Rune Jonsvoll and his family are confident their barbecue may be the best in Katy—and they’ve got the awards to back it up.
After more than a decade of competing and placing in barbecue cook-offs at the Wharton County Youth Fair, Jonsvoll opened Chuckwagon BBQ and Burgers at 4031 FM 1463, Ste. 50, in March 2014.
“It just so happened [work] was slow with my brother-in-law, and a restaurant was something we wanted to venture into,” Jonsvoll said.
The family-owned restaurant has an Old West theme appropriate for barbecue, Jonsvoll said. Not only is there a mural of a chuck wagon that leads into the entrance of the kitchen, but customers can dine in custom-made chuck wagon booths.
“I think the atmosphere [sets the restaurant apart],” Jonsvoll said. “All the tables and booths were made by us. We really put our souls into [the business].”
Jonsvoll balances owning a restaurant with a full-time job as a project manager in the oil and gas industry so his family operates the place most of the day, he said.
Chuckwagon’s barbecue is grilled in a pit that is powered by gas but also contains a wood-burning chamber to add a smoky flavor, Jonsvoll said.
“The way we cook [meat] makes it easier to keep it even and more consistent,” he said. “I think we cook the meat better than our competition.”
A popular dish among Chuckwagon customers is the loaded baked potato, Jonsvoll said.
“We make it with [the customer’s] choice of meat and butter, cheese, chives, sour cream and bacon,” he said. “My personal favorite is pulled pork.”
Barbecue is not the only menu selection that gets praise at Chuckwagon, Jonsvoll said. The burgers do, too.
“We’ve heard really good feedback about our burgers,” Jonsvoll said. “We’ve seen business picking up with our burgers.”
The Chuckwagon bacon cheeseburger is a customer favorite, Jonsvoll said. The dish is served with any of Chuckwagon’s Southern-style sides, which include fried okra, cole slaw and fried pickles.
The restaurant also sells party packs for groups of up to 50 people. Large party orders are more frequent in the summer, Jonsvoll said.
“People have block parties or families visiting in the summer,” he said.
Running a restaurant takes work, Jonsvoll said, but he looks at it as more than that.
“A restaurant is more of a lifestyle than a hobby or a job,” he said. “It’s a big commitment.”
Jonsvoll said the restaurant already has dedicated regulars, but he likes to hear from his new customers, too.
“We have a lot of regulars and new people that tell us they will come back, so business is picking up,” Jonsvoll said.
Chuckwagon BBQ and Burgers 4031 FM 1463, Ste. 50, Katy 281-394-7784 www.chuckwagonbbqburgers.com Hours: Sun.-Mon. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
