DB's Rustic Iron BBQ

This place is MUST visit when you are in Big Bend and Terlingua area. We were here last year and this year we were blessed and visited DB's again. This unassuming place amazed us last year so we definitely had to return. The atmosphere, surrounding of the restaurant, staff, food... All is absolutely amazing. And because we are meat lovers, we managed several visits there. They have so amazing brisket. So tender, perfectly seasoned, mouth-watering. We had a nice talk with Mr. Bauchman. He even remembered us from last year :-) There take place live music performances as well so you can enjoy great food, nice music, just perfect place to get back :-)

The brisket and pork ribs were very delicious. The pork ribs fell off the bone. Brisket was very moist. The sauce was tasty! Great atmosphere. You can sit inside or out. When you’re in the Big Ben State Park area of Southwest Texas, stop by the Rustic Iron BBQ.

Decent barbecue and sides. We had brisket, slaw, waffle fries, house margarita and beer. It was all good. Maybe a little pricier than home, but it’s Terlingua and restaurants are scarce. Pricey for them to get ingredients down here so I get it. The restaurant atmosphere was rustic and cool. And service was good, too!

Came here on our last night of vacationing in the area. I cant even put in words how wonderful it all was. The service was beyond perfection! The politeness the manners, not something we get in the city much anymore. The food was great! They had little doggos roaming that were so fun and sweet and absolutely adorable! The atmosphere was so cozy and just welcoming. We could have sat there for hours listening to the music and laughter. If we come back to Big Bend I think this may be the only place we eat lol.

My wife hates turkey but ahe will only eat turky at DB Rustic BBQ. I also met the famous MUCHO!

I ordered the brisket with beans and tater salad. I enjoyed the brisket so much that I ordered a pound to go. The tater salad and beans were good. I would return if I’m ever in the area again. The patio was quiet at 4pm. I included a picture of the roadrunner because it was the first opportunity I had to take a picture of one.

Some very good BBQ down near Big Bend National Park. The brisket was smoked well and the turkey has a very good flavor. The sweet BBQ Sauce was also quite good.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Visiting the area and stopped by here for dinner. Specifically, I had the brisket tacos, turkey, brisket and fries. It was all very delicious and well made. The flavors were 10/10 and so was the service and atmosphere. Also, the beans are delicious 😋 I’m so glad I got to experience this and I hope you do too.

Stopped in to try terlinguas mesquite fired BBQ after we got a recommendation from our canoe guide. Located right in town, DBs rustic iron bbq is a casual place with a bar and live music most nights. They have tables both inside and outside. The happy hour deals were great and service was fast. My turkey was pretty dry but was very tasty especially with the sauce. The tacos were flavorful, the Mac n cheese was quite standard, and the fries tasted like oil. It's a bit pricey in my opinion but I'd recommend them!!

Stopped in for lunch while in the area. Low key place and really great BBQ. Definitely recommend.

This place looks like most of the places here. So don't let the looks scare you. The food is classic Texas smoked meats. And is excellent. We had the brisket. A sign of good smoked meat is the smoke ring, the tenderness. And the fact you don't have to put bbq sauce on it to make it good.

Visiting Big Bend National Park and went to Terlingua for Valentines meal celebration. When you enter you don't know where to order. It turns out you order at the bar. Inside area is nice. We make our order and food comes out pretty quick. We had brisket which was very good. The turkey was a little dry. The pork ribs were okay. The waffle fries were very good. It had some seasoning that gave it a great flavor. Coleslaw was good and creamy. We didn't get anything from the bar or dessert. It was nice to place to visit.

The food was nothing more than okay. At least the brisket was. We aren't from around Terlingua, and we know that people don't have many other bbq places to base it off of, but we eat a lot of bbq and it was just okay. The smoked turkey also wasn't amazing. They have separate tip jars for people at the bar and the chefs and don't specify that, so the poor chefs get barely and tips while the bar workers get a bunch for barely doing anything. Wouldn't really recommend, find somewhere else like starlight theatre.

