Some towns claim great barbecue. Elgin, Texas has the paperwork to prove it. In 1995 the Texas House of Representatives made it official and crowned this little town east of Austin the Sausage Capital of Texas, and honestly, one bite of an Elgin hot gut and you will wonder why it took the state that long.
This is a place where the smoke has been rolling since the 1800s and the sausage recipes are older than most Texas towns. So loosen the belt a notch, because here is the ultimate Elgin BBQ crawl, from the century-and-a-half-old institution to the smokehouse your granddad probably swore by, plus exactly how to do it right.
The quick answer
Elgin is the official Sausage Capital of Texas, named by the state legislature in 1995. The two must-eat stops are Southside Market & Barbeque, slinging its famous Elgin "hot guts" since 1882, and Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse, making smoked sausage since 1949. Both sit right on Highway 290, about 20 miles east of Austin, which makes for one very easy, very delicious afternoon.
1. Southside Market & Barbeque: the original hot guts
Start where the whole legend started. Southside Market has been an Elgin institution since 1882, which makes it one of the oldest barbecue joints in the entire state. What began as a German butcher shop is now a Texas pilgrimage site, and it is still slow-smoking meats over a post oak fire the way it has for well over 140 years.
The thing you came for is the sausage. Elgin "hot guts" is an all-beef sausage with a snappy casing and a cayenne kick that put this town on the map. Order it by the link, but do not stop there. The chopped brisket sandwich is a fan favorite, the sausage slammers are dangerous in the best way, and the brisket itself holds up against anybody's.
Find it at 1212 Highway 290 in Elgin. It is open daily, with a big dining room, a drive-thru, and an in-store meat market so you can take a few rings of sausage home for the grill.
Best for: first-timers, sausage purists, and anyone who wants to taste actual Texas history.
2. Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse: the smoked-sausage heavyweight
A proper crawl means you are not stopping at one. Just up Highway 290 sits Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse, where the Meyer family has been making sausage since 1949 off a German recipe carried into Texas generations back.
Meyer's is the smokier, mellower counterpoint to Southside's peppery punch, so ordering at both is not gluttony, it is research. Get the smoked sausage, obviously, then branch into the brisket, the ribs, and the sides. Between the two stops you get the full spectrum of what made Elgin famous, side by side, in one afternoon.
Best for: settling the great "which Elgin sausage is best" debate with your own two hands.
3. Stock the cooler before you leave town
Here is the move the locals make. Both Southside and Meyer's run in-store meat markets, so before you roll out of Elgin, grab a few pounds of sausage to take home. It travels well, it freezes great, and it turns a random Tuesday cookout into a bragging-rights situation. Bring a cooler. You will thank yourself.
4. Walk it off in downtown Elgin
You are going to need a breather between plates, and downtown Elgin is made for it. The restored 1903 Elgin Depot Museum tells the town's railroad and sausage-making story, the antique shops are the good kind of rabbit hole, and the Thursday farmers market brings out local produce and makers. It is a genuinely charming small-town main street, the kind that got a lot rarer in Central Texas as Austin sprawled east.
5. Time it with the Hogeye Festival
If you can, aim your crawl at October, when Elgin throws the Hogeye Festival, its signature street party with live music, a parade, food, and enough pig-themed fun to earn the name. It is the most festive time to eat your way through town, and it turns a BBQ run into a whole day out.
How to do a BBQ crawl like you mean it
A few hard-won tips so you do this right:
- Go hungry and go earlyish. Great barbecue joints sell out, and the best cuts do not last until closing.
- Split plates. Two stops means pacing yourself, so share and taste widely instead of demolishing one platter.
- Drink water between the smoke and the spice. Future you will be grateful.
- Bring cash and a cooler. One for tipping and speed, one for the sausage haul home.
- Make it an overnight. Rushing a BBQ crawl is a crime. Stay the night and let the brisket coma run its course.
Why Elgin makes the perfect BBQ basecamp
Here is the case for staying instead of day-tripping: when the food is this good, you do not want to be watching the clock for the drive back to Austin. Post up in town, eat at your own pace, and roll into camp full and happy.
Great Escapes RV Resort in Elgin puts you minutes from the smoke, with full-hookup RV sites, a pool, a clubhouse, and quiet grounds to sleep off the brisket. It is an easy, laid-back home base for a weekend of eating, with plenty more to explore nearby once you have had your fill of sausage. Roll in, settle up, and pick your first stop for the morning.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Elgin called the Sausage Capital of Texas? The Texas House of Representatives officially designated Elgin the Sausage Capital of Texas in 1995, thanks to its long history of German-style smoked sausage led by institutions like Southside Market and Meyer's.
What is Elgin "hot guts" sausage? Hot guts is Elgin's signature all-beef smoked sausage, known for a snappy casing and a peppery, cayenne-forward kick. Southside Market has been making its version since 1882.
What are the must-visit BBQ spots in Elgin? The two flagships are Southside Market & Barbeque (since 1882) at 1212 Highway 290 and Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse (sausage since 1949), both right on Highway 290.
How far is Elgin from Austin? Elgin sits about 20 miles east of Austin, an easy drive that makes it a popular barbecue day trip or weekend from the city.
When is the best time to visit for the full Elgin experience? Any weekend works for barbecue, but October is special because of the Hogeye Festival, Elgin's signature street celebration with music, a parade, and food.
Come hungry, leave happy
Elgin earned its title one link of sausage at a time, and the best way to understand it is to taste your way through, from Southside's 1882 hot guts to Meyer's smokehouse classics and every bite in between. Do it right, take the smoke home in a cooler, and give yourself somewhere comfortable to land when the food coma hits.
Plan your stay at Great Escapes RV Resort Elgin and make the Sausage Capital of Texas your weekend basecamp.