From smoky brisket to mouthwatering ribs and all the fixin’s, the smells wafting out of Pig Pen BBQ are downright irresistible and impossible to ignore. If you’ve been, then you know, and if you haven’t, well, once you do make it to this local joint, you’ll understand the owners mean business when it comes to barbecue.
Pig Pen BBQ opened up shop in 2016, but you could argue that the business really began years earlier. “Our mother got me into it,” he explained to Hays Free Press. “She loved to barbeque and always wanted me to get involved. So when she passed away about 10 years ago, I started barbequing on my own for friends and family.”
Bill went into business with partners Nick Lerma, his wife Lisa, and friend Michelle Matthews after she pushed him to bring his delicious barbecue to a wider audience. Rather than go the brick-and-mortar route at the time, the team opted for a food truck. It didn’t take long for the pulled pork and smoked chicken to make an impression on Dripping Springs locals. “We tend to sell out every day,” Bill said.
Needless to say, Texans take their barbecue pretty seriously and the competition can be fierce. Pig Pen BBQ uses locally-sourced meats and the hard work has paid off. The restaurant has been voted both “best bbq in town” and the “best food truck” in Dripping Springs.
While many businesses struggled during the pandemic, Pig Pen BBQ actually expanded opening up its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2021. The restaurant still sells out of its barbecue, so you’ll want to get there early or order ahead.
Here’s what you need to know about this local favorite, and a few recommendations for your next visit.
Location: 301 US-290, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Hours: Tue-Sat 6AM to 7PM, Sun 6AM to 3PM
If you’ve never been to Pig Pen (or simply want to hype yourself for your next visit) you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu but Brisket and Ribs are favorites. In addition to other barbecue standards such as Pulled Pork and Smoked Turkey, the restaurant isn’t afraid to think outside the box.
Visit on the right day and you just might be treated to Candied Bacon, Smoked Barbecue Meatloaf, or Beef Cheek Barbacoa. The restaurant also offers enough sides to fill up your plate and then some, including Baked Potato Salad, Street Corn, and their signature Girlfriend Fries.
With a menu that explores beyond the bounds of barbecue, it’s easy to see why Pig Pen has become such a hit since it opened. While you can’t go wrong with stopping in for breakfast (you bet they have brisket breakfast tacos) lunch, or dinner, Pig Pen also does special events catering and holiday meals for the whole family.
Pig Pen BBQ is just one of the many local businesses that make Dripping Springs such a special place to live. If you’d like to find a home amid 250 acres of scenic Texas beauty, reach out to us to learn more about our home builders.
