Whittington’s Jerky & General Store

Johnson City, United States

4.2

14 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 877-868-5501
Website:
www.whittingtonsjerky.com
Address:
602 Hwy 281 S, Johnson City, TX, 78636
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Bussiness info

Take-out
No
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
By Appointment Only
No

Today

Today –
Local time (Johnson City) 7:08 AM Monday, July 7, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Sunday 11:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Description

Specialties

We have made some of the best jerky in the world since 1963 due to our determination to keep the jerky quality as high as any in the industry. We hand cut all of the top quality meats by hand and then slow smoke it in in our one of a kind brick smokehouses for 16 hours. Our new Buffalo jerky and All Natural Jerky are quickly becoming the industry leaders. When visiting the store you are greeted with a Texas welcome that is hard to beat. then we offer everyday a sample table that you can get lost in. Offering daily helpings of jams, jellies, pickled veggies, chips, salsas, and more. Oowee, bring your appetite. Also, not to brag but we have one of the best restrooms around. Award winning, not because it is fancy, but because it is fun!

History

Established in 1963.

D. J & Gertrude Whittington founded the business while they owned the Johnson City Locker Plant. DJ had a saying about our jerky, «I’m not trying to see how fast I can make it, just how good I can make it». So after 37 years we built a new plant out on Hwy 281 and we had to build the smokehouses to exact specs as DJ had built in the late 50’s, because truly they are the secret to the rich flavor and quality everyone has come to expect out of our jerky.

Meet the Business Owner

Sam W.

Business Owner

Sam has been in the meat business his whole life, and it shows based on the fantastic new recipes he keeps producing. Sam also cattle ranches and helps his community at every given chance. His father, DJ taught Sam the meat business when they owned the Johnson City Locker Plant. Sam would help his father process sometimes up to 1600 head of deer in a two month period during deer season. Sam opted to build a plant totally dedicated to producing jerky products when his father retired. However the jerky plant is anythng but easy with production at a all time high.

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Vicinity

Near this location:
470
ft
Whittington’s Jerky
602 Hwy 281 S
730
ft
Johnson City Sign Shop
801 US Hwy 281 S
890
ft
Deleon’s Outpost
520 N US Highway 281
890
ft
Dixie Quick Stop
500 S US Highway 281
980
ft
El Agave
408 N US Hwy 281
980
ft
El Charro Restaurant
502 S US Highway 281

