Robertson’s Hams The Choppin Block

If you’re the type who likes the imitation beef jerky you find at 7-11—or just about any convenience store—this one probably isn’t for you. But if you like the real McCoy… the kind of jerky cowboys have been chewing on for over a century—the kind you have to gnaw a piece off and chew for a good 30 seconds or more—then you’ve hit the jackpot with their product called Real Beef Jerky. It isn’t cheap, but I’ll bet you can’t eat just one big strip without reaching for another. Bar none, this is my favorite jerky. Easily worth 5 stars. P.S. the last order I put in still tasted good but instead of having to gnaw off a bite to chew, you could just snap it like it had been stored in a heat shed for to long. going to order more. will follow up comment on with the new batch

Love the beef jerky here. Everyone we pass through we stop to buy a large container of their beef jerky. Staff is always friendly.

People are very welcoming and store us very simple. Love the antique stove! They have a deli also aside from the jerky. I got a smoke turkey on wheat and so good! The jerky is awesome too and have had it many times b4. Def recommend to stop. They give military and first responders discounts. (The sandwiches are not fancy but traditional like you would make on a road trip. Its nice)

I’d driven by here for 30 years. Today was the day I stopped. I’d heard tales of the best ham sandwich and had to see. It is indeed the best ham sandwich I’ve ever eaten.

Great food and nice people. I have been purchasing from this company for more than 20 years and have never had anything but a pleasant experience. I’ve sent their products to friends and family here in the US as well as Iraq, and Afghanistan. I took about 5 lbs. to Japan myself (I know), and they loved it! Those complaining about the price of the jerky needs to stick with the cheap stuff full of moisture and sugar/corn syrup, while paying more per lbs. Robertson’s has pure beef jerky that doesn’t have sugar and meets my carnivore needs. The smoked hams, turkeys and even cheese makes my mouth water while I type this! Highly recommend!

Best jerky ever! Anytime I'm near here I stop or even order online to get that jerky! Price is high not going to lie but it's worth it. It's a fight for every piece in my family! Even the dogs know it's good stuff and their mouth waters when they smell it 🤣

Dude, fantastic ham & swiss! And I'm not a swiss cheese fan! Wish I had gotten there sooner, so I could enjoy the outdoor area. Not only did I get some delicious beef jerky, but they had DOGGIE beef jerky! Now I can bribe my puppers when I get home after being gone for a month, they might not hate me now!

This place was nice, we stopped on the way back from Waco. The staff were nice and helpful and their products seemed varied. The only bugbear was the cost of Jerky $28 for a small tub. But my wife enjoyed it before I could get to it. So it must be very good!

When making a road trip between Dallas & points further south (Austin, San An sandwiches to order, but if you are in a real hurry, they offer tonio or the Valley, for many years this has been a mist-stop. They have nice clean restrooms, and will make custom sandwiches for you, but if you are in a real hurry,they also order fresh pre-made deli sandwiches. They have outstanding jerky, sold by the half-pound or full pound. It is not cheap but is of the highest quality, There are also deli meats sold by weight and a gift shop. Just check ahead to see if they are open, sometimes when we syop by they are closed (like on Sunday mornings)

How has this place stayed open? Can anyone explain how? No one was there but us on a Saturday. There were 1 and one half summer sausage in the case. There was also one really sad looking ham at the bottom of the case. A lot of dog jerky, some windchimes and packaged desserts by other brands. That's it. Why has everyone been praising this place?

We've driven by this place many times and it's usually closed. However this time it was open. I guess I was expecting a little more. It was pretty empty and there were only a few things of jerky, spices, and teas. I didn't end up leaving with anything as the prices were a bit steep.

Always stop here to get beef jerky for my husband. The menu is pretty basic, but the service is always good.

This is the famous ham sandwich. Two thin slices of ham , one slice of cheese on a hamburger bun . You have to unwrap it and put your own mustard and mayo on . Except they were out of mayo . They did find some packets behind the counter . The young man behind the counter could barely be bothered to take my order.

This Salado staple is awesome. They've got so many great items to choose from, packed into a relatively small building. Their smoked ham is the best I have ever tasted, that's for sure. And try their colby Jack and swiss cheeses - they're way better than at your local supermarket. Lots of creative gift items, great jerky, fantastic brittle, specialty condiments galore, and best of all - free samples! The employees are great, too. Great location right on I-35 with plenty of billboards to lead you here! Well worth the drive from Austin!