My wife and I had dinner this evening and the brisket and ribs were delicious. I had beans and potato salad for my sides and enjoyed both. You order from the register by the bar so if the sign says "Pick Up Here", you're at the wrong counter. There is a full bar we didn't take advantage of, but noted for next time. There is an ATM so before you use a credit card and pay the (advertised) up charge, just go get some cash.

I wanted to like this place. I really did. Other than spur of the moment stops, I usually read in advance about BBQ joints I plan to visit. DB's was no exception. I enjoyed reading about all the work, time, and money that went into setting up this business, and figured that would equate to good BBQ. We dropped in on Sunday, September 22nd, the evening before heading back home to Central Texas. We'd been in Terlingua since Friday the 20th. The guy behind the bar was friendly, and the place was very clean, with immaculate bathrooms. It was a nice layout. The food, on the other hand, was disappointing. My wife had the two-meat plate (Turkey & pork ribs) with pinto beans and Cole slaw. I ordered the beef dino rib with waffle fries. Both plates came with a drink. The turkey was fairly moist and had a little smoke flavor. The pork ribs were cooked decently enough but had scarcely a hint of smoke flavor and no seasoning - Not even salt & pepper...at least none that we could taste. Adding salt & pepper helped. The beef dino rib was big (1.26lbs) but sadly, there was no smoke flavor or seasoning to be had. Adding salt & pepper didn't help much. The barbecue sauce (which was decent) kinda did, but the rib remained underwhelming; and seemed like it had simply been baked in an oven. I also ordered an a la carte brisket taco, which was greasy, unseasoned, and had barely any smoke flavor. The beans didn't taste like they were homemade, but they were decent. The Cole slaw was good. Most of the generous serving of waffle fries were unseasoned. The ones hiding under the two store-bought tortillas were seasoned with something unremarkable. They could have been cooked a tad longer as well. Turkey: 3 out of 5 Pork: 1 out of 5 Beef: 1 out of 5 Fries: 2 out of 5 Beans: 3 out of 5 Slaw: 4 out of 5 Brisket taco: 3 out of 5 Service: 4 out of 5 Value: 0 out of 5 Brisket Taco: $7.00 Two meat plate: $30.00 Dino rib plate: $42.84 Aside from the sales/use tax of 8.25%, there was a 4% CCSF charge on the bill, which is new to me. With tip, the total for our dinner was $98.34. I get that it's Terlingua, and I could certainly afford it, but man...that's pretty steep for the quantity and quality of the BBQ.

Brisket was just right after a day out at the park. I had a slide of the tater salad.. hit the spot.. the service is excellent! It is amazing to have such good food in a ghost town! Oh and the bathroom --very clean and has all one needs.

I'm going to review this establishment taking in consideration that is in the middle of the desert. THE GOOD: The parking is ample. The eating facilities are fairly modern. Inside and outside, covered but open air. The menu was limited as they only have two meats and two options for side. Serving kind small, but food was good. Service was great. Quiet. Very friendly THE BAD: They do charge a 3.99% as a credit card fee. THE UGLY: None

I debated this review because it's possible that I didn't get a comprehensive enough experience. We ordered brisket tacos and barbacoa tacos and shared them. Overall I was a bit underwhelmed by the experience. I might have been more impressed if we had sampled multiple meats and sides. Their only sides are beans, slaw and potato salad, and on our visit they were out of potato salad. Service was pretty fast and the tacos had a good amount of meat in them. Beans were OK considering I don't normally like beans but they were fine. Barbacoa was on the salty side but I like my food salty. YMMV. Brisket was tender and well cooked. The space is more rustic than I was expecting. Also the value was not that great as four tacos were $21. That did include a drink. Overall I'd probably return and try more items. I do give them a demerit for having an upcharge for using a credit card, especially considering their prices.

Delicious bbq meat and ice cold beer. Open air seating in the shade on a hot day. Willie Nelson. Friendly service. I ordered the barbacoa tacos and the meat was incredibly delicious! I loved the salsa verde which had the perfect amount of kick. I only wish that they had more sides to choose from. Is serving baked beans with tacos a Texas thing? If so, then I won't knock it, but I would've preferred slaw (or other sides that could go on the tacos, such as lettuce, pico, guac, corn, etc). Overall: come here for the bbq meats and the cold beers.

