New Braunfels Edition | November 2022

DINING FEATURE

BY SIERRA MARTIN

DISHES THAT ARE SMOKIN’

Smokin’ Joe's Tex-Mex Kitchen is veteran owned and operated, and features a wide variety of menu options that can be ordered from the kitchen or catered. Customers can choose from smoked barbecue dishes and Tex-Mex cuisine.

The al pastor street tacos ($10.99) are served on corn tortillas and topped with onions and cilantro.

The brisket nachos ($12.99) are loaded with cheese, jalapenos and green salsa.

Smokin’ Joe's Tex-Mex Kitchen serves a wide variety of food cooked by owner Joe Ramos. SIERRA MARTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

COURTESY SMOKIN’ JOE'S KITCHEN

Smokin’ Joe's Tex-Mex Kitchen Veteran owned eatery cooks up authentic food S mokin’ Joe's Tex-Mex Kitchen began serving a fusion of barbecue and Tex-Mex food to the New Braunfels community from a food

small town and grew up in a small town outside of San Antonio, and that’s all we did. We would get together to barbecue, and I grew up loving to do that with family.” Smokin’ Joe's Tex-Mex Kitchen also oers catering services, and the family business is set to expand in the near future. Ramos said his future aspirations are to open up a full restaurant that oers seating so his customers can enjoy their dining experience while eating their food. Some of Smokin’ Joe's Tex-Mex Kitchen most popular items include their nachos, smash burger, and birria brisket and pork tacos. The business gives a 15% discount to rst responders, military veterans, and New Braunfels ISD teachers and sta to give back to the community. “[Veterans] and rst responders are people that give back to the community, and I felt like it’s important to show them that we appreciate them for what they do. … Teachers are part of that,” Ramos said. “I feel that they are on the front line every day teaching our children that are going to be future leaders.”

truck three years ago. With the initial success of their business, the family-owned restaurant run by Joe Ramos and his wife, Perla, joined a partnership with the Select Stop Valero Gas Station in New Braunfels to expand into a full kitchen two years ago. “[Our menu] is unique to the San Antonio and New Braunfels areas,” Ramos said. “We provide what’s more of a local Tex-Mex barbecue fusion in the San Antonio and New Braunfels area.” Ramos retired from the U.S. Army after 22 years of serving and decided to open up the food kitchen in New Braunfels, because he has fond memories of visiting the area while growing up. His family would frequently gather and barbecue together, fostering his passion for cooking. Ramos still uses some of the recipes he has perfected since child- hood, including when he smokes brisket and pork for items on the menu. “My family has always been involved in cooking and barbecuing,” Ramos said. “I came from a

The smash burger ($11.50) includes a handmade meat patty with a variety of toppings.

COURTESY SMOKIN’ JOE'S KITCHEN

Smokin’ Joe's Tex-Mex Kitchen 855 W. Klein Road, New Braunfels 830-632-5288 www.facebook.com/smokinjoestexmexkitchen

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., closed Sun.

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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION • NOVEMBER 2022