San Antonio’s smoked-meat faithful can fire up their appetites again. Acclaimed pitmaster Andrew Samia has revived South Barbecue in a former service station at 2100 N. Main Ave. in Monte Vista.
Samia branched out with the then South BBQ & Kitchen in 2018 after opening Crazy Carl’s food truck and Dignowity Meats. The Southtown barbecue joint soon earned him career-highlight raves from The Infatuation and Texas Monthly.
In January, he closed the restaurant’s longtime restaurant at 2011 Mission Rd, estimating that the new barbecue joint would be open later in the summer.
“Our time on Mission Road has truly been amazing, and we will always cherish the memories this location helped create, Samia posted at the time. “But when one door closes, another one always opens.”
The new South Barbecue, next door to Lover’s Pizzeria, kept much of the same menu that made it one of Alamo City’s hottest spots. The smoked meat lineup of brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and jalapeño Cheddar sausage only has one tweak — the substitution of turkey breast for chicken leg quarters. The side, featuring Tex-Mex flavors like creamed elote, borracho beans, and Spanish rice, carried over from the former spot.
New items include chips and queso blanco, a sausage taco, pulled pork nachos, and an upcoming cheeseburger served on a Martin’s potato bun. The latter was delayed due to a few technical difficulties.
“And a fun fact, I guess when you buy a brand new $4,000 griddle, it doesn’t work,” joked the business on Instagram. “But the $300, 15-year-old ones from Craigslist work just fine, so we’re gonna grab one of those ASAP and get that burger on the menu rocking.”
South Barbecue also now has a full bar, serving original cocktails, beer, and wine. And the atmosphere is entirely different. Samia replaced the wood-clad interior of the original with a midcentury feel that includes forest green Naugahyde booths, exposed brick, and schoolhouse-style fixtures. The outsiode patio is outfitted with picnic tables and draped carnival lights.
But perhaps the biggest revamp is that South never plans to sell out, bucking the scarcity trend in Central Texas barbecue.
“Our goal at this new location is to not be a place that runs out of things… we want you to be able to come at all hours, every day of the week and get some delicious food,” the team wrote.
South Barbecue is now open daily at 2100 N Main Ave. from 11 am-10 pm.