We are so glad we had the chance to stop in here! The owner is so friendly and personable! And the food is FANTASTIC! Bring your appetite and be prepared to be amazed!

Got the pork ribs, tried the sausage, I thought it was alright. It was good enough to keep me full but didn't really think it was anything to ride home about. Maybe I'm spoiled from other great bbq places I've had in Texas. Service was great and fast, and there's a garage door they pull down for when it gets too cold but do make sure bring a jacket in the cold months.

After another all-day hiking day, came here for some comfort food. Sat, ordered, and received food quickly on a Wednesday night. The staff is really friendly. The music playing in the background is a little loud, but it's a pretty relaxed place. Brisket Sandwich - A solid sandwich with plenty of brisket and loaded with pickles (which I love). The meat is slightly on the dry side, but the flavor is really there. Of course, the dryness issue is easily solved by adding plenty of BBQ sauce which is on each table. Very much recommended -- the rich flavor stands out here. Value: 3/5 Quality: 4/5 Quantity: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 3/5

Neat looking like bbq place is next to Ghost Town. We walked into friendly people and fun Tejano music. We ordered the chopped beef sandwich and the two meat plates. The chopped beef was fantastic. The buns were soft and fresh. Worth ordering. Their sauce is smoking and sweet. The two meets of brisket and ribs were okay. They were well seasoned, but the time was overcooked. The brisket was much better suited for sandwiches and not stand-alone meat. Altogether we enjoyed the experience and would come here again.

I almost left Texas without getting BBQ... but thankfully, I came here for my last meal in Terlingua. I have to say, it was quite a solid meal! When I came (around 4-5pm), it was super empty - not a seat was filled, which made me question if it was actually good... As soon as I ordered and got my 1 meat brisket plate, I immediately changed my mind. The brisket was so soft. The pieces fell right off. They really cook their meats very nicely. My friend who also got to try the ribs stated that it was good too. In terms of their meat quality, it definitely met my expectations. As for the sides, I chose tater salad and slaw. The tater salad is a potato salad with a kind of mustard-like sauce. It was good. The slaw on the other hand was sub-par & definitely could have been better, but both these sides added a good balance to a meat filled plate. I also liked the addition of pickles & jalapeno, which I also devoured. Overall, I was quite filled and satisfied. The food was too good for this place to be empty, but that was just my first impression.

I wish I had ordered the brisket cut lean, because there was too much fat in my order. The barbecue sauce is one of the best barbecue sauces I've had! The potato salad was ok. The beans were delicious - perfectly seasoned! I would recommend it.

What a great spot in Terlingua. You go up to the counter and order - and they bring your BBQ to you. We sat outside at the picnic tables where a band was setting up. Service was prompt and the server was lovely. I ordered the 2 meat platter and they do not skimp like other places. I got the ribs and brisket. The ribs were good but the star is the oh-so-tender brisket. There's a mild and a hot version of sauce. I liked the mild more - but both are great. The potato salad was good and so were the beans but nothing out of the ordinary. Definitely drop by when you're in town.

I'm assuming all these people leaving 5 star reviews have never had great BBQ. Def not worth the hype here. Brisket was extremely dry. Turkey was good. 76 bucks for 3 people to get a meat, 1 side and a pop. I realize it's harder for them to get products so prices will be higher but the Starlight Theatre next door was cheaper even with an appetizer. Also, the guy at the register watched me put tip in his jar, stupid me not realizing that jar was meant for the bartender and there was a separate tip jar for the ladies actually making our food at another counter. Nice trap

First day in Terlingua and we passed this on the way to breakfast. Knew it would be a great way to end a day of hiking. We showed up around 5pm to no line and ice cold beer waiting for us. The gentleman at the counter went over the menu with us, and we determined that getting the combo with all 5 meats and three sides would be both filling to share and the most economical. Pulled pork, super moist brisket, a large helping of sausage, 4 pieces of pork ribs, and pulled roasted turkey. All were delicious but the brisket was clear standout. You may want to ask for more bread. They had a really nice spicy sauce and BBQ sauce on the table too. Super cool place. Friendly staff. Lots of beers available by the bottle. They even had the Cowboy Channel playing to watch rodeos. I'll let the pictures do the rest. Highly, highly recommend.

