MICKLETHWAIT: GOOD OL’ TEXAS BBQ SERVED OUT OF A TRUCK IN EAST AUSTIN
The Cost -$18 per person
The Atmosphere – Set in a vintage Comet trailer permanently parked in an open, outdoor setting with numerous wooden picnic tables for seating, Micklethwait is one of the busiest BBQ spots in Austin, a city well known for its smoked meats. It is only open from Thursday to Sunday, from 11am until “Sold Out,” which can often come just an hour or two into the day, making its meats one of the toughest in the city to get your hands on. Be prepared to wait in line for a substantial amount of time if you arrive at any time after 11am.
Where does the name Micklethwait (pronounced Mickle – wait) come from? It’s the last name of the eatery’s owner and original pitmaster, Tom Micklethwait, who opened it in 2012. Since then, the multi-award-winning food truck has become one of the best-known spots for BBQ in all of Texas. Micklethwait serves up traditional barbeque meats like pork ribs, brisket, and pulled pork, in addition to some other, more unique options such as pulled lamb and turkey, both of which it was unfortunately out of on our visit despite us being the second customers served that day.
The Order – Pulled Pork, Pork Ribs, Brisket, Chicken, Habanero Citrus Sausage, Jalapeño Cheese Grits, and Lemon Poppy Cole Slaw.
The Fantastic – By far, the best meat we ordered at Micklethwait was the Brisket, which was smoked to perfection. The juicy, flavorful meat was sliced thick and had a good amount of delicious fat that was a true delight. This brisket doesn’t need any sauce and it would be a shame to add anything to it. The only sad thing is that we ordered just a quarter pound, which was just enough for three people to try but not enough to really satisfy once we realized just how good it was.
The better of the two side dishes was the truly excellent Lemon Poppy Cole Slaw. Made in-house from scratch, the half pint of purple cabbage with tiny bits of kale and an awesome lemon poppy mayo made this slaw stand out in a state where most restaurants have their own version. Micklethwait’s slaw is more mayo-y than most, but it is worth the calories and at $4 for half a pint, which easily can be shared between two people as a side, it is a great value and a must-order.
The Great – Let’s not let the coleslaw review take anything away from the other side dish that was ordered: the Jalapeño Cheese Grits. A half pint of the delicious southern specialty was a perfect accompaniment, especially to the ribs. Like the slaw, this side is homemade and was a good enough quantity for three people to share with all the other food that was ordered. The grits weren’t overly cheesy, but they were done very well and had a nice kick to them.
We ordered half a pound of pork ribs and that came out to be two large ribs, each of which had a substantially sized bone. Despite the disappointing quantity of meat, the pork was incredible – it was so flavorful on its own without any sauces or rubs. They may have been cooked at a lower temperature or for a shorter time than most other BBQ spots cook their ribs because the meat was on the pinker side and was smoother texture-wise. The ribs may have been pricey when you consider how much meat we got, but the quality was top notch.
Micklethwait’s Pulled Pork also earned our Great rating. The stringy, clumped up meat had a heavy smokey flavor that was delicious. So many pulled pork dishes that you find in restaurants around the country are sweetened with sauces or other ingredients that are not needed if you are dealing with a quality meat that is smoked well and Micklethwait proves that point. The quarter pound of pulled pork was enough with everything else that was ordered.
The Good – The Chicken was a barbequed half of a whole chicken, a good sized breast and leg, and it was solid. It just wasn’t anything special or spectacular. The best thing about it though was the price. At $10 for half a chicken, it was far less costly than most of the other meats on the menu and was enough for an entire meal for one person. It is also a healthier option to some of the other meats and a good choice for those that don’t eat red meat.
My least favorite item of the meal was the Habanero Citrus Sausage. A link of sausage with a nice orange citrus flavor and a bit of spiciness, the sausage had a nice taste but had an off-putting, grainy texture that made for a poor overall experience. Given that I knew that Micklethwait has won a number of awards for its sausages my expectations were not met, and I was pretty surprised to have not enjoyed this dish more.
The Verdict – Overall, the BBQ at Micklethwait is definitely worth waiting in line for. The brisket and the slaw are must-orders, and you really can’t go wrong with the pork options on the menu as well as the grits. Micklethwait deserves the praise and recognition that it has received (except maybe for that habanero citrus sausage) and it’s a bonus that its price point is slightly under that of most of its competition in the area. If you are planning to eat at Micklethwait just make sure to head there early or you may find yourself scrambling to find another lunch spot.