J & J B-B-Q and catering

J & J B-B-Q and catering

Written by Ann M. Calvert Tuesday, 07 August 2007

Barbecue so good, people wake up early to eat

When you hear that there are crowds of locals who line up to eat a 6 a.m. breakfast at a certain place every morning, you know there has to be something great happening. Since opening six years ago in Cedar Park, J & J B-B-Q has been a favorite of the sunrise crowd.

Every morning, owner Jose Guerrero arrives at work around 4:30 to oversee the preparation of the ingredients needed for about 20 varieties of breakfast tacos (all under $2). Huevos a la Mexicana ($5.19) is also a favorite of the early morning diners and includes a perfectly spiced egg sampling filled with fresh peppers and seasonings. It is served hot with tortillas.

Guerrero has more than two decades in the restaurant business. Co-owner Jim Hall runs their other two restaurants in Austin.

J & J is primarily a barbecue restaurant and catering service, but in addition to the by-the-pound meats (very reasonably priced) and barbecue plates ($5.50 – $8.50), it also offers sandwiches and the incomparable breakfast.

Housed in a converted red brick residence just off US 183, cold weather diners are often treated to a toasty fire in the fireplace. Cafeteria-style dining is casual, spacious and kid friendly.

I tried a Barbecue Plate ($8.25) with a new offering, the pork loin, and found, to my delight, that I could cut the pork with my fork. I shared with several at my table and all agreed it was as good as they had ever tasted. With my plate came a large beef rib which I intended only to sample, but wound up devouring because it was scrumptious. The sauce at J & J is a light, savory blend of flavors — not one of those overpowering barbecue sauces. Top quality, lean meat is the taste which comes through to the diner.

Impressive side selections add to the overall impression of this family run restaurant. The homemade potato salad, a “signature” side, is outstanding with red pepper, mild green onion and perfect seasonings. The fact that it looked like a scoop of ice cream in a bowl made it fun to dig into. The cole slaw was fresh, tangy and crunchy with delectable dressing. Other diners said the Mexican rice was savory and flaky and the beans a la Charra exceptional.

After our meal, we talked to Guerrero and his daughter, Maria, and he said everything is made fresh each morning. That is exactly the way it all tasted: fresh, high quality food, cooked with skill and pride.

B-B-Q and more

Jose Guerrero has been in the restaurant business for 22 years. He is on site at J & J B-B-Q each day along with his daughter, Maria, and other family members. J & J caters all types of events, small and large.

J & J B-B-Q and Catering, 300 West Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park • 918-0314

Monday - Thursday and Sunday 6 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.