How does it actually work?

You pick the group that fits you on this website, click the WhatsApp button, send us a message, and within 48 hours (usually the same day) a real person adds you to the right WhatsApp community. That's it. No apps to download, no login, no fees.

Yes. Joining any Austin People Club group is 100 percent free. We do not sell your number, we do not spam the chat, we do not run ads inside the groups.

Can I join more than one group?

Absolutely. If you're a runner who loves live music and BBQ, join the Run Club, Live Music and BBQ & Foodies groups. Most members are in 2 to 4 groups.

What's the group size? Won't it be spammy?

Each group stays under 250 members with active moderation. Anyone posting promo, crypto, or off-topic links gets removed. The chat is for members, by members.

I've only lived in Austin a few weeks. Worth joining?

That's exactly why New to Austin exists. You get a welcome dinner, apartment-hunting advice, and a dozen locals telling you the real spots within hours of your first message.

I don't have WhatsApp. Another option?

WhatsApp is how the club actually runs -- group chats, event coordination, everything. It's free to install and takes two minutes. If you really can't, message us from the contact page and we'll figure something out.

Are these groups safe? Vetted?

Every new member sends one intro message before being added -- first name, where you're from, which group you want. We remove anyone flagged for harassment or scams. We're a community, not a business directory.

Austin People Club is run by long-term Austin residents who believe nobody should feel like an outsider in this city. We started informally with one WhatsApp group; now we moderate over a hundred. It's a labor of love, not a company.

All communities

Community

BBQ & Foodies

You will not stay alone. The Austin BBQ & Foodies community is already waiting.

Join the group Who is in it

About this group

Franklin line at 7am. Worth every minute.

Brisket pilgrimages, taco-trailer rankings that get heated, and food-truck-park meetups that turn into a whole evening. The group tracks line times, pop-ups, and which trailer just got a rave review nobody's heard of yet.

Group vibe

Hungry, opinionated, endlessly generous with recommendations. Photos of every plate.

Members

Who is in this group.

Example members. Real archetypes drawn from the people who already meet up here.

Karim, 39

From Dubai

Has done the Franklin line four times, keeps a running brisket-bark ranking.

Sarah, 44

From New Orleans

Taco-trailer purist, will fight you about queso, runs the Tuesday taco crawl.

Rohan, 36

From Bangalore

Finds every pop-up before it hits Instagram, books the group tables.

Isabel, 41

From Lisbon

Hosts a monthly potluck, always brings something nobody's tried before.

What we do

What happens in the chat.

Franklin, Terry Black's, and La Barbecue line-sharing rotations (send someone at 6am, take turns)
Taco Tuesday crawl across East Austin trailers
Food-truck-park meetups at Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden and The Picnic
Pop-up alerts: the good ones sell out in an hour
Monthly potluck -- bring a dish, no repeats allowed

Before you join

Quick answers.

Is it free to join?: Yes. All ten Austin People Club communities are free. No hidden fees.
How fast do I get added?: Usually same day, always within 48 hours. You will send a quick intro message before being added.
Can I leave whenever?: Of course. Leave the WhatsApp group any time. No questions, no guilt.
Will the chat be spammy?: Each group is capped around 250 members with active moderation. Promotional or off-topic messages get removed.