RANGERS BBQ


430B CARRETERA EL VERDE, EL SALTO, JALISCO


IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID TRAFFIC LEAVING GUADALAJARA THIS AFTERNOON I OPTED TO TAKE SOME BACKROADS TO GET BACK TO AJIJIC. I AM SO GLAD I DID! I HAD HEARD ABOUT RANGERS BBQ, BUT HADN’T ENTERTAINED THE NOTION OF SEEKING IT OUT. SO WHEN I SAW IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS AND RAN IN FOR A TAKE AWAY ORDER.


SINCE I DIDN’T SEE PULLED PORK ON THE MENU, I WENT FOR THE BRISKET. I ATE MOST OF THAT WITH MY BARE HANDS IN THE CAR, WINDOWS DOWN, MUSIC UP AND BBQ SAUCE ALL OVER THE PLACE!


BEFORE I LEFT RANGERS THOUGH I HAD THE GOOD FORTUNE TO MEET JUAN MATA IN THE PARKING LOT. HE IS THE OWNER OF THE JOINT. DUDE HAS SOME SKILLS AND NOT JUST AT THE BBQ PIT. HE BUILT THE PLACE FROM THE GROUND UP, INCLUDING ALL OF THE FURNITURE IN THE RESTAURANT. JUAN IS NOT SHY TO ADMIT HE IS A CRAFTY COWBOY FROM WEATHERFORD IN CENTRAL TEXAS WHO KNOWS HOW TO GET SHIT DONE. I ADMIRE HIS RESOURCEFULNESS.


JUAN WAS AND STILL IS A WORKING CATTLEMAN AND HAS HAD SOME UPS AND DOWNS BEFORE AND WHEN MOVING TO MEXICO. HIS RESTAURANT HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE 2014 AND IT APPEARS THERE IS NO GOING BACK. AT PRESENT HE IS WORKING ON AN ADDITION TO THE KITCHEN AND EXPANDING.


TO SUMMARIZE, MY VISIT TO RANGERS BBQ WAS FUCKING GREAT! WENT IN FOR A GRAB AND GO OF QUE AND ENDED UP TOURING THE KITCHEN AND GETTING A REAL GOOD TASTE OF HOME!


BY THE WAY, JUAN HOOKED ME UP WITH AN OFF MENU PORTION OF HIS PULLED PORK! HELL YEAH, YEEHAW, GIDDIE-UP AND ALL THAT SHIT!