Pachuco's — Restaurant in Midland

There are many benefits to traveling with a significant other. Among them is the ability to order and sample multiple different meats at each stop along the Barbecue Unchained trail. We enjoyed a great cross-section of the offerings at Pachuco's new brick and mortar location in downtown Midland, TX recently.

My sweetie stuck with her tried and true sausage, mac n cheese, and potato salad, all of which exceeded our expectations. For smoked meat, I opted for the lean brisket and pulled pork. The brisket in west Texas is usually a no-brainer. And Pachuco's didn't disappoint. It had a nice S&P crust, along with a beautiful pink-to-brown color profile. The flavor was excellent and enhanced with a dab of their homemade sauce.

Meanwhile, I took a risk with ordering a traditionally eastern US smoked meat (pulled pork). But, the menu at Pachuco's offered enough variety in traditionally Hispanic dishes that I knew it would be a safe risk. Chef absolutely knows what he's doing. The pork was perfectly smoked and the flavor profile was true through each tender bite. Again, a dollup of the homemade sauce provided the perfect kick at the end.

I added the Hatch mac n cheese as my side and dinner was complete. Perfectly tender noodles mixed with nice chunks of green chilies is a great add-on to any west Texas meal.

Pachuco's brick and mortar location is a dream fulfilled for owner Ruben Carrasco Jr. His operation began in a 1960s bread truck. Now, it occupies the storefront once held by Midland staple Jonny's Barbecue. The previous owners, ready to sell, afforded Mr. Carrasco the opportunity to expand his menu and drop anchor in the middle of a revitalized downtown district. Future plans include a sidewalk seating area and conversion of the old bread truck to a new beer wagon.

If your next cross-country trek takes you along I-20 through the oilfields of west Texas, be sure to stop in Midland. Visit Pachuco's and rest awhile. Plan a little extra time to walk off the...

Stop 🛑 don’t even think about going here unless you’re absolutely starving! It’s in the old Johnny’s BBQ an institution in Midland years ago. They could have certainly learned about cooking from this new establishment. Every bite honestly exploded in your mouth with delightful excitement. The Charo beans should be a meal in themselves! The Brisket was seasoned very nicely and very tender as well as tasty. Smoked cabbage is definitely on my to do list now. Oh my goodness the Cuban sandwich was something else!!! Every bite excited the taste buds for more. My only regret were the ribs. They were very tasty and delicious. But leaving the membrane on the bone keeps them from standing out. I spoke with one of the cooks concerning this. He said it was to enable them to stay together? If this little task was implemented they would get a perfect score. And the condiment bar was very explicit. 4 styles of sauce and fresh salsa. Oh yeah try the brisket rice. It is worth sharing but after a bite you may reconsider. Top notch service and clean. My Sweethang and I spent $60, but was worth the...

Came in during lunch. We wanted to see how the burgers patty tastes to see if there is anything special in the way they prepare the Pattie since this is a BBQ place. Beware that when you look at the pricing you still have to pay for fries separate for $3 more and a drink for 3.29 that’s another $6.29 on top of the burger price that seemed reasonable until you include the $6.29. So a plain burger with no fanfare, plain fries and a drink is $18.28! I’m thinking this must be the most amazing burger on the planet for $18.28 one patty fries and a drink. Well with inflation these days it is pretty spot on. The patty was very big, perfectly cooked like a homemade BBQ grilled patty. This fills you up and the buns are perfectly flavored. The fries are a bit greasy, but what do you expect? I would have liked them more crispy but to each their own. The ambiance is great and the artwork is amazing. Growing up in downtown Phoenix I love the Pachuco vibe and artwork. This is definitely a stop I will do again and recommend. I will do another review when I try the...