Before Houston native Jesse Carrington launched his own counter-service barbecue restaurant, he was a service technician who sold, installed and cleaned up beer tap lines. “I was working as a salesman during the week and selling barbecue out of my house a lot,” Carrington said. “So many customers of my food complimented me and encouraged me to go into business.” Encouraged by his customers’ support, he decided to run a food trailer Fridays and Saturdays he called Phat Moe’s, which is a reference to his 5-year-old daughter Jada’s nickname. The food trailer sold barbecue in front of a barbershop on Beltway 8 and Woodland Hills Drive for two years. In January 2018, Carrington opened a brick-and-mortar location called Phat Moe’s BBQ on Beltway 8 in Humble. “When we first started doing this we had everything on the menu, but we started crossing off dishes that were less popular,” Carrington said. Restaurant co-owner Angel White—Carrington’s wife—said they like to remain flexible when adding or removing menu items. The restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere features big-screen TVs and oversize chess pieces that are meant to reflect the unexpected nature of the business, White said. Customers can enjoy a beer or a daiquiri, listen to background music or watch sports on TV and just relax, Carrington said. The most popular dishes are the three-meat sampler and the loaded french fries, which are fries with all the baked-potato toppings, Carrington said. “The sandwiches sell like hotcakes,” he said. “The No. 1 weekend dish is the seafood baked potato.” Carrington said he is dreaming up an etouffee baked potato and a gumbo baked potato that he hopes to put on the menu within eight months. “We’re also looking to expand on [Hwy.] 249 in Tomball or Spring,” he said. “First I’ve got to train me another me. I love to cook—that’s how I got so big. They say, ‘Never trust a skinny cook.’” Phat Moe’s BBQ 9526 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Ste. 3113, Humble 832-672-6545 www.facebook.com/phatmoesbbq Hours: Tue.-Thu. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. noon-9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Monday