Meet Maurice Martinez of MO’s craft bbq

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maurice Martinez.

Hi Maurice, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We originally started off with the idea of selling soul food one day. Being inspired by my great Grandmother Evelyn Brown and my mother Tijera Brown. I began my love for cooking. always in the kitchen with them growing up. Wanting to learn everything from baking from scratch to making some of the best soul food I have ever ate. Until I (Mo) had a thought maybe we should bring some Texas inspired bbq to La. I became obsessed with the craft of bbq, later making my brother (Ram) start to find his love for it too. Like any bbq spot you need a pit and my buddy Dom from fullsend bbq lived not only 2 minutes away but was selling his 300 gallon offset smoker. As nervous as can be I put my faith in God and my dream and purchased the pit not knowing I was going to gain another brother and a mentor to this day. I wanted to know more about Texas style bbq so I decided to go there. To where my family is from and where the BBQ is 2nd to none I was finally in Texas. I was blessed to be able to work along side cooper abercombrie & Alec at Bar-A- bbq in Montgomery Texas . With a little time spent with them I saw how high the standard and ceiling could be. Now inspired and filled with more knowledge as a family we started honing in on our craft. Our business is 100% family owned it is 6 of us total now

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some of the struggles for us was seeing the whole picture. For myself (Mo) it was my dream that I could see my whole family being apart of but the up hill battle is sharing that dream and all of us being able to see light at the end of that tunnel. Bbq is hard work and sometimes it can seem like you work for nothing. Consistency in all aspects of the business has been the goal so we can minigate struggles

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mos craft bbq is owned by two brothers Maurice & Ramces Martinez. We specialize in Texas style craft bbq . We are known for having a complete plate. Never forgetting the sides. We like to have every part of our meal be #1. Giving people feel of craft bbq that is hard to find on the west coast. We are proud of our organic growth. Seeing ourselves invest more and more as the business finds its footing in the la food culture. We would like everyone to know that food is more than a plate, that it is one of the one pleasures on earth that people want to connect over. We work hours on end trying to get as close to perfect as we can so we can not only serve the greater La but to connect and give perspective to something La doesn’t see enough of. We offer catering for and small to big events. We look forward to seeing yall !

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
First to God, at some of the lowest points he kept that light shining at the end of the tunnel.
My mother Tijera Brown for bringing her great flavor to our menu
Cooper Abercrombie & Alec at Bar-A- bbq
My buddy now brother Dom with fullsend bbq who actually sold us our first offset pit and became my mentor .
My family has been a blessing we owe our success to eachother showing up everyday trying to be better.
My sisters indorii & dulce Martinez
My great grandfather Curtis Brown
And my father Ramces Martinez

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Moscraftbbq

Image Credits
Shot by @iamsuedewilliams on instagram