Texas barbecue joint serves 20,000 pounds of brisket during World Cup
10 reported
Zavala’s Barbecue in Grand Prairie, Texas, stayed open for 30 consecutive days to serve an estimated 3 million tourists visiting for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a report from Eater. The small operation prepared 20,000 pounds of brisket and hundreds of pounds of sausage during that period. About 200 beef briskets are trimmed, dry-rubbed, and smoked each week using a simple salt and pepper spice rub. An additional 250 pounds of house-made sausage are grilled daily starting at 4 a.m., with the links soaked in ice water after reaching the desired texture. Carnitas are grilled for hours, then smoked for three more hours in a bath of coke and oranges. Owner Joe Zavala credited the team’s collaborative approach across six smokers for maintaining consistency, stating that multiple people monitor temperature and fire to keep the meats uniform.
What’s reported
Zavala’s Barbecue is located in Grand Prairie, Texas.
The restaurant stayed open for 30 days straight during the 2026 World Cup.
The town saw an influx of 3 million tourists for the event.
The restaurant prepared 20,000 pounds of brisket and hundreds of pounds of sausage.
About 200 beef briskets are trimmed, dry-rubbed, and smoked each week.
The spice rub consists of salt and pepper.
An additional 250 pounds of house-made sausage are grilled daily starting at 4 a.m.
Sausage links are soaked in ice water after reaching a snappy texture.
Carnitas are grilled for hours, then smoked in a bath of coke and oranges for three hours.
Owner Joe Zavala said the team uses six smokers and multiple people monitor temperature and fire.
Key figures
Joe Zavala, owner of Zavala’s Barbecue
Sources: eater.com
