From serving barbecue at pop-up events across north Texas to opening three brick and mortar locations in two years, Hurtado Barbecue is an explosive success story that began with a simple passion for the pit. Brandon Hurtado and his wife Hannah started serving barbecue in 2018 to hungry brewery-goers in Arlington, Denton and Fort Worth, and after about a year of grueling experience in the pop-up events scene, they graduated to a food truck in 2019 at Division Brewing in Arlington. Open only on Saturdays for lunch, the food truck was an instant hit in Downtown Arlington, which forced the Hurtado family to expand their hours after only a few months.
A short time later, the Hurtados agreed to open their first brick-and-mortar location in Downtown Arlington, which is located inside of a tiny, 120-year-old building and former railroad station on Front Street. The Arlington location opened in February 2020, shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing them to utilize only online ordering. Brandon Hurtado’s experience in digital marketing at ANKR Agency helped the company focus specifically on growing its online business with pre-orders, deliveries, and curbside pickup.
Fast forward to July 2022, the Hurtado family announced they would once again expand their business, this time to Southside Fort Worth, Texas, taking over the former Derek Allen’s Barbecue location. Hurtado Barbecue Fort Worth opened in September 2022 with expanded hours for breakfast and lunch to serve the local hospital community and beyond.
This growth has made Hurtado Barbecue one of the fastest growing independently-owned barbecue brands in the entire state, with an additional concession location inside of the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field at Arlington Eats in Section 101.
