Is Rudy's BBQ really a MUST go place? (San Antonio, New Braunfels: home, living)

[cheermomof4girls]

So, my cousin in CA txt's me and asks me if I have heard of Rudy's. I answered yes and asked why. She said that some show on the travel channel rated it as a MUST go if you ever go to SA. What do you think? I think it's good, but I wouldn't say it's a must. I told her I would ask around here and see what y'all think.

[kevcrawford]

Absolutely. Are there some better? Probably. But we're really spoiled here. When we get to the point that Rudy's is just "OK", we're DARN spoiled. We've got a ton of awesome BBQ here and Rudy's definitely qualifies.

I used to travel the country for a living and I'd always have different crews from all over traveling with me. When we came to SA, they raved about the BBQ at Bill Miller's. Now, Miller's is good, but it's fast food BBQ. Rudy's just about gave them a heart attack on the spot.

[BamaSailor]

Its good as Texas bbq goes but if you want a "must go" then travel on eastward and get some pulled pork bbq with an east coast flavor!

[CAtoTX09]

YES!!!

We take all visitors there! (The I-35 Selma location as it's close to my office.)

[nismospec]

any place that you can order food by the pound, and not by the combo meal has my two thumbs up.

[rd2007]

This time of year is a good time to go, too. In the summer the wait times can be seriously long and it's a little warm in that waiting room thing.
I'd agree it's a must do. I'm sure there is better out there, but I really like it and they give a military discount. I always like places that do that
Why don't many people get the chopped? It's actually my favorite and the most affordable thing on the menu. I think even the corn is more expensive, but it sure is good, though.

[mlhradio]

>>So, my cousin in CA txt's me and asks me if I have heard of Rudy's. I answered yes and asked why. She said that some show on the travel channel rated it as a MUST go if you ever go to SA. What do you think?<<

I would change that to say that the Rudy's Bar-Be-Que in Leon Springs is a "must go" location for Texas BBQ -- there's just something a little bit extra special about the atmosphere of the original location.

As for the "best" BBQ in the region...well, we could debate that until the cows come home -- that's been hashed and rehashed by foodie experts for ever, and there's no end to "best of" lists and opinions.

A few months back, I posted a small, incomplete list of BBQ places I've been to in the past couple of years around the region that I would personally recommend. You can read it here: Matthew High - Woefully Incomplete List of Recommended BBQ Joints - far from complete, but it's a start. A short summary of places in the list: Texas Pride BBQ in SE San Antonio; Luling Central Market; Wetmore Smoke House; Floore's Country Store in Helotes; Rudy's Country Store and BBQ; Goss BBQ in Belmont; Two Bros BBQ Market is SA; Harmon's BBQ in Cibolo, and McBee's BBQ in New Braunfels.

And for your cousin in California, in the ten years I lived in the state I could manage to find only *one* BBQ joint the entire state - and that was because it was a direct Texas transplant: The Central Texas BBQ in Castroville, south of the Bay Area. Seems like once you cross the Pecos, no one gets BBQ just quite right.

[lsdude]

All roads to great BBQ go through Lockhart.

[majormadmax]

Absolutely, one of the things we missed most during our three-year hiatus from Texas (courtesy of the USAF) was Rudy's BBQ! It was one of the first places we ate at upon our return, and still hit it on a regular basis. It has been consistently excellent and as RD pointed out, they appreciate military service (to include us retirees!).

A secret during the summer is to call in your order. We do so just before we leave SeaWorld and it's usually ready by the time we drive by there. It's really fun to walk past the line to pick up your order!

To be honest, we've eaten and numerous Rudy's locations and they have all had the same excellent quality of BBQ as the original in Leon Springs.

Geez, now you've got my hungry for Rudy's!

[doss1]

If they could change one thing, it's their sweet tea. Way too sweet. Needs to be like Bill Miller's.