WHERE THERE'S SMOKE

San Antonio barbecue fest returns to Pearl with top Texas pitmasters

Smoke & Fire features some of Texas' most acclaimed barbecue joints.

Photo by Briano

With gas prices surging and beef not far behind, taking a Texas barbecue road trip might soon require a loan. Once again, San Antonio’s Pullman Market is to the rescue with Smoke & Fire, its annual mini meat fest bringing in top pitmasters from across the state.

Held November 14, the event features a few familiar hometown names, including Sean Wen from Curry Boys, Alex and Brenda Sarmiento from El Pastor es my Señor, Ian Lanphear from Isidore, Ian Corral and Max Muñoz from Mezquite, and Jason Dady of Two Bros BBQ. Larkin Kuny, the recently appointed executive chef of Rosso, will give a first taste of the upcoming Italian steakhouse with restaurant partner and Top Chef winner Gabe Erales.

Popular YouTube personality and cookbook author ArnieTex (AKA Arnie Segovia) will also be firing up the pit. Between them, the rest of the out-of-towners have two James Beard Award semifinalist nods, four spots on Texas Monthly's Top 50 barbecue list, and a Michelin Bib Gourmand. They include:

Cooper Abercrombie — Bar-A-BBQ (Montgomery)
George Watts — GW BBQ (San Juan)
Kareem El-Ghayesh — KG BBQ (Austin)
Robert Celestino — Schulze's Pit Room (Seguin)
Roy Servan — Taqueria de Diez (Austin)
Joel Garcia — Teddy's BBQ (Weslaco)

Smoke & Fire Tickets include all the barbecue you can eat.Photo by Briano.

During the event, attendees will sample signature bites from each pitmaster, sip beverages, and enjoy live music and entertainment. A VIP package includes Pullman Market swag and access to an exclusive patio lounge.

“After an exciting first year, we’re looking forward to welcoming the event back to Pullman Market and bringing together an incredible group of pitmasters and chefs for another night of great food, live music, and community,” said Kevin Fink, founder and CEO of Pullman Market, in a release. “We’re excited to continue building Smoke & Fire into a tradition that people look forward to each year.”

All-inclusive tickets for Smoke & Fire are $105.96 for general admission and $175.26 for VIP, with a discounted rate available for children 12 and under. The mini-festival at 221 Newell Ave takes place from 5-8 pm on Saturday, October 18, with VIP guests granted entry at 4 pm.

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SUDDEN SHUTTERS

San Antonio hot pot spot closes as Cajun seafood chain moves in

Photo courtesy of JPOT

JPOT has closed after two years on the Far West Side.

After two years in San Antonio, the tabletop grills at JPOT have gone cold. A new location of Cajun restaurant Mr. Crabby’s is replacing the all-you-can-eat hot pot and Japanese barbecue spot at 415 TX-1604 Loop.

JPOT first opened in October 2024, part of a mini boom of similar AYCE concepts. Like many of its contemporaries, it relied on abundance. Dozens of vegetables and meats were available for grilling and dipping, and the sauce bar had more than 60 choices.

The restaurant did not make a public announcement about its closure, but it appeared to happen recently. The Yelp page was still collecting reviews through September, and the Google Business profile was only recently changed to “permanently closed.”

Users of the San Antonio Restaurants Facebook group didn’t seem to mourn the restaurant’s passing, with several comparing it unfavorably to the similarly-minded KPOT and others bemoaning the price. The latter might have played into the decision to shutter. With beef prices spiking to record highs in 2026, the $32.99 cost for dinner surely returned shrinking margins.

Mr. Crabby's is known for its Cajun seafood boils.Mr. Crabby's/ Facebook

JPOT’s Far West Side space won’t be vacant long. A vinyl sign for Mr. Crabby’s Seafood Kitchen has already been slung over the entrance. The South Texas chain, which also owns Red Hook Seafood, has two other San Antonio locations in Live Oak and Stone Oak.

Mr. Crabby’s is best known for its boils with seafood options like snow crab, crawfish, and clams. The rest of the menu — shrimp baskets, po’ boys, chicken tenders, and hushpuppies — is mainly fried, but it sneaks in a little Asian flavor in the form of potstickers and edamame.

The restaurant has not yet announced that it is opening a third location on either of its social media accounts and did not immediately return a request for more information. We will update this article should they provide any new information.

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