Luling City Market Real Texas Bar-B-Que

09/21/06

Basic BBQ

by texmexgirl at Citysearch

Got my standard chopped beef sandwich, which is my test for any first time at a BBQ joint. No complaints about the brisket. It was just right - smokey and tender. I'm not a fan of the sauce, and the sides were pretty average. Nothing memorable here, but it's decent BBQ.

• Pros: good smokey brisket
• Cons: odd sauce, boring sides

09/19/06

LOVE texas, LOVE BBQ!!!!!

by davidderick at Citysearch

I make my own bbq ribs at home and always thought no one could compete, but Luling City has created a CRAVING in me for BBQ that I can't kick! I even bought some sauce to take home, and joked that I would put it on oatmeal at breakfast, it was THAT good! OK, so it's Saturday afternoon, and we went on a lark because we heard such good things about this place here on City Search.... so, in our jeans 'n t shirts, baseball caps and trainers, we headed down. The fork-tender brisket was loaded with incredible flavor... The sides were generous and the whole place oozed Southern charm! We will be back! Maybe tonight!

• Pros: everything
• Cons: messy but worth it!

08/31/06

My favorite may not be yours

by sosume11 at Citysearch

One of the great things about barbecue is that it varies around the world. Texans know that Memphis barbecue and North Carolina barbecue are as different from what we know as barbecue in Texas as Cincinnati chili is different from Texas chili. I don't like cinnamon in my chili and I don't like cole slaw on a pulled pork sandwich with vinegar sauce. Nevertheless, there are people all over the country who do. I happen to love Luling City Market. I never ate at a barbecue joint growing up that didn't serve barbecue on butcher paper. But if you don't like not being served on plates, you are going to prefer to eat somewhere else. That doesn't mean, however, that this place is no good. It just means that it doesn't cater to your preference. Likewise, I love the homemade sausage and the mustard based sauce. The sausage is much more coarse with a firmer casing than the sausage most people are used to. It may not appeal to you. But that doesn't make it lousy. The sauce is not your typical tomato-based sauce...the kind that can run the gamut from bland bottled sauce to the delicious stuff served up at Good Company or Rudy's. It is different. I happen to love it even more than some of the best tomato-based sauces that I have tried. It may not be to your taste. That doesn't mean this place stinks. I also happen to love the hard, crunchy, blackened edge of a slab of brisket. At Luling, that part of the brisket is delectable. But I love the heart of the brisket and the classic ribs as well. And frankly, I find all pinto beans a bit boring, but these are as goos as theyget in my book. My point is, if you're going to go try Luling and you want to be happy with the experience, go with an open mind unencumbered by your sense of what does or does not constitute proper barbecue. This place may not be your cup of tea, but don't slam it just because it doesn't appeal to you.

08/17/06

Food overpriced, Food Quality Down and Very Rude Servers

by winglow at Citysearch

The once proud and wonderful Luling City Market is gone. Oh they still sell food, but the service is rude to those that aren't regulars. I did not notice till I took others - I am a regular. I go because I like the people and the food. But as I sat with new diners to LLC I was amazed to see that the servers really did snarl at clients... and yes the BBQ is overcooked and priced. I was glad to hear these comments from others or I would not have noticed that LLC is gone. I eat at LLC weekly with friends but for the last four - five times, I have tried to be impartial... Oh brother - I was blind.

I am now convinced that it will just be a matter of time till they close when you consider that there are other great places like the old LLC people now out on Elderidge (Houston BBQ or Texas BBQ can't recall the name). There the people are great and they never over charge or sneer at you. LLC try to turn this around would you. Fix the personnel issues, reprice and reinvent your kitchen - "Done" is now how I would describe your eatery... but I would rather see in a few months a readers review that says WELL DONE ... but I don't expect you will overcome "Food overpriced, Food Quality Down and Very Rude Servers". I feel like I have lost a family friend.

• Pros: Historically a great place
• Cons: Done now - not well done - Awful, FOOD, SERVICE AND PRICES

08/06/06

Sauce Terrible, Meat Dry

by zan91 at Citysearch

I took a friend from out of town here the other day hoping for real Texas BBQ. We ordered 2 meat combo. (Brisket and Sausage). Food was served on butcher paper which was original. I was a little taken back by the price I paid. 2 meats, 2 sides, and a drink. $15 and change.

Brisket was DRY. Smoke flavor was there but did I mention DRY.

Sausage was not the usual Czech sausage. I'm not really sure what it was. Not my idea of good sausage.

The sauce which you find on the table tastes like mustard, ketchup, vinegar, and brown sugar. It's unique only because no one else would want to make it.

I only ate what I did because I felt like I had to after paying $15 for this. Half of my food was still on my paper when I left.

Most BBQ places have a scent of smoke & Texas. When you walk into this place you immediately walk through a bar area; so the only thing you smell is cigerette smoke. This place may be for a select few; but never again for me.

• Pros: It's in Texas
• Cons: Dry Meat, unusual sauce, Expensive for what it is

07/23/06

1st try at Texas BBQ

by neroflash at Citysearch

Well it's my first taste at Texas BBQ and this place was good. I really don't have much to compare it with.

Ambiance: This a very casual place, all most like a country sports bar; Food: The ribs are pinkish tender moist with quite a bit of fat at the end of it, they tasted good; The Brisket was tender moist and tasty, the smoked turkey did not really have a smoked flavor and the sausage had a boudin like feel on the inside and felt smoked, The sauce: Great tasting sauce with a bit a spice(it was my favorite thing there); Service: Not much here its like ordering food at a deli or fast-food place.

Overall it was a good experience.

• Pros: The sauce and the Brisket
• Cons: Condiments

06/23/06

My favorite BBQ

by caspianhiro at Citysearch

I like other styles of BBQ, but for the real Central Texas experience, and BBQ in General this is my favorite.

Houston BBQ also serves up the same style, with at one time the same cook, go to either place for their sides of the story.

Only a rookie gets the side items, it's all about the BBQ.

04/26/06

who are you kidding?

by somefarmboy at Citysearch

this is about as boring as it gets , i remember Luling as a little kid and the food was much better than this stuff!

04/21/06

The Real Deal

by skyview at Citysearch

Please read all the reviews and note that people who don't want their BBQ on paper or don't "understand" the sauce don't know anything about good BBQ. This is some of the best BBQ to be had in the Houston area bar none. Since you buy it by the pound you get exactly as much as you can eat! I always order too much so I eat too much. Dry sausage is a type of food, not an overcooked food item. Luling's dry sausage is to die for. The brisket can't be beat. The sides are only OK but they are not the reason you go here. This place has the best consistant Central Texas Style BBQ in the Houston area.

• Pros: perfect meats
• Cons: smoking patrons

08/29/05

Memories..

by malinda_colby at Citysearch

This place has been a favorite of my family since they opened, I can't remeber a time that the food was ever anything less than amazing. I had them cater my wedding we love it so much. I try to make the drive from Conroe at least once a month just to have thier food! My fovorite is the sausage and the sauce! A close second is the atmopshere and they treat you like old friends!

• Pros: Everything, My kids love it!