Pig Pen BBQ

I don’t say this lightly: Pigpen BBQ in Dripping Springs is hands down the best barbecue I’ve had in Central Texas—and that includes the heavy hitters like Terry Black's, Franklin’s, and La Barbecue. I grew up on barbecue, so I’ve had my fair share over the years. I can’t say it beats my grandma’s—because if I did, I might get disowned—but it’s honestly the best I’ve had in a very, very, very long time. The brisket? Ridiculously flavorful. Melt-in-your-mouth, bark-for-days, perfectly smoked magic. I still can’t stop thinking about it. We also got the chance to meet the owner and the GM of one of their upcoming locations, and they were genuinely kind, welcoming people. The whole experience was just amazing. Great food, great people, and great vibes. I can’t say enough good things about Pigpen. If you haven’t been yet, go now. Just don’t tell my grandma.

I decided to check these guys out on a TooGoodToGo trip. You never know what exactly you are getting when you choose them on the app. I had always wanted to try this place, so I pulled th trigger. I was unaware that it was "Founders Day" when I popped in. The place had a few family in there. I go to tell them I am here to pick up a "TooGoodToGo" order. The woman working the register disappears to get it ready. To the young kid working the register, I would avoid drinking at the register and sitting there like you are bored to tears. That is not very professional looking. I get there it was quiet and there was really nothing to do. I really wish I had studied the menu before coming in, as I wish I would have opted to order more food. You can smell the smoke from the BBQ as you are in the restaurant. I ended up getting 3 sausage links, which were fantastic. I got corn and this warm loaded potato salad that was also very amazing. I will say props to how they give you BBQ sauce. It is in a vacuum sealed bag. Usually, it is in a little container that gets knocked over and spills all over the place. I am glad to see they have moved to the vacuum sealed BBQ "pillow". Overall, I was in and out in less than 15 minutes. A good judge of a BBQ joint is their brisket. I will be back perhaps during a time that is not chaotic with the festival going on. I wish I would have learned about this place much sooner, this will definitely be a stop when I head out to Dripping Springs.

I love brisket. It’s my absolute fav. Unfortunately, my brisket was dry. It had good flavor, but it was not tender, moist, or juicy. The Texas-style green beans were overly cooked, so it was soggy, and it had absolutely zero flavor. A little bit of salt would go a long way. The jalapeño mac n cheese was the tastiest thing I had on my plate. Creamy and yummy. Service was fine.

Pig Pen BBQ in Dripping Springs, TX, is a must-visit for barbecue enthusiasts. Located at 301 US-290, this family-run establishment has been perfecting its craft for over two decades, offering a menu that blends traditional Texas BBQ with unique twists.  The brisket is a standout—tender, flavorful, and complemented by a smoky bark that’s hard to forget. Equally impressive are the pork ribs, which are seasoned to perfection and fall off the bone. For those seeking variety, the Mexi-Que menu offers delights like birria and pastor tacos, adding a flavorful fusion to the traditional offerings.   Sides are more than just accompaniments here. The jalapeño mac and cheese is creamy with a spicy kick, while the baked potato salad and Eena’s street corn provide hearty, flavorful options that round out the meal.  The atmosphere is welcoming, with friendly staff and a cozy setting that makes you feel right at home. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Pig Pen BBQ delivers a memorable dining experience that showcases the best of Texas Hill Country barbecue.

Stopped in for lunch on a multi state ride. The staff was friendly and there was plenty of seating both indoors and out. I wasn't very hungry, so I asked if I could order a kids sandwich. Some places won't let adults order the kids portions, but here, it was no problem and it was just the perfect amount. The potato salad was AMAZING! If we lived in the area this would likely be a good go-to spot for a tasty meal while out on a two wheeled adventure.

Absolutely delicious brisket and sausage. Best brisket I've had since visiting Texas last year, possibly even better. Paired nicely with the session IPA @onaplainbrewing, family, and sunshine 🌞 Happy to have something SO yummy in town!

Came across this joint whilst traveling home. I had pulled pork sami & mustard tater salad. I wish this place was closer to Bertram. ‘Nuff said.

Yummy yum yum! The best Birria tacos ever! We were driving to Austin and saw this unassuming restaurant. We r so glad we stopped in!

