Editor’s note: This post has been updated for 2017
Are you frying your own Thanksgiving turkey this year? Maybe you’re going to brine and bake one yourself. However, if you’re looking to outsource your fried or smoked turkey, here are some options for you, beyond what you might find at Central Market and Whole Foods.
U.S. Army veteran Julian Calderon, Jr. and other members of the Austin chapter of the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans prepare fried turkeys for veterans at the Kerrville VA Medical Center a few years ago. The group sells fried turkeys during Thanksgiving to raise money for its other charitable turkey fries. Ashley Landis for American-Statesman
Hyde Park Bar & Grill South, 4521 West Gate Blvd., has a limited number of fried Cajun-spiced turkeys available, and they cost $70 each and are available until they sell out. You can pick them up on Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Order by calling 512-899-2700.
Lucy’s Fried Chicken, 5408 Burnet Road and 2218 College Ave., is selling turduckens stuffed with layers of chorizo cornbread stuffing. Call 512-551-9347 to reserve one. lucysfriedchicken.com
Slab BBQ, 9012 Research Blvd., is selling pecan smoked turkeys for $55-$65. You can stop by the restaurant, call or email catering@dopebbq.com to pre-order. realdopebbq.com
Smokey Mo’s, with half a dozen area locations, is selling smoked turkeys for $44.95 each. Order by Nov. 19 by calling the store from which you’d like to pick it up. You can find locations at smokeymosbbq.com.
All the area Popeye’s have fried turkeys available for sale for $39.99. They are pre-cooked and vacuum-sealed, so you’ll have to heat them in the oven, but you can buy them anytime between now and Nov. 23. The stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Red’s Porch, 3508 S. Lamar Blvd., has smoked turkeys for sale for $60 each, including gravy. Call 512-440-7337 to order for pickup on Tuesday or Wednesday of Thanksgiving week.
Hoover’s Cooking, 2002 Manor Road, sells roasted, fried or smoked turkeys for $62.82 each each, not to mention all the fixings and desserts. Order online at hooverscooking.com or by calling 512-479-5006.
Stuffed Cajun Meat Market specializes in turduckens (a chicken inside a duck inside a turkey), which cost between $6 and $8 per pound each and come with several different options for stuffing inside. You can order them at stuffedfoodstores.com.
Bill Miller BBQ is selling small and large turkeys, with a side of dressing, for $49.95 and $84.95, respectively. You can order them at billmillerbbq.com/holiday-meals.
Luby’s sells turkeys in its holiday feast packages, which you can order online at holidayordering.lubys.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: These are sold out already this year: The Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans hosts an annual fried turkey fundraiser, which we wrote about on Christmas Day a few years ago. The organization donates proceeds to groups, including Safe Place, Kid Strong, Loving Libby and the Kerrville Veterans Hospital. The cajun-injected turkeys cost $45 each and can be ordered by calling Kathy at 512-263-3512 or email at microhuman@yahoo.com. Customers can pick up their birds on Wednesday, November 22 at the VFW Post 856, 406 E. Alpine Street in South Austin.
