How did a Harvard lawyer who grew up in Alabama become our resident Texas BBQ expert? We’ll let him explain it:

I always heard how everything is bigger—and better—in Texas.  As I understood it, there was Texas, and then there was everywhere else.  It seemed as if Texas had its own version of everything, from country music to toast, two stepping to poker.

Why in the world did my law school in Massachusetts have a Texas Club? We had more students from California, but no California Club. Then again, maybe “it’s a Texas thing,” and being an outsider, I wouldn’t understand anyway.

After moving to Austin in the fall of 2007, I decided to pick one of those “Texas” things and see what all the hoopla was about. Thus Man Up Texas BBQ http://manuptexasbbq.blogspot.com/ was born—the blog that chronicles my journey to find out what is so remarkable about Texas BBQ that BBQ joints from Beijing to Los Angeles have “Texas” in their names.

After almost two years, I feel like we’ve just scratched the surface of Texas BBQ (but think I get what all the fuss is about). 

Should you find yourself in the Central Texas this summer, here are some joints within a couple of hours of Austin that, depending on what you’re in the mood for, you don’t want to miss:

Check out Man Up BBQ’s Q Card http://www.theqcard.com/

Mill’s County BBQ Company – Goldthwaite

Best Turkey

Passing through tiny Goldthwaite one evening, I stumbled upon this vinyl-sided jewel. A bull rider in his younger days, owner Chris Paskett serves up the best turkey I’ve had (our Best Turkey of 2009), as well as brisket, pork ribs, and sausage that can hold a candle to most places—and the portions are generous. With his Tuesday-night fajitas, Thursday-night ribeyes, and Friday-night fish fry, he even caters to folks who, for reasons unknown, prefer something other than BBQ.

Man Up’s recommended order: Turkey, brisket, and pork ribs

Opie’s BBQ – Spicewood

Best Pork Ribs

It took me several visits to discover that the pulled pork and half chicken are fantastic, because the sweet-and-spicy baby backs hooked me my first time. You could blindfold yourself and point when they lift the lid on the serving pit and come out with a great meal at this joint that grabbed our awards for Best Pork Ribs of 2008 & Best Pork Chop and Best Overall of 2009. The tater-tot casserole and spicy corn are worth your time, and the desserts are the best of anywhere we’ve been.

Man Up’s recommended order: Sweet-and-spicy ribs, pulled pork, and half chicken

City Market – Luling

Best Sausage

The very first time I passed through the door of City Market, I knew I was in for a treat.  The smell is unmistakable: this place is legit. No frills, just perfectly-smoked meat. If greasy, flavorful sausage that crumbles when your teeth break the casing is not your thing, order something else, I guess.

Man Up’s recommended order: Sausage and pork ribs—and don’t miss out on their sauce. (Folks who say true Texas BBQ doesn’t need sauce haven’t had City Market’s and/or don’t believe that a good thing can make another good thing even better.)

Cele Store  – Manor  

Best Atmosphere

A weekday watering hole for local farmers, this old general store serves up family-style brisket, sausage, and baby-back ribs, with all the fixin’s, only from 5:30-9:30 p.m. on Fridays. It’s smart to make a reservation, particularly if you want to go when they have live music. Featured in scenes of Secondhand Lions, A Perfect World, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre I, II, and III, the cozy setting is a perfect spot for relaxing at the end of your work week.

Man Up’s recommended order: Just go family style, and find what you like.

Black’s BBQ – Lockhart  

Best Service

Sandwiched between the famously-feuding families who run Smitty’s Market and Kreuz market, our pick for Best Service of 2008 is smack dab in the middle of the “Barbecue Capital of Texas.”  This is one of those places where you feel like part of the family. The Black family and the entire staff truly make you feel welcome and are, alone, worth the visit.  The brisket and turkey are good bets, but walk on the wild side and get one of their recently-unveiled mammoth beef ribs. Just clear your schedule for the rest of the day, for a delightful meat coma awaits you.

Man Up’s recommended order: Beef ribs

Snow’s BBQ – Lexington

Best Pork

It’s safe to say a trip to Snow’s BBQ in sleepy Lexington is an experience unlike any other—well, unless you know of another place that serves up top-notch BBQ to hungry masses at 8 a.m. on Saturdays.  If you’re not an early riser, you’re out of luck, because Snow’s—our pick for Best Brisket of 2009 and Best Pork of 2009—is only open until they sell out of food around 11 or noon.

Man Up’s recommended order: Pork shoulder, brisket, and half chicke

Cooper’s Old Time Pit BBQ  – Llano

Best Chicken

If you fancy goat, you’re in luck, because Cooper’s is one of the few places outside of West Texas that offers cabrito. Unless you frown on fowl, get a half chicken, because Cooper’s consistently serves up chicken that is moist and tender throughout all four pieces. It’s a beautiful drive to the original location in Llano, while the bigger location in New Braunfels is just a couple of minutes off of I-35. (You can also hit up the newest location in Fort Worth.)

Man Up’s recommended order: Half chicken and pork chop

Louie Mueller BBQ – Taylor

Best Beef Ribs

This gymnasium-turned-smoke-stained-wall barbecue joint has racked up in our “Best of” awards: Best Beef Ribs, Best Turkey, Best Atmosphere, and Best Overall of 2008 & Best Sausage and Best Service of 2009. The turkey is outstanding, and the beef ribs, described by one of our Man Uppers as “elephant ribs” and “filets on a bone,” are a must.

Man Up’s recommended order: Beef ribs & turkey

Franklin BBQ  – Austin

Best Brisket

Spoiler alert: The Angus brisket that Aaron Franklin serves up from his white and teal trailer on an I-35 access road in downtown Austin is easily the frontrunner for our Best Brisket of 2010 award – and that’s quite the barbe-coup, considering that until a few months ago, the only brisket Aaron served was to friends at his backyard parties.

Man Up’s recommended order: Brisket