Texas BBQ in Japan

If you're living in Japan and missing Texas BBQ, welcome! I'll show you where to buy, how to make and how to enjoy Texas BBQ in the heart of Tokyo.

What’s your name? Where you from?

Hi.  This is me just after cutting a few slices of brisket for friends at a bbq party in Tokyo.

Howdy! I’m Clayton. I was born and raised in north Texas but call Tokyo my 2nd home. My friends and family always ask when I’m coming home, and the answer is probably never. When it comes to food, Japan has managed to adopt cuisines from around the world and perfect them in ways that make them almost natural. World-class French cuisine, bakeries, Napoli-style pizza, Indian curry, New York Style Pizza, Thai, etc…it’s all here…almost. A few cuisines that are gaining in popularity but not very well represented are Spanish food (including Tex-mex), and BBQ.

My goal of this blog is to show you how you can find and make good Texas-style Brisket, right here in Japan, either out in the city or in the comfort of your own home.  I’ve developed a way of making brisket in a typical Japanese home for ~5 years now and as someone who grew up outside of Dallas and graduated from Texas A&M University, I’m pretty happy so far with the results.  Now, don’t get me wrong, it isn’t perfect.  And we’ll talk about that too, and hopefully find ways to get closer to that perfect slice of brisket.

Other personal notes:

  • I have 2 boys (now 8 and 5)
  • I met my wife, who is Japanese, while living in Chicago and we moved to Japan together ~11 years ago.
  • I also enjoy
    • Running (~50k/month on a good month)
    • Craft Beer (IPA is usually my first choice but I also love Japanese lagers)
    • Outdoor activities like camping, hiking, traveling, etc…
    • Combining the above activities is a multiplier for me. If I can go for a run and finish with a beer, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Questions and comments are welcome!