Barbecue in Austin is like guitar solos in a rock band. Everyone thinks they’ve got the magic touch, but only a few can make the crowd cry in public. That’s exactly what happened when Lance Gresak took a bite of Chad Deen’s brisket for the first time. Tears. Actual tears. A grown man crying over smoked meat. And instead of pretending he just had something in his eye, Gresak decided to give Deen a platform. The result is Waylon J’s Barbeque, now open on Manor Road.
A Smoker That Could Be Mistaken for a NASA Project
The first thing you’ll notice when you roll up to 1917 Manor Road is the custom 1000-gallon smoker sitting out back like it owns the place. It looks less like a kitchen tool and more like something Houston might use to launch satellites. Deen, a self-taught pit boss with years of pop-up experience, treats this thing like a member of the family. His philosophy is simple: low, slow, and unapologetically smoky.
Inspired by the late Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, who apparently hosted barbecues on tour buses like most people host them in backyards, Deen found his calling in fire and smoke. Since then, he’s been steadily working his way toward barbecue enlightenment, and by the looks of Waylon J’s menu, he might already be there.
Brisket, Dino Ribs, and Frozen Old Fashioneds
The food lineup reads like a Texas dream sequence. Brisket with perfect bark, sausages with some actual personality, pork belly, turkey, and ribs the size of small children. The showstopper is the Dino Rib, a hulking slab that comes with lemon soju chimichurri, because apparently, we’re living in the future of barbecue now. Sandwich people get brisket stacks and whole hog options, while sides and desserts come straight from the Salty Sow kitchen next door.
And since no meat feast is complete without something to wash it down, Waylon J’s serves up frozen cocktails that are equal parts dangerous and delightful. The Andalusia Old Fashioned and beer-ritas are already fan favorites. If you’ve ever wanted whiskey, sugar, and bitters in slushie form, your dream has come true.
Grand Opening Party: Free Sandwiches for a Year
To celebrate their recent opening, Waylon J’s Barbeque is throwing a three-day Grand Opening bash September 11–14! Enjoy a welcome Frozen Old Fashioned for $3, daily raffles, and plenty of giveaways. The first 10 guests in the door each day get a $200 gift card!* Plus, the party keeps rolling with live music every day from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Come join the smokin’ celebration! That’s either a blessing or a cardiologist’s business plan, depending on how you look at it.
More Than a Restaurant, It’s a Reunion
What makes Waylon J’s feel special is the story behind it. Deen and Gresak grew up together in Burleson, drifted apart, then found each other again years later over smoked meat. Add in a little Austin restaurant know-how, some backing from Guy + Larry Restaurants, and the name Waylon J, borrowed from Gresak’s son, and you’ve got a spot that’s as much about friendship and legacy as it is about barbecue.
Waylon J’s is currently open Friday through Sunday from 11am to 3pm, or until the meat runs out. Which, let’s be honest, is not so much a possibility as it is a guarantee. Beginning September 11, they will open four days a week, Thursday through Sunday.
Follow them on Instagram at @waylon_js_barbeque for updates, specials, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of a smoker big enough to double as a guest house.