Hank's Texas BBQ in Columbus: Brisket, Ribs, and Central Texas Smoke on the North Side

Hank's Texas BBQ is a counter-service smokehouse on Columbus's north side that specializes in Central Texas-style barbecue, where the meat is the menu and the sides play a supporting role.

What Hank's Is

The cooking method here follows the Central Texas tradition: beef brisket smoked low and slow over wood, with bark-forward results and no sauce required. The menu runs through the core Texas lineup: brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, sausage links, and turkey breast, sold by the pound or as plate combinations. Brisket is the anchor, available as either lean or moist (fatty) cuts. The fatty brisket is the item regulars point to first.

Sides lean traditional: mac and cheese, coleslaw, baked beans, and potato salad. Nothing on the menu attempts fusion or reinvention. That's the point.

Price-wise, Hank's lands in the mid-range for Columbus BBQ: brisket by the pound typically runs in the $18–$22 range, which is consistent with what you'd pay at other dedicated smokehouses in the city. A two-meat plate with two sides lands around $16–$20. Check current pricing directly, as smoked meat costs have shifted with beef market fluctuations.

How It Fits Into Columbus's BBQ Scene

Columbus has a few distinct camps when it comes to barbecue. Ray Ray's Hog Pit, a long-running local favorite operating out of trailers and a brick-and-mortar spot, leans more toward a broader regional American style with a strong local following and a casual outdoor format. Hank's positions itself more narrowly as a Texas purist's option, which makes it a different visit rather than a competing one.

If you're someone who judges a barbecue spot by the brisket alone and expects the smoke ring to be visible and the fat rendered completely, Hank's is the more direct answer in Columbus. If you want a broader menu with sandwiches, a full bar, or outdoor picnic seating with a festival feel, Ray Ray's or somewhere like Old Carolina Barbecue (a regional chain with Columbus locations) may suit the trip better.

For Columbus residents who have eaten at Central Texas institutions like Franklin Barbecue in Austin, Hank's is the closest local approximation in style and intent, though scale and queue times are considerably more manageable.

Who This Place Suits

Hank's works well for:

• Lunch or early dinner when you want something filling and meat-forward without a long reservation process
• Groups where everyone is on board with a smokehouse meal (there are limited vegetarian options)
• Takeout, since the counter-service format moves efficiently
• Anyone who wants to skip the sauce and let the smoke carry the flavor

It is not the right pick for anyone looking for a full bar, a broader menu with non-BBQ options, or a sit-down dinner experience with table service. The space is functional rather than decorative, and that's an intentional match to the food style.

What the First Visit Looks Like

You order at the counter, choose your meats by the pound or as a plate, pick your sides, and find a seat. The staff will typically ask how you want your brisket cut and whether you want lean or fatty. First-timers should order moist brisket and at least one sausage link to get a full read on the menu's range. Sauces are available on the side if you want them, but the meat doesn't need them.

Portions are generous. A two-meat plate is a full meal. If you're feeding a group, ordering by the pound and sharing is a practical approach and usually the better value.

Practical Details

Hank's Texas BBQ is located on Columbus's north side. Hours have generally followed a lunch-through-early-evening schedule, with the kitchen often selling out before closing time on busy days, particularly on weekends. Arriving before 1 p.m. on a Saturday gives you the best shot at the full menu being available. Confirm current hours before making a special trip, since smokehouse operations often adjust based on supply.

Parking is straightforward with a lot available at the location, which is typical for north Columbus commercial strips.

Online ordering is available for pickup, which is worth using if you're in a time crunch or want to guarantee your order before the brisket runs out.