Curly’s Carolina Texas

So sorry to hear that Curly’s Carolina Texas is closed for good. Jay served the best bbq around. Hope he opens another restaurant one day. Thanks for the delicious que.

The barbecue here is absolutely excellent. I’ve been several times with friends, and they are never disappointed with the quality and taste of the barbecue. I particularly liked the pulled pork sandwich with the carolina mustard sauce. Easily one of the best pulled pork sandwiches I’ve had in several years.
The price is okay. It’s not cheap, but priced appropriately for the food you get. My one criticism is the hours. While they used to be open all week, they are now closed on (I believe) Monday through Wednesday, and maybe Thursday as well. When we went for lunch one day on a Tuesday, they had just changed their hours and didn’t put up a sign announcing it, so– even though the hours on the door said they were open– they weren’t. However, if they ARE open and you want good barbecue, it’s a great stop.

Oh my — you will think you have died and gone to heaven! The bbq here is TO DIE FOR!
My must try recommendation:
The Wolfpack: a pulled pork sandwich with brisket, bacon and shredded gouda. O.M.G…
And you *have* to have the cornbread — absolutely delicious!
Be sure to check their website for hours — I’m not sure they are open every day.
Seriously folks — this is some GREAT bbq!

Friendly staff, a nice change in BBQ spices, this is a nice eatery in the heart of downtown Round Rock.
My first time there, I decided to try the Trio platter. Huge portion. Ribs were perfectly cooked — moist and meaty. Try getting that at a Rudy’s! Pulled pork was also very tender and moist. The beef brisket was also very good and a nice balance of fat.
Carolina BBQ IMHO seems less saucy and more briny. Definitely a hint of vinegar in the marinade. Very nice and different sides — pickled sliced cucumbers are almost Japanese. The fried okra had a very light batter.
Curly’s has an odd lay-​out — you order on one side of the building, and can choose to sit one of 2 separate rooms or the patio out back. The staff was very friendly. There are «kids eat free» specials as well.
I’ll definitely come back! It’s a really nice change from the other BBQ places in RR.

Yum, yum, double yum!
I love this little place for my pulled pork craving. I’ve never had anything else on the menu, because the pork is to die for! The restaurant is in a quaint part of town and parking can be hard to find, but it’s worth the effort.
Very casual atmosphere, so no need for that suit and tie. We also had a nice chat with the owner and he is a very friendly guy. We are considering hiring them to cater my stepdaughter’s wedding. but I think I need to try some of their other meats first! If the rest of their meats are as good as the pork, I’ll come back and add that last star!
It’s just so hard to pull myself away from the pork…

Awesome locally-​owned BBQ joint in Round Rock! As the name might hint (curly, yaknow, like a pig’s tail), they’re known for their pork options.
They offer meat platters as well as meat by the pound but I just stuck to a good ol’ BBQ sandwich. I ordered The Wolfpack which is a pulled pork sandwich with amazing stuff like bacon and shredded gouda. Sandwiches come with two delicious sides and you’ll have plenty to choose from. The wasabi coleslaw had too much of a kick for me but I know plenty of people who adore it. I’d recommend the corn bread and the fried okra — the freshest I’ve ever had!
Bonuses include a big outdoor area in the back, sweet tea, one very friendly owner.

I manage somehow to drive around in circles whenever I’m in Round Rock, and it annoys my GPS — «Dave, I really don’t understand why you made that right turn.» I’m not sure why my GPS calls me Dave. But for Madi F’s ROTDC, Karma provided me with a peripheral glimpse of Alison L’s parked car, and I knew I was in the right place.
So when you’re in Round Rock, and you feel the need, the need for BBQ, here ya go. My half pound of brisket, two pork ribs, wasabi slaw & cornbread, and a sweet tea cost me a little over $ 19. If you’re looking for value, consider the daily platter special, or one of the ginormous sandwiches that come with two sides.
Now I’m gonna look at you here with sad puppy dog eyes and confess that all BBQ is pretty much more alike than different to me, but I did enjoy my brisket & ribs. I thought the slaw was a touch too «wasabi-​ish» and the cornbread a tad oily, but you may see it differently. What I found truly remarkable was Curly’s fried okra. It’s the best I’ve ever had.
And Curly is a real person and a genuinely nice guy. Stoking a BBQ pit at 4am is not my cup of tea, and I’m impressed with people who devote themselves to it. The patio is great, kids apparently eat free on weekends, and it started crowding up early during a Saturday afternoon. It’s easy to see why Madi loves this place, and her ROTDC won more fans for Oppan Curly Style. I think it’s a pretty cool place to bring your Dave.

