A cult Wimberley food truck will soon shine brighter as the Hill Country’s newest destination. Neon Armadillo is shedding its wheels to open a 30,000 square foot brick-and-mortar barbecue joint in The Junction development at 9595 RR 12 in November.
The kitchen will be under the direction of Adam Puskorius, a veteran of Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Austin restaurants Asti Trattoria and Fixe Southern House. Currently, the chef is an operating partner at Neon Armadillo’s sibling concept, Creekhouse Kitchen & Bar.
The Tex-Mex barbecue menu will feature smoked brisket and tri-tip, lamb carnitas, al pastor–style pulled pork, and pasture-raised al carbón-style smoked chicken. Although most ingredients are sourced locally, the restaurant has a special relationship with Austin’s Force of Nature Meats. It will be the first restaurant to serve the company’s grass-fed brisket.
Sides and starters include Tex-Mex potato salad, Anasazi charro beans with pit-smoked bacon, chilled cucumber salad, smoked wings with poblano ranch, tallow-fried chips, and Neon Twinkies — bacon-wrapped brisket-stuffed smoked jalapeños. Naturally, the spot will have a standout burger dressed with raw cheddar, house pickles, onions, habanero mustard, and Bibb lettuce.
Neon Armadillo's signature Neon Twinkies.Photo by Chad Wadsworth
Neon Armadillo will stock a full bar with a focus on organic and sustainable spirits. Signature cocktails like the Spiritual Cowboy, a nod to actor Matthew McConaughey, will feature botanical ingredients like poblano liqueur, cucumbers, and pequin pepper syrup. Frozen drinks, Texas beers, and nonalcoholic sippers such as aguas frescas round off the beverage program.
The restaurant will be operated by Heal Country Concepts, a partnership between Puskorius and True Food Kitchen vet Ryan Zachry. WTX Investment Group, a collective of Hill Country families led by Wimberley locals Molly and Micah Bowen, retains ownership.
Molly is also responsible for the design, an aesthetic she calls “vintage country cool.” The space will be decorated in “bold patterns, retro-inspired textures, and a kaleidoscope of color,” according to a release. The turf lawn outside will incorporate a sports court, a kids’ playscape, and a live music stage.
Although an exact opening date is still up in the air, Neon Armadillo says it is aiming for a November debut. Hungry San Antonians can follow the restaurant on Instagram for updates.
