5 /5 Ben Miller: Today I made the 1.5 hr drive to Sunbird Barbecue in Longview, Texas for lunch.
This was my first time to try this restaurant, I am glad to have made the trip. The staff were friendly, courteous and interested in how their items were received. The parking lot is not large and shares space with a neighboring restaurant. Service hours are Wednesday through Saturday 11am- 3pm or when items are sold out. I arrived at 1pm on a Friday and a couple items had sold out with another selling out while I dined in. I ordered a variety of items based on their menu and which were currently available.
Brisket: I ordered half and half moist and lean. There was light and soft bark with great flavor, the fat was rendered well throughout and the meat had great flavor. The moist/ fatty portion I had was fork tender but did not fall apart. The lean portion required a knife to cut, would break apart with a fork and had great consistency.
Turkey: Consistent and moist throughout with light seasoning and no need for sauce. This was great on its own and would make a great sandwich which is offered on their menu.
Pork belly: great flavor with a mix of moist and lean in each slice. Light flavorful bark. This is an item that is served in tacos, that would be a great option in the future.
Charro beans: Pinto beans with stewed peppers and onions, this was great on its own and did not require adding flavors or other menu items.
Macaroni and cheese: soft noodles in creamy cheese sauce with great seasoning and layers of cheddar cheese.
Sauce: sweet and smoky, great flavor to add but was not necessary for this visit.
This was a great visit, I stamped my Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joints passport that Sunburd Barbecue was added to this year. I will definitely return in the future to try more of their menu and hopefully plan ahead to dine with friends!
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