Coudnt wait had to take a bite, just the smell alone makes you want to pull over and start eating…read more This place has been a regular of mine for years and it deserves more recognition, the fresh biscuits to the brisket down to the egg and cheese , its always a 10/10 for me! Service is always great also great place overall

El Sancho Tex Mex BBQ: A Texas Monthly Top 100 Surprise Hiding Behind the Coffee Shop…read moreFinding true Texas barbecue glory in an unexpected place is one of life's greatest pleasures, and that's exactly what happened when I pulled up to this humble food truck. Tucked away in a lot behind a local coffee shop, this operation specializing in breakfast tacos and smoked meat by the pound is more than just a roadside stop--it's a bona fide culinary experience, holding a coveted spot on the Texas Monthly Top 100 BBQ Awards list. This isn't your typical street taco joint; it's a full-on, unique blend of Texas smoking tradition and vibrant Mexican flavor. The Smoked Meats: Quality Beyond Expectation The foundation of any great BBQ joint is its meat, and here, the quality is exceptional. * Brisket: Simply put, wow. I never expected a breakfast taco food truck to serve such a delicious slice of brisket. It boasted a phenomenal, peppery Texas bark that crackled with flavor, and the meat itself was perfectly rendered, staying consistently nice and moist throughout. It was a flawless execution of smoked beef. * Pork Belly: The pork belly was delightful--tender, rich, and packed with great flavor. It had a wonderful depth, though I noted it was just slightly on the dry side, preventing it from achieving perfection. Still, a delicious, high-quality offering. The Tacos: Full-Fledged Adult Fare The genius of this spot is how they integrate their exceptional smoked meats into what they call a "Texas Mexican Taco culinary experience." The tortillas are incredibly fresh, and the combinations are unique and satisfying. * The El Rey Taco: This is the ultimate breakfast champion. It layers that incredible, moist brisket with chilaquiles verdes, cheese, creamy avocado, fresh cilantro, and a perfectly fried egg. What a combination! It struck just the right balance of richness and expected spice. I particularly appreciated the decision to include a full slice of brisket rather than chopped or shredded meat--a clear sign of quality and respect for the smokehouse star. * Taco de Chicharron: This taco elevates the pork belly experience, combining it with avocado, bright pickled onions, cilantro, crispy pork rind, and a kick of jalapeños. The harmony of flavors was masterful. This is precisely what a great Mexican-Texas fusion taco should taste like. With large, thick pieces of pork belly filling the seven-inch tortilla, this is absolutely not a street taco; it's a full-fledged, adult taco experience built for maximum impact. The Verdict What a super surprise this place turned out to be. The dedication to quality, from the perfectly smoked brisket to the thoughtful, layered flavor combinations in the specialty tacos, is evident in every bite. The staff were also incredibly friendly, offering great food suggestions that proved spot-on. If you find yourself in the area, a visit to this unassuming food truck is definitely recommended for a unique and top-tier Texas BBQ and taco mashup.

Any person who decides to open a bbq place in Texas must be pretty bold…read more When we got out of the car, I could smell the smoke. It was promising but I've been fooled before. This was good barbecue. The bark on the brisket was consistent and peppery but not overwhelming. The rib meat didn't quite fall off the bone, but close to it. The turkey had a good Smokey flavor. I also got the charro beans and the jalapeño creamed corn. The corn was good but it was fabulous the next day! I don't think this is the best barbecue in Texas but it was pretty good barbecue and better than some of the supposedly famous places in other parts of the state. I also liked eating listening to praise and worship music! I'll almost certainly go back when I'm back in town.

To finish out the 2023 Texas Monthly New and Improved BBQ Joints list, I headed to the The Rio…read moreGrande Valley to explore the last three. Today I visited Vargas BBQ in Edinburg. I was the first customer to arrive and had the pleasure of talking to Nidia Vargas, the Boss Lady, and learning how the establishment developed over time and how they made it onto the Texas Monthly list. She was very personable and the dining area was comfortable. I ordered the Texas Trinity and was not disappointed. The brisket rub is Pitmaster Ram Vargas' special blend. It made a great addition to the perfectly smoked, tender brisket. The sausage reminded me of the Black's Lockhart sausage that I grew up with. It did not resemble store bought sausage either in flavor or texture. I would definitely order this meat again. The ribs had a savory sweet glaze. They were smoked well, meaty and tender. For the sides I had Nidia Vargas' signature creamy green spaghetti, charro beans, potato salad, and Mexican rice. The green spaghetti is pasta bathed in pureed jalapeños, poblanos, and cilantro. It started off with a mild heat which built up as I continued to eat it. It was a great complement to the delicious meats. The charro beans were probably some of the best beans I have had. The potato salad brought back pleasant memories of my mother-in-law's potato salad that, in my opinion, is second to none. The Mexican rice was well seasoned as well. Honestly, there wasn't a thing that I ordered that I would not try again. This joint gets an A+ in my books.

