Texas BBQ is coming to KC: New restaurant will serve brisket, mac and cheese, more

Kansas City is known for — and proud of — its barbecue. But so is Texas.

The Southern state’s smoked brisket, ribs and sausage are popular staples. Kevin Bulgerin won’t say which region does it better — “to each their own” — but he’s excited for his new Texas-style barbecue restaurant to make waves in the self-proclaimed Barbecue Capital of the World.

Grinning Bull BBQ will begin serving customers from 4141 Mill St. in Westport this year — hopefully summer or fall.

“We’re excited to see what it looks like to bring some Texas-style barbecue to Kansas City,” Bulgerin said.

He’s done one pop-up in Westport so far, which he said was a success. He hopes to drop by a few more times before his restaurant opens, in an effort to spread the word.

Bulgerin grew up near Austin but moved to Waco to attend Baylor University. There, he met his wife and worked at a barbecue restaurant for five years, learning all the tricks to making Southern-style ‘cue.

After the couple moved to St. Louis, Bulgerin worked as a catering director for Chick-fil-A. But his love for barbecue never waned. So, he began his catering business in February 2022, serving his beloved smoked brisket at pop-ups and events. (He’ll still be St. Louis-based after the restaurant’s opening.)

Bulgerin has always explained the pronunciation of his name — which has a silent “e” — as “bull grin.” He figured this was the perfect name for his business.

One of the other menu items he plans on serving is Texas Frito pie: corn-style chips or Fritos with barbecue baked beans, brisket, cheese and onions.

“I know we’ve got our work cut out for us, because there’s a lot of good barbecue in Kansas City,” he said.

One question he’s gotten often: Will he serve burnt ends?

Bulgerin hesitated when asked this by The Star Monday afternoon.

“I might be persuaded because I know burnt ends are a huge thing here in Kansas City,” he said.

Westport’s nearby Char Bar has been serving customers from 4050 Pennsylvania Ave. since 2014.