10-18 Thanks jeff for your mediocre response. It perfectly reflects the product you serve in that outhouse you try to sell off as a restaurant, which makes sense because your sausage does look like turds.

The meat they serve there is top notch. The smoked brisket is very good. The plain smoked sausage is one of the best I've had. The service is very good, sincere, and entertaining. Give it a try, please. Austin-owned and operated!

I wanted to try this place because most of the negative reviews seemed to be from people who ignore the numerous signs about parking. I had brisket and sausage. The sausage was forgettable. The brisket was impressively tender and moist but had no visible smoke rings and decidedly little flavor. The sauce was also peculiar. If you've ever wondered why so many old timers say you shouldn't put sauce on brisket, it's because this is what that sauce tasted like. In short, you're much better off going to stiles switch just a few blocks away

This place is cute. Everything has this yellowish tint to it inside. It smells great in there too. Unfortunately the sample of brisket, sausage and rib we had was underwhelming. The brisket was tough and the rib was dry. I feel bad because they have been around for a long time, but with more and more great BBQ joints popping up, I don't foresee them staying open for much longer. It is located next to Pinthouse Pizza and you will see many people coming in and out with their to-go orders. I don't know, maybe we went on an off day.

The sliced brisket is sometimes dry or not super tender but we come here for the chopped. The chopped here is at the top of the list of all things lovely in the food world (or at least the BBQ food world). It is probably the fattiest of all chopped I've ever had (don't let it get room temp or below) but it is spicy and rich and smokey and AND AND... I just started drooling on the keyboard so I'm going to change the subject. The potato salad and cole slaw are also very stellar. Don't expect aiolis or fancy anything. Go in order some chopped, slaw and tater salad and you'll walk out smelling like a camp fire and feeling like a happy camper.

I would probably give it about 4 but the service definitely bumped this place up a notch. Your employee are great people and it seems customers love him. I'm pretty sure some come back cause of the service. Deserve a bit of a raise

Small time BBQ operation. Excellent meat choices, especially the the most. The naner pudding is great.

Awful food coupled with horrible service. I brought my family from MN here to experience Austin BBQ, and they were quite disappointed, as well. Never coming back. In addition: This unethical company makes it's money by putting boots on cars who inadvertently park in their parking lot, and then extorting 150 dollars to get the boot taken off. I work hard for my money, only to have it taken by these crooks. I understand the value of parking for restaurants, especially if a parking spot is the difference between getting a customer or not, but 150?!?! That is robbery. The owner should be ashamed. (I'm sure the owner is busy copying and pasting his standard rebuttal where he shifts the blame to somebody else right now. Have fun with that. How hard could it be to put up a sign that warns of the $150 extortion?)

I've been eating here over 30 years. Is there better barbeque in town? Of course. But who wants to wait four hours in line for Franklins, or pay $21 a pound at Ruby's? The place is a heck of a lot better than The Salt Lick. If you want your brisket juicy, tell them you want it cut from the fatty end. Anybody who eats bbq should know this, and it applies to every joint in the state. Personally, I like the brisket and the sausage wraps, and stay away from the ribs and chicken. The sides are so-so, but who rates a bbq joint on its sides? I certainly don't judge a steak house on its iceberg lettuce. Bottomline? The Pit sells pretty good brisket at a darn reasonable price. Oh, and if you park your car right in front of the No Parking signs placed in front of EVERY parking spot at the place -- and get booted -- that's on you, isn't it?

Real good home style BBQ without the trendy hipster wait. Found this little hole in the wall looking for a lunch spot for me and the boys to escape the work day. From the moment we walked in we were greeted with a big ole Texas howdy and some great southern hospitality. Since it was lunch rush i drove straight for the brown bag special (chop beef, side, drink for 6 bucks) and got two pork ribs on the side. Food was pretty darn good and I'll definitely be coming back again. They have really good rotating lunch specials if you're looking for a smoking deal (pun intended). Give it a try y'all, just might like it.

Great service and I'm a big fan of their baked potatoes. Prices aren't bad and and the food is good. If you're looking for a quick bbq meal and are driving down burnet, this is a good place to stop.