Sabar Barbecue, a trailer in Fort Worth that served smoked meat with Pakistani technique, will close after business on Dec. 20, 2025.
The change is sudden, said owner Zain Shafi.
He was offered “something out of left field” — an opportunity Shafi wouldn’t give specifics on yet. Sabar might turn into an occasional pop-up, and Shafi does not plan to sell his smoker and royal blue trailer. But Saturdays of serving some of Fort Worth’s best barbecue from a south-of-I-30 parking lot are over after one more day.
Shafi’s menu offers a twist on traditional Texas barbecue, using coriander, kashmiri chili powder, cloves, cardamom and amchoor powder on smoked meat. Customers are given raita instead of barbecue sauce.
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Zain Shafi started Sabar Barbecue as a hobby. Sabar in Urdu means ‘patience.’
Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer
Rather than serve mac and cheese or potato salad, Shafi’s menu calls for fruit chaat, daal chawal and kachumber salad as sides.
“Being in Fort Worth, I don’t really know if there are any Pakistani restaurants out there,” Shafi told The Dallas Morning News the morning he announced the closure on Instagram.
“Just getting to introduce Pakastani sides to people, I feel great about that.”
In Sabar’s two years open — and on weekends only — Shafi earned a spot on Texas Monthly’s top 50 list.
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He was considering opening a permanent restaurant in 2026 when this mysterious “opportunity” arose and changed his plan.
His agreement to operate his food truck in Fort Worth was up for renewal in January. Rather than agree to another year, Shafi decided to put one more date on the calendar, then close around the holidays.
More to come on Shafi’s next move.
Sabar Barbecue is at 194 Bryan Ave., Fort Worth. Look for the royal blue Sabar Barbecue truck parked in the parking lot. Last day open will be Dec. 20, 2025, from 11 a.m. until sell out.