harlem road
texas bbq

Established: 2018

Location: Richmond, TX

Pitmaster: Ara Malekian

Harlem Road Texas BBQ in Richmond, Texas is the kind of joint where you can tell right away that someone has a real point of view behind the fire. Ara Malekian built it with deep respect for Texas barbecue, but also with the instincts of a chef and restaurateur. The result is barbecue that feels distinctive, thoughtful, and built with intention.

Quick Info:

Address: 9823 Harlem Rd, Richmond, TX 77407

Website: harlemroadtexasbbq.com

Hours: Wednesday - Friday 11am - 8pm, Saturdays & Sundays 11am - 6pm

Go Beyond the Trinity:

Potato salad, coleslaw, mac & cheese (it has burnt end brisket in it!),

chocolate bread pudding (made with croissants!)

The story

Ara Malekian is more than a pitmaster. He is a chef, restaurateur, and operator whose background stretches far beyond barbecue. His perspective was shaped by Armenian and Persian home cooking, years in restaurants, and a career built on discipline, systems, and attention to detail. That broader experience shows up in the way he runs Harlem Road and in the food itself. Ara does not just think about the plate. He thinks about the whole experience, and that is part of what makes Harlem Road feel so distinct.

read about harlem road

Ara Malekian of Harlem Road Texas BBQ: A Different Kind of Smoke

In front of the pits at Harlem Road Texas BBQ, where the smoke and the man behind it both carry a point of view. I met Ara in 2018, back when I was still trying to get my media company off the ground and find my footing with the Cost of Goods Told podcast. A mutual friend, Darren Lafferty, told me I needed to go try Ara’s barbecue. So I drove out to Richmond early one morning, back when there was not much out there. Harlem Road stood almost by itself, a barnlike restaurant in