HARLINGEN — It’s no secret people in the Valley love their barbecue.
And the popularity of smoked meats shows no signs of waning anytime soon.
Just ask Max Garcia. The Harlingen small business owner is one of several who have recently opened up a new barbecue restaurant in the Valley.
Only a month has passed since Garcia opened Pit Stop Smokehouse on Tyler Avenue in Harlingen. But he is already considering expanding his dine-in and pickup restaurant.
“We have people lined up out the door waiting for brisket and ribs,” Garcia said. “People come from all over the Valley.”
Garcia’s life dream was to open a barbecue restaurant. In 2012 he started with opening a trailer before starting the restaurant on March 29.
He said barbecue is such a hit because people like the slow-cooked meat and smoked taste.
According to Garcia, what makes his place special is everything is homemade and he puts the time and effort into making sure customers experience the best barbecue that keeps them coming back for more.
“A lot of people say it’s the best in the Valley,” Garcia said about his pitmaster style. “I cook every night and make sure the brisket tastes the same every single time.”
The days of heading north for smokehouse brisket, ribs and sausage are long gone.
And if dads don’t feel like firing the pit out back to make barbecue, they have plenty of places in the Valley to choose from to dine in or pick up with the family.
Santa Rosa residents Margarito and Aida Mendoza both agreed what they love about barbecue so much is the tender, juicy and smoked taste.
And it’s enough to keep them coming back for more and trying out new barbecue restaurants that keep opening in the Valley.
They also both agreed brisket is their favorite meat.
Garcia said the Valley is becoming famous for barbecue and he’s also noticed there are more barbecue restaurants opening up in the Valley.
Every town from the Island to the upper Valley has a trailer, smokehouse or restaurant selling smoked barbecue meat.
Within the past six months, two locations have opened up in Harlingen.
One is the Pit Stop Smokehouse. The other is the Texas BBQ and Watering Hole that opened on Harrison Avenue.
Texas BBQ had a line out the door days before their offical grand opening.
They did not turn away any of their future customers, who were there to try the new smoked meat in town.
A few years before that, Rio Grande Grill BBQ opened in Harlingen and has since been featured for their smoke pit barbecue cooking in Texas Monthly magazine.
In La Feria, Rams BBQ has become a staple in the community.
And in the next town over, Mercedes has seen its own share of BBQ establishments open up with their own signature styles and authentic menus over the years.
Some have begun calling Mercedes the queen city of BBQ, referring to the city’s nickname — “The Queen City” — and its popular small BBQ establishments.
“There are a lot of places, but it’s not really competition because everyone has their own style,” Mario Noriega, Daddy’s Kitchen pitmaster, said. “There is still enough for everybody.”
Noriega and his business partner Mike Chapa opened one year ago. Daddy’s Kitchen, located in Mercedes, only offers drive-through service.
“Our brisket cooks for 12 hours,” Noriega said. “Everyone has their own style and clientele.”
He tells customers they are not fast food. “We are quality food.”
In Weslaco, Bar-B-Cutie Smokehouse opened its third Valley location this month on May 17.
Zeke Reyna III opened the barbecue restaurant in the Mid Valley and he and the team are ready to serve.
Reyna, a retired pro golfer, traded his clubs and time on the greens to help work the barbecue pit and serve the customers who dine in.
“This is barbecue and I want everyone to know this is a place where family and friends can get together to enjoy a platter of brisket,” Reyna said.
Bar-B-Cutie Smokehouse is a 65-year-old fast-casual barbecue restaurant and catering company that is currently growing through U.S. franchising.
Reyna said he and his father had always wanted to start a barbecue restaurant.
“Fast forward 25 years later and this is a beautiful manifestation of our dream,” Reyna said about opening the new smokehouse.
“To see it come to fruition is quite special to be honest.”