Rudy's BBQ - Allen, Texas

Rudy's BBQ
1790 N. Central Expy.
Allen, Texas 75002
(214) 383-5353

www.rudysbbq.com

Rudolf Aue opened a country store in Leon Springs, Texas (in the Hill Country) several decades ago.  In 1989 he added barbecue to the offering and Rudy's BBQ was born.  I've been to the Leon Springs location several times and it's a special place.  An oasis of meat NW of San Antonio in a desolate landscape of highway extending into West Texas.

 

With the success of the original location and a budding online sales counter, Rudy's began expanding.  San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque and others began appearing.  One of the Dallas locations is in Allen and it's one of my favorites.  Not only holding true to the history of Rudy's by having a gas station, but the barbecue trucks give it that extra special lift.

After entering, you go thru the serpentine line with loads of open and iced soft drink cases. Pull out your favorite long neck of Shiner, Dr. Pepper or Big Red and get in line to order up some good grub.

We selected moist brisket (you have your choice of moist or lean), ribs and sausage (either regular or jalapeno cheese) with beans, corn and macaroni salad.  There is a menu but it just mostly telling them what items and how much you want.  For Texas barbecue, this is the way it's supposed to be.

The order taker calls out your meat order (much like an old diner waitress calling out to the short order cook), only this goes to the meat cutter.  He pulls the meat out of the smoker, cuts off what is ordered and the order taker serves it up on butcher paper inside a plastic tote.  The last thing is selection of white or wheat bread.  White bread is the traditional choice and is just God's napkin for getting every drop of Rudy's barbecue flavor when sucking down this fabulous meal.

On your way to the dining area where there are tons of picnic tables, you stop at the drink counter for iced tea or fountain drinks as well as the relish counter where you get pickles, onions and peppers.  Napkins are in wall dispensers on your way to the table.  On the table resides whiskey bottles of Rudy's barbecue sauce with speed pours for shooting.

There are two kinds of Rudy's sauce...regular and "Sissy Sauce". It's a bit milder than the regular although I would not call their regular sauce "spicy".

Now let's get down to the barbecue.

Everything and I do mean everything here is above average.  The moist brisket is outstanding.  Exactly what it is supposed to be.  The ribs are exceptionally flavored and done just right.  The sausage is firm yet tender and smoked just right.  I'm more of a fan of the regular sausage over the jalapeno.  My mouth is watering just looking at this picture of the brisket and remembering how it tastes.

Not only is the meat exceptional but the beans...ah...the beans.  This is what it's supposed to be.  These are not baked, sugary, sweet navy or white beans.  This are pinto beans cooked with pork.  Straight up Texas beans.  The creamed corn is also very good but I can't stop thinking about those beans...

So here is my list in priority order of favorites...

Moist Brisket.  Absolutely outstanding.  Just exactly what Texas barbecue should be.
Pork Ribs.  These are straight up some of the best ribs out there.
Sausage.  Very solid...very good.
Beans.  Can't say enough about the beans.

So if you are ever near Allen, Texas, or San Antonio or Austin for that matter, do yourself a favor and have lunch or dinner at Rudy's BBQ.  It will be one of the best barbecue meals you will ever have.