The food was great. Service even better. The Brisket sandwich is not to be missed. An interesting side, was the hot potato salad. Again, not to be missed. The ambiance, was early corrugated aluminum and ample tables. Loved it all! Just the way Texas bbq should be! Not too fussy, and damn tasty!

The food at Pig Pen was good and this might be the best BBQ restaurant in a Dripping Springs. I rated this one harder than usual due to its BBQ and we are in Texas. I'd give 3.5 stars if able to. The brisket was solid but a bit too fatty for my liking. The pulled pork was fantastic! The Mac & cheese was a bit weird because it was penne pasta noodles rather than the traditional macaroni noodle, but nonetheless the Mac & cheese was great. Service was 5 stars. The servers, cashier, and cooks were great hosts and very helpful, providing extra bread and pickles. The restaurant itself was spacious and had plenty of seating. I wouldn't mind trying it again in the future.

Unfortunately, not the best service when I decided to pick up tacos one morning. The individuals behind the counter weren't very attentive even though there were only 4 people in the dining room. However, the food is okay. Not great, but a very convenient location.

It's OK...chopped brisket wasn't my favorite. Beans were not that good. Service was good. Clean restrooms. Beer selection was small. I feel for the money it wasn't worth it.

I was in Dripping for a doctor appointment and looked for a spot to support a local business. Boy was I disappointed. I got the rib plate special. Supposed to be a half pound, but I seriously doubt that was what I got. They cut and measure in the back, so no opportunity to see what the scale registered. The ribs were plenty lean but had no dry rub that I could detect. They were way too sweet--not what you expect for Texas bbq. I got the charro beans for my side and again they weren't seasoned in any way to resemble the usual version expected in this area. The drink station was small and tucked into a nook so that only one customer could get a drink at a time. The straws were piled unwrapped in a bowl so very unsanitary. There was ample seating and the employees were friendly, so they get two stars for that. Much better bbq is available in the area for sure.

This is some of the best BBQ I have ever had. The baked potato salad is awesome too. We drive 25 minutes to buy food there.

Excellent all-around BBQ. I've eaten at a lot of Hill Country BBQ places, and this place is towards the very top. Service is friendly and reasonably fast, and the place - while rustic - doesn't look like it's going to fall down round your ears. :-) Personal favorite is the brisket taco. It's simplicity - four slices of brisket, two containers of hot/very hot salsa, and a tortilla. Perfect! The brisket overall is very good, perhaps a tad salty but properly smoked. Pork ribs are great and a bit on the sweet side. The pulled pork is very good, not overly 'processed' as it still had plenty of texture and great flavor. Oh, and be sure to try the 'Piggy Tails' - aka Candied Bacon. A real sweet treat! This place scores a 5 out of 5 on the 'CTJ Scale', as noted below. 5 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Jesus good. Would be OK passing away after finishing a plate here. 4 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Mary good. Would be OK having a nosh here with Mother Mary. 3 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Joseph good. Would be OK having a beer here with Jesus' Dad. 2 out of 5 stars: Come-to-the-Apostles good. Meh. Wouldn't have my last supper here. 1 out of 5 stars: Come-to-Nobody good. I wouldn't have my penultimate supper here, either.

We decided to try this place because we were in Dripping Springs for an appointment. It's a quaint place that is trying to serve both bbq and TexMex. I ordered the lean brisket sandwich combo that included a side and 20 oz drink. I ordered the coleslaw as my side. The other choices included beans, potato salad, green beans. The coleslaw is vinegar based which is what I prefer. I would categorize the brisket as a bit below average for Texas Q. It had a nice smoke ring, but it had no bark whatsoever. Texas bbq brisket should have a nicely seasoned bark to it... it was nonexistent on mine. They use a Hawaiian bread for theirs buns which I thoroughly enjoyed. The coleslaw was pretty tasty. My hubby had the daily rib special. It consists of 1/2 lbs ribs, side and drink. He got 3 ribs and beans. The ribs do not have a rub applied to them before smoking. Rather, they use a sweet bbq sauce to finish them. I had a taste and qualified them as ok. The beans were really good. Overall considering the price, taste, and quantity, I think you should spare yourself the expense and time. Go to a Rudy's instead. It's cheaper and the Q is just as good if not better.

