Experience award-winning Texas BBQ with over 37 years of pit-smoked perfection! Our Texas Bar-B-Q specializes in hickory-smoked prime brisket, pork ribs, Mom’s turkey, and Texas hot links, all smoked daily in Allen, TX. Featured in Texas Monthly’s 50 Best Tacos for our signature BBQ Birria Tacos, we also serve smoked carnitas, cochinita pibil, and Texas-sized beef ribs. Located in Allen serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area with dine-in, takeout, delivery, and full-service catering for any event. From classic Texas brisket sandwiches and loaded nachos to Vaquero-style specialties, our dedicated Event Coordinator handles every detail. Visit us for authentic Texas barbecue where 37 years of tradition meets innovation!
Laid-back restaurant specializing in brisket, ribs & sausage, plus tacos, sandwiches & burgers.
Jennifer Anderson
We tried Vaqueros for the first time tonight and had a wonderful experience. My husband & I ordered the Tour of Texas Platter to share, so that we could try their brisket, ribs, chipotle cheddar sausage and peppered sausage. We love brisket, and it was well-seasoned, tender and moist – so good. All of it was good! The platter came with 2 pint-sized sides and they allowed us to break one pint in half so that we could try separate things. We shared the pint of Mac & cheese, and got separate smaller portions of cucumber salad and their potatoes. As we were eating, the manager offered to bring us a brisket Birria taco to try and he also gave us a tour of their indoor fire pit. It was very personal service and they treated us like family. Loved the atmosphere! Can’t recommend enough!
… moreAndrew Carlisle
Had an amazing first experience at Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q in Allen, Texas today. Trey and his staff treated me like family, and that really meant a lot. Upon getting out in the parking lot, you’re immediately hit with the amazing aroma of the smoke hitting you in the wind.
I always have to go big my first order, and I ordered more than my stomach could fit. Got a 2 meat platter with brisket and sausage. The brisket was fall apart even with a plastic fork. Great flavor, moist, and my dogs will absolutely fight me for the leftovers. The sausage had great flavor with the spice and the cheese. I also got the pork belly burnt ends, which were unlike any I’ve tried before. Soft on one side, crispy on the other, with great flavor. The sides I got were the Mac and cheese, which was interesting as they use shells which I’ve never seen eating out. It was nice and cheesy, with a nice crust on top. Also, I got the trail beans which were phenomenal; might be best beans I’ve ever had. I’m addicted to cucumbers so had to get some of those, and also got the apple slaw which had great flavors to balance everything.
The tacos I got one of each which were the birhha which is phenomenal, especially with the sauce that comes with it. Birhha has to be the inspiration behind the term flavor bomb. Next was the smoked suadero which is more brisket with great flavors in the juices. Next is the carnitas and the cochinita pibil with both having great flavors with the different slaws. If I see Elote on a menu, I have to grab it. Great flavor from being smoked on the husk with the sauces on top is killer! I forgot to order dessert, and Trey graciously brought me some pudding, which may have been my favorite pudding to date.
Overall, I had an amazing experience here this afternoon. Getting treated like family is alone enough for me to become a repeat customer, but the excellent food will absolutely bring me back. Probably won’t order as much as my eyes have been bigger than my stomach, but I have dinner for later and treats for the pups. I would definitely recommend Vaqueros to anyone looking for some excellent Tex-Mex inspired BBQ!
… moreEric Wilmeth
Absolutely outstanding. The banana pudding alone easily earns a spot in the top three best I’ve ever had—no exaggeration. The BBQ had an incredible Tex-Mex influence that really set it apart and made every bite memorable. We were so glad we skipped the local burger spot and gave this place a try instead. Phenomenal food, great flavors, and well worth the stop. We’ll definitely be back.
