Texas Barbecue Joint Prepares 20,000 Pounds of Brisket for World Cup
11 reported
Zavala’s Barbecue in Grand Prairie, Texas, is handling an influx of 3 million tourists visiting for the FIFA 2026 World Cup by staying open for 30 days straight, a record for the small operation. The restaurant is preparing 20,000 pounds of brisket and hundreds of pounds of sausage. 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 links 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 secret to volume across six smokers is team involvement, with everyone checking temperatures and fires to maintain consistency.
What’s reported
Zavala’s Barbecue is located in Grand Prairie, Texas.
The restaurant stayed open for 30 days straight for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
3 million tourists are visiting the town for the World Cup.
The restaurant prepared 20,000 pounds of brisket.
About 200 beef briskets are trimmed, dry-rubbed, and smoked each week.
The spice rub is salt and pepper.
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.
The restaurant uses six smokers.
Owner Joe Zavala said the secret is team involvement with multiple people checking temperatures and fires.
Key figures
Joe Zavala, owner of Zavala’s Barbecue
Sources: eater.com
