Saturday, September 27, 2008

Cooper's Bar-B-Q


JUNCTION: Cooper’s Bar-B-Q
2423 N Main St.

Junction, TX 76849

325-446-8664

Open Daily 10:30-9


This is one of many locations run by the Cooper family, and the meat is smoked in a similar fashion as the other joints, but it is not displayed in the large smokers outside. Instead, the meat is displayed on the counter at the entry, and it all looked great. We ordered pork ribs, sausage (which is made for Cooper's in Schulenburg, TX) and both fatty and lean brisket. The sausage links were flecked with black pepper and had a great snap in the casing. They had the right balance of fat and meat with a medium grind. The pork ribs were huge. The rub had black pepper and a generous amount of salt. The ribs were then doused in a thin vinegar sauce that created mire flavor profiles than I'm used to in a simple smoked rib. The flavor of the salt overpowered most other flavors, and hid any smoke flavor that may have existed. The slices of brisket had good flavor, but the undeft hand of the man behind the counter wielding the knife created some very hard to eat slices. The fatty brisket was loaded with unrendered fat, and was sliced with, rather than against, the grain making it tough. The lean brisket was also sliced with the grain, and contained about as much fat as I'd expect in a fatty slice. The salt rub was once again front and center, but a good crust and smoky flavor made this brisket more pleasing than the ribs. The lean slices might have been rated higher if they were more tender, but there's no need to order the fatty brisket here. You'll get the gobs of fat which normally find themselves in the waste bucket.

Rating ***


Cooper's Bar-B-Q & Grill on Urbanspoon

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cooper's has been a family favorite for years. I can taste that peach cobbler now... glad it's included!

Anonymous said...

You should try the Coopers in Lanno TX. Same owners. Better cooks. The apple cobbler is the best.

Anonymous said...

Your comments on this particular BBQ joint tell me you don't fully know what your talking about. The only thing you got right was the salty rub and the cutting of the brisket. Lines around the building at the Llano location, especially during lunch time and the weekends, do not lie. Oh, and that wasn't lamb ribs you were eating it was Cabrito... BBQ spanish goat, which is similar but different. A shoulder cut or upper quarter would have had more meat on it, you'd of tasted it, and it would have blown you away.
-A true Texan

BBQ Snob said...

True Texan - Lines around the building can also be attributed to good marketing, which Cooper's has done famously. You're reference to lamb ribs is confusing given that I didn't mention them in this review, or of the one in Llano, and thanks for letting me in on the big secret that cabrito is young goat. You're a regular rosetta stone.

Anonymous said...

There must be some mistake here! The Coopers in Junction is a tourist trap. I have stopped there many times and when I walk in you see the meats in the display case and they look great, but looks is where it stops. The brisket has been dried out on every visit. After you order and tell them you dont want that dishwater on your meat, well? You get it anyway and if you complain one of the Cooper Klan tells you to cool it. It is almost like you eat it their way or you hit the highway. In my opinion this place would go out of business if the travelers only knew about Lums.

BBQ Snob said...

You won't catch me missing out on Lum's for this place. That's for sure.

TXBBQEXPERT said...

Judging Coopers by its brisket or sausage is just plain silly. Neither are very good or can compare with the likes of any Lockhart joint or City Market in Luling. Thats the epicenter of brisket and sausage. Coopers is famous for their Big Chops and goat and pork ribs and all three are outstanding.

Anonymous said...

I just had This BBQ tonight! I asked my husband if we could just go to mc donalds across the street since the past three time we ate at coppers it was terrible to horrible.
Well with the new prices we ordered sandwiches. 1 chopped beef, 1brisket and 1sausauge. Well I'm here to tell yoo all! It was absolutely horrible the brisket was so hard n tuff I couldn't eat it. Then I bit into the sausage sandwich all I can say I I didn't know they made sausage jerky! I gave it to my dog (he stated chocking!) dry tuff horrid that's what I say about that place NEVER again. No matter how hungry.

honest but truthful said...

You want good chops go to Harper

DISCLAIMER:

Each joint is judged on the essence of Texas 'cue...sliced brisket and pork ribs. Sausage is only considered if house made. Sauce is good, but good meat needs no adornment to satisfy. Each review can only be based on specific cuts of meat on that particular day. Finally, if the place fries up catfish or serves a caesar salad, then chances are they aren't paying enough attention to the pits, so we mostly steered clear.

-THE PROPHETS OF SMOKED MEAT