Kamar and Kisha Chambers had no idea that when they started helping run the family-run restaurant, Clyde’s Bar-B-Que, in 2009, they would end up rubbing shoulders with one of the country’s best-known barbecue masters, Kevin. Bludso, and have an article about them in Texas Monthly magazine.
Business has definitely picked up since Texas Monthly published an article about K&K Bar-B-Que on its website in early February.
Bludso, who has appeared on The American Barbecue Showdown, Fire Masters, Bar Rescue and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and owns several restaurants in California, did his own interview with writer Daniel Vaughn at K&K. Two days later the editor called and said, “Let’s talk about K&K Bar-B-Que. “
Kamar and Kisha said they were grateful for Bludso’s words of encouragement, the yelling on Facebook, and for bringing attention to their restaurant.
Interestingly enough, Bludso’s roots in barbecue come from the fact that he spent childhood summers in Corsica helping his aunt, Willie Mae Fields, with his “semi-legal” barbecue business, Little Rascals. There, in an old gas station on Seventh Avenue, she taught young Bludso to breast smoke. It received high praise from The Steve Harvey and Bludso’s BBQ is now known as “LA’s most famous barbecue”.
Kamar and Kisha carry on a long heritage of local but specifically black-owned barbecue in the same building as Queen Bee Barbecue, which has set the standard for many generations of barbecue fans.
How did the high school sweethearts Kumar and Kisha end up smoking their breasts? It has been a long road, 12 years and a steep learning curve.
In 2009, Kamar and Kisha started helping out at Clyde’s barbecue, running the restaurant for Kumar’s uncle and father. Soon after, her uncle and father decided it wasn’t for them and withdrew.
Kamar and Kisha quickly learned to run a business, breast smoke, and run a restaurant, all while raising a family. Things were going well when three years later Kisha suffered a heart attack.
“I’d rather have it than the business,” Kamar said, so the doors closed in 2013. Kamar launched a career in the insurance industry and Kisha raised their children.
“God works in mysterious ways,” he said.
After some time away from the restaurant, he began to realize that he had missed it. He wanted to run a business but didn’t want a real building.
Kisha saw that was where his heart was and backed it up “1000%”.
“Let’s make that happen,” she told him.
They bought a food trailer with a barbecue, tables and a tent and moved into town.
They expressed their gratitude to Owen Hardware owner Wayne Owen for allowing them to park on his downtown Commerce Street lot, where they successfully ran their pop-up barbecue stand for over a year.
“God acts in a mysterious way… I told you,” Kumar repeated.
Incredibly, in 2020 the same building where Clyde’s Bar-B-Que once stood was available again and it all fell into place.
“It was like coming home,” they said.
I asked how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their ability to open a business. They felt blessed that they were given the ability to do something that everyone needs.
“It was great to be able to feed people, even through COVID. “
The deep freeze from a few weeks ago presented some unique issues. Although they were able to find some needed items on their menu, Kamar and Kisha decided to stay closed so the community could find what they needed to feed their own family instead of buying supplies for the restaurant.
“When we reopened, it was great! Kamar said. “The community really let us know we miss them. We were full by 3pm. In my opinion, that’s all anyone can ask for.
But, let’s get to the basics – the menu. Eight months ago, they moved into their current location, which, in fact, is the same building where it all started in 2009.
They started with a modest menu, serving smoked brisket, ribs, sandwiches, sausage and a few sides. They are now growing by adding chicken wings cooked in their own special seasoning.
“No pun intended, but they’re flying out of here,” Kamar joked.
They tried the “Fish Fry Fridays”, but were selling their fried catfish long before it closed. So they added it to Thursday’s menu and continued to sell. Fried catfish is now a permanent addition to the daily menu and has been very popular.
One of the most popular items, the Loaded Baked Potato, is really loaded with minced brisket, cheese, butter, sour cream, and barbecue sauce. Come hungry if you plan to order it!
The “Bull In the Box” pays homage to the original queen bee where it featured on her menu. It includes beans, brisket, barbecue sauce, pickles, onions, and jalapeños if you want, all in one box.
Warning: Ordering off the menu at K&K Bar-B-Que in Corsicana could be part of local history.
“Steve-O Fries” began when Pastor Steve Hayes of Grace Community Church walked in and asked for loaded fries. The sandwich “The Pastor” was born when their pastor, Ricky Walter of the Lifeline Fellowship family church in Corsica, came to ask for a sandwich with breast and a hot link sliced on a bun.
“Mack Chicken Nachos” is named after Kamar’s cousin, April Mack. Recently, Captain Justin Underwood of the Corsicana Fire Department was on site and had a special request – mac and cheese stacked with baked beans, minced breast, gravy and sour cream.
Kisha had never done this before, but she worked with the client to fix something special, and the “Mac Underwood” was discovered. It will soon appear on the menu.
“I love it. It gives the community the opportunity to be a part of what’s going on here, to be a part of our history,” said Kamar. “It’s been a great trip. We enjoyed the good times. , the hard times, the slow times, we enjoyed it all. We’re not perfect but it’s good. It feels good to be where we go. We love our customers and we love what we do.
To try a good barbecue for yourself, stop by the K&K Bar-B-Que at 1801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Corsica. It’s open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, but don’t wait too close to closing time if you’re looking for fried catfish or baby back ribs, which sell out quickly.