… moreCoach Ruby
Absolute the best of the best. Vaqueros is a complete culinary and cultural immersion into every tjing that makes Texas and you’ll emerge with Texas at her finest. Every attention to detail is placed in everything done here – and it pays off. Being the best in TEXAS BBQ is practically unattainable yet Vaqueros has achieved with perfect brisket (the ring, the cut, the bark, the pliable and elastic stretch, et al) with perfection on beef short rubs as well. Plus great pork ribs, turkey, and two types of homemade sausage (everything is made in-house from the pickled onions, jalapenos, pickles, carrots to all the fresh sides to the sauce to the tea to the tortillas). Beyond the staples, Vaqueros offers the ultimate unami experience with most unique (1) pork belly – no tacky sweet meat candy here but rather the pure bliss of unami with the crunch of chicharrones and the melting of the soft, tender underside that just renders itself inside your mouth (2) Suadero that rivals the tenderness and richness of the beforementioned pork belly and (3) the Yucatan specialty – cochinita pibil. Custom pits plus knowledge of the pitmasters and owners has Vaqueros owning the game. Again, this place hits on all cylinders with E.V.E.R.Y. T.H.I.N.G. They can’t miss, even their iconology to their humor to the friendliest staff – this is Texas on a plate! I gleefully ate everything mentioned in this review, plus beans Texas toast and cowboys potatoes, during my 2 hour visit. Yet, I hate missing out on the banana pudding and elote. But I’ll be back at my new (first in well over a decade) favorite bbq joint and restaurant overall – despite the 4 hour drive.
… moreVanessa Vega
I have been following this business since they were in their food truck. I was finally able to visit for lunch with my coworkers, last Friday and we loved our experience!!! We ordered a family style meal that included Brisket, Pastrami Brisket, Chipotle Cheddar sausage, Smoked chicken, Mac & Cheese, Potato salad, Beans, Cucumber salad, Chips & Queso, Texas Toast,
and of course their delicious BBQ sauce! The food was better than I could have ever imagined! It was carefully crafted and cooked to perfection! Hard to choose a favorite because everything was delicious!!! The owner Trey, even served up some of our sides and he had a nice chat with our group,as we went through the line! The employees were very polite, respectful, and friendly! We even got to tour the Smoke Pit Room!! Pit master Josh was very knowledgeable and passionate about the hard work and love put into every aspect of their meats and sides! I will definitely be returning again soon and bringing some family that is visiting from out of town! I absolutely recommend, and if there is a long line, be patient….If it wasn’t worth it, there wouldn’t be a line
… moreSofia Brock
Absolutely amazing food! The mac & cheese was especially delicious!!! can’t wait to come back! The ribs were melt off the bone tender the barbecue sauce was smooth and sweet. The taste of the sides were all homemade quality. The brisket was amazing and tender with a great smokiness. I’d say the best quality barbecue I’ve had.
… moreJessica Uretsky
We visited on Saturday evening around 5:30 PM. Vasqueros provided a warm greeting upon entry. The ordering process was initially confusing, though staff mentioned they were implementing a new system. I had planned on ordering the brisket, but after observing the cut (it appeared dry and dense), I opted for the half chicken instead, while my spouse ordered the rib plate. The wait for our food was very short.
However, we were quite surprised by the portion size of the $20 rib plate, which contained only three ribs, alongside a scoop of beans and fries. While my spouse noted that the ribs had good flavor, and my 1/2 chicken was very juicy, but lacked flavor. T
he overall experience felt overpriced for the quality and quantity received. Due to the high cost relative to the portion size, we likely will not return. (Of the rib plate specifically)
… moreChris M
This has been the best BBQ I’ve had! The flavors on everything were on point. We had the Grand Tour with the Mac and Cheese and other 2 sides, and the Mac and Cheese was hands down the best I’ve had too. Don’t miss out on the Carnitas Tacos!
… moreL Pearson
Unique BBQ sauce, loved it. Not too sweet, not too spicy. We had the three meat platter with ribs, brisket and pulled pork, beans and seasoned fries. It was all DELICIOUS! Try this place out, you won’t be sorry!
… moreAaron Cohen
Overall very underwhelming. It shouldn’t be a thing that the best food we had was a tie between the mac and cheese and the French fries.
Brisket was dry and a bit flavorless, mac and cheese was cold, carnitas was dry. Etc. Overall decent
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