Went on a Sunday after church. More crowded than I thought she was going to be. Because it is in downtown Round Rock, the actual space of Curly’s is awkward, with a long, narrow hallway that separates where you order from the main dining hall.
Nothing I don’t think they can fix.
This was our 1^st time there, so we bought the 14.50 $ «Trinity» which came with pulled pork, brisket, and 2 pork ribs. I ordered an extra bun when the server offered because she said, «most people do.» She was correct, the bun helped. We also ordered the Raleighwood sandwich which was pulled pork, carolina slaw, and some Texas sauce.
For sides we ordered: pan fried cornbread, fried green tomatoes, potato salad, and carolina slaw.
Our reviews:
Pork Ribs– Crust and run were great, these pork ribs at least matched in opinion Salt Lick.
Brisket– a leaner cut (I prefer fattier, but hey) but the bark was excellent as well. I have had better brisket, but this was above average.
Pulled Pork– The best on the menu, and I believe the best around and will get more pub. You have to eat it hot, but it comes that way, and it was AWESOME! Our server advised the mustard sauce, and usually I would not do mustard, but it did make it even better!
Raleighwood– The buns are fantastic, and although they are second on the sandwich behind the pulled pork, the buns are to die for. The sandwich for 10 bucks is well worth it. You get two sides as well…
Sides:
Cornbread– kind weird looking (panfried) but I ate my whole 4 pieces easy… Darn good!
Potato salad– a mustard/​vinegar combo with green and red peppers– this was delish!
Carolina Slaw– This slaw to me was ok. It was fresh. I didn’t finish it due to being already full, but it was above average as well.
Fried Green tomatoes– My wife got them– they looked smallish (you only get two slices) but she said they were fantastic!
Finally,
Do not go there and not try their two sauces– The mustard sauce and BBQ sauce are both great and deserve your attention!
Honestly, they have some weird hours and you have to make sure you have the times down (I believe Thursday/​Sunday Maybe) But this former food truck to box store has some hands down fantastic food. You really need to try this out before the guy from Drive-​Ins, Diners, and Dives comes by, puts in on the map, and the place ends up like Franklins Downtown!!!

Yes.
Curly’s is a BBQ joint hailing from one of those northern states. I didn’t pay attention because it wasn’t Texas.
I figured this place would be best at pork, so I got a plate with pork ribs and brisket. I never thought in a million years that the brisket would be so amazing. This rivals everything I’ve ever tasted in Texas. I mean, damn. Rub was perfect and meat was smoked just right.
Cornbread was also stellar, do not skip it. This is serious.
The ribs and beans were disappointing, but I loved my wasabi slaw!
All in all, a great BBQ place in northern– northern Austin.

Every Thursday my buddies and I gather up a posse and travel down to Curly’s. Our expectations are high and we’re never disappointed by our stay. The service offered by Camille and Kim at the front desk and the delicious daily sides always keep us coming back.
So. recommendations on what to eat? Well, the Carolina pulled pork and brisket 2-​meat plate is perfection. Absolutely perfect smoke rings and oh so moist every time. Let’s just say Jay (the owner) has gotten his barbeque technique down to a science. The only time I’ve strayed from the usual I tried the Sam Bass sandwich and was not disappointed in the least. As far as sides go, try the Carolina Caviar and the fresh cornbread — can’t go wrong with those.
TLDR; Quick lunch service and absolutely amazing BBQ keeps us coming back. Try the moist brisket and you’ll see what I mean.

Damn good is all I can say.
Pork rib was tender and delicious. Brisket bark was pretty remarkable. Great smoke ring and flavor. Pulled pork was juicy and really full of flavor.
The counter girl was really knowledgable about her product and very willing to offer her favorites and she was right on. The cornbread was definitely a nice treat.
Even the major fly problem in the restaurant wasn’t enough reason to knock a star. The flavor and quality of the food was top notch

Oh Curly… Soooo close.
Came here on a Saturday afternoon with a friend who was dying to have me try it. I was pleased to see the parking lot behind the building (turn at the Kawaii Snow Cone shack off Mays street), and smelled the wondrous scent of smoke when I opened the car door. Not much of a line, and we placed our orders. Three sandwich plates for the grown-​ups, and some brisket for the kiddos. I ordered the «Sam Bass Shootout» (brisket sandwich), and my counterparts went with the pulled pork. The boy liked the little basketball game provided on the table.
The food arrival was a little disjointed. My sandwich and one of the others came first. Then a few minutes for the next sandwich. Then it took a few minutes more for the sliced brisket (which I was assuming would come first). Felt odd to start eating before the kids and one of the ladies got their food, so I kind of waited until everyone was set.
* Brisket and bacon — Solid. I know the «Carolina» mustard sauce is designed for pork, but that didn’t stop me from mixing all the sauces together, which I liked.
* Sausage — I’ll call it innocuous. Not outstanding, but not bad either.
* Pan-​fried cornbread — I just didn’t find it all that memorable either. My friend, who has been numerous times before, did say that it didn’t seem as good as it sometimes can be. And she has raved about it in the past, and it’s oily/​crispy goodness. It was a little more spongey than we would have preferred.
* Wasabi Slaw — Money. Buy it every time. Don’t mess around. Put it directly on your sandwich. Fill a pillow with it, and sleep with it. Just get it.
$ 37 or so, including a couple drinks, seems like a pretty good deal, IMO to feed 3 adults plus kids. I was too happy/​full to follow my original plan to pick up RR Donuts on my home. I’ll add my usual rant about places whose sodas are only in cans/​bottles. And the back patio seems awesome, with that beautiful tree (was just a little too warm with the sun straight overhead for us, so we ate indoors). I’ll let my friend drag me there again, and hopefully get a batch of cornbread then that knocks it out of the park.
3.9 stars.