14 reviews of Whittington’s Jerky & General Store

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Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
Is it a tourist trap? Duh.
Is it a lot of fun? Definitely!
Should you stop by? Of course!
Whittington’s is one of the Hill Country’s simple pleasures.
Lots of fun samples, cool overpriced condiments, sauces, jerkies and dips. And most importantly, you get to put a stickpin on the map so the world (or at least the store’s patrons) will know your homies are represented.
The jerky can sometimes be a bit tougher than others, but usually it’s fresh, tender and always flavorful.
The staff are friendly and helpful.
Place rating: 5
Elgin, TX
It is difficult to recommend just one or two things here — EVERYTHING is delicious and amazing. The Garlic Beef jerky may be my fave, but it’s a close call with the Spicy flavor. Or perhaps the Turkey Jerky, of any flavor? The Original is pretty darn tasty. Try it ALL! This is fresh, homegrown and all made right there in Johnson City. The cutest store ever.
Another favorite thing about Whittington’s is the people that own it. They care for our soldiers, the land, this country. Each visit is like stopping at a friend’s place that is filled with great food and then you can take a bunch home with you!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
We ALWAYS stop here because the jerky and gourmet food items are superb. One reviewer said their jerky tastes like a Slim Jim… WHAAAA? I am a smoked meat and exotic jerky aficionado and that statement is just plain crap. Do NOT miss this stop, try a few samples, and learn about the true tastes of Texas!
Our favorites:
* «The Works» beef jerky
* Turkey Jerky
* Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
* Apple Butter Spread
* Salsa Verde
Place rating: 3
Spring, TX
The sweet girl at the counter: 5 stars
Samples of salsa, jerky and dips: 5 stars
Stale bag of $ 5 Kettle Corn: 1 star
Flavorless jerky: 1 star
Dried Sausage: 3 stars
I’m gonna average all that out to be 3 stars for Whittingtons. I must say I was quite disappointed in the jerky. We make our own jerky often and it’s way more flavorful than our selection here. The dried sausage was good, but I think Buc-ee’s does it better. The pickled green beans and the peanut brittle are great! Super cute place and nice selection of candles, décor, etc.
Place rating: 4
South Bay, CA
Meat from Johnson City? That sounds funky. But their dried beef was my breakfast after too much drinking and having to get to the track before the race. Salty smoky and filling. Mission accomplished
Place rating: 4
Austin, TX
Well, the jerky is phenomenal and so is everything else there. My one complaint and the entire reason they didn’t get 5 stars is every time I have stopped in they haven’t had their fabulous apple butter. No, I don’t want any of your sugar free stuff… do you see me?! (Reader, I know you don’t see me, but lets just go with, I’m not a sugar-​free kinda gal) Please Whittington’s for the love of God stock that stuff… if I have to come home from there again with no apple butter, I may be scalped by the natives in my home!!!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
a MUST stop every time you drive thru JC. their bagged Jerky is at stores in central texas and is good stuff, but the strip jerky from the store is even better tasting. they also provide the awesome salsa and jerky tasting bar — with julios chips no less. lots of other goodies here too, but i always blow my load on the jerky and a jar of local salsa. my only complaint is that i don’t get much of a discount on the jerky, but i get the business decision — to support the stores that sell their bags.
Place rating: 5
Los Angeles, CA
My husband bought what I considered to be an excessive amount of jerky while we were passing through Johnson City on our road trip. We ended up eating ALL of it and wished we had gotten more. We had the beef, turkey and pork — all of it great. Also got some fabulous pickled green beans. Good stuff!
Place rating: 5
Austin, TX
No drive out west is complete without a stop at Whittington’s. If you lucky you can hit it up going out and coming back in. Unfortunately we left Austin too late Friday so no jerky on this camping trip. Sunday we hit Johnson City with an hour to spare (they close at 6pm). The wife and I love to road trip and camp. Jerky is an important part of those two activities so we eat a lot of jerky. Small town gas station jerky? Yes please. Road side jerky? Sure. Could it be dried out hitchhikers who were never seen again? Maybe, but I’m still gonna try it. Whittington’s jerky is special. It is absolutely the best jerky around. The sticks are thick and meaty. Don’t shy away from the pork jerky. It’s the best of the bunch but they are all great. Picked up 4 sticks of pork and 3 of spicy beef made for little under a pound. At 31.00/lb it ain’t cheap but I have enough jerky a 8 hour drive, 2 day camping trip or week at the house. They sell packages at Specs here in Austin. Taste one and you’ll want to make the drive to try some fresh. Oh, and try the White Trash (I think they call it Texas Trash). Chex mix with white chocolate? Yeah buddy.
Place rating: 5
Hutto, TX
I have hear good things about this place so on my way to a family gathering I visited. I love the pork jerky and the peach honey butter is awesome,. My BF love the sausage and beef jerky. You have to visit at least once. I will return
Place rating: 4
Tarrant, TX
Solid A-​OK but an extra star for super helpful and friendly staff. Even provided a map of Johnson City and the other sites on the way to Fredericksburg. The samples did tempt us into a purchase and we also learned there are some on-​line specials available if you want to Internet-​order your jerky fix.
PS. The «factory» is right next door, so you know it’s fresh and local!
Place rating: 4
Garland, TX
While on our roadtrip through Hill Country, we decided to stop in Johnson City and visit Wittington’s…
I didn’t know what to expect upon entering since I’ve heard very little about this place.
I would describe this as a warm, friendly shop with a gourmet feel to it. There are plenty of foods, jellies, salsas and other treats to sample… I like that aspect of it.
The prices were moderate and I would see this as a place you’d stop by as you were out shopping with your closest friends or on a road trip with your family. I wouldn’t say this was a place you’d frequent every week.
The owner (I think she was the owner) was very friendly… that was nice.
The bathroom was clean… that was nice. :) hahaha
Oh, and I almost forgot… they have pecan brittle… that was pretty good. I wished there had been more pecans in the brittle… but, of course I’d say that. lol
This place is right off the highway… very easy to get to.
Place rating: 3
Grapevine, TX
For jerky, this is a cute little place. The free samples do rock and caused me to buy a jar of their «chow chow» to eat on crackers. Weird but great sweet n sour relish that is so good with an afterburn factor. They also have odd but beautiful gift items like hand painted bluebonnet champagne glasses. What a shame I bought them with my ex in mind for a future wedding and had to smash em when he couldn’t keep his pants zipped in my absence.
However, if you’re way out in Johnson City, stop and get some jerky. Then make a right and go to Texas Hills Vineyard and get yourself some cab to forget all the asses you’ve dated. Then go look at the deer in LBJ park. There’s also some metal sculpture garden out there. Turn left when you see the big chrome longhorn. You can’t miss it but you just might wonder «Why the hell is this here?» which is pretty much what I said. Turns out there’s a 40 acre artist community back there but I didnt’ know at the time. Oh well. An excuse to go back for more jerky and wine. Keep driving up 290 and hit the wineries in Stonewall. Becker is amazing.
Place rating: 3
Dallas, TX
Why oh why is there no listing for jerky as a type of specialty/​food shop on Unilocal?That in itself is a travesty. Jerky is it’s own food group here in Texas. What could be better than everlasting spicy chewy mystery meat?! Nada!
And in the realm of dehydrated mystery meats you have Whittington’s sitting comfortably at the top. Not only is the location cute as a button, but it has FREE SAMPLES. I bought a bunch because I kept tasting it and going, «Okay, this is awesome. I need some of it. Yeah, this one is good too, gonna need a pound o’ that.» The munchkin was in the background going «Try the dip, try the dip,» both hands cramming chips covered in spicy creamy chipolte sour cream something-​or-​other in her mouth.
They have jars of cobbler just like that place in Centerville. They have sodas and other various food stuff… but the centerpiece is the jerky. I bought garlic beef, spicy turkey, and a few others to give as gifts.
And they have chalkboard walls in the bathrooms in case you feel the need to scrawl on your rest break from the road southwest. This was a real find. I spent the rest of the trip with jerky hanging out of my mouth thanks to Whittington’s!