4 Best Restaurants in Wimberley, The Hill Country

If you see smoke rising while driving along FM 1826, don't be alarmed. It's just a barbecue beacon calling you to the perpetually smoking pits, long picnic tables, and dance hall–style compound of The Salt Lick. On weekends, and particularly when the University of Texas Longhorns have a home game, this family-friendly hot spot on the edge of south Austin is tough to get into, but always worth the wait. You'll be joined by locals and travelers from miles around waiting to feast on perfectly smoked brisket, baby back ribs, vinegary German potato salad and cole slaw, and enough soft white bread to sop up a gallon of the secret sauce. Oh, and did we mention the sausage? Get some of that, too. You can order the all-you-can-eat, family-style option and share with friends. Though it may seem impossible to save room for homemade blackberry cobbler with Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream on top, we promise it is worth every calorie. If you're driving from the Hill Country back to the Austin airport, this makes a great lunch stop on the way.

This modern kitchen and lounge, located right on Cypress Creek in downtown Wimberley, features one of those menus that make it really hard to choose between char siu salmon with black rice, carrots, Asian herbs and sesame seeds; grilled pork chop with garlic mashed potatoes and collard greens; the Mexican-inflected Wimburrito bowl; and loads of delicious comfort foods like the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. Grab a drink and a snack, take in the rustic creekside views, and enjoy the live music likely playing. The Wimberley Way, the house hibiscus margarita, is a winner, also available as a hibiscus mocktail.

For those craving authentic Texas barbecue, head to Kelly’s where they are serving up brisket, ribs, smoked turkey, and chicken out of an Airstream with a picnic table or two on the outskirts of town (the smoker is right outside). Sandwiches, fully-loaded plates, brisket by the pound, and barbecue tacos are all extremely popular, and if you don’t want to miss out, get there early before the mac ‘n’ cheese, brisket, and ribs are gone.

What started as a quaint farm-to-table restaurant inside an old house has become an institution in Wimberley. Though the look is much more farmhouse-modern these days, the menu still features the same delicious food they've been known for, like their farm-fresh soups, salads, sandwiches and shareable appetizers. Heartier offerings, like wood-fired pizza, and an expanded menu of entrées, such as the crab cake or chicken and grits, make for even better dinner options. Sunday brunch, serving "Pear Classics" and seasonal specials, is memorable, too.