We gave them a second try after our last «We’re outta ribs and cornbread» disappointment. Boy, am I glad we did! Holy smokes! Some of the best bbq I’ve ever had.
I had The Texan with extra lean brisket, slaw and cornbread (sans butter)
Ah-​mazing! The cornbread tasted like delicious corn pancakes. The brisket had a nice smokey flavor and was lean just as requested. The slaw was good but not so memorable since I prefer mine with more vinegar kick. I also had a bite of their pulled pork. Nice and spicy and really good.
This is my new favorite bbq place and it made for some memorable food for our out-​of-​state guest.
One thing… The were out of ribs AGAIN!
If you have a hankering for ribs, call ahead and get there before 4pm.

I thought this place was pretty tasty. I got a brisket quesadilla that was quite tasty. My friend got a pulled pork sandwich. I totally loved their corn bread… or hushpuppies… they look like little spatzle, really, but they’re fried up crisp.
I’d try this place again… good servings, the folks were super nice… we sat out back… I really dug it.

Regions around the country are known for particular foods, and in Central Texas BBQ is what we are known for. Every Larry, Moe and Curly thinks they know how to do BBQ — well, Curly does.
Hands down one of my top 5 BBQ places to go. Today was the first trip, and unfortunately for my belt line it won’t be my last. I had the two meat plate with brisket and sausage, fried okra, and fried cornbread.
The brisket was moist, with a nice bark, and superbly tender. There was no toothsome quality to it at all, and there was nothing but positive thinking that was holding it together. The pieces on the outside cut were a little saltier than my wife liked it, but I thought it was just right.
The sausage was what I call good Central Texas sausage — it had a great snap to the casing, a bright red color, just the right amount of greasiness, and was very flavorful.
The fried okra was the best I’ve ever had — hands down. Period. End of story. If you are tired of going places and getting frozen fried okra you must try this place. I’m really curious to know if they are hand breading each order of okra, because this stuff was outstanding.
The place is small — there are no fountain drinks, and no freshly brewed tea, and for those reasons I didn’t give a 5-​Star review, but on the BBQ alone they are on their way to a reputation that will keep them around for years.
Great job, guys.

Seriously. Good. Brisket. And you absolutely need to try the fried cornbread. This was our first time here and we will definitely come back to try a few more menu items.
The brisket was perfectly moist and was served with some pickled onions on the side, which was a nice touch.
We also had a loaded baked potato which was amazing. Bacon and brisket? Together on one potato? Heck yes!
To top it all off, they have one of the nicest patios out back!
In other words… go! Now!

This place blew us away. Five things. Brisket, ribs, pan fried cornbread, wasabi slaw, and homemade rolls. Ok, three more things, their homemade sauces. Ok, one more thing, historic downtown location with an amazing outdoor patio.
I had been following Curly’s since their food truck days and was highly anticipating their brick and mortar. And wow was I rewarded for my dedicated stalking. The food is absolutely exceptional. Wear elastic waistbanded pants, order everything I listed above and then private message me after thanking me for leading you to the water.

OMG usually I post my food pictures while I’m eating, not this time from the pan-​fried cornbread to the TEXAN Brisket Sandwich… My tastebuds didn’t allow me the chance to post it yet… long story short me & my wife our customers for life.
Customer service was awesome thanx to the lady that works in the front it was our first time and she made us feel very welcome… see you guys next week!!!

What’s that? I have sauce on my chin? Can’t stop now for napkins, must devour entire pork rib. Because see there’s some kind of sugar and spice and everything nice about this Carolina-​style BBQ.
The place is small, order at the counter. We got the sampler plate and grazed (poached) sides from everyone at our table. Fried Okra? Crunchy! Hush puppies? Much better than I remember from public school. Pan-​fried cornbread? Buttery. Cole slaw? Alright, but maybe we should have gotten the wasabi option. This place rivals Johnny T’s in terms of having sides worth ordering, not just BBQ and bread.
The meat was great. Nothing was greasy or gristly, it was cuts I’d serve my family. Service was very pleasant.
Go give them a try and make sure you get the sauce labelled «Mustard» — that was a new one for me!

Well boys and girls and chickens and pigs some friends of mine and I decided to try Curly’s for lunch one day before Christmas (OK I am running late on reviews). I t was a cold day and the line was small around 10 people or so but steady. At his time the eating area was very small and we had to sit 6 people at table for 4, we managed! They were building another seating area but it was not open at the time.
As a group we tried many of the option available that day, I had Carolina pulled pork, Texas Brisket and sausage with slaw and potato salad as sides. Everything was good and the service was fine. I was disappointed I could not get hush puppies, being from N.C. I enjoy good hush puppies with BBQ. The only other item was that the meat was cold on this day.
Would I go back? Yes!