Fantastic food and great BBQ. Is on the pricey side but other than that it was a great experience! Service was good and fast. Lots of seating and great environment for families.

Was looking forward to Texas bbq our whole trip. Rustic Iron did not disappoint. Had the pork ribs and brisket. It included 3 ribs and i think 5 slices of brisket. The beans and potato salad were good too.

Brisket is top notch. All cooked behind the restaurant so smells divine. Beans and slaw were delish as well. Good selection of beer. Don't miss if you like BBQ.

Owner DB has honed his BBQ smoking skills by first working and cooking in the oil fields, then starting Rustic Iron from a food truck in Jan 2016 and then finally opening up the restaurant in Nov 2021. Located in Terlingua Ghost Town, you can still see his food truck parked out back, along with his smokers and all the piles of wood needed for the smokers. They have a small bar serving beer, wine and liquor. You order at the counter and the food is brought to your table in minutes. You can order family style, by # of meats (2-5) or get a sandwich. The sides are chips, beans, mustard-style potato salad and Cole slaw. Served with a pickle, slice of white bread, onions, and jalapeno. They have canned soda, bottled water and seltzer water. Reasonably priced for the area and friendly staff. No wait if you go for dinner before 5:30p.

I was told about this place by someone who goes here frequently. And I knew I had to stop when I was in the area. The portions were very large, and they filled us after a long day of hiking. The barbecue sauce mixed with salsa is an excellent combination with the pulled pork. The pickles were delicious. I wish I could've taken home a gallon tub! The soda is imported from Mexico so it is delicious and they have a really clean bathroom. There is cold water to drink. I was grateful for the moist towelettes to wash my hands afterward and all in all it was an excellent place for food. I wish I could've stayed for the music at night, it looked like fun!

This place was recommended by a colleague on my visit to Big Bend, N.P. There is plenty of seating indoors and seems like a nice place to enjoy food and a few beers. The barbecue was a fantastic find. A little pricey, but considering the location it was in line with other establishments. We ordered the 2 meat plate (brisket and turkey) with potato salad and Cole slaw and the taco plate (2 brisket and 2 barbacoa) with pinto beans. The brisket was moist and tasty. The turkey was not too dry. The Cole slaw is mayo based and just the right amount of sweet. Potato salad was delicious. The tacos were well served. Nice and fat. The beans were okay, not great just okay. I definitely will return when I find myself in the area.

Went there on a Wednesday evening for an early dinner and sat indoors due to the cooler weather. The place was clean, service was great and friendly. We selected sliced beef sandwiches and they were delicious, tender and moist and waffle frys were hot and seasoned well. Would definitely recommend to stop in and try it.

With limited options around Big Bend in terms of restaurants, DB's Rustic Iron BBQ does NOT disappoint. After about twelve miles of hiking, this is a great place to sit back, relax, and enjoy a fantastic meal to recover the body and mind and prepare yourself for the next day of hiking and nature. We got Marilyn's Platter which was a sample of FIVE different meats freshly barbecued, chopped up, and brought to your table. Split between two people and costing about $50, it was more than enough food to satisfy the both of us and be a full meal for two the next day for lunch as well. This amount of food couple easily fill four people. Highlights for me were the pulled pork, sausage, and the turkey. The turkey was by far the most moist and delicious turkey I can remember having for a long, long time. The restaurant is in a warehouse-esq setting with big open doors to enjoy the weather and beautifully surroundings. The service was incredibly friendly, smiling and greeting us warmly from the cashier to the people preparing the food. If you're in town or nearby and need a nice, hearty meal, look no further - DB's BBQ is the spot to be.

Good job on the Brisket, and Ribs! Satisfied customer here! More power and All the best!

During my two night stay in Terlingua, I ate here twice; once for dinner and the other lunch. Between my two meals, I had the brisket tacos and the 2 meat plate with brisket and sausage. Sides included slaw and beans. All the food was good, and price was a little high but no different than other area restaurants. If in the area, make this a stop.

