Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Szmurlo.
Hi Jason, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I played football in college, then went to work as a recruiter, was laid off, and started my own company selling firewood and charcoal to restaurants. Then I started cooking, doing pig roasts, and catering out of my house. It grew too big looking for a building, found one and opened the first bbq king in 2012 in Woodstock, started doing festivals across the country, won numerous events for our ribs and bbq, and was on food network Chicagos best.wgn, and other local tv shows. All this while being a full-time father with a wife and 2 kids and a full-time firefighter. Please call me for any other details 815-405-7552 phone is easier. Founded by Jason Szmurlo and his brother, BBQ King Smokehouse has been feeding foodies flavor-packed BBQ food for over 8 years. Our restaurant was built with two things in mind to serve great BBQ just the way we like it and to provide diners with a place to hang out. We now welcome patrons from around our area and beyond in our cozy smoke shack.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is simple, to take a good cut of meat and smoke it with all-natural wood and charcoal. The result is simple: BBQ was meant to be done the way it is. This has been our philosophy for the past 8 years in our catering business, and we are bringing it to you at BBQ King Smokehouse.
BBQ King Smokehouse started smoking competitively in the Kansas City Barbecue Society Competition Circuit. Since then, they’ve won several National awards competing against the top teams in the country. Taking their success to the next level BBQ, King Smokehouse started a catering business that opened up 6 years before their Woodstock location. BBQ King Smokehouse Woodstock opened in July 2012. In Huntley, IL, an old condemned house was removed, and BBQ King Smokehouse Huntley was built, opening their doors on November 7th, 2018.
As soon as you come through the door, you’ll smell the natural aroma of our hickory smoker. We also have all kinds of items decorating the walls of our eatery, from old, recycled barn wood to vintage street signs. For more information about BBQ King Smokehouse, contact us today. We are happy to answer all of your questions.
Meet the Owner
Before opening our restaurant, Jason was always passionate about cooking great-tasting BBQs. He started the hobby by cooking food for his family and friends in his backyard. His food became a big hit. This led him to start offering catering services and doing pig roasts for clients. Later, he and his brother began entering different BBQ competitions. While they only cooked in a few events, they placed in the top 5. Since opening the restaurant, Jason has received a lot of positive feedback about the food we serve as well as the atmosphere of our eatery. He can’t wait for you to come and enjoy what we offer.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It is relatively easy, from licensing to building, finding money, work-life balance, etc. pandemic, bad economy, increase in labor, and food with declining sales have been a nightmare.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
BBQ Ribs, quality products, logo without words, and people know what it is. We do BBQ the right way, and ts hard, and we run out a lot of time because of that! Were not Mcdonald’s or fast food; we have a full line of sauces and rubs as well
Founded by Jason Szmurlo and his brother, BBQ King Smokehouse has been feeding foodies flavor-packed BBQ food for over 8 years. Our restaurant was built with two things in mind – to serve great BBQ just the way we like it and to provide diners with a place to hang out. We now welcome patrons from around our area and beyond in our cozy smoke shack.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is simple, to take a good cut of meat and smoke it with all-natural wood and charcoal. The result is simple: BBQ was meant to be done the way it is. This has been our philosophy for the past 8 years in our catering business, and now, we are bringing it to you at BBQ King Smokehouse.
BBQ King Smokehouse started smoking competitively in the Kansas City Barbecue Society Competition Circuit. Since then, they’ve won several National awards competing against the top teams in the country. Taking their success to the next level BBQ, King Smokehouse started a catering business that opened up 6 years before their Woodstock location. BBQ King Smokehouse Woodstock opened in July 2012. In Huntley, IL, an old condemned house was removed, and BBQ King Smokehouse Huntley was built, opening their doors on November 7th, 2018.
As soon as you come through the door, you’ll smell the natural aroma of our hickory smoker. We also have all kinds of items decorating the walls of our eatery, from old, recycled barn wood to vintage street signs. For more information about BBQ King Smokehouse, contact us today. We are happy to answer all of your questions.
Meet the Owner
Before opening our restaurant, Jason was always passionate about cooking great-tasting BBQs. He started the hobby by cooking food for his family and friends in his backyard. His food became a big hit. This led him to start offering catering services and doing pig roasts for clients.
Later, he and his brother began entering different BBQ competitions. While they only cooked in a few events, they placed in the top 5 in all of them. Since opening the restaurant, Jason has received a lot of positive feedback about the food we serve as well as the atmosphere of our eatery. He can’t wait for you to come and enjoy what we offer.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The best is people worst is taxes.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bbqkingsmokehouse.com
- Instagram: bbqkingsmokehouse
- Facebook: bbqkingsmokehouse huntley and woodstock
- Twitter: @bbqking31