Several different BBq places along this road and we decided to drop by here based on the reviews. Wow... am I glad we did. It's a different typer of BBQ place. The nachos I got were amazing and huge. It was a feast for 2. I had to have the buddy I was with help me eat some. The ladies that were in the front of the house were helpful and full of smiles. I felt like I was right at home with them. You can see all the cooks in the back just slicing up ribs and making the sandwiches. I like this spot. The food vibe and service was great. Will be back when I am out un this area. It's more than an hour drive from me so don't know when I'll be back out there.

Classic Texas BBQ. Lots of folks with their guns strapped on midday today. Classic Texas. I had the pulled pork sandwich. It was ridiculously delicious. Service is excellent as always and the environment is as expected. I love good BBQ! This place has it.

Holy heckin yum! We love pig pen! The gringo nachos is a huge portion and so delicious! Heated up great in the oven because no way I was able to finish as one meal! We have ordered the sandwiches as well and they are great! The baked potato salad is good! I don't like the regular potato salad as it's more on the mayo side. Also the Mexican street corn isn't something I'd order again. Still ordering more from their menu, so so good! They even offer TWO sweet teas! How dang Texan! Definitely stop and get you some!

Driving through Dripping Springs, we stopped at this fun bbq joint. The lady upfront was super lovely and helpful with the menu. We had 2 Piggy Paloozas with a Pastor Taco. The Piggy Palooza was a nice explosion of sweat bacon with a kick of wasabi. The pastor taco was perfect. The seasoning and smoke resonated in this delicious taco. Corn tortillas are so hit or miss, but these were just right a d not fall apart. A side of baked potato Salado was the hero. Buttery and rich, it was a perfect side to this tasty meal. We plan on hitting Pig Pen BBQ again!

We were driving through Dripping Springs so we decided to give this local barbecue joint a try. If you look at the menu, you'll notice that everything is à la carte. There is no one, two or three meat plate combo here, everything is sold separately which ups the price. If you pay with a credit card, you will see the obligatory tip screen pop up and they do have cash tip jar as well. The sliced brisket sandwich I ordered was piled high and not too fatty. The coleslaw they serve is not the creamy kind, it was very vinegary which I did not care for at all. However, their fries are worth getting (ask for ketchup because it's not on the tables). They do have a small drink station with tea and they do serve some beer, but no craft beer whatsoever. You can sit inside which is not that big and has a less than 20 tables or sit outside where there are numerous picnic tables. Overall, for the money you do get some pretty decent grub which makes it a good 3 1/2 star place to stop at.

After a business meeting in Dripping Springs on a fairly hot day my wife and I decided to stop by Pig Pen BBQ on HWY 290 and support a local business, the cashier could not speak a word of English and off the bat started to speak in Spanish and when we asked about the beef ribs she immediately started ringing up items and sides that were not what we were ordering after correction , she charged us $41.00 plus for half pound of brisket and one small beef rib with one bone and she told us to pay and wait till they prepare our order, preparing it in the back where we could not see, brisket was dry and cold and one blackened beef rib , we were ripped off, All I can say this was the most disappointing experience.

Freaking AMAZING!! Took clients to Salt Lick the night before and had THE WORST BBQ I've EVER had. Hit Pig Pen for lunch and redemption and did not disappoint!!! One of the best brisket sandwiches I've had. And the potato salads and coleslaw sealed the deal. Can't believe I haven't been here before. Will definitely be hitting Pig Pen up 1-2 times a week. Thanks to everyone at the Pen!!

A pound of brisket, 4 ribs and 2 banana puddings should not be $90. The brisket was dry, and the small plastic ramekins of bbq sauce were not enough to cover one slice of brisket, plus extremely wasteful because you need like 6 of them. The ribs were good, but not $90 good. Will not be back here.

My friend and I stopped here for lunch on our way back to Austin, and we were not disappointed. Everything we ate was delicious! We got brisket tacos, pork ribs, piggy tails, and turkey. The turkey and ribs were super flavorful, and the meat fell of the rib so nicely. The brisket tacos were stuffed, and the piggy tails were a sweet touch. Definitely recommend.

Enjoyed some amazing juicy brisket here. Cool restaurant with great and friendly service.

