Curry Boys BBQ is Nashville's next big deal
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Texas-Thai fusion dishes at Curry Boys BBQ. Photo: courtesy of Curry Boys BBQ
Nashville's barbecue scene is leveling up this week thanks to the opening of Curry Boys BBQ, a James Beard-nominated Texas chain.
Why it matters: Curry Boys, which opens Wednesday, takes a unique approach to its menu, fusing Texas barbecue with bright, fresh Thai flavors.
Between the lines: Curry Boys replaced beloved East Nashville eatery Lou in the Riverside Village neighborhood. Their restaurant figures to be known for two things: long lines of hungry people and the bright pink building.
- Curry Boys, which has two locations in San Antonio, was co-founded during the pandemic by chefs Sean Wen, Andrew Ho and pitmaster Andrew Samia.
- The BBQ joint earned James Beard nominations in 2023 and 2024 for Best Chefs Texas. It was listed as the No. 4 restaurant in Texas on Yelp.
The big picture: Nashville has become a destination for restaurateurs opening outposts, but the arrival of Curry Boys is an especially big deal.
- Texas BBQ is having a major moment, with its top young chefs and pitmasters profiled in the New York Times, and its top restaurants winning coveted Michelin stars.
- "If we can be some sort of conduit to having people try central Texas barbecue, even though it's not super traditional, it still means a lot to us. It's just what we love. Growing up in central Texas, it's been my life. Being able to spread the gospel is really exciting," Wen said.
Dig in: The staple entrees at Curry Boys are curry bowls, which feature a smoked protein, like Texas-style brisket, and a Thai curry on rice.
The vibe: "It's been a really fun kind of concept for us. It really is like the Asian-American experience," Wen says. "You get great Texas barbecue, you get pretty awesome Thai curry. It's a great example of what my dining room table was like as a kid."
The intrigue: The bright pink building created a "don't read the comments" moment on social media for the Curry Boys owners. Wen says the color pink is a "culturally significant color in Thailand."
- The color, which symbolizes good fortune, even has its own day of the week (Tuesday) when people wear pink.
With Curry Boys opening Wednesday, who better to ask than an expert, Axios San Antonio's Madalyn Mendoza, for her take on the BBQ joint?
- ☁️ Madalyn's thought bubble: Curry Boys is one of those spots I'm always craving — and with so much of San Antonio hooked, it's never hard to find a friend ready to dig in with me.
- My default order: The Good Luck Cluck, cold chili garlic noodles and curry creamed corn.
If you go: Curry Boys BBQ is at 1304 McGavock Pike. It will be open daily from 11am-10pm.