A new restaurant brings Kansas City barbecue to Fresno area – plus there’s tri-tip
This new restaurant’s sign says it all: Chuck and Jenny’s BBQ & Smokehouse.
It’s barbecue food brought to you by a guy named Chuck and his daughter Jenny.
Chuck Evans has been catering under the name Chuck’s BBQ (technically the restaurant‘s name) for more than more than 20 years.
His daughter Jenny Evans opened the restaurant Monday at the northeast corner of Ashlan and Willow avenues. Technically it’s in Clovis, though right at the border of both cities, kitty corner from the Dutch Bros.
Chuck Evans is from Kansas City. The city has a reputation for some of the best barbecue around – particularly smoked meats – and is home to one of the biggest barbecue competitions in the world.
He brought a bit of that specialty with him when he moved to the area years ago.
“He had me passing out dinner rolls at 6 years old at catering events,” said his daughter Jenny Evans.
He taught her how to cook and smoke meats and she fell in love with it. After a career in management at restaurants, including at Sequoia Sandwich Co., P.F. Chang’s and the restaurant at Table Mountain Casino, she decided to open her own place.
The menu
All kinds of smoked meats are on the menu in the form of to-go sandwiches or plates: racks of St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork, chicken, brisket and tri-tip.
The family uses a large smoker fueled with wood from fruit trees, not the typical almond or hickory, Jenny Evans noted. It takes about four hours to make each batch of meat.
Of course, you can’t have a restaurant like this in the Fresno area without tri-tip on the menu.
Tri-tip doesn’t come from Kansas City, but originates in California, specifically Santa Maria.
It’s smoked with special seasonings.
“It tenderizes and it marinates in its own juice,” she said. “It just gives it a really delicious tender (end) product.”
Sides are also available, including chicken wings, mac ‘n cheese, rice pilaf, beans and mashed potatoes.
Most dishes range from $9 to $15.
For now the restaurant is selling takeout food only. Outdoor tables will be coming soon and once coronavirus restrictions allow it to open, Chuck’s will open its small indoor seating area.
This story was originally published February 11, 2021 at 8:08 AM.
