Beloved Texas barbecue restaurant Soulman's Bar-B-Que celebrates 50 years of service

A North Texas barbecue brand is celebrating 50 years of beloved food, family and customers.

Soulman's Bar-B-Que was brought to life on Oct. 19, 1974 in Pleasant Grove, Texas. Founder Don Hallett sought to serve Texas-style BBQ while also providing friendly, genuine service, according to a news release . And half a century later, the family-owned and -operated restaurant continues to fulfill that goal while filling stomachs.

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"We offer a large variety of mouthwatering meats including beef, chicken, ham, turkey, pork, sausage, hot links, and the customer favorite, ribs," Soulman's website states . "All of our meats are cooked 'low and slow' over hickory wood, just the way it's always been done."

Paired with the smoked meats, the restaurant also offers homemade sides such as potato salad, coleslaw, ranch house beans and fresh cut French fries.

Click here to view Soulman's Bar-B-Que's full menu.

Hanging in each store is Soulman's Bar-B-Que statement of purpose, which reads, "SOULMAN'S WINNING RECIPE: Great Bar-B-Que; Great Service; Great GOD! (Romans 7:25)."

"We recognize that what started as a passion has evolved into a business journey that has supported thousands of team members, and fed hundreds of thousands of people, over the past 50 years," CEO of Soulman’s Bar-B-Que Brett Randle says. "It’s crucial to us that, despite our growth, the authenticity and quality of our food remain as genuine and down-home as they were in 1974 when Mr. Hallett first embraced the family recipes we still use at our 21 Soulman’s Bar-B-Que locations across North Texas. It is also a large part of our foundation that we honor the people and communities we serve and have served us for so many years."

Click here to find a Soulman's Bar-B-Que near you.

The business's values are evident in its appearances in various best-of lists, including the following:

• Best Roadside Restaurants in America (2024)
• Best Barbecue Chains in America (2024)
• America's Best Barbecue Chains (2018)

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Beloved Texas barbecue restaurant Soulman's Bar-B-Que celebrates 50 years of service