Dining Guide
Desert Oak Barbecue
Desert Oak’s plastic utensils hint at how tender the meat is. Even though we wandered into the diminutive joint shortly before closing time and bought the last bit of the day’s brisket, the meat was still pliable and savory. But we were especially surprised by the sublime smoked sausage, the soft threads of pulled pork accompanied by a vinegary Carolina sauce, and the El Paso Stuffed Potato, slathered in butter, cheese, and sour cream and bountifully topped with beans, chives, chiles toreados, and brisket. The sides held their own too: we’d eat the green-chile cheese rice every day, as well as the mustard-forward potato salad. We felt a little guilty when a regular came in hoping for brisket, but he seemed perfectly happy with sausage instead.
City: El Paso
Cuisine: Barbecue
Method: Post oak in an offset smoker
Pitmaster: Richard Funk and Wade Miranda
Pro-tip: Add some tangy chiles toreados, which are grilled over oak coals, to your meal.
Drinks: Beer, Wine
Price: $$
Address: 1320 N. Zaragoza Rd, El Paso, TX
Hours: Sun–Thur 11–8, Fri & Sat 11-11
Phone: 915-309-4322
Website: www.desertoakbarbecue.com
Year Opened: 2015
Last updated: February 1, 2018
Reviews
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El Paso’s Desert Oak Barbecue Has Come a Long Way
Three large red letters caught my eye at a busy intersection in El Paso, and I knew I’d found the new home for Desert Oak Barbecue. “BBQ” is the only thing written above the door, but it stands out amid …
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Desert Oak Barbecue
Back in April, I gave El Paso some tough love. I had tried and failed to find good barbecue there, and I wrote about my futile search in an article called “BBQ in Far West Texas? I’ll Paso.” With a headline like …