American Muslims are giving Texas barbecue a halal makeover
Texas barbecue restaurants are increasingly offering halal-certified meats to accommodate the state's growing Muslim population. This culinary trend highlights the integration of Islamic dietary traditions into iconic American regional food culture.
Why it matters
It demonstrates how cultural and religious diversity is reshaping traditional American culinary landscapes despite broader political tensions.
FORT WORTH, Texas (RNS) — At 9 a.m. on a scorching summer Saturday, nearly 100 people were already lined up outside Goldee's BBQ, a small, wooden-shack restaurant.
First in line was 30-year-old Thanh Huynh, who had been sitting in a lawn chair on the joint's rustic porch since 6:30 a.m.
"I have, like, a whole list, and I'm going to spend lots of money here. It'll be worth it," he said, laughing while rattling off a long order of meats and sides from his phone's Notes app as a sweet, smoky scent from nearby pits hung in the air.
Opened in 2020 by a group of his friends, the restaurant was named the No. 1 barbecue spot in the state by Texas Monthly a year later, and then won a Bib Gourmand award from the prestigious Michelin Guide, given for "great food at a great value."
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