5/5 -- Fantastic BBQ Mexican Feast at Pollos Asados El Tio Roy…read more Pollos Asados El Tio Roy delivered an incredible meal and an overall great experience. We ordered the four-meat combo ($34), which came loaded with sausage, BBQ chicken, four beef ribs, fajita, tortillas, beans, and rice. Every item was packed with flavor -- tender meats, perfectly seasoned sides, and generous portions. We were even given extra beans and rice, which was a nice touch. The service was fast and friendly, and despite the casual setup (plastic-covered tables and picnic-style seating), the place was clean and comfortable with soft music in the background. It's not trying to be fancy -- it's just serving amazing food at a great value. For two people, our total was $49 with tip, and we still had enough leftover meat for another dinner. You really can't beat that. If you're craving delicious BBQ with a Mexican twist, Pollos Asados El Tio Roy is absolutely worth the visit. Great flavors, great prices, and genuinely warm service. Highly recommend!

For smoked chicken, this is the best kept secret in the State of Texas. This place is a hole in…read morethe wall and easy to miss but it has some of the best food at the cheapest prices in all of Texas. If you are in the Donna area of the valley - don't pass it up!

If you plan on going, my suggestion will be following: Apps-…read morefried mushrooms-crispy and flavorful. The Mozzarella steaks- game changer for sure... they will ooze when you pull apart. Entree- my wife has the Davey Crockett-she was blown away on how tasty, flavorful and with a little kick. I had the Nikk's Turbo- you'll need to be hungry for this one- I'm serious! Packed with a mountainous of flavor and the Pattie's prepared they way I like. Well done... and thank you Sara for being hospitable and informative.

Wanted to try this restaurant out. The atmosphere was great, nicely decorated. However, the chairs…read moreare a little uncomfortable for a large person, like me. The service was excellent, very attentive and offering recommendations when asked. The fried chicken was very flavorful and crispy. The mushroom and Swiss cheese burger was good but very small, like a Whataburger junior size. I expected a little bigger for $15. The fries were seasoned very well. They had alcohol drinks for sale, I recommend the beers. They were very nice in offering samples of three different flavors of margaritas and daiquiri but I could not taste the liquor; it was too sweet.

I will never understand how any other experience in my life could ever top this one. My brain…read morecannot begin to fathom the idea of any surreal experience being able to take this memories place as the champion. The bacon slider was so good that when I bit into it, I got the greatest satisfaction both physically and physiologically. Had I been having a bad day, this burger would have flipped it around and given me every reason to never have a bad day again. The only bad day ever again in my life from here on out, will be if I ever hear this place is no longer around. The service was fast and the vibes were amazing. The sax man was great too.

Great tasting pollo, ribs and sausage. Take cash! Always very friendly and quick to serve you…read more Flavor has always been spot on. You drive up and they come to your car and take your order.

We arrived very hungry, the restaurant doesn't have a sign, but next to it, there is another cabana…read morethat does have a sign. Turns out that the sign is over the kitchen, and the kitchen is a separate building from the dining area that doesn't have any signs over it. We sat ourselves and ordered drinks. Without ordering our food, the waitress brought us each a bowl of beans, and a bowl of rice. In addition to cold chips, sliced limes, two salsa bottles, and a bowl of pico de gallo. Then we ordered a pound of beef fajitas, a whole chicken, a baked potato topped with beef fajita, and two grilled onions. The chicken was delicious and juicy, the beef fajitas were surprisingly very soft and melt in your mouth, the potato was good, the beans were not seasoned (could use some bacon), the rice was good, and the grilled onion was cooked tender. The bad, were all salt issues: -The chips were cold and salt less. -The pico de gallo had little or no lime, and definitely NO SALT. -The 2 grilled onions we ordered were served cut up in bite size pieces, topped with seasoning salt, (very salty seasoning salt). I prefer you serve the whole onion, (not cut up), for me to add whatever I want, possibly just lime and a light sprinkle of salt.

If you're a local and haven't checked this place out, you've been missing out. My friends told me…read morethat the burgers and wings were good here. They are actually great!! This place was seen more of a bar at first, but it's definitely living up to the grill part because the food is delicious. The fries are hand cut, crispy and perfectly seasoned. You also get a very generous portion! Not oily or soggy at all! The burger is big and perfectly juicy. Super delicious too. Good amount of crispy bacon as well. I have also tried their wings and they are pretty good. Alcohol prices are pretty good since it's small town prices. $3 dollar beers and $7 shots. Will definitely be back for more grub!!

Good time for all with live music. Had the wings and a burger and fries. All was good and the…read morecame fast and hot.

Come enjoy some delicious food, family friendly restaurant…read more Great staff. Dine in or take out.

Had never eaten hear before. So when a coworker was selling/fundraising BBQ plates I thought this…read morewould be great time to help and try their BBQ. If it's good we would should go dine there. Well ... the plate was sad looking and tasted AWFUL. The smell of chicken hit my face when I opened the plate. (You're not suppose to smell chicken unless it's spoiled). Oh and the "BBQ SAUCE" was red and looked/tasted like watered down ketchup. The chicken was so dry and hard/burnt we couldn't eat it. The rice was dry and nothing special to it. The only decent thing was the beans. Sadly those plates told us never dine at Smokey's.