Crosstown Craft BBQ, a Toronto barbecue pop up known for Texas style smoked meats, is getting ready to open its first permanent brick and mortar location in Scarborough at 51 Comstock Road.
The company’s new location will open in Summer 2026, according to Toronto Life. Led by pitmaster Ruben Silva, Crosstown Craft BBQ has built a strong following through a series of pop-ups held across the city. While an exact opening date has not yet been announced, the move marks a major milestone for the brand. Customers can expect a consistent lineup of smoked meats along with rotating specials.
Crosstown Craft BBQ began as a pop-up concept and quickly gained momentum throughout Toronto. Silva previously ran more than a dozen pop-ups around the city, serving over 1,000 people in total. The events often drew long lines and sold out regularly. Over time, the brand’s social media following grew from roughly 400 to nearly 30,000 across platforms. The Scarborough location is on the Golden Mile and is not far from where Crosstown Craft BBQ held its first pop-up.
The inaugural menu will focus on Texas-style barbecue, including brisket, pork ribs, beef ribs, cheddar jalapeño sausages, and pork belly burnt ends. Rotating specials are planned and may include smoked beef cheeks and smoked lamb shanks. The menu reflects the same offerings that helped build the brand’s following during its pop-up phase. Consistency and quality remain central to the concept.
To support the expanded operation, Crosstown Craft BBQ has upgraded its smoker from a 500-gallon unit to a 750-gallon Bog Line smoker. Silva also plans to add a rotisserie smoker capable of cooking up to 1,700 pounds of meat at once. The added equipment is expected to help meet demand once the permanent location opens.
“As many of you know, the dream behind Crosstown Craft BBQ has always been to open a space we can call our own, a home for true Texas barbecue,” according to the company’s social media announcement. “What started as pop-ups has grown into something bigger than I ever imagined. The support, the sellouts, the 3-hour waits, the shares, the saves, every bit of it showed me Toronto was hungry for real craft BBQ. And you proved it. Now we’re taking the next step. Crosstown Craft BBQ is putting down roots and opening a permanent location. A place where we can serve you consistently, push our craft, and build a true BBQ destination in the city. And this time, we want to bring you along for the ride. I’ll be sharing details and keeping everyone involved as this project takes shape, from the location to the design of the restaurant to the layout of our pit room and much more. You’ve been a part of this journey from the start, and that’s not changing now. We’re just getting started. But for now, thank you. Thank you for showing up, spreading the word, and believing in Crosstown Craft BBQ. This dream is becoming real because of you.”
