Friday Find: “The Only South Indian Texas BBQ Joint In The US”

At Southern Junction in Buffalo, TX, South Indian + Texas barbecue = Crazy Delicious

Description: Tucked away in Buffalo’s Black Rock neighborhood is Southern Junction, the only restaurant combining Texas barbecue with South Indian flavors. Chef-owner Ryan Fernandez moved to Texas from India during his childhood and immediately took refuge in the similarities between Texas BBQ & South Indian street cooking, as both are cooked low and slow over live fire. After moving to Buffalo, quitting his job in the tech industry, and working at several restaurants, Ryan opened up his own restaurant where he serves brisket, sausage, and ribs alongside tikka, curries, cardamom cornbread, serrano mac and cheese, and more.

Linkdown: 4/18/18

– So Aaron Franklin doesn’t actually eat Texas barbecue and might actually prefer Carolina barbecue?

“I don’t really know. I don’t eat barbecue,” he says. I laugh nervously, but Franklin doesn’t waver. “I don’t eat that stuff, but I love to cook it. If I’m in a special place like up in the Carolinas hanging out with Sam Jones (whose family has been in the BBQ biz for more than 70 years), I’m absolutely going to get a pork sandwich. If I’m hanging out with Rodney Scott (a world-renowned BBQ chef from Charleston), I’m absolutely going to get some of that pulled pork. Time and place, but as far as scenes and stuff, I don’t really keep up with it. My concentration is right here.”

– Austin 360’s response: On Carolina Barbecue and Aaron Franklin’s Texas cred

– The Houston BBQ Festival was last weekend and The Smoking Ho has photos

– WNCT continues their Hidden Gems Barbecue series with Hardison’s Carolina Barbecue in Jamesville

– High Point gets an Indian barbecue restaurant, BBQ Nation

– Travel Noire’s 19 Great Black Owned Barbecue Joints Across America includes a few Barbecue Bros faves

– Tarheel Q gets a write up in the Lexington Dispatch after changing owners last December

Leon said there is some pressure with running a barbecue restaurant in Davidson County due to the county’s barbecue reputation. He added that if the restaurant does a poor job, it not only reflects on the restaurant but the other restaurants as well, because Lexington barbecue is a style and one restaurant’s success means success for the others in the county.

– OH NO