Our Story

Texas in Every Way. Tradition in Every Bite.

Before the smoke ever curled in Utah, before the oxtails ever made a name on these streets, this story began with a cowboy.

Not the kind you see on TV. A real one.

Under the searing Texas sun at Black rodeos, young Les Jr. rode alongside his grandfather, Norman Davis, a true Black cowboy and legend in his own right. The dirt, the sweat, the sound of hooves. It was all part of a rhythm, a legacy. But in between the rides, there was something else that stuck to his soul: the food. Brisket sandwiches so tender they barely held together, the kind of smoke that hugged your clothes and never let go, no fancy plates. Just foil, fingers, and food too good to wait for a table.

Those summers didn’t just raise Les Jr. They seasoned him.

When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, it didn’t just flood streets. It washed away familiarity, comfort, and everything Les and his wife had built. With four young sons to protect and a future to rebuild, they made the gut-wrenching choice to leave it all behind. They packed their life into the back of a truck, hearts heavy but hope alive, chasing higher ground and a fresh start in a place they’d never been but had to believe in.

They didn’t just bring bags and boxes.

They brought grit.

They brought faith.

And they brought fire, the kind that’s passed down through generations. The kind that carries stories in the smoke and pride in every cut. That fire lit the first pit of what would become LES BBQ. Not just a business, but a rebirth. A new life, forged in smoke, love, and the unshakable will to provide.

Set in beautifully mountain-framed Utah, far from the red dirt of Texas but never far from its heart, LES BBQ is more than a brand. It’s a living tribute:

• To Norman and every Black cowboy who paved the way.

• To the pitmasters who never needed a recipe, just instinct and patience.

• To the families who gather around folding chairs, napkins tucked in, waiting for that first bite.

This place is built on smoke, soul, and Texas-sized love.

Our smokers have names. Our portions have purpose. And our plates come with pride, because every bite is served with history.

And at the center of it all? The cut most folks used to toss aside: oxtails.

What was once overlooked has now been elevated. Smoked, slow-braised, and dripping with soul, our oxtails turned heads and changed the game. The streets crowned him with the name that stuck: The Oxtail King.

This is Southern grit served hot.
This is legacy you can taste.
This is LES BBQ.

Where strangers turn into family, and every plate tells a story.