Frank’s Barbecue Texas Smokehouse

Frank’s Barbecue Texas Smokehouse is a casual eatery bringing a little bit of Texas to Victoria Park.

It has indoor and outdoor seating, and guests receive their food order in plastic crates they carry to their table. In addition to being how things are done in Austin, owner Frank Winoto believes this laid-back approach matches perfectly with his food.

Winoto spent 16 years living and working in Austin. Time spent managing a barbeque joint gave him a solid grounding in Texan-style barbeque.

Winoto uses liberal amounts of black pepper in the dry rub used to season meat and a rich tomato-based sauce that balances sweet and tangy notes. Brisket tends to be the yardstick by which Texans judge their barbeque. The Frank’s version is beautifully tender, just-smoky enough and covered in a deeply charred “bark”, and is available in either moist or lean cuts. The meat-centric menu also includes beer-can chicken, pork ribs, pulled pork and two kinds of smoked sausage. Classic sides including ranch style beans, mac‘n’cheese, potato salad and coleslaw put in solid supporting roles.

Unlimited free barbeque sauce, white bread, sliced white onion and pickles provide relief from all that meaty richness, while the house-made “spicy sauce” is on hand to lend a touch of heat. Dessert options consist of cheesecake, chocolate cake or pecan pie.

From the bar there’s a small selection of packaged beer and wine, bottomless soft drinks and another Southern staple – iced tea. Whatever the drink order, nothing costs more than $8.