Rollin Smoke BBQ has announced that serious financial problems could soon force this highly successful Austin barbecue joint to close its doors.
Owner and pitmaster Kyle Stallings has attributed the slowdown to several factors, including high beef prices, Austin’s summer heat, limited parking and reduced consumer spending. The weather and rising beef prices have been major factors in Austin’s over-saturated barbecue market. He believes barbecue, once considered an affordable meal, is increasingly becoming something people reserve for special occasions. Kyle said that with the return of Monday Night Football and Rollin Smoke’s opening hours coinciding with Chalmers’ bar hours, they should start seeing better Mondays in the near future.
The restaurant was also burglarized twice in January 2026, resulting in the loss of cash, equipment and more than 110 pounds of brisket.
Despite these challenges, Rollin Smoke BBQ has earned significant recognition from Texas
Barbecue:
No. 6 in the 2022 Texas Barbecue Top 25
No. 5 in the 2026 Texas Barbecue Top 50
About Kyle Stallings
Kyle Stallings founded Rollin Smoke BBQ as an Austin food truck in 2011 and has operated the business for approximately 15 years. His professional experience includes smoking meats over post oak, developing recipes, managing restaurant operations and creating unconventional dishes such as smoked carne guisada, brisket tacos and pork belly burnt ends.
This self-taught East Texas native can hold his own against the best pitmasters in Central Texas and the world. While others may be similar and everyone has an opinion, I challenge you to find a rival for his brisket and his pork ribs, jalapeño cheese sausage and pork belly burnt ends are equally impressive.
Kyle does not stop with traditional barbecue. Over the years, his smoked carnitas tacos, crispy barbacoa tacos and pepper jelly-glazed spare ribs have been mind-blowing. The smoked macaroni and cheese and jalapeño coleslaw take the sides to another level. You also do not want to miss the pimento cheese with crackers, smoked okra or smoked chicken.
Follow Kyle on social media to watch for specials such as smoked carne guisada tamales, pork pozole rojo and verde, and brisket chili. I’ll admit it. I’m a huge fan.
Call To Action
Now is the time to support Rollin Smoke BBQ. If you live in Austin or plan to visit, stop by, order a plate and experience Kyle’s barbecue for yourself. Bring your family, invite some friends and help spread the word by sharing this article.
Awards and recognition are important, but they do not keep the doors open. Customers do. If we want independent Texas barbecue joints like Rollin Smoke BBQ to survive, we have to support them while they are still here. Go see Kyle and tell him Texas Barbecue said Hi.
Restaurant Information
Owner and Pitmaster: Kyle Stallings
Smoker: Offset smoker
Wood: Approximately 80% post oak and 20% pecan
Address: 1700 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, Texas 78702
Phone: (512) 705-5499
Hours:
Sunday: Noon to 9:00 p.m.
Monday: 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Noon to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday: Noon to 10:00 p.m.
Friday: Noon to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday: Noon to 10:00 p.m.
Instagram: @rollinsmokeatxbbq
Website: Rollin Smoke BBQ
Location Website: Chalmers Austin
Chalmers in Austin is a bar and outdoor entertainment venue. It serves beer, cocktails and other drinks. Rollin Smoke BBQ operates as one of the independent food vendors located at Chalmers, but Chalmers controls the bar operation. Monday’s will start picking up due to the return of Monday Night Football. The opening time is the bars opening time.
The weather and the economy were major factors in a super saturated market bbq.