Just moved to the area and we wanted some breakfast tacos. My granddaughter (14) loves bean & cheese and egg & cheese. Usually the only kind she orders for breakfast. I ordered a pound of brisket. 8.00 overpriced than other bbq joints. Husband ordered 2 pastor, Though greatly filled but the taste just wasn't there for us. It's was brought to us. We had to ask for plates. They gave us onions and pickles (not enough to feed 3 people) and noticed how small of the sauce solo cups they gave us. My granddaughter was grossed out by the bean&cheese. They didn't smash the beans and watery. She didn't like the egg &cheese. She said the eggs didn't taste like real eggs. Pastor tacos were salty and spicy. Brisket was tender but salty. No other spices we tasted only salt. Too bad dripping doesn't have much choice in bbq. The only positive was they had good customer service and were nice.

I asked for burnt ends and got greasy brisket. I ordered ribs and was not impressed. My search for the best burnt ends in my area continues

Absolutely delicious! The Brisket, the corn, the banana pudding, all great! Definitely recommend.

Amazing bbq. We were driving through Dripping Springs (first time) and stopped in for lunch. The pork ribs were to die for! We also loved the baked potato salad and brisket tacos. I'd share a photo of it but the food was downed too fast . We will make the 1.5 hour drive again just for the food! Prices were very reasonable and the staff was welcoming.

I LOVE Pig Pen!! I frequent them on Sundays (an hour drive from me) to get their tacos. They are SO loaded up with meat, eggs, cheese! I love them! Their carne guisada is knock out delicious but they sell out quick. The beef fajita is super juicy and tender, and you can taste the charring from the grill! I just love their tacos so much, the only think I wish they would do differently is add some kind of consomé or something for the barría taco because it is sometimes a bit dry. If you live near Austin/Dripping Springs/Canyon Lake or any of those areas, they are worth the trip. They also have an outdoor seating area with a playground for kids!

It's a very solid option if you need a quick BBQ fix. Nothing is bad on the menu, though I wouldn't say anything is award winning. You really can't beat it if you're craving BBQ on a week night and want a place you can stop in on the way home.

A cute little place with a very welcoming atmosphere, service excellent, food wonderful and best place we have found for menudo. Only complaint was husband doesn't care for pig feet in menudo and would rather have hominy which it doesn't have it was quickly overlooked due to fantastic flavor.

Excellent food , atmosphere and service! Guaranteed amazing food every single time. Love coming in the mornings and talking with Ruby she is a great asset to the company!

I didn't go the classic BBQ route because seven types of tacos - including my two favorites - were on the menu... and while TexMex isn't my vibe, interior-style tacos can be sublime when they feature brisket. Pig Pen's default tortilla is flour. They do have corn tortillas if you ask for them. Ground brisket in my tacos? Never. No salsa offered. No cilantro. No chopped onion. Just greasy ground brisket. Never again.

Good food and welcoming atmosphere. Very fast service gets with amazing bbq. Friendly staff.

Just had lunch for the first time got my usual two ribs a quarter pound of sliced brisket and a link of jalapeno sausage The brisket is very good even though it's got a real good smoke and smoke ring the rub is very nice almost a little hot but just just a little The jalapeno cheese sausage was very good again Great taste. The ribs although they were very big were a little chewy. I like my ribs to be firm but be able to be pulled off with just a small bite The chef asked and I told him and he said he would look into that I will be back

Stopped in to grab a BBQ sandwich while traveling out of town. Service was slow, saw lots of people standing around and sitting in the dinning room, not a good sign. Ordered two sandwiches Sliced beef and chopped beef sandwiches. Sliced beef was cold and very salty. Chopped was warm but very salty. Side of pickle and onions in a small container, yielded one pickle slice and two small pieces on onion. The end result indigestion! Would not order beef.

Wow! Believe the reviews that say how great the food is here - it is! Drove up from New Braunfels to meet our Austin friends halfway and picked this spot solely based on the reviews. I enjoyed the Piggy Palooza sandwich with jalapeno mac & cheese and street corn. Everything was delicious, but you must try the top sirloin - heavenly good!

Brisket is wayyyyy to salty and dry. BBQ sauce can't even save it. The jalapeño Mac and cheese is good.

Not simply great BBQ in the hill country. The owner (Bill) has a tremendous heart for his staff and the community. VERY generous with both. This is our go-to spot in Dripping Springs.

