Skip to main content
Head Pitmaster

Roy Perez

Kreuz Market40+ years activeLockhart, TX

We've been doing this the same way for over a hundred years. If it was broken, we'd know by now.

Signature:Shoulder clod — a cut most pitmasters ignore, smoked to a depth of flavor that rewards the adventurous eater

Roy Perez has been the head pitmaster at Kreuz Market for over 40 years, making him one of the longest-tenured pitmasters in Texas. He started as a teenager and worked his way up to running the pit room in one of the most storied BBQ institutions in the state. His approach is uncompromising: salt, pepper, post oak, and nothing else. The no-sauce, no-fork policy at Kreuz is not a gimmick — it's a reflection of Roy's belief that the meat should stand entirely on its own.

Philosophy

No sauce. No forks. Just meat, fire, and time. If you need more than that, you're in the wrong place.

Technique

Massive brick pits burning post oak. Shoulder clod and prime rib are Kreuz specialties. Salt-and-pepper rub only. No wrapping, no shortcuts.

Recognition

  • Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ Joints (multiple years)
  • Lockhart BBQ Capital of Texas designation

Influences

Edgar Schmidt (Kreuz Market founder's lineage)Lockhart German-Czech butcher tradition
Roy Perez — Head Pitmaster | Pitmaster Index