More Than A Meal
For Chef Essi Tadrus, barbecue has always been a lifelong passion — and Southern Luv is where it all landed.
Chef Essi
Tadrus
Barbecue has always been more than a meal — it’s been a lifelong passion.
That passion started young and led him to open his first BBQ joint at just nineteen. From there, Chef Essi traveled throughout the South, tasting and studying the distinct barbecue traditions of Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Kansas, Tennessee, Florida, and beyond.
Those experiences became the foundation of Southern Luv BBQ.
Studied at the source
- Texas
- Georgia
- The Carolinas
- Alabama
- Kansas
- Tennessee
- Florida
…and beyond
Simple Ingredients.
Explosive Flavor.
We believe great barbecue starts with simple ingredients and explosive flavor. Our meats are carefully selected and slow-smoked over pecan wood until tender, juicy, and full of rich, smoky character.
But what truly sets us apart…
Is The Sauce.
Inspired by the flavors Chef Essi discovered throughout the South, our signature sauces bring together sweet, smoky, tangy, savory, and bold flavors in every bite.
- Sweet
- Smoky
- Tangy
- Savory
- Bold
Southern Luv BBQ was created with one mission
Raise The Bar
In Barbeque.
From our slow-smoked meats to our signature sauces, everything we serve is made with passion, quality, and a whole lot of Southern Luv.
— Chef Essi Tadrus
- 4.8★across 806 reviews
- #2world's best cuban
- 100%scratch-made
- Age 19his first BBQ joint
Our Values.
Faith
It grounds how we cook, how we hire, and how we treat every guest who walks through the door.
Hospitality
You're not a customer here — you're a guest at our table, treated like family every single visit.
Heart
We lead with giving. Generous plates, and a hand for the neighborhood when it counts.
Made from scratch
Sauces, sides, rubs, even our chips. If we can make it ourselves, we do — no shortcuts.
Come hungry.
Stop in for lunch, dinner, or a take-home tray. We saved you a seat.