Delicious margaritas on special!! Only $4!!! Amazinggggg brisket tacos & fabulous beans. Wonderful view and awesome service!! Family friendly patio:))

Not being from this side of the US I have a different taste in food. I went here based on reviews. The brisket was great and could melt in your mouth. The ribs I did not care for the flavor, basically just smoke and no meat. The beans were so spicy I couldn't eat them. The coleslaw was great. The reason only 3 stars is for the amount of food you get it is way over priced. I barely had any food for $28. Way too expensive. Maybe because they get people on the way to Big Bend and they are willing to pay these prices. In OH I could get way better 1/2 rack ribs for same price.

This BBQ place is legit. The meat is very flavorful and juicy. The TV was playing country music and the other Tv was playing cowboy channel, really getting you into the vibe. We got the combo for two person with mixed cuts, it was recommended by the owner and he is very friendly and told us this is the most popular. The jalapeño pickles are really good

The brisket was moist and had a flavorful bark. The turkey was very tasty! The staff were friendly.

I eat here every single time I'm in this part of the world! DB rocks, his food rocks, and it's a great place to hang out! End of story.

I am Texas born and Texas raised. I basically have barbecue sauce pumping through my veins. DB's is the Franklin's BBQ of West, Texas and could easily compete with some of the top joints in the state. My husband and I got the 5 meat plate with three sides. It was ALL delicious... my top two favorite were the ribs and pulled pork (I am not usually a pulled pork fan). It comes with all the fixings and bread. We left full, happy, and grateful to have experienced this gem in Terlingua. Great ambiance, great music. We WILL be back next time we are in Terlingua!

Right in the middle of nowhere we found wonderful BBQ, fun and new friends. You don't need to go any further. It's not fancy, but you won't go away disappointed. And you get lots of food. Thanks DB! Can't wait for the patio.

Cash register clearly indicated what discounts were offered. Made sure to tell cashier I wanted the discount I qualified for. He assured me he had it handled. Guess what, he didn't honor the discount I noticed on reviewing the receipt. Had I paid attention I most certainly would not have given anything on the tip solicitation screen. Laziness or inattentiveness by cashier. Unfortunately the sausage was the worst in memory. The skin was so tough you couldn't bite through it. Had to take sausage pieces with skin off sandwich to eat. Expectation is for sausage to have a "bite" to the skin but not to be tough as shoe leather. Not appropriate for a sandwich. The sausage itself was the big brother of convenience store Slim Jims in taste as well as consistency.

Food was delicious. They had live music too. Margaritas were tasty. Definitely don't miss.

Couldn't imagine a better place to eat when hiking and visiting Big Bend. So moist and flavorful and we will be visiting more during our time here. We got three meats for the two of us- ribs, brisket and pulled pork. All were good but brisket was the best. It was plenty of food as it came with two sides and bread. I would highly recommend!!

THIS PLACE HAS THE BEST VIEWS AND FOOD! Do you want sensational BBQ at a good price while looking over Big Bend while not compromising on quality, quantity, and cleanliness? DB's is the best lunch or dinner spot for hungry hikers in need of some filling, lean, and juicy protein. They also have five different types of meat to choose from and the service is fast and produces a phenomenal product. The staff are very nice and the views off the porch are beautiful and out of the sun! While there, try the Brisket Tacos with the homemade mango sauce! I would have attached a picture but it was just too good not to eat first. 10/10

Quick service and the brisket was so tender and delicious. My husband and I split the brisket tacos and the brisket sandwich and would recommend them both. Outdoor or indoor seating with open air this time of year. Would definitely go back!

We had eaten at DB's before when it was a food truck closer to the intersection with the highway into Big Bend National Park. That time the food was delicious, and we got to spend time visiting with the owner since we were the only ones there (it was an odd time, just before he closed for lunch). The food truck is gone and this restaurant is in the ghost town near the cemetary. And the food is still delicious. I had pork ribs and sausage. The sausage was very good, the pork ribs are some of the best I've ever had. My wife had the pulled pork sandwich which was also delicious, as were the sides. They have dog-friendly dining and the staff was very friendly and accomodating with our two dogs. We were staying in Alpine on a trip from near Austin to Big Bend. This place was worth the drive from Alpine. The ribs may have been worth the drive from Austin!

