Terry Black’s Barbecue serves up its signature Central Texas-style barbecue, including brisket, ribs and sausage, ahead of the New Braunfels location’s September 15 opening
Courtesy of Terry Black’s Barbecue
New Braunfels is about to get another big name in Texas barbecue.
Terry Black’s Barbecue will open its new New Braunfels restaurant September 15, bringing the Austin-born brand to a city with a growing barbecue scene.
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The opening will be the company’s eighth location since siblings Christina, Mike and Mark Black founded Terry Black’s in 2014.
“We’ve had our eye on New Braunfels for a long time,” co-founder Mike Black said in the release. announcing the opening date. “It’s a city with deep Texas roots, a strong sense of community and a lot of energy behind it.”
A tray of barbecue and sides from Terry Black’s Barbecue in Austin.
Polly Anna Rocha
The arrival adds another major name to a local barbecue scene that includes longtime spots such as Rudy’s, Granzin’s and Black’s, along with newer restaurants including Mighty Oak and Smoky Mo’s. H-E-B’s True Texas BBQ is also a local staple.
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New Braunfels is also just a short drive from Lockhart, the barbecue capital of Texas. The two cities are about 20 miles apart, putting New Braunfels within easy reach of one of the state’s most established barbecue destinations.
Lockhart is home to longtime institutions such as Kreuz Market and Smitty’s Market. Luling has its own barbecue legacy, while Seguin has gained attention for spots such as Burnt Bean Company.
Kreuz Market has been serving Texas barbecue for over 100 years. Today it’s legacy is still going strong, as is Smitty’s Market down the road.
Courtesy photo
New Braunfels, however, has increasingly made a name for itself.
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The city was previously ranked the most barbecue-obsessed city in Texas in an analysis of Yelp reviews, affordability and online search interest. Another analysis ranked New Braunfels No. 3 in the state for affordable barbecue.
In a recent Nextdoor discussion about the region’s barbecue scene, residents debated how New Braunfels’ barbecue joints compare with its better-known neighbors.
Barbecue offered at Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B-Q includes (clockwise from top) pork spare ribs, baby back ribs, sausage links, brisket and turkey.
Chuck Blount /Staff file photo
Janie Macredie, a New Braunfels resident who said she owned a barbecue restaurant in Gruene for 24 years, said she has eaten at every barbecue restaurant in the city and watched its scene evolve. She pointed to H-E-B’s True Texas BBQ and Black’s for brisket and ribs, Rudy’s for consistency and Granzin’s for its old-fashioned potato salad. She also praised Burnt Bean Company in nearby Seguin as some of the best barbecue around.
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As for New Braunfels’ place among Texas barbecue destinations, Macredie was clear.
“New Braunfels is right up there with Lockhart!” she wrote.
David Torres, who said he has lived in the New Braunfels area for 73 years, said building a great barbecue operation takes time and experience.
Brisket smokes at Mighty Oak BBQ during the end of a weekday lunch rush in New Braunfels, Texas.
Nicholas Hernandez/MySA
“It takes years, if not decades, for the combination of pit and pitmaster to come together,” Torres wrote.
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Torres also said newer barbecue restaurants could help ease crowds at some of Texas’ traditional destinations by giving diners more options.
Charles Horni said New Braunfels has good barbecue, but argued that older Texas barbecue towns offer something harder to replicate — history.
“To me part of the flavor profile of any “real” barbecue joint is the decades of smoke that have settled into the very walls themselves,” he wrote.
He pointed to Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, where smoke settled into the walls and has become part of the experience since 1949. For Horni, those longtime restaurants are destinations because of both the food and the history behind it.
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The two-story Terry Black’s restaurant nears completion in New Braunfels on September 2, 2026, ahead of its September 15 debut.
Nicholas Hernandez/MySA
Terry Black’s will now add another high-profile name to New Braunfels’ growing barbecue scene. The two-story restaurant will include a covered outdoor deck and a 1,400-square-foot pit house with its smokers prominently featured.
For now, the barbecue crown may still belong to Lockhart. But New Braunfels is making a lot more smoke of its own.
Dining and Cooking