A slice of Texas has found its way to the Huntsville culinary scene at Kar’s Char Texas-Style BBQ at Lowe Mill. Thomas Langford and James Emery opened the restaurant one year ago, combining a passion for authentic Texas barbecue with delicious traditional Southern recipes.

Thomas Langford’s journey to becoming a barbecue pitmaster started at a young age in Amarillo, Texas. At just 16, Langford learned the art of smoking meats from his cousin, who cooked for charity events serving hundreds of people and sought Langford’s help. “I’ve been doing it for 20 years now,” Langford reflected.

In 2014, Langford moved to Huntsville, bringing with him the rich traditions of Texas barbecue. It wasn’t until he and his partner, James Emery, stumbled upon an opportunity at Lowe Mill that the idea of opening their own restaurant took shape. What began as a joke turned into a serious venture when they crunched the numbers, applied for the space, and officially opened Kar’s Char Texas-Style BBQ in August 2023.

The star of the menu at Kar’s Char is beef brisket—a Texan delicacy that can be hard to come by in Huntsville. “Beef is king back in Texas, so obviously if we’re gonna call ourselves Texas-style barbecue, we have to have some kind of beef,” Langford said.

Initially, the menu was simple, featuring a brisket plate, a brisket sandwich, and sides. Over time, they’ve expanded the menu, adding weekly specials, some of which have become permanent additions.

True to Texas tradition, the barbecue at Kar’s Char is cooked on a blend of mesquite and post-oak, giving the meat a distinct, smoky flavor. Seasonings are kept simple, especially for the pork, which Langford notes is somewhat similar to what you’d find locally, but with unmistakable mesquite smoke.

While the barbecue at Kar’s Char is undeniably Texas-style, the sides reflect Emery’s Alabama roots. A Hazel Green native, Emery adapted some of his family’s classic recipes for the restaurant’s menu. His own versions of vinegar slaw and dill pickle potato salad pay tribute to his grandmothers’ cooking, with personalized twists that make them uniquely his own.

For Langford, barbecue is more than just cooking—it’s an art form.

“The ingredients are your medium,” he explains. “There’s an art to that. There’s time, there’s temperature, there’s a lot of factors, and every piece of meat is different.”

This meticulous attention to detail is evident in every bite at Kar’s Char. Langford’s dedication to the craft of smoking meat is a key part of what makes their barbecue so special.

As Kar’s Char celebrates its first year in business, Langford and Emery are already looking to the future. They plan to expand their menu, adding ribs and chicken soon, and down the road, hire additional staff to help manage the growing demand.

For now, they’re very pleased with the success they’ve achieved and the community they’ve become a part of at Lowe Mill.

“Working for ourselves is the most rewarding work I’ve ever done,” Langford says. “We’re putting our heart and soul into it, and it really is rewarding when it shows.”

Kar’s Char is located in Railroad Room #5 at Lowe Mill, 2211 Seminole Drive. They are open Tuesday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.