Stiles Switch BBQ

As the kids were with Abuela and Abuelo, we had hoped to knock out Snow's BBQ as it's only open on Saturday and there's a wait.  The husband had to work late on Friday, so we opted for Stiles Switch instead - a place neither my husband or I have ever been to though it's absurdly close to our house.  

Stiles Switch BBQ

6610 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, Texas



#20 on the TX BBQ Passport
Third stop

The exterior is super funky.  They are closed on Mondays.  I know this means that you will only want to go there on Monday now, but I'm trying to help you by pointing this out.   I understand, as I once sat in a drive through line at Chic Fil A patiently waiting for them to ask for my order for 5 min on a Sunday.

They apparently cater, in this super funky van.

The inside is fairly standard BBQ joint.  

They also have a patio with game area.  It was 93 degrees when we went (which is fairly mild for June), so we opted to sit inside.

There was about a 15 min line when we went.  One thing the husband and I have been talking about is level of effort to obtain BBQ.   With the brief line and number of hours open, Stiles is definitely on the low end of level of effort.  The guy standing in front of us also had a BBQ Passport, and was planning on hitting another joint on Saturday.  He's clearly more hard core than we are.  

Total personal matter of preference, but much of the meat cutting happened out of my range of vision, which I think is part of the awesomeness of eating at a BBQ joint.  However, right before I took this, the cutter was holding a piece of meat in his hand and cutting it with this giant knife which made me concerned for his safety.  He's clearly fine and has done this before.

Fries were a side option we had not seen before, and so we ordered them.  They also had crackers available, which I guess is a thing now?  We ordered mac & cheese as well.  For the meat, we ordered 1/2 lb brisket (1/2 lean, 1/2 fatty), a beef rib, and the jalapeno sausage.  They also cut the sausage, which I didn't realize was a thing before, but am now so excited every time it happens.

I also ordered the most Texas beer possible, Guns & Oil.  

The lean brisket was great, but did not completely fall apart.  We ordered the beef rib, and it was amazing.  I'm not a "ribs person', and I thought it was amazing.  We ordered the sausage.  It was really good, but very spicy.  

There were three different kinds of BBQ sauce.  They were fairly watery, but I didn't use them because the food was so good without it.  

The mac and cheese was by far the best mac and cheese we had had.  Of course, the children were not with us to enjoy it.  

All in all, Stiles Switch BBQ was a solid meal and a great experience.  We will definetly go back.