Been running around the country for a few years and neglecting my Hays County Dining reports. Enter Pig Pen BBQ; supposedly a collaboration between two former food trucks turned brick and mortar. Here's the dirt on the former location of Creek Road Cafe. Not sure if Raza's (one of the two trucks) is still around; ate there once and wasn't impressed by the store bought Eckrich sausage in my taco. I have never previously dined at the Pig Pen BBQ truck as I feared the same fate. They spent WAY too much renovating this place! Let's face it; DS is just down the road from some stellar Que. Franklin BBQ if you wanna wait in line a LONG time. Valentina's is where I've found myself recently eagerly awaiting the new Buda location. Black's over in San Marcos is as good as Lockhart. Yeah yeah, support your local...Ok I went in for breakfast tacos. Seems a simple measure of a restaurant right? Just to get a quick comparison of quality enter Valentina's Potato, Egg, and Cheese topped with one slice of their brisket. Home made flour tortilla, fluffiest eggs you've ever tasted, and cheese paired with a serrano based salsa. Brisket fat line intact; glorious food. Now Pig Pen's tacos over two different visits. Took the boy in for the first trip. Sausage, egg, and cheese is his favorite. I opted for the same but added potatoes. IDK what happened but after we sat down they started telling new customers it was a 30-45 minute wait for food. Our tacos came out in a timely manner; salsa is more akin to an interior Mexico version vs. Tex-Mex. SUPER SPICY RED! Taters on mine were chopped up fries. Not terrible but lacked any refinement or technique. I'm working on ordering flavors I don't normally order so a chorizo, egg, bean, and cheese. I'm actually a chorizo fan but don't eat it too often because it's greasy AF. Said chorizo (or maybe it wasn't?) was so crunchy overcooked paired with the other ingredients I could not recognize the flavor as actual chorizo. This paired with a milder verde sauce. Guess I should have waited in line for my local favorite in the gas station instead.

Have you tried their barbacoa on the weekends? Oh. My. Gosh. Addicting and perfect. All of their tacos-- all varieties-- are stuffed to the max. Their hottest hot sauce-- not sure if it's habanero, is delicious. I am pretty sure I've tried everything on the menu by now. Excellent customer service. Staff is always so nice. I usually order everything to go. Love it!

My fellow colleagues and I decided to treat our support staff with a little celebration by ordering a large feast from Pig Pen BBQ. My colleague ordered ahead of time and I went to go pick it up. Pick up was quick and everything was as ready when I got there. They did almost forget to give me the tray of brisket (which was the bulk of the bill). The brisket and bbq sauce were decent. However, I couldn't help but notice that some areas of meat were quite salty. We also ordered a bunch of different sides. Again, even with the sides there were some spots that were very salty. I've never had salty bbq before, so this came as a surprise to me. Overall, this wasn't terrible, but it wasn't super excellent either. When my colleagues and I looked at the receipt, it seemed much higher than what it was supposed to be. We even tried to replicate the order again online and it was no where near as high as what the receipt said. Hmm. My colleague had to go back to the restaurant and she talked to several different people, who didn't quite understand the problem, before she was able to have the problem escalated to the manager. The manager gave her a call back shortly and it turns out that we were charged a 25% tip without us knowing! Umm..what?! We're a bit appalled at this, especially considering that this was just a pick up order and they almost forgot to give us the brisket tray when I came to pick up with order. The manager refunded us the extra 25% tip. But, maybe the restaurant should have also done something extra considering all that had happened. We had higher hopes for this place but we're quite disappointed. *I took some pictures of the establishment and the food. Now my food pictures may contain what looks like half eaten food with a background of an office. Well, that's because we were feeding a whole team of hungry coworkers in the office!

I hope I just had a bad experience as the restaurant appears to be a local favorite. I have never in years of eating, tasting or judging BBQ had such salty brisket or ribs. The food was inedible. The bread is wonderful and the staff very friendly but someone needs to cut the seasoning salt WAY back.

First off foods amazing. I got the Cowboy combo for lunch and it was the perfect balance of refreshing veggies and amazing meats. Portions are big which I'm a big advocate for. I got fries as a side and debated not using my ketchup they were so good. Very friendly staff. Cool rustic dining. I will be back.

