Smokin' Family Legacy

by Charlotte Kovalchuk • photos courtesy Pustka Family Barbecue

Father-Son Pit Master Team Brings Mouthwatering Meats to Temple

Bruce and Rebecca Burnett have been regulars at Pustka Family Barbecue ever since the trailer opened five years ago in Temple. On a scorching Thursday afternoon in June, they were back with their playful dachshund-terrier mix, Lady, who seemed just as eager about the lunch stop as her owners. “It’s nice that you can choose to sit inside or outside,” Rebecca says while enjoying a plate of ribs, beans, and potato salad. During their summertime visit, the couple were especially grateful for the indoor dining area—a converted propane company office.

In between bites of brisket and Pustka’s famous sausage, Bruce shares a memory that sums up the restaurant’s popularity: “I asked a lady in front of me in line about her favorite thing on the menu. She said the brisket. Then she mentioned that she had just come from a doctor’s appointment. Her doctor told her not to eat too much meat, and the first place she went after that was this place for a chopped beef sandwich—if that tells you anything. People are drawn here.” Pustka’s popularity, he says, goes beyond its mouthwatering meats: reasonable prices, hearty portions, and a wider variety of sides than you’ll find at most barbecue joints. Rebecca adds, “The service is good. They remember you and they actually talk to you.”

FROM BACKYARD TO BARBECUE JOINT

That friendly service is what Dustin Pustka and his father, Paul, pride themselves on most. It’s more than a business model— it’s a family tradition carried from backyard cookouts to the trailer window. “Growing up, my parents were always entertain ing—work parties, church parties, it seemed like the Pustkas were always

entertaining,” Dustin says. His dad, a self-taught barbecue enthusiast, was usually manning the grill, and Dustin quickly picked up a love for outdoor cooking.

Years later, after working in the restaurant industry, Dustin found himself ready for something of his own. He asked his dad if he’d be interested in starting a barbecue trailer together. “He said yes, and we got to work,” Dustin says. What began as a food trailer in Hutto eventually found its way to Temple, where both the family and business have firmly planted roots. The present site was previously occupied by a propane company office, which included operational propane tanks.

“It’s weird to see propane trucks coming in and out, and it’s a little hard to get in and out, but once you find us once, you’re good.”

Despite the unusual backdrop, Pustka Family Barbecue has become a favorite for

locals and road-trippers alike. It has been named one of Texas Monthly’s top 25 new barbecue joints and was also featured in this year’s list of Texas Monthly’s top 100 in the state. Now, Pustka is preparing for its next chapter. By the end of summer, the trailer will relocate to a new, more accessible brick-and-mortar space—formerly Al’s BBQ Barn—on 25th and Avenue M in Temple that Dustin and Paul are currently converting into a full barbecue restaurant.

So what sets Pustka apart in a state full of legendary barbecue? “We make our sausage in-house,” Dustin says. “Not many places make their own sausage. You can control the seasonings and it’s a much better product.” Nearly everything on the menu is made from scratch daily, from the tender brisket to the classic sides, “everything except the pickles,” he adds with a laugh.

Pustka also offers more flexible and affordable options than most places. “A lot of places won’t let you get just a quarter pound of meat,” he says, but Pustka offers that option along with various sides that make for a hearty meal.

And while the food speaks for itself, Dustin says the real secret is simple: “Every person who walks up to that window should feel welcome. We don’t have customers—we have guests. This is a family barbecue spot, and we want everyone to feel like they’re part of it.”

WHEN YOU GO

If it’s your first visit to Pustka Family Barbecue, try the housemade sausage or the weekly burger special on Fridays. For something uniquely Temple, go for the Wildcat Sandwich—brisket, sausage, and a crisp jalapeño green apple slaw, named after the local high school mascot. 23330

23330 SE H K Dodgen Loop Temple, TX 76504pustkafamilybbq.com 512-466-594911am-6pm Tues - Fri • 11am-4pm Saturday