You’re with a large-ish group, you want “real barbecue,” and you don’t want to drive hours or wait in long lines. Cooper’s is a Texas Hill Country BBQ legend that opened a downtown Austin location exactly for situations like this. The setup here involves a fast-moving line where you pick out your favorites from the beef, pork, and chicken options on display. Get a healthy portion of brisket, with some burnt ends. You don’t really need to spend much time on the sides. Focus on what you came for - the meat sweats.

photo credit: Roger Ho