Pig Pen is still delicious! My favorite is the pulled pork, but you can't really go wrong with anything. Everything we've had is yummy!

Everyone drives through Dripping springs from Austin to Fredericksburg. This time we stopped for lunch and found this place. Great moist brisket! Terrific charro beans. We did not like the more vinegar based cole slaw and they were nice enough to switch to the mustard based potato salad which was good. We also like ribs, these were ok. Not we are used to a little sweet for me. I would definitely come back and know in advance what I want. Convenient right off 290 and walking distance to other shops.

I agree with everyone who's said the baked potato salad is good. It's buttery and creamy with bits if bacon. The potatoes were scalloped and slathered with sauce and spices. Vegan sides were the ranch beans and the green beans. I was told the ranch beans were on the cold side. The pastor taco was loaded with meat. Now the barbecue... Brisket was on the leaner side. I prefer marbleized fatty moist brisket, so this wasn't for me. I started to taste the chicken and continued to devour all the dark meat and saved the breast for my husband. The spice rub is good. It's really good. Pork ribs were my favorite. It had some sort of sweet sauce mopped on top. I liked it quite a lot. I wish I had more. This place is poppin'. The line went out the door. There's one register open. The owner thanked us all for being patient and chatted with us for a bit. He praised the kitchen staff for being dedicated to the work and the restaurant. It took a long time, but I understand why. Restaurant work is hard work. I really appreciate these folks for making things possible. It's not perfect, but everyone's trying their best and working long hours. What would I get if I returned? Chicken, ribs, and baked potato salad for sure! I'd also like to try the birria if ever back on a weekend.

Delicious bbq in Dripping Springs. I'd give this place a 5 on hospitality alone. Every person was kind, respectful, and friendly- literally, the cashier, the manager, and dude clearing the tables. Felt like the Texas from yesteryear. The brisket sandwiches we had were moist, amply stacked high with slices of meat, on tasty buns that were neither too thick nor too thin. The green beans reminded me of my Mammaw's beans (though she had red potatoes and salt pork in hers). The Mac -n- cheese was the only thing that was lacking- not as creamy as I would like it and served too cool. Clean bathrooms and dining room. Thank you, Pig Pen. Loved the decor and graphics on the doors. Nicely done. Ample parking too. Hit all my points for a great review. We added Pig Pen to our agenda last minute. Glad we did. Try it out and tell me what you think.

My daughter had them cater her wedding and we got lots of compliments on the food! I'm not even crazy about BBQ and I loved their food! She loves Mac n cheese so she had to have that! The meats were juicy and tender! Everything was great! We would highly recommend! The restaurant is in Dripping Springs! You can sit down and eat, "try it, you'll like it"!

This is the best bbq I've ever had. The pulled pork...Amazing. Baked potato salad... Amazing. Sausage... Amazing. Ribs... Amazing. Bbq sauce... Amazing. Service... Amazing. Mac and cheese... Amazing. We haven't tried everything, but we will soon. Love this place.

Solid BarBQue! Whole family loved every meat and the baked potato salad was great! Charro beans were the best we have tried! Brisket sausage turkey pork ribs all hit the spot!

Great baby back ribs and a good variety of Mexican items. T had Birria taco and Charro beans. Highly recommended from our neighbors. Don't miss it.

It's ok bbq, kinda expensive for what it is. Got the brisket sandwich and it felt like it'd been under a warmer for some time before serving. Potato salad was pretty good.

Order to go. Baby back ribs and pulled pork. Nothing to write home about. Even the sauce was loaded a mediocre mouth of sugar. Shame, I was so in the mood for good bbq. This was a fail. I do not recommend.

I don't think i have ever rated a restaurant. Pig Pen Bbq is by far my favorite breakfast, lunch, or dinner spot in town. It's clean, good music playing, you have space in between you and the next table. The staff is friendly and fast, the owners are always there talking with staff and customers. The brisket burrito is amazing for something quick. Hope this place sticks around for a long time

Great ribs! We had Jakob's Rib Combo. Half a pound of pork ribs, a side and I drink. Ribs were very nicely done. Tasty rub also let the taste of the meat come through. The beans were spicy (but it didn't linger); Cole slaw was fresh with vinegar dressing. Great iced tea, too! Nice clean bathrooms