For all the amazing vegan food that covers nearly all cuisines across Austin, there is at least one glaring omission: BBQ. It’s such an essential staple here, and plant-based alternatives are well-established, so why don’t the two ever meet?
We have a few options, if not full BBQ establishments. A number of restaurants have come and gone, even during my short tenure here. Notable losses include the late BBQ Revolution, Bone-a-fide Vegan, and PlowBQ. In their wake, many other talented plant-based chefs have made space on their diverse menus to include this all-American staple. When cravings hit, here’s the full list of meatless BBQ dishes within city limits.
Best Vegan BBQ in Austin, TX
Mission Burger – For the most authentic smoked brisket that could genuinely fool an omnivore, this should be your first stop. The Smokey Brisket Burger piles mushroom-based brisket on top of one or two Impossible patties, dairy-free provolone cheese, crispy onion strings, and pickles, which is even more of a mouthful than it sounds. Rich like genuine fatty brisket, you’d be wise to schedule in a nap shortly after partaking. For the full experience, grab a BBQ Plate which includes slaw and mac and cheese, or just throw that umami meatless mix on top of Brisket Cheese Fries for a quick fix.
Bistro Vonish – A perennial staple, the BBQ Seitan Sandwich is a little bit sweet, a little bit smoky, and wholly satisfying. Hitting at the heart of honest, no-frills, meat-centric BBQ, it puts the protein front and center. Seeing as the thick-cut seitan is made entirely from scratch, it would be a disservice to do anything else. Paired with some tender cabbage on a chewy baguette, it’s a study in simple pleasures.
Bouldin Creek Cafe – It’s hard to resist the legendary tofu scrambles, but when you’re ready to move beyond breakfast, the Vegan BBQ Plate dinner special won’t let you down. Made with Flying Tempeh Co soy tempeh topped with a house-made BBQ sauce, you get the full compliment of beans, salad, and your choice of a side. Cornbread is really the only choice if you ask me, but you do you.
Double Trouble – Get it on a taco or a bowl; as long as you don’t pass up the BBQ Tempeh Short Rib, you can’t go wrong. What makes it so special is that it’s made with pecan smoke and topped with house-made raspberry BBQ sauce, for an ideal sweet and savory balance.
ATX FOOD CO – For a heathy, whole food fix, I’m happy to report that the Tempeh Brisket is a solid choice. Impressively meaty yet tender, deeply smoky in a way that liquid seasonings alone can’t replicate, it’s bold and flavorful without using syrupy sauces as a crutch. You can get it on tacos made with spelt tortillas or in a quinoa bowl, complete with pickled cabbage, broccoli, and avocado for a truly hearty meal.
The Vegan Yacht – Tex-Mex still reigns supreme around these parts, so it should come as no surprise that there’s a good amount of overlap across cuisines. The Smokehouse Burrito takes the whole BBQ plate and wraps it up in one giant tortilla the size of a newborn baby. Ideal for grab-and-go satisfaction, you get the convenience of having smoked BBQ tempeh, whole wheat mac and cheese, slaw, pickles, and avocado in every gargantuan bite.
Wholly Cow Burgers – Perhaps one of the last places you’d think to look for a vegan meal, this old school ode to ground beef is slinging a few noteworthy plant-based bites as well. The Bean Brisket Sandwich employs black-eyed pea-based Texas Tempeh to make up the meat of the matter, slathered in BBQ sauce and generously topped with grilled onions. Though a welcome change of pace for this old school burger join, it does clock in on the salty side, so make sure you grab a soda or sweet tea to wash it down.
Coming Attractions
Like a gripping novel full of twists and turns, this is far from the end of the story…
Rison & Lotts, borne of the mastermind behind Community Vegan, will rise to fill the gap as the sole 100% plant-based barbecue restaurant in all of Austin proper. Building their brick-and-mortar location from the ground up, it’s due early next year on the east side, not far from the current truck. Serving up platters piled high with lion’s mane chopped beef, smoky brisket, and smoked chick’n, complete with potato salad and baked beans, it’s everything a BBQ lover could crave, and more. In addition to the restaurant, there will be a market for grab-and-go chilled deli sides, desserts, and frozen biscuits. Until then, expect to see two or three more pop-up previews at Community Vegan to get an early taste of what’s to come.
The hotly anticipated revival of Counter Culture looms on the horizon, replete with BBQ seitan as a headlining attraction. Between now and then, any number of limited specials at existing establishments could spring fresh vegan barbecue inspiration on the community, while old staples may expand on smoky specials, too.
Plenty of restaurants can take BBQ sauce and douse meatless wings or burgers, but for a real smoke show, seek out these trailblazing experts.
