ALLEN, Texas — North Texans love Tex-Mex. And they love barbecue.
And maybe that helps explain why Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q developed such a devout following - and a nod from the New York Times as one of Texas' best- as a food truck in Grapevine.
Now, Vaqueros is getting a stand-alone restaurant.
On Monday, the M Crowd Restaurant Group, the company behind Dallas staple Mi Cocina, announced a partnership with Vaqueros to build a new restaurant in the Watters Creek Village development in Allen.
The restaurant, which will have a menu that features Vaqueros founder and pitmaster Arnulfo "Trey" Sanchez's "diverse culinary mastery," is set to open in the spring of 2024, according to the press release Monday. They'll also feature frozen paloma drinks, margaritas and beer.
“Trey’s take on Texas barbeque is unique, one-of-a-kind, and, above all, authentic,” M Crowd Restaurant Group President and CEO Edgar Guevara said in the release. “I am excited to partner with Trey to allow his creations to soon land on even more plates across North Texas.”
Vaqueros launched in August 2018. It's currently open Thursday-Sunday at the Hop & Sting Brewing Co. in Grapevine.
“I am thrilled to join forces with Edgar and believe that this partnership will allow me to take my establishment to the next level and focus on the part of the business that I love most," Sanchez said.
Vaqueros has been at the forefront of the North Texas "Mexicue" movement -- a trend WFAA covered in 2021 -- alongside Arlington's Hurtado Barbecue. (Hurtado, by the way, made waves this year as one of the more popular concession destinations at the Rangers' Globe Life Field.)
Vaqueros also runs concession stands during FC Dallas games and got notoriety last year for its "monster tacos" -- a 12-inch crispy flour tortilla, filled with shredded barbacoa, shredded cheese, lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream and hot sauce.
Vaqueros, Goldee's Barbecue in Kennedale and Smoke 'N Ash Barbecue in Arlington were highlighted this summer by the New York Times in the newspaper's "20 best Texas barbecue restaurants for the new generation."
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