Zavala’s Barbecue in Grand Prairie to build new coffee shop and beer garden

Coffee and barbecue go perfectly together, says Joe Zavala, co-owner of Zavala’s Barbecue in Grand Prairie: “It’s all about time and temp.”

He and his wife, Christan Zavala, are building a stand-alone coffee shop behind the grill that will serve as the first in a series of Mas Coffee Co. stores in Dallas-Fort Worth serving espresso and grilled breakfast tacos. They expect the building to be ready for occupancy in 18 to 24 months.

“We want to create a small area where people can stay for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” says Joe Zavala.

The barbecue area remains in front, behind it the drive-through café. (Mas Coffee Co. is currently operating at Zavala’s Barbecue until it moves.)

Coming soon: enchiladas

Co-owner Joe Zavala smiles in front of the door after the grill place is sold out.

Mas Coffee Co. and Zavala’s Barbecue opened in 2019, a combination that allows Zavalas to serve customers longer in a single day. By the time the pandemic broke out, customers were already used to dropping by the store for takeaway food and drink.

Then came more innovations: “One of the things that COVID made us do is create food outside of the grill,” says Joe Zavala. Zavala’s now sells burgers, quesadillas and fajitas on certain days. These dishes were “made for us to survive,” he says, and also offer customers cheaper options when brisket and rib prices skyrocket.

Soon the family plans to add Tex-Mex Wednesdays to the calendar, when Chef Jason Ramirez will recreate Joe Zavala’s mother’s enchilada recipes one day a week. She also still works in the restaurant: She comes from Tuesday to Friday at 4:30 a.m. to make breakfast tacos.

Next up: a beer garden

Zavala’s and Mas Coffee Co. now have an army of followers. The restaurant was named one of the state’s 50 Best BBQ Places by Texas Monthly last month, which resulted in a dramatic increase in sales, says Joe Zavala.

Mas Coffee Co. serves espressos and grilled tacos for breakfast in Grand Prairie five days a week.Mas Coffee Co. serves espressos and grilled tacos for breakfast in Grand Prairie five days a week.

They run out of space to prepare more food, especially with their tiny kitchen that is 100 square feet.

“When people look in our kitchen, they laugh,” says Joe Zavala.

The new building will function as a police station and smokehouse for six smokers. Mas Coffee Co. will be the anchor ahead.

Between the two buildings, the owners imagine a beer garden with outdoor seating for coffee or barbecue guests.

One day they could open a brewery with business partner Drew Wright.

Correct: the coffee-grill-combo shop could become a coffee-grill-beer eatery.

Zavala's Barbecue opened a permanent restaurant in Grand Prairie in 2019 and now operates it as a to-go store.

Why Grand Prairie?

The Zavalas were high school sweethearts who graduated from Grand Prairie High School in the early 2000s.

When they opened their grill and coffee shop downtown, they were impressed with the tour of Grand Prairie.

“They really make it a place people want to come,” says Joe Zavala, referring to the “world-class parks, world-class event centers” and the Epic Central project that brings hotels, restaurants and entertainment spaces to the city.

If Mas Coffee Co. expands to other cities in Dallas-Fort Worth, Zavala’s Barbecue won’t follow suit, the owners say.

“There will never be Zavala’s barbecue again,” confirms Joe Zavala.

Zavala’s Barbecue and Mas Coffee Co. are located at 421 W. Main St., Grand Prairie. The café is open Tuesday through Sunday. Barbecue is sold on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m.

For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on Twitter @sblaskovich.

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