Interstellar BBQ

It takes a hungry mind and a well-stocked pantry to whip together a Frito Pie. But it takes a clever brain to take all those same ingredients—beef, beans, cheese, and Fritos, to name a few—and stuff them into a sausage. This is some of the thinking that happens at Interstellar BBQ—a Central Texas-style barbecue joint that decided that getting an A in “the classics” wasn’t enough, and made up its own extra credit assignments. And while you might not always find that Frito Pie sausage on the menu, it’s almost always worth crossing town for whatever makes its way to the chalkboard of daily specials.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Interstellar makes some of the best barbecue in the state. And if you’re just coming here for brisket and ribs, this place won’t let you down. But then you’d be depriving yourself of  peach tea-glazed pork belly burnt ends, rich and gamey pulled lamb shoulder, or a handful of other less-common items that make Interstellar worthy of a dedicated trip. Because this same “but what if we…” approach to meats makes its way to the sides, resulting in reinvented classics like smoked scalloped potatoes, pimento creamed corn, and a tomato zucchini salad dressed in a tangy citrus vinaigrette that is every bit as refreshing as it is unique. 

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

photo credit: Richard Casteel

If you live in South or Central Austin, there’s a moment during the drive to Interstellar BBQ that you’ll feel like you’re heading somewhere far, far away—making the name that much more fitting. Everybody else just calls it Cedar Park (OK, Interstellar is technically still in Austin by about 200 feet). And despite the pretty nondescript, strip-mall setting, this is a popular place. If we could tell you exactly how long you’ll be waiting in line, we’d be out buying Powerball tickets instead of writing this review. There are just too many factors—weather, holidays, and the position of the moon, to name a few—but we can tell you that we’ve waited anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple of hours. And if you want to stick to the low end of that, just tell your boss you have an 11am dentist appointment on a Wednesday, and remember to floss before you show up back to work again.

Maybe the next time you’re sitting down to enjoy a Frito Pie, you, too, will be inspired to grind it all up and throw it in a sausage. And if not, don’t worry—Interstellar is just a short drive away.  

Food Rundown

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Brisket

We always ask for moist brisket, and Interstellar’s is up there with the best we’ve had. It’s perfectly tender—seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic—and has an excellent bark. Even if you’re here for the less-common stuff, you owe it to yourself to at least try a few bites.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Pulled Lamb Shoulder

Replacing the more common pulled pork, Interstellar’s lamb shoulder is incredibly rich, savory, and a bit gamey. It also pairs very well with a few drops of habanero-infused vinegar available on the side.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Jalapeño Popper Sausage

There are two sausages on the everyday menu at Interstellar, a beef kielbasa, and a “Jalapeño popper” variety. We like the beef-and-pork blend of the latter just a little bit more, but it also comes with a very hefty amount of cheese.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Turkey

It’s brined, well-seasoned, and tender—everything that a typical Thanksgiving turkey isn’t. But somehow, it’s one of the more forgettable meats available on the menu. If you’re cutting back on red meat, or just a big fan of turkey, this is for you. Otherwise, we’d save room for the rest of the menu.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Peach Tea Glazed Pork Belly

Despite being made from one of the fattiest parts of any animal (don’t fact-check us on that), our pork belly was a bit dry on multiple occasions. But that somehow hasn’t stopped us from ordering it on every visit. The glaze is very sweet, but plays well with a few slices of pickle and onion.

Pork Spare Ribs

These are a little on the sweet end, which can be divisive to some, but it’s exactly how we like them. The meat is tender while still retaining just a little bit of bite. Get one of these for each person in your party, or just grab a few to take home.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Brisket Taco

Everything we love about the brisket, served on a fluffy, housemade flour tortilla and topped with a bit of cotija and avocado salsa. It’s also pretty massive. If you need more tacos in your life, this might be worth adding to your list. Otherwise, we’d stick to the a la carte side of the menu.

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Sides

A lot of barbecue spots spend all their time and effort on quality meat, then slap some beans and coleslaw onto the menu for “balance.” But at Interstellar, there’s just as much focus on the sides, mostly consisting of reimagined classics. Keep things light with some tomato and zucchini tossed in citrus vinaigrette, or lean into the heavy side of things with gouda mac and cheese, pimento cream corn, or smoked scalloped potatoes (our favorite).

photo credit: Richard Casteel

Banana Pudding

This might be the best banana pudding we’ve ever had. If you’re a fan of this Southern classic, it’s probably already part of your order. And if you’re new to the dish, be warned—it might ruin all future iterations for you.