One of Austin’s premier barbecue food trucks has transformed into a full-scale restaurant. Micklethwait Craft Meats, which previously operated as a food truck on Rosewood Avenue, celebrated the grand opening of its first standalone restaurant at 4602 Tanney Street in East Austin on January 3, 2025.
Micklethwait Craft Meats serves authentic Texas barbecue in a welcoming atmosphere. Established in 2012 by Tom Micklethwait, a skilled chef and pitmaster from Austin, the restaurant specializes in oak-fired Central Texas barbecue alongside homemade side dishes and freshly baked items.
From humble origins as a food truck, Micklethwait Craft Meats quickly garnered national acclaim, attracting attention from food critics and local patrons. The establishment earned a spot on Texas Monthly’s prestigious list of the “Ten Best BBQ Joints in Texas” and has been featured in renowned publications, such as Food & Wine, The New York Times, Southern Living, and The Wall Street Journal.
Tom Micklethwait, a fifth-generation Texan, and Austin native is the owner and pitmaster at this new BBQ joint. Years ago, he salvaged a vintage Comet trailer and transformed it into a full-service food truck with a completely made-from-scratch menu. December 2012 marked the debut of his first barbecue plate served from that trailer. Fast-forward to 2021, Micklethwait is recognized as one of the top names in Texas barbecue.
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The new restaurant location has enabled the owner to broaden the menu with an evolving selection of specials and baked goods, alongside butchering his cuts of meat. With new offset pits—including one designed for cooking ingredients and meats directly over the fire—Micklethwait is embracing a different approach to barbecue, shifting towards a Southwest Texas cowboy style.
While brisket will remain the menu star, a new menu option, chicken al carbon, may quickly become a customer favorite. Cooked in the Southwest Texas style—smoked with post oak and finished over mesquite coals—this dish is served with salsa verde and tortillas, creating a build-your-own taco experience.
Vitals
- Address: 4602 Tanney Street, East Austin, 78721
- Hours: Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. or until they sell out
- Website: https://www.craftmeatsaustin.com/
Map to Micklethwait Craft Meats
Featured image from Micklethwait Craft Meats Instagram page
