Hot Texas BBQ

Coupland (Coupland Inn) and Elgin (Southside)

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Take a short drive south from Taylor to experience another Texas classic, the Old Coupland Inn and Dancehall. Before it was the hottest restaurant, dance hall and occasional movie set, this century-old building was a doctor’s office, a drugstore, barbershop and a seed store. The location alone is notorious, second only to Coupland’s authentic barbecue recipes. Choose the all-you-can-eat family-style service to sample delicious brisket, ribs, sausage and chicken, all topped with the original barbecue mop sauce. They also serve an excellent strip steak, a Texas chicken-fried steak, Cajun-fried catfish and even Norwegian salmon for a little variety. Every weekend you can see some of the best country acts from Texas and Nashville perform at the 7,000-square-foot dance hall next door.

Just seven miles south of Coupland is Elgin, an old railroad town that is known as the Sausage Capital of Texas. The Southside Market, a meat market/restaurant, is famous for its “hot guts” which are still made just as they have been since 1882. Sample the famous all-beef sausage or wood-smoked brisket, pork, chicken or lamb, all served on butcher paper, along with beans, potato salad, pickles, onion and bread or crackers. Cap off an already satisfying barbecue experience with another Texas classic, hand-dipped Blue Bell Ice Cream made in nearby Brenham. You can also buy their Southside Market’s homemade hot sauce and barbecue sauce at the restaurant to take home.