Purveyors of smoked brisket to conventioneers, singers and Dubya.

(512) 782-4827

100 Red River St (Cesar Chavez Street E)
Austin, TX 78701 30.2619 -97.7389

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Neighborhoods: Greater South River City, South River City

ironworksbbq.com

Reviews & Ratings for Iron Works

4 Star Rating: Recommended

36 reviews

What users are saying:

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2 Star Rating: Below Average

08/15/09

Good but NOT GREAT

by jwalker773

We have read about this place for years and was really expecting it to be something really SPECIAL. NOT!!

  • Pros: BBQ Sauce is Excellent, Pork Ribs are Excellent
  • Cons: Brisket is over cooked and dry. Place needs Air Conditioner
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

07/01/09

Awesome Beef Ribs

by HBiz

The BBQ sauce is excellent!

  • Pros: Great Ribs
4 Star Rating: Recommended

11/24/08

Really good BBQ, especially the beef ribs

by shaft28

I was very pleased with Iron Works this past Friday night. Very much like some of the more remote BBQ joints around Austin, more of a lunch counter style with delicious beef ribs. Tooks the whole family plus so got to try different dishes. Hands down the beefs ribs were the winner, in fact I can hardly wait to go back to have more with the delicious sauce the have (both regular and spicy were excellent). The pork ribs were loved by all, although I thought they were a little over-smoked but that tends to be Texas BBQ fare. The sausage was good, but not great. Nothing the sauce couldn't liven up.

Side dished were there, not really sure why every place in Texas has to have the bland watery chili bean side. Everyone has it and I dislike it at every place. So many better options out there for beans.

I would have liked my food to be a tad warmer but that is pretty minor. Have to rank this as #2 on my list so far because they do have one dish far and above all others. Good stuff.

  • Pros: Beef ribs, spicy BBQ sauce
  • Cons: bean side dish
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/14/08

best ribs

by camry

this place has the best ribs. The meat just falls off the bone. Truly cooked texas style. We enjoyed the decor as well.

  • Pros: seated fast
  • Cons: none
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/03/08

BEST BBQ IN TOWN!!!!!

by blondie09

This is honestly the best BBQ I've ever had in my life. Every time I have family come into town I bring them straight to Iron Works to eat their famous ribs. Everything is slow cooked to perfection so that it falls off the bone. It seems a bit whole in the wall, but once you learn about the history of the place you understand why. Just know that in the summer you'll probably be hot in their lack of air conditioning, and in the winter you'll probably be cold unless you're sitting next to their old fashioned wood stove. Nonetheless, this place is the epitome of Texas BBQ. if you don't mind eating on plastic table cloths and picnic tables, then I would HIGHLY recommend eating here out of any restaurant in Austin-- you'll be in absolute BBQ heaven!!!!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/25/08

BEST BARQ

by JCGRAND

SOME OF THE BEST RIBS I EVERY EATEN.GREAT PLACE TO TAKE YOUR FAMILY.I REALLY ENJOY THE WHOLE PLACE.BUT THE BARQ WAS WORTH THE WAIT.GO EARLY OR LATER AND ENJOY GOOD BARQ. I HAVE EATEN AND COOKED BARQ FOR A FEW YEARS.BUT EVRYTIME I AM IN THE AREA,I GO TO THE IRON WORK TO EAT BARQ.

  • Pros: GOOD BARQ
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/21/08

Great place for family, and barbecue

by mrcmsc

Iron Works is our family's favorite place to eat! The kids love grabbing the cokes right out of the ice bends. I have never been a big pork rib fan, but I tried them at the Iron Works and all I could say was WOW! For dessert we love their pecan pie! We have a lot of family out of state, and we are able to place our order online, and send the barbecue Fed EX. These make great Christmas gifts!

  • Pros: Our family's favorite place!
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/21/08

I can not wait to go back!

by jillsams

Finally, we have stumbled upon a real barbecue place. My husband and I tried all the same old bbq joints around Austin. A friend told us to try Iron Works in downtown Austin. My first reaction was Barbecue downtown? Wow, what a place it is! It is as if you have stepped back in time. The food was exceptional, I am still tasting that Sauce. We were surprised to learn that they have been there since 1978! A must see, and taste place!

  • Pros: The ribs are Huge!!
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/20/08

YUCK!

by Leelee84

This place is highly overrated! I would only go here if someone begged me! Not the best BBQ! I would try my luck at either Salt Lick or Rudy's!

  • Pros: ambience
  • Cons: the food!
1 Star Rating: Poor

06/20/08

Great the first time, but not recommended overall

by AndreC

I'm a beef eater and loved the beef ribs the first few times I ate there. But finally, although the ribs are tasty I always had a hard time digesting them... maybe too fatty. Anyway, at the end of the day all the cons added up and I no more enjoy going there, the last disapointment was that they no more carry diet coke, not even diet pepsi...

Showing 1-10 of 34 reviews

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