“We were just sitting on our hands with nothing to do, not sure if we were ever going to open a restaurant again, " Wen said.
Meet the team
The idea for Curry Boys BBQ was for both restaurants to collaborate and create a contactless pop-up restaurant that was safe for the community to enjoy.
Samia provided the barbecue, Wen and Ho provided the different curries. After several successful pop-ups in their bright pink “shack” at North St. Mary’s Street, they decided to turn Curry Boys BBQ into a permanent restaurant, which is across the street at 536 E. Courtland Place, San Antonio. In July 2024, the team opened a second location in North San Antonio.
The chefs were named James Beard semifinalists in 2023 and 2024 in the best chef category.
“Our intentions were never to win anything or to get nominated for anything, or to get recognized for anything, " Wen said. “It was literally just because we wanted to give back to the community that we were living in at the time, and bring a little bit of positive light for that area, and just have fun.”
What they offer
Curry Boys offers smoked meat bowls paired with sweet and spicy Thai curry, representing Wen and Ho’s Thailand and Texas roots.
The Brisket Smoke Show is among their popular bowls that features post oak-smoked brisket paired with green curry, jasmine rice and carrots.
Other bowls include pulled pork or chicken and pork sausage bowls in yellow curry or penang curry. The menu also offers sides like creamed corn topped with curry powder, cold chili garlic noodles, green curry potato salad and shareables like curry queso and chips and pulled pork nachos.
What’s next
Wen said next year they will be opening an outpost in Nashville, Tennessee in Riverside Village. The owners are friends with Adam Lathan, who is part owner of The Gumbo Bros, which encouraged the expansion project.
- 19903 Stone Oak Parkway, Ste. 101
- www.curryboysbbq.com
