Ben Miller

I stopped at KG BBQ in Austin, Texas yesterday for lunch. I have had this place on my list to try for many months, yesterday was the day that I was able to visit and enjoy it. KG BBQ is a unique Egyptian-Texan fusion food truck created by pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh. Visiting Texas from Cairo, Egypt Kareem fell in love with Texas BBQ which set him on a new path in life. Blending traditional smoked meats with Middle Eastern spices and flavors. The result was more than I could hope for. Being lost in a sea of restaurants that resort to the usual Salt Pepper and Garlic seasonings leaves flavor in a similar palette I find myself searching for the outliers that can bring a new flavor or consistency to the food type that I enjoy the most- smoked BBQ. I visited with a friend who has a similar appreciation to Texas BBQ as myself, we were both highly impressed with the variety of flavors that we had on our platter. Brisket: Less bark than a typical Texas BBQ restaurant with better than usual rendered fat and connective tissue coupled with a spice blend that complimented the meat very well. I would drive the three hours one way to Austin for this alone. Za'atar & pomegranate glazed pork ribs: These had a consistency unlike any other place I have found, rather than fall off the bone tender these were more like a pulled pork nearly ready to hand shred with a slight grab on the bone. The flavor again was above average, I would have ordered more than one each if we did not have such a variety of items to sample. Sumac & cinnamon lamb shoulder: I am a fan of lamb, especially slow cooked/ smoked as it has a unique flavor that can be amplified easily with spices or paired with tzike sauce. I used this to make a pita, ate it plan, had some with their smooth tziki and with their coarse spicy chimichurri. Homeade sausage: Fine ground lamb with a slight snap on the small lamb casing and a great blend of seasoning. Egyptian Baldai salad: Tomato, cucumber and onion, this is always a great compliment to lamb and pita. I did not find olive oil like in a typical Mediterranean salad and did not mind not having it as the salad was perfect. Mediterranean rice: This was full of flavor and had the addition of mixed nuts and pomegranate on top for an extra pop of flavor. Egyptian mac n' cheese: This had the flavor more like an Italian pasta with a tomato base and chunks of tomato than a Texas BBQ mac and cheese, it was better than expected. On the side to complement the meat and sides were BBQ sauce, tahini, tziki(it was not on the menu so I may be mislabeling it) and spicy chimichurri. I could have ate the items without sauce, they only amplified the flavors. Finding so much flavor in a food truck is a treat, if you are in or around the Austin area do yourself a favor and stop into KG BBQ! #kgbbq #egyptianfood #egyptianbbq #texasbbq #austinbbq #brisket #texasbrisket #smokedbrisket #lamb #smokedlamb #bbqlamb #porkribs #smokedribs #smokedmeat #pita #tziki #tahini #chimichurri

+4

Lae Buena

Unique and excellently done BBQ - would highly recommend, especially if you have gone on a bbq crawl while visiting Austin. Its just different from the rest. Imagine if your favourite shwarma and texas bbq place had a baby - this is it!! We had the brisket and the lamb shoulder. The cowboy mac and cheese and baladi salad for sides. All were awesome and more than enough for two people. The hibiscus tea was nice and refreshing after such a rich meal.

KARIM ELKHOLY

Great Egyptian/Texan BBQ spot. The lamb shoulder is the star — incredibly tender and full of flavor. The brisket rice bowl is very filling, but has less meat than expected. The kofta was okay, and the mac and cheese was also just okay. For dessert, we got the Om Ali and it was phenomenal ❤️ — absolutely worth it. Overall, definitely worth checking out.

Eric Lashway

Whoever said if you want Mediterranean food go to CAVA is CRAZY. This place is not your typical BBQ spot. It is an Egyptian and Texas blend and the food is absolutely 🔥 meat is marinated with such flavor and the sides are just the same. Don't skip the Mac n cheese and potato salad

Leo Mulholland III

We are amazed how great this BBQ is. Met with Kareem, this man knows flavors and contrast. Nice actually having the pitmaster around when you get BBQ. All sides were great, the lamb chop was amazing, pitas, fantastic and the hot link marguez sausage was a little salty, but that is due to the sausage being cold when we got it. If warm, it would be amazing. This BBQ joint is top 3 in Austin. Our spot to go back when we return to Austin.

