Kafi BBQ
Barbecue restaurant · Irving ·
Halal wagyu brisket, dino ribs, Iraqi sausages, cardamom pudding
Halal wagyu brisket, dino ribs, Iraqi sausages, cardamom pudding
"At Kafi BBQ in Irving, Texas, Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi showcases his Iraqi heritage with pomegranate-glazed burnt ends and Iraqi sausages, sells playful items like Texas Twinkies (jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in house-made beef bacon), and sources beef locally from Wagyu-X." - ByFarhan Mustafa
"This barbecue spot, which opened at the end of December, is only open on Friday through Sunday, and then only until it sells out. Owner and pitmaster Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi is smoking halal meats along with Texas wagyu and New Zealand ribs. There’s also a dino rib that looks like a challenge worth taking on. His family ties to Iraq have influenced his rubs, so expect sumac and the dark bark on brisket that comes with it." - Courtney E. Smith
"Owner Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi got into barbecue the old-fashioned way: after becoming obsessed with it. He quit his job as an engineer at Google in order to study barbecue and teach himself to become a pitmaster. The results tell the whole story. He’s created a halal barbecue spot that serves wagyu beef imported from New Zealand, which he determined to be the best, and sides infused with spices and recipes from his family in Iraq (seriously, don’t skip the cardamom banana pudding). Abdul-Kafi also built one of the most comfortable patios in DFW, which is covered for the summer with AC and heat, fans to keep the flies away, and the perfect embroidered cushions. It’s a family-friendly spot, with booths inside." - Courtney E. Smith
"An Irving spot celebrated for standout dishes like large 'dino' ribs and a cardamom banana pudding, offering memorable flavors that reviewers say would exhilarate any barbecue-loving visitor." - Courtney E. Smith
"A halal barbecue spot in Irving run by pitmaster Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi, who transitioned from a job as a tech engineer at Google to smoking meats. The dino ribs are a highlight — "best when doused in more of the house barbecue sauce than seems proper" — and the smoky brisket features a perfect bark. Housed in a non-descript strip mall that’s easy to overlook, it offers a killer patio with bespoke cushions described as among the most comfortable in DFW, making it a place diners want to linger and work through the menu. Don’t skip the cardamom banana pudding at the end; it "offers the flavor evolution that this classic Southern dish needs." - Courtney E. Smith
