Big, bold Texas barbecue flavor

Double Plate ($17.99)

Tex 808 BBQ & Brews at Moanalua Shopping Center focuses on original Texas-style barbecue, incorporating some Hawaiian flair.

A quick-serve location with limited seating, the eatery opened last December.

All of the meats that the restaurant serves are smoked low and slow, including the brisket and pork, for 10 hours.

Big Texan Sandwich ($16.99)

The company got its inspiration when one of the founders, Rich Stula, took a barbecue pilgrimage to Austin, Texas. He met with the local pitmasters at some of the most iconic restaurants in Texas like Terry Blacks and Franklins. They showed Stula the intricacies of creating the perfect smoke and what to look for in meats. He knew he had to bring this back home to Hawaii for everyone to enjoy.

“We found an old Southern Pride smoker from Molly’s in Wahiawa.We rebuilt the smoker and brought it back to its glory,” Stula says.

Texas Size Chili Dog ($12.99)

Among the dishes available at Tex 808 Moanalua is the Double Plate ($17.99). It comes packed with brisket, ribs, mac and cheese, and barbecue baked beans.

The restaurant also has a Texas Size Chili Dog ($12.99), featuring a half-pound of the company’s smoked sausage topped with homemade chili, shredded cheese and red onion.

There’s also a Big Texan Sandwich ($16.99), a guest favorite, which comes with your choice of side. The sensational sammie has brisket and pulled pork piled on a hoagie roll, all topped with barbecue sauce and mustard.

Brisket is the most popular meat at Tex 808, and the company uses certified Angus beef trimmed to perfection. Meanwhile, any brisket can be ordered either lean or moist, depending on preference.

One of the underrated meats is the smoked turkey breast, which comes out tender and moist.

Stula and co-owner Ted Tsakiris opened their first store in June 2019 at Hawaii Kai Shopping Center. It has since been added to the Teddy’s Bigger Burgers company, and is 100% employee-owned.

Tex 808 is currently moving its Keahole Street location to the waterfront by Safeway in the same neighborhood, which will reopen around the beginning of October.

Meanwhile, the business will unveil a Waikiki eatery at The Laylow, Autograph Collection with a tentative opening at the beginning of September. Both the Hawaii Kai and Waikiki hotel sites will be full-service, sit-down restaurants with a full bar.