Stopped by for dinner on a Wednesday. Wife and I split the Marilyn plate. Sample of the 5 meats and 3 sides. Having grown up eating and cooking BBQ I do get pretty picky about BBQ. However, this place is spot on! Very impressed t=with the brisket and pulled pork. The turkey is some one of the best we've had! The potato salad was a mustard base with a hint of sweetness, perfect. The plate was probably a bit much for the two of us, but we were able to make a great breakfast with it the next day. Highly recommend this place. Fantastic food and friendly/fast service!

Being from one of the major BBQ regions in the country (in around Kansas City) I've never gone in for the we vs. they thing on BBQ. And in particular, a lot of Texans are really protective of their Q. To my mind, there are really only two kinds: good BBQ, and that which is not. Well, but then both of these are better than that stuff in Carolina... lol. This is very good BBQ, and the fact that it's located in a very remote part of the region makes it a very welcome addition to the area's smattering of few restaurants in the ghost town. BBQ done right is damn hard work, and they're doing it here. We loaded up on a plate with ribs and brisket and a side of beans. Smokey goodness, the meat perfectly moist, the meat falling from the rib exactly as it should when properly cooked. The beans laced with cumin, a tiny bit of smoke and something that gave it a bit of acidity, not surprising to my mind as some BBQ houses will do this. I prefer a little bit of sweetness and more meat in my beans but this was just fine. In Kansas City, sauce is a big deal and I liked DB's creation. Paired perfectly with what they were doing. Kudos on using plain white bread, another tradition I respect, unlike the horribly overpriced Salt Lick crap we paid for at the Dallas airport that had two tiny bits of meat on it with some kind of specialty bread and some pitiful sauce. Ugh. Never again. How far you've fallen, Salt Lick. If you come: plenty of good beers on hand, all major credit cards accepted, large semi-outdoor dining area, Mexican ranch band music on the TV rounded out the experience perfectly. And then there's that view of the Chisos Mountains in the background. Beat that! Highly recommended.

I read the fantastic reviews of this place, and I'm thinking I must have made a wrong turn somewhere. I wanted to love this place, but my tourist trap $30 one-meat plate did not measure up. First, let me tell you the pintos were literally the best I've ever had on the planet. No kidding....get those. If I ever go back I'll just ask for a bowl of beans and call it good. The potato salad....meh, ok. But now let's address the 500lb elephant in the room. The brisket was horrible, I'm sorry, but it was. Now; my princess OCD self got past the flies on the slab of brisket they were cutting and serving me, because this is Terlingua after all and some things you just need to suck up. But the flavor was very off-putting. The bark was so oversmoked it was acrid, it also tasted kind of plastic-ish too, not sure what that's all about. So here's the score: BBQ Sauce win. Potato salad...meh, Beans 10 out of 10! Brisket, flat 0. The beans got all the stars, and my wallet still stings from the experience. Not to be mean, but your average drunk Uncle and a back yard pellet smoker could do much better.

Brisket, potato salad, beans, pork ribs and sausage all delicious! Even the barbecue sauce was bomb!

Solid Brisket in a laid back atmosphere. The brisket on my sandwich had the right amount of fat and had a good crust on it. Put some sauce on the last couple of bites and it was pretty good but, honestly, it didn't need it. Simple sandwich on a plain hamburger bun with some regular Lays potato chips. Nothing wrong with that.

This is really high quality BBQ. Not just "Terlingua good". Actual top grade TX BBQ. . 1 of us got the 2 meat plate (brisket and sausage) and the other 2 of us shared a 5 meat plate. The 5 meat plate is THE WAY. The 2 of us pretty much polished it all off, which was both a very good and a very bad idea. Make that choice with no less than 2.5 hungry people. I am not a "turkey guy", but if you are, the smoked turkey was as good as any I've ever had. The only short coming was the sausage. It lacked any defining quality, and was just a bit to commercial. This probably wouldn't have been so glaring if we didn't have so much of it with the 2 meat plate. This place is a must hit.