City Market BBQ

Reviews

• Heather M.

  star star star star star 8 July 2026

  Barbecue is a tradition in Texas. And nowhere is that more apparent than City Market in Luling. A locals' favorite, City Market is also a destination. We were there over the Labor Day weekend, and the line was out the door.
  
  The crowds are well earned as the Market boasted some of the best sausage and brisket I have had. The brisket was lean and smokey, the sausage hand stuffed, with the perfect snap as you bit into it.
  
  The sides are nothing to turn your nose up at. The beans are smokey with hints of sweetness, and the potato salad tangy, and a cool bite on a hot day.
  
  Simple, classic, delicious... the City Market proudly carries on the Texas barbecue tradition.  Cheers!

• Michae A.

  star star star star star_border 1 July 2026

  Good BBQ if you're in the area, we ordered the brisket, ribs, and the sausage. I preferred the brisket because it was more lean than fatty. The ribs also had a very nice flavor. My least favorite were the sausage too fatty for me and wasn't a big fan of the flavor. The sauce tasted like a sweet mustard bbq sauce, I would have preferred a more Smokey bbq sauce.
  
  We came during the week and no lines so that was a bonus.
  
  ***Cash Only***
  
  & the only reason I didn't give it a 5 was because I wasn't blown away by it.

• James F.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 26 June 2026

  City Market, while I appreciate your LONG tenure in Texas BBQ....my recent visit was an overcooked disaster. Forget the long line, the separate line to get sides meaning you have to check out twice. The nazi of the door with the fresh arm tattoo still wrapped in plastic....
  
  Your brisket is terrible; also recently acknowledged by Texas Monthly. I was a winner for ordering fatty (still a D-) The rest of my dining companions (lean) could have used it as sandpaper. Ribs were dry AF too. Good tear yet at the expense of moisture. $30 worth of meat, cheese, beverages, and dessert.
  
  What didn't suck was the sausage and the banana pudding. Threw the rest which consisted of 1lb of ribs, 1/4 brisket in the trash. Wait, I had the $1 cheese; they didn't over cook that thankfully. Also, your employees should describe that your sweet tea has lemon in the mix. Dumped that out too. BBQ mecca? Sh****t, you're surviving on your name alone at this point

• Mel M.

  star star star star star_border 25 June 2026

  So it was the US Army's 244th birthday and my wife and I were looking at where to celebrate it after playing over 2 hours of pickleball in the morning. We heard so much about the Luling City Market so we figured a road trip for some yummy Texas BBQ would be in order.
  
  The town of Luling itself was charming enough, with a decent looking main street, although with highways 80 and 183 intersecting where the town is, there was some traffic congestion especially when the trains are going through town. There was ample parking along the street as well as on a lot across the street from City Market, so that wasn't much of an issue.
  
  We got there around 11:45 and there already was quite a line forming. From Yelp reviews, my wife and I decided to "divide and conquer" as I stayed on the line to get BBQ while she lined up to get drinks and sides and to snag a table. Orders for the BBQ in this CASH ONLY joint is though a door in the back...presumably the enclosed smoky area where the magic happens is closed off to the dining area to spare diners from having to inhale and "wear" the smoky smell all the way home. As soon as I walked through the door where BBQs are smoked, it felt like the thick smoke was choking me...but I guess that's what fuels the operation.
  
  I ordered a pound of brisket, half moist and half lean for my wife, a half pound of ribs (although I think they gave us a pound which I surmised while I was paying for it) and a hot sausage. I had some homemade pickles and six slices of bread to go with all that meat. I was able to score a booth as I beat a woman to it as I exited the smoky BBQ area.
  
  Impressions: Their briskets were OK...I can't tell which was moist and which ones were lean as they were all lean. Not a big fan of their brisket. The ribs were very good, tender, fall off the bone, and flavorful. The hot sausage was also very good with the firm case and moist interior. Their potato salad was also very good and their beans were decent...the pickles were outstanding. Oh yeah, lest I forget, their sauce was very good!
  
  All in all, we liked their BBQ although we doubt we'll drive all the way out to Luling just to eat here. We still prefer the more scenic drive out to Driftwood and BBQ at Salt Lick or even the BBQ in San Marcos.
  
  Lunch for 2 with plenty of meat left over to take home cost just over $38. Decent value for a good meal.

• Timothy H.

  star star star star star 21 June 2026

  This is by far the best bbq in all of Texas. No frills here. Cash only. The simple menu means that everything they make is purely excellent. My wife and I have been here a number of times and the line is always 20-40 people deep. Figure a 20 minute wait in line at least.
  
  My wife and I both have a pretty good appetite, and we order 1 pound of ribs and 1/2 pound of brisket and two dill pickles. Total: $24...anywhere else in Texas you'll pay at least $30+ for lesser quality bbq.
  
  I love that you seat yourself in one of two open dining areas. The food is so good that it brings tourists from all over. It's Texas...southern hospitality...expect to have a conversation with whoever is sitting next to you.
  
  Two hours from Houston...an hour from San Antonio or Austin. Make the trip...you'll be happy you did!