Jeff Smith

This is a fantastic fusion of egyptian and texas barbecue. The brisket was fantastic.But the surprise for me were the lamb chops. All of their sides are great.And I can highly recommend the rice pudding with cardamom and pistachio for dessert. Great staff.I'm so happy for their success.

+1

Leah G

This was such an amazing experience and I’m so glad we stopped here while in Austin for our BBQ tour (self guided). The colors, textures and flavors coming from these dishes is exceptional and honestly a great end to our time here. We live in Kentucky and I’m trying to dissect the dishes so I can serve my friends back home food with this caliber of excellence. The rice bowl with brisket was next level good. Both rich and fresh. Lamb chops and lamb shoulder - 🤤! The bread pudding was hands down the best dessert of the week. Really special things happening here! Let me know when you get a cookbook! 🎉🤟🏾🐑

+2

Matt Boyce

Not being a fan of Lamb this is tough place for me to review, but let's try Pulled lamb was pretty good not overly lamb flavor Lamb Ribs... my wife and son loved them, me... not so much. Lamb chops were shockingly light in lambness and id get these again Brisket was honestly just mid to me. The slices we had were lean but were quite dry sadly and not very beefy flavor. Sides to me were all a no go. Rice with sweet nuts not for me, but my wife absolutely loved it Pink tater salad, I had a hard time mentally with this one but flavor was was meh Tomato cucumber feta salad was nice and refreshing Mac was lacking flavor but im not a mac fan to start Chimichurri sauce is excellent and helped me thru the pulled lamb Pitas were super disappointing. Overly dry Very busy place, people obviously love it. If yer a lamb lover hit it up. Want Texas Trinity staples not yer place.

Amazingly unique BBQ! All the flavors are so unique and delicious. There's really nothing quite like it. I was recommended to come here by my barber and man was I impressed. My girlfriend who doesn't…

Amazingly unique bbq! All the flavors are so unique and delicious. There's really nothing quite like it. I was recommended to come here by my barber and man was I impressed. My girlfriend who doesn…

service was fast and friendly. The combo rice bowl and packed with flavor and all sorts of additions like pomegranate and cashews. The sides we had were also very good. Side not this is outside of …

I've been waiting to write this review. I can't seem to find the right words when it comes to this location.\n\nFirst off, it's in a parking lot. Very convenient to find, not to overly busy at the …

I've been waiting to write this review. I can't seem to find the right words when it comes to this location.\n\nFirst off, it's in a parking lot. Very convenient to find, not to overly busy at the …

Phenomenal barbecue! Excellent service! Chill ambiance with fun outdoor & indoor options.

The food here is absolutely divine. Everything was flavourful and extremely filling. My friend and I definitely ordered too much---no regrets. They were very busy, but service was fast.\n\nLove the…

We were blown away by the food and service here!! We came on a Saturday afternoon and didn't wait long! I believe ww got these items for about $35, an AMAZING price for the QUALITY and QUANTITY!! T…

Truly one of the best BBQ in the area! Forget all those big BBQ spots in Austin who's names I shall not name and has super duper long lines.... The orders went really fast so the wait was not too f…

Was so excited you were open today we were scared we’d miss you guys. Decent wait 30-45 minutes but had fun talking to people. Got the brisket macaroni, lamb rice bowl, and pisstachio rice puddin…

Was so excited you were open today we were scared we’d miss you guys. Decent wait 30-45 minutes but had fun talking to people. Got the brisket macaroni, lamb rice bowl, and pisstachio rice puddin…

We went on a Thursday afternoon. This is a trailer next to a brewery. Walked up with no wait and ordered. Went and ordered a beer at the brewery and grabbed a table there. The bbq brisket was excel…

We went on a Thursday afternoon. This is a trailer next to a brewery. Walked up with no wait and ordered. Went and ordered a beer at the brewery and grabbed a table there. The BBQ brisket was exc…

We went on a Thursday afternoon. This is a trailer next to a brewery. Walked up with no wait and ordered. Went and ordered a beer at the brewery and grabbed a table there. The BBQ brisket was excel…

