My lovely wife, who has great ideas for us to “broaden our horizons,” and some times our waistlines, said, “It is Memorial Day! We should go eat BARBECUE!” I wasn’t sure that Memorial Day always meant bar-bcue, but who was I to argue with the woman who has “kept me young?”
When she suggested “HURTADO BARBECUE,” I was totally in favor, for we had gone to the “cooking presentation” at the STATE FAIR and sampled the chef’s “cueing” after the presentation of his style, offerings, training, and “secret methods.” And, we were already “hooked” then!
The location where we ate (205 E. Front Street, Arlington, 76011) was the “original not fancy” building and outer seating area, and the inside seating area was minimal. In fact, we had to stand outside for awhile to get to the ordering line and then picked up our food when it was ready and went outside to a “bar” area with more inside and outside dining spaces. Many folks were eating “over there,” and beverages were for sale—and food was delivered from across the outdoor patio area to folks who did not want to stand around or had large groups.
Many diners merely came to “take out” their orders and go back to homes, apartments, or businesses. **In fact, the man in front of us in line turned out to be a blessing, as he advised concerning what we “just had to try” and how much to order. He said he worked a few blocks away and quite often picked up barbecue there, as did many, many of his area friends and fellow shop owners. Plus, he advised that there was always a line, and when the barbecue was gone, IT WAS GONE!** Advertisements say: open from 11:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m., but I think our adviser knows of that which he speaks!
HURTADO advertised “slow-smoked Central Texas BBQ with a Tex-Mex twist—brisket, ribs, sausage, and unique sides.” They started with “pop-up” event servings, moved next to a “truck,” then on to brickand- mortar buildings. We recommend the ORIGINAL where we went…..it felt like old-time, down-home, family barbecue—only a little different and better!
Menu items we recommend: Texas Twinkies, “The Big Papa” (stuffed baked potato with all the works and mucho brisket), pork spare ribs, house-made sausage (casings a little tough but worth the effort), green beans and chorizo. I heard other diners sing the praises of turkey, chopped brisket sandwiches, and Mexican street corn, and I watched a man who was enjoying what I think was a jalapeno glaze chicken half. The man in front of us in the line said he had never been disappointed!