Allen BBQ Vaqueros Closes After One Year

Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q in Allen served its final guests at 4 p.m. on October 28, 2026. The restaurant operated for less than two years before closing its doors. It had opened in January 2025 at Watters Creek Village. The shutdown marks the end of a partnership between founder Arnulfo Sanchez and M Crowd Restaurant Group.

The closure