Unique version of BBQ by combining with Egyptian cuisine. Tried the Egyptian Cowboy - pulled lamb over mac and cheese with onions, sauce and seasoning. Really delicious and everything was a good …

Unique version of bbq by combining with Egyptian cuisine. Tried the Egyptian Cowboy - pulled lamb over mac and cheese with onions, sauce and seasoning. Really delicious and everything was a good …

If the price of my Brisket Rice Bowl would have been $3-5 cheaper, this place would have been my best meal with value. Great food bit the price seems a bit steep to spend $18 on a bowl. I love the addition of cashews and pomegranates to the rice bowl. I would have also liked a little more brisket for $18.

Richard Austin

K G (Kareem El-Ghayesh) Egyptian BBQ has been on my bucket list far too long and it was time to check it out. I lived in the Middle East for 5 years in the early 80's and fell in love with the cuisine. Cairo was my playground. This past Sunday, I made it a priority to visit KG BBQ to check out their Lamb Chops but the guy before me ordered the last of the Lamb Chops  I ended up ordering the Za'atar and Pomegranate Glazed Pork Ribs and the Mac and Cheese. Indeed it was a very unique culinary experience with the use of Egyptian and Middle Eastern spices. I am definitely going to return to get those Lamb Chops and try out some of their unique sides.

Chuck Hodge

The Brisket was good, much better than average, moist and tender and a traditional flavor. Sides were unique and Egyptian. Grill onions good, Mac and cheese and sausage not to my liking. It’s a trailer next to a brewery/pub but covered so you can sit outside or inside. I’ll definitely go back.

+1

Wendy Gordon

Here's a balanced review. Food is very good and creative but not everything is going to knock your socks off. As has been noted, the brisket doesn't rate. It's a fine addition to the brisket bowl but you wouldn't eat it on its own. The bowls are generous portions. Hubby who eats a lot was satiated. The pulled lamb shoulder is like pulled pork. Need to accompany it with sides. The potato salad is different in a good way and a standout. Pita? Think grocery store pockets. The rice pudding is curious. Very rich with that marscapone topping and very dense as in you could cut it with a knife. We are maybe half of the container. It was tasty but I've enjoyed better in Indian restaurants. While we ordered ahead, we still had to wait a short while.

Viva M

The Egyptian barbecue fusion had some wonderful flavors. Namely the chicken bowl. The flavors were superb. The bowl was enough food for 2 people but we ordered some of almost everything. They only have 2 drink options so perhaps bring a bottled water with you. Coffee & flavored tea The food truck didn’t open at 11 it was more like 13 minutes after so that felt a bit disappointing. We were outside waiting for them to get prepped for opening. No big deal but when your paying $100 you prefer professional service. I feel like they have been open long enough that they could step it up with seating arrangements. Perhaps consider more drink options. A coke sure would have hit the spot. Outside relies on good weather which isn’t easy to come by in Texas. ☀️

Update. After 2 weeks and 6 days we finally got a response. We were reimbursed for our missing food. The woman was very apologetic and said she was new. I feel sorry for her because she obviously has…

Update. After 2 weeks and 6 days we finally got a response. We were reimbursed for our missing food. The woman was very apologetic and said she was new. I feel sorry for her because she obviously h…

We had a short weekend trip to Austin and our flights were significantly delayed due to the incoming winter storm. We arrived at KG around 5 pm and the pork ribs and lamb bacon ribs were sold o…

Well, I was finally able to secure a lamb chop and was a bit disappointed. I was unaware that the lamb Chops are smoked to medium rare. Nevertheless, they were tasty and flavorful. The chimichu…

This was a nice change compared to many of the other central Texas/Austin bbq scene. I have to say, the stand out dishes was not the brisket but rather the lamb chops, the pulled lamb shoulder, the…

This was a nice change compared to many of the other central Texas/Austin bbq scene. I have to say, the stand out dishes was not the brisket but rather the lamb chops, the pulled lamb shoulder,…

This is by far the best fusion barbecue place I have ever eaten at. There were so many items to choose from, but the Pomegranate and Za'atar Glazed pork ribs are the top sellers. Unfortunately, t…

