Sam's BBQ - Austin, Texas

By Shirley Everett-Dicko

I had such a fun experience at this iconic black owned barbeque restaurant in Austin’s historically Black neighborhood in Texas. It should be a law against having this much fun ordering BBQ. It was one of my favorite ordering experiences in Texas.  With many faded pictures on the wall you could tell that this was going to be an authentic, old school, slap your mama good eating’ place; and it did not disappoint.  It was Hella good!  

I love a good BBQ origin story. Sam’s BBQ has been around since 1957 and is currently owned and operated by Brian Mays.  According to an interview on March 22, 2019, on Decibel KLRU-TV, Austin PBS Brian’s father Dan Mays Sr., won the restaurant from his cousin the original owner, Sam Campbell in a gambling game when Sam bet the restaurant and lost.   

Sam’s meat is smoked in an indoor brick pit, like Everett and Jones, over oak wood, again like ours, and has a tomato base BBQ sauce, what a coincidence, just like ours. Damn! You ain’t heard it from me, and I ain't one to gossip, but the Great Migration of Blacks leaving the south and settling in the west like Oakland, California keeps getting in the way of the narrative that Texas style BBQ is unique to Texas. I’m just saying.  

I did not know it at the time, but it was Brian’s younger brother David who fixed our order of pork ribs and links combo, with potato salad, mac and cheese. I just loved bullshitting with David.  It was just so spontaneous, and I did not tell him who I was.  He was such a hilarious character.   

David and Shirley

Brain's daughter and granddaughter opened the "Daiquiri Factory" next door where my son and daughter hung out. The daiquiris were delicious and went great with our BBQ.  Sam's BBQ is on social media. Check out the videos and when in Austin go by and support this family owned and operated black business.   What a legacy!