It started as a backyard hobby in 2016. Then came weekend popups and a storefront on River Road. Now, Gonzo’s Smokehouse and BBQ is moving to a larger space in the parish.
The new location is next to German Coast Beer Co. at 13899 River Road in Luling.
Jason Gonzalez, the owner and operator of Gonzo’s Smokehouse, said the transition to the new space shows how much the restaurant has grown over the years. He is excited to participate in events with the smokehouse’s new neighbors – the brewery and Crawfish and Chill – and he’s excited about the additional space for staff and customers.
“There will be additional parking and seating for the customers,” Gonzalez said. “I’m excited that we will have outdoor seating, and customers can eat their BBQ while seeing the offset smokers in action.”
Offset smokers use separate fireboxes attached to the side of the main cooking chamber to add indirect heat to food. Gonzalez said the restaurant’s smokehouse will house two 1,000-gallon Cen-Tex offset smokers.
Gonzalez expects to move to the new location in early 2026, after a three-to-four-month buildout of the space. The design will mimic the interior of the brewery with an open floor plan, stained concrete floors and exposed ceilings.
The hours at the new location will stay largely the same, but with one addition: BBQ Saturdays once a month.
“I’m excited for people to finally get a chance to try our BBQ if they couldn’t try it on a Friday for lunch,” Gonzalez said.
The restaurant’s hours are Thursdays and Fridays 11:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. or sellout. Thursdays include short cook items like brisket smash burgers, poboys, tacos and plate lunches. BBQ is served on Fridays.
“We will continue to keep our staff small and family oriented so we can continue to manage the consistency of our food and keep the menu fresh weekly,” Gonzalez said. “Our motto is quality over quantity!”
At first, Gonzalez wasn’t interested in moving. But after seeing the space and talking with family and staff, he could see the potential.
“Being next to the brewery, more parking and closer to I-310 because we get a lot of customers that travel outside of the parish to come eat our BBQ,” he said.
Gonzalez said the parish has meant so much to him and his staff.
“We wouldn’t be where we are without the support,” he said. “It’s just so surreal to be a destination spot in the parish and having people come from all over not just in the surrounding communities, but from different states and countries to come to our parish and eat our BBQ. It’s pretty special.”