I've been wanting to come here for a few months and came around 5 on a Saturday night. Our line was around 15 minutes. We ordered: \n-pork ribs (amazing and we had the last ones by 5 pm ish. )\n-…

This place is the primary reason I came to Austin. Saw this guy on a BBQ competition and had to try his place. It's located in a parking lot partnered with a brewery thus you have some place to sit…

Food truck located in a parking lot. Plenty of parking and you can online order which was nice since we were a group at work. Pricing on their website is by 1/2 lbs \nIf it's you're first time tr…

I was going there with high expctations, it's good but not thattttttt good. Some of the cuts whore very good, others medium good

Went because of seeing him on the Bobby Flay bbq program. Got the lamb bacon ribs and pomegranate glazed pork ribs. Really enjoyed the ribs. lamb was just average. BBQ is a preference so I'd…

Went because of seeing him on the Bobby Flay bbq program. Got the lamb bacon ribs and pomegranate glazed pork ribs. Really enjoyed the ribs. Lamb was just average. bbq is a preference so I'd…

Went because of seeing him on the Bobby Flay bbq program. Got the lamb bacon ribs and pomegranate glazed pork ribs. Really enjoyed the ribs. Lamb was just average. BBQ is a preference so…

Ryan Wolffe

$100 for the following, including 15% surcharge for online order. Does my photo look like $100 worth of BBQ? Why so much surcharge and why at all? And included in total was $5 tip and tax and 3% credit card charge. So, $13 in surcharges. Crazy. I took this out on my “service” rating. Moist brisket: 4/5. Quality meat and nice smoke and bark but have had better brisket in Texas. Pomegranate pork ribs: 4/5. Fall off the bone moist and very flavorful. Very unique flavor profile. Would order again. Smoked chicken kabob: 5/5. Can’t eat all red meat at all the BBQ joints. Great smoke and flavor profile and pairs wonderfully with the yogurt sauce. Would order this again and again. Sausage: 3/5. One of the bigger sausages you will find for the price. However lacking flavor and on the dry side. Think it could use a sauce made especially for it. Egyptian Mac and cheese: 2/5. Looks pretty but tastes nothing special and dry. Pink buttermilk potato salad: 3.5/5. Unique flavor and presentation but not something I’d order again unless I needed a “filler”. BBQ sauce: 4.5/5. Excellent and unique flavors that pairs well with the brisket. I ordered ahead but when I got there on a Saturday afternoon there was no line. So, can’t say what service would be like on a busy day.

Michael Barton

Yes, 3 stars, hear me out. KG BBQ is a great example of hype over quality. That hype comes from the new flavors they push in their Texas/Egyptian fusion. That's notable but the execution is disappointing. The entire menu leans sweet just by reading it - pomegranate, cinnamon, buttermilk, yogurt, etc - and tastes very sweet once you dive in. Their table BBQ sauce, while thankfully not needed, is objectively a sweet sauce. Adding it to any meat is a mistake because it's flavor overwhelms any cut. That compounding sweetness in the glazes, rubs, and sauce removes nearly all savory and salty quality essential to Texas BBQ. Some of the meats, like the brisket, even taste neutral or bland due to conflicting sweet and savory components. That's not to say the cooking is bad. The quality of each meat is solid but it can't be fully appreciated. A silver lining here is that the non BBQ selections are nice. Having a fully vegetarian rice dish a lovely touch, and the pita is way better than standard white bread. You should visit to understand the fame, but it's not one you'll be excited to visit again. Nothing is bad and nothing is overly good. It's "perfectly fine" in the same way a disappointed spouse would convey the sentiment.

Yes, 3 stars, hear me out.\n\nKG bbq is a great example of hype over quality. That hype comes from the new flavors they push in their Texas/Egyptian fusion. That's notable but the execution is disa…

The flavour mix with an Egyptian twist was interesting for a salad and the brisket rice was good. So this isn’t your A-typical Texan BBQ. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed the…

We were big fans of KG all the way back to his Netflix Bar B Que challenge days so for my birthday my son and I flew from Atlanta to Austin so that we could meet KG and bring back to Georgia a bunc…