Central TX - HEB Plus store

h00kemh0rns · Posted: Jul 09 2007 Post subject: Central TX - HEB Plus store

So I just recently moved and went to this new HEB Plus grocery store over in Round Rock off of 79. It's actually becoming one of my favorite stores for convenience and items they carry. But the reason I mention it is that if you have one nearby and haven't visited go ahead and try it out.

They have an excellent outdoor grill/smoker section with several brands i.e. Weber, Lyfe Tyme smokers, Texas Pit Crafters, Ducane and Outdoor Gourmet. Not to mention alot of the accessories everyone has been chiming in on in the other thread.

Food is pricier than buying at a Costco or Sam's but I think the Plus is better for things you either need in a pinch or if you're even in the market for that new grill/smoker. Personally, the Texas Pit Crafters make an excellent piece of equipment from what I looked at.

adolpho · Posted: Jul 09 2007 Post subject:

We just got an HEB Plus in Kyle. It is sweeeeeet. It's bbq section is comprable to Academy. They offer a lot, but different brands. Every time we go grocery shopping I end up walking through just to check everything out. The Texas Pitcrafters pits are nice. They remind me of a heavy duty version of BBQ Galore's pits. Lifetyme's pits are alwayas nice and are similar to Oklahoma Joe's. Finally, it's at HEB-Plus that I've seen a Weber Ranch Kettle in person.
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wilded · Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 32

Remember when HEB used to always have briskets on sale. Now they seldom run them at all. The pits they have are nice, I really like the heavy Lyfe Tyme pits but can not bring myself to spend that much on a replacement smoker. When HEB runs a sale on the boneless beef ribs they really smoke up nice. I am not sure what cut of beef they really come from. Shocked

h00kemh0rns · Posted: Jul 09 2007 Post subject:

TXLNGHRN · Posted: Jul 10 2007 Post subject:

If you guys ever get chance to head downtown, check out Longhorn Meat Market on East MLK. Their prices are really competitve and they make some kick a$$ sausage. Beef has alot of sage in it and the turkey sausage rocks too. I got 2 trimmed briskets about 10 lbs apiece and they were gorgeous!
Price was around $2.40 a pound.

BBQBrent · Newbie Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 53

Hey Adolph, which I35 exit is the super HEB in Kyle? I'm just up the road in Manchaca and want to go there to take a look at the pits. I spent a good part of this past Sunday looking at pits around town and never even gave HEB a thought. Thanks for the info.
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Brent
Manchaca (Austin), TX

wilded · Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 32

Brent, if you run across a bargin on a Lyfe Tyme be sure and holler. ET

BBQBrent · Newbie Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 53

Will do! I want to look at the LyfeTyme and the Texas Pit Crafters cookers.
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Brent
Manchaca (Austin), TX

adolpho · Posted: Jul 10 2007 Post subject:

Brent,
It's exit 215 off of IH35 (Kyle Parkway). Right on the corner and you won't miss it. It's nice there.
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adolpho · Posted: Jul 10 2007 Post subject:

By the way, FM 1626 now turns into Kyle Parkway. From Manchaca, if you take 1626, just keep going until you get to IH35.
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DaHorns · Posted: Jul 10 2007 Post subject:

BBQBrent · Newbie Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 53

Cool. I know exactally where you guys are talking about but I got suckered into doing yard work today and wont be able to go now. Sad

Just taking a break now seeing whats up at the ring!! I'll try and make it out there tomorrow. Thanks again for the directions.
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Brent
Manchaca (Austin), TX

BBQBrent · Newbie Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 53

Well I finally made it out to the HEB plus today. Man that store is impressive. I looked at the cookers and the Texas Pit Crafters ones are out of my price range. I think they started at a grand. Now the Lyfe Tyme smokers were impressive. I found the one I want! It sells for $689 which is more than I planned to spend but the build quality on these units it awesome. Hands down the best built smokers I have looked at. It does have a round firebox, which I was trying to get away from but the way that it is built and the fact that the grill over the firebox is fairly large for the design I can live with it. I think I will need to save my pennies over the next couple of months but I am going to buy this sucker if nobody talks me out of it.

Thanks again for pointing out that the HEB plus has these things. Awesome.
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Brent
Manchaca (Austin), TX

BBQBrent · Newbie Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 53

I was just doing some web research and I found an article in the Austin Chronical that said this: "check out the Lyfe Tym line of handmade cookers at Magnum Trailers at 10806 FM 620 in North Austin (258-4101)."

Cool, I will have to give them a call to compare prices but Im not sure which size the smoker at HEB was? Question

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Brent
Manchaca (Austin), TX

adolpho · Posted: Jul 13 2007 Post subject:

Lyfetime pits sell commercially at Magnum as trailer units. Give them a call and see if they have patio units. I've only seen them as trailers. Did you ever get to check out the Oklahoma Joe's they carry at Academy? I think they're less than the Lyfetime pits, but still on the "heavier" side.

The Lyfetime pits look nice and offer pits with a vertical chamber attached. If you save up, I think it's worth it.
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wilded · Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 32

The pits at Academy are not even close to the quality or weight of the Lyfe Tyme. The Lyfe Tyme also have an overlap of metal on the opening on the smoker and firebox to hold heat and smoke. ET

adolpho · Posted: Jul 14 2007 Post subject:

wilded · Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 2007 Posts: 32

This is the best pit I have seen at Academy here in Austin for the money.

http://www.academy.com/index.php?page=content&target=products/outdoors/grills/smokers&start=0&selectedSKU=0263-02219-3321

BBQBrent · Newbie Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 53

DaHorns · Posted: Jul 16 2007 Post subject:

I just recently sold my Lyfe Tyme mobile pit that I bought from Magnum a year ago. That thing was a cookin' machine, I'll miss it, but I upgraded to a big ol' Gator. I can tell you a bit about temp variences between the horizontal and the vertical sides, mine ran about 50* difference on the Lyfe Tyme gauges, but only about 25-30* on oven thermometers. There was about 10-15* difference from shelf to shelf(mine had 3 shelves and a sausage hanger on the vert side). Keeping the temp wasn't hard at all, the metal was thick enough on the mobile to hold temp very well. I used the access door to clean out the grease, never made a fire in there. I can give you a contcat who can make a cover for you to match that pit, I never had a cover, and only had a rust issue on the firebox, but that is to be expected. I dont think you will regret getting a Lyfe Tyme if thats what your interested in, I liked it ALOT. Good luck
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