On December fourth, I ordered a ham and a small small smoked turkey to be delivered to my address on December 22 because we were expecting a large group of people in for Christmas. On December 23 I called because I had not received my order and the person at the desk informed me that my order was there in Salado and I live in Dallas. So I requested a refund and was told that since it was an online order, they would not give me a refund . So I found a honeybaked ham store in the area near me and my daughter went down and picked up a ham and smoked turkey for our group. I have ordered products from Robertson's ham in Salado in the past and have had a good experience, but something has changed . today is January 3 and I I have still not heard anything from the chopping block so I called and requested a refund again and the smug gentleman finally told me that they would issue a refund. I will not be buying any products from them in the future, because they cannot be trusted and are not reliable and I don't know what would've happened If I would not have made the phone call they would have probably just kept my money.

Gave a 2 for great location. I spent over $53 on a 16 Oz beef jerky. It was so dry and hard . Very embarassed that I picked one like this. It was nothing like the sample I tried. It tasted like it was over 10 years old . I gave 2 stars for the set up. My family was disappointed too. It's life. The plant store next to it was closed too. It's Saturday but I guess it's how things go.

Great food and service would recommend if nearby to stop in and enjoy the food and gift shop

Picked up 3 tubes of summer sausage on my way home from San Antonio. This is a must stop for great summer sausage. They also have a vAriety of other meats( including jerky). This is almost the best summer sausage I've had - the best is in Fredericksburg. This is a close second.

We had this place on our radar for a few years and finally stopped, glad we did. I bought and sampled some very tasty mesquite smoked beef jerky, jalapeno and cheese dried beef sausage, and a link of dried beef sausage. We will return for more goodies the next time we're in the neighborhood.

Always delicious, with a cute country store. I call ahead for sliced ham, bacon, smoked cheese, and of course, jerky, when traveling from Austin to Dallas. You rock Robertson's! I also stop in on their location in Marietta OK. Look for my pic tomorrow.

Very disappointed that the staff doesn't seem to care at all about helping people with anything they are looking for. They didn't say hi when we entered but said hi to the next couple. I said "hi, oh I thought you meant us..." and the guy goes "ha! No." Ok ? Also don't have a big ass sign outside that says beef jerky and then when you go in there is a tiny shoebox size selection of two total flavors because the rest was out.

I have always gone to the location in Int St 20 but thought I would stop at this because I was craving the great summer sausage and smoked cheese. The service was terrible...3 teenage kids that knew nothing about "can I help you" " I will be with you in a min" they were handing out sandwiches that looked so delicious. I ordered sausage and smoked cheese. I ask for sliced the sausage was shaved it was so thin and the cheese was in 1/2 in chunks. I was so disappointed. The summer sausage was not good. I bought a pound of it and nobody would eat it. I was so disappointed! I will not be back to this location but will always stop at the other location!

Been stopping by this place for years between Dallas/Austin/San Antonio trips. Awesome beef, buffalo, and even turkey jerky! Different wood smokes and flavor options to choose from. Some of the best I've had and they're pretty proud of it too so be sure to bring your credit card. :) NEVER leave without spending at least 40 buckaroonies. Cute country store with lots of novelty candies, hot sauces, and Texas tourist trap purchases. Can you say "Jesus on toast" maker? Uh huh. Yup, I bought one. Recently discovered their simple ham and swiss sandwiches. YUM! I know "ham" in on the store name, just never tried before. Sandwhich is the perfect roadside snack - about $3, just the right size, and driver-user friendly (not messy). Next time you're passing by Salado stop in! You won't be disappointed. Oh, did I forget to mention the free samples? There ya go. Even more incentive if I've failed to convince you already.

Due to the fact that they didn't have handrails on their front steps into the business, my father fell, which required an overnight hospital stay on our road trip. I spent many hundreds of dollars staying in a hotel nearby while my father was looked at. I also was travelling with my dogs, which had to boarded. When we got him up and were waiting for the ambulance to arrive, I asked for some ice tea for him, which they charged me for. They didn't get any information from us, seemingly they were unconcerned that someone might be injured on their property. The restrooms were also not handicap-friendly, with no handrails or enough space.

The best real beef jerky in the Texas!!!! And the summer sausage is to die for! Small really cute country store. Love the pecan brittle! Must stop in if your driving thru for great samples and great snacks and treats!

Ok, finally had the chance to check this place out after passing by it for years. Mainly came here for the boyfriend who loves jerky. They have samples by the register, and none of them really stood out for us to buy. Boyfriend thought the jerky was just too dry and tasted like cardboard, which I had to agree. Hate to mention it, but the jerky that comes in the bag you find in stores (*cough* Jack Link's) tastes way better. PASS.... Nice tea/coffee, canned goods, and knick-knack selection if that's your thing.

great place to pick up a quick sandwich and chips when you are on the road headed down IH35. The country boy sandwich is great. I'd recommend it.

OMG - This place has the BEST Beef Jerky I've ever had! Gotta figure this part of the country knows a few things about smoked meats. I've been trying jerky from Gary West, Texas A&M and Mahogany Smoked Meats and I've come to the conclusion that while all of them are good, "Robertson's Hams and The Choppin' Block" have the best "Real Beef Jerky" (I prefer the mesquite over the hickory). You can mail order it online (their website is in need of a makeover), but their smoked hams and Robertson's Beef Jerky is the best I've had. http://www.robertsonshams.com You can also find it at Love's Country Stores in the region - this beef jerky is way better than the crappy reconstituted beef jerky with liquid smoke flavor sold at most truck stops.

Robertson's has some delicious jerky albeit very expensive. I have been there several times to purchase jerky for the care packages I sent to my deployed son. Each time that I have been there I have been met with curt and unfriendly service that is uncharacteristic of Salado hospitality. I wouldn't patronize this business if it weren't for my son loving their jerky so much.

The best place to stop to get beef jerky. You can never go wrong with this place. I always come when we go to Dallas to visit .

Perfect pit stop. If you're Lookin for fine China this is not for you. Very country & easy going. One of the the best roast beef sandwiches ever; as well as, Summer Sausage. Well worth the money & the time.

My boyfriend and I stopped by Robertson's this past weekend on the way to visit his parents in Waco. I am a jerky fan, and once I saw the big billboard advertising "real beef jerky", I knew we had to stop by and take a look at what they had. We got 1/2 pound of the smoked turkey jerky and it was SO GOOD. I've had a lot of "homemade" jerky from different small stops in Texas, and this was as good as all of them. Yes, it's high (all jerky is) but it's worth it if you have the time and the means. They also had tons of little souvenirs, shirts, and candies... I'm sure anyone could find something to enjoy. I recommend it.

Nom! Always stop here when we pass through. Spicy beef jerkey and buffalo jerky are family faves. I love the patio, with giant tree and wind chimes.

Beware!!! Once you stop here the rest of your trips south bound on I-35 (Austin) will be incomplete if you do not stop here again. First thing this is not a dash in and out place. Make it a stop on your trip. Must get beef jerky and a ham sandwich, with swiss! Do it! Don't argue with me! Just effing do it. Then use the clean toilets. Then make sure you look at every made in china chotchke they have in this place - it is worth it. Then if time and weather permits step oout back and see the largest chimes money can buy. Shit buy some like we did - it will chime a new sound in your backyard. Trust me.

Country boy sand which was good except for the excess amount of hot sweet mustard I put on it. Wasn't too impressed with the beef jerkey for the advertising they do though.

Their "famous" jerky is outrageously expensive, dry, hard, flavorless and nearly inedible. Super waste of money. Very disappointed. I would buy jerky from Buckee's any day of the week.

So. Yeah, the jerky is good. Not too salty and lots of meaty flavor, two bucks an ounce. Moving on to the sandwiches.... Charging $5 for a couple ounces of ham, two slices of wonder bread and a thin slice of Swiss cheese is not ok. especially when said sandwich is presented in a sandwich Baggie. I remember seeing far better sandwiches served up in grade school cafeterias. If the big red hiway signs get your attention and you decide to stop, grab some jerky and call it good.

I am a fan of Robertson's. I frequent the location off I-20 and visited this location for the first time today. They have a number of homemade jams, salsa, pickled items. They even have candy and all sorts of brittle and pralines. Knick knacks in the corner for grandma and the little ones. Now for the meat. I got a deli sandwich with ham and pepper jack and added my own toppings. The sandwich is not anything to "write home about" but it's fresh. For some, the price is steep, but I've paid far more for more ridiculous things in life and can appreciate the sandwiches and jerky every time I go to Robertson's. I do like the other location better I just say.

We went here for one purpose only - beef jerky. They had several jerkies to choose from buffalo to spicy jerky. I ended up with the spicy and have to say overall I wasn't terribly impressed. It taste like any other jerky you buy at the store. The day before we stopped at Cowboys next door and actually liked their jerky much better. It's homemade, soft and good. Robertson's jerky is expensive too. I think it was $15 for 1/2 pound. $5 higher than Cowboys. Too pricey for me!

After 20 years of driving between Austin and DFW, this place still stays a must stop on each trip. The jerky is outstanding, sandwich delicious, and ice rivals that of Sonic. Maybe one day they will get a larger cup for us travelers.

UGGGH. Don't get the buffalo jerky!!! I am huge fan of buffalo and will get it whenever I can. The buffalo jerky at robertsons sucked. It had so much pepper on it, I could have been eating a spare tire for all I know. Why this place doesn't let you actually taste the buffalo meat is beyond me. What a waste of money. BTW the bread on my sandwich was stale. Their answer when I brought it up was the sandwich was made fresh this morning. It was 1:30pm. Double uggh.

OH MY GOSH! They are the main reason I love jerky so much!!!! We were on a trip to Dallas and stumbled upon this place. OH MY GOSH! Awesome selection of smoked meats and jerky. I love the mesquite. You can also order online, which has been our desperate resort since we moved all the way to California.

If you have never had Robertson's I'm not sure you're really from Texas. I'm not writing this review for a huge culinary award. I'm writing it for their outstanding customer service. I live in Arlington and if I'm heading south I'm stopping for some jerky. They do also carry some other things that could be compared to Cracker Barrel (going by a bad review they received) but that's somewhat insignificant to me and I'd consider more of a bonus. I'm there for the jerky. Recently I was craving some and without a future road trip in the works I decided to use their online ordering and meanwhile ordering a gift from there that I know is somewhat unique to them for my best friend for her birthday. Obviously they've got plenty of the jerky to ship out but the other item they no longer carry. I placed the order without any problems but after more than week went by I started to not only get concerned but was really craving some beef jerky. I e-mailed them and got a response within 24 hours. Unfortunately they no longer carried the item that I had purchased for my best friend but do to the mix up in the order they apologized and sent me my jerky for free. It was for sure worth it to me.

I love me some Robertson's! I intentionally plan a stop, going and coming, when traveling between Dallas and San Antonio. Great selection of jerky products. My favorite item is a simple turkey sandwich with mustard. They also have ham sandwiches and have some good local honey. Robertson's will ship some of their products anywhere (1-800-458-HAMS). Exit off IH 35 at exit 285.

I had to make a stop on the way home from Austin since its supposedly the best jerky ever. The samples we tried were not memorable and to our dismay, we found the jerky to be hard & bland. Definitely not worth the money. Even our family found the jerky to be too hard. The store is off the highway and convenient to stop by w/o detouring too much. One star. It also has a quaint feel that I loved- equipped with cute knick knacks, tea, decor, etc. Another star. Maybe worth the trip to check out once. I probably won't be coming back.

One of our go to places for beef jerky. We have to travel we find a Robertsons and buy pound or two of jerkey. Well worth it

If you ever been down I-35 then you have seen the billboards for Robertson's, either for their ham sandwiches or their jerky. I'm a fan of some good beef jerky, so after passing Robertson's dozens of times over the years we finally decided to stop. The ladies behind the counter are very nice and loved talking about their college team or their jerky. Robertson's offers beef sticks and jerky along with several other specialty food items. I tasted all six of their jerkys and the buffalo was their best. Their beef jerkys were extra dry so I bought the buffalo. The buffalo is very good...peppery, thick slices and not too dry. But not worth what they demand... Man! Their prices are higher than giraffe ass! This place is a complete rip off. $10 for a 1/4 pound of jerky? $6 for jelly beans? $50 for a women's baseball cap?! I still think it's a good pit stop on your way south just for a stop to cure your curiosity but not much past that. I'm sure their ham sandwich is as good as they say but this was my first and last visit.

This place is pretty neat and is definitely worth the stop on the way to/from Dallas and Austin. There are all sorts of jerky products - I tried two of them and I really liked this one (I should find out what the name is) but it was flavorful and chewy ( I tend to like softer jerky). But! the thing I will rave about is their tea selection. Just so many choices - I walked out with a cannister of tea. They have a bunch of odds and ends and their toffee is pretty darn good as well. The staff was very polite and friendly.

This place is a really great pit stop as you cruise I-35. When you go in, the smell is incredible. Incredible good. They make their own meat and cheese products. They sell sandwiches (try the Country Boy), cheese, beef jerky (hickory is my favorite, the mesquite is also very popular, and they do have turkey jerky sometimes), dried sausage, gourmet condiments and spices, various fun decor items. The jerky is pretty steep, around $22 a pound, but it is dried and lightweight so you get a lot. They will give samples too if you ask for them. They also sell stuff like entire hams, you can order them and have them shipped. They make great presents, my mom used to send them as Christmas gifts to my relatives in New York who LOVED them. I also noticed they have extended their hours, I think they are open until about 8 PM, it used to be 5 PM.This isn't the only Robertson's, and they have a website too, so you can get some jerky even if you aren't in Salado!

Robertson's Real Beef Jerky is one of my favorites. It's more of the dry style, with a light salty spice, a hickory smoke flavor, and it has a crispy chew. It's flecked with small spots and streaks of fat which adds a nice beefy flavor. If you stop in here, definitely pick up a bag of this stuff, you won't be sorry. Jerky Reviews has written up a very detailed review, which has some nice photos too: http://www.bestbeefjerky.org/2009/06/robertsons-real-beef-jerky-hickory.html

Country boy sandwich !!! Great store located in the back . Lots of old wood!

On the way home (Columbus, Ohio) from Austin, I saw the sign that said real beef jerky, 15 miles away. My girlfriend loves pepper jerky, great Texas souvenir. Well it would have been, but the jerky was SO HARD. So hard to bite and chew. I had weird vibes right away when I walked in. I spent $40 on jerky that is just going in the trash. Makes me sick to think about. Bye $40

I have been coming here since I was a kid. Now I can bring my daughter. We always stop here when heading north bound. This place has great jerky, tasty quick ham and sausage sandwiches. Yum! A cool patio w/ old doors and chairs and a bunch of knick knacks. I'll be coming here till I'm super old, ha! If your in Texas you have to stop in.

I came in and begrudgingly bought a half pound of beef jerkey for $22, walked out and decided I didn't need to pay that much. When I walked back in and asked for a return, I was denied my money back On the beef jerkey that's not even worth $10. I'm very angry and upset by this. I used to love going to robertsons but I will never, ever return to this establishment. I'm disappointed and disgusted with the way I was treated.

About two hours south of Dallas it is at the perfect mile marker to stop and grab a bite while traveling to Austin or San Antonio, or vise versa. The Country Boy sandwiches are excellent, if a bit too small. The store has a nice seating area out the side, and a few benches around front. Very cool old doors, mantles, etc out back that are reasonably priced for the person looking for an accent piece, cabinet doors, etc. A must visit. ALL employees are super nice, super knowledgable, and very happy to help you out!

Stopped in today and probably won't return. The sandwiches were "ok", nothing special on sandwich loaf bread and heated in a microwave. Worst part is there was no customer service. None at all. With several people working there and 4 of us the only ones in there, we were made to feel uncomfortable with no friendly service. As a business owner, you can have a terrible product, but make up for it with great customer service. No one seemed to care or give a d_ _ _ if we were there. This place has so much potential with their outside seating and ambiance that is not taken care of. Really a shame, but won't go back.

Stopped here on the way back from Austin for a quick bite. Sandwich was okay, as was the shop. Know what wasn't okay? Getting a call from Chase four house later saying the credit card I used was just used again in the Salado Kroger. Absolutely inexcusable that they couldn't keep my card secure.

Absolutely avoid. We called and asked if they had locally made jerky, they said yes. When we arrived they admitted it was made in Oklahoma. Not cool. The sandwiches are tiny and not good at all. Their "bar o' fixins" consisted of Greek seasoning, honey mustard, mayo (no thank you), standard mustard, and a bowl of relish with a spoon sticking out. The jerky is $9 for 1/4 pound. They sell all sorts of random crap. Think 'Cracker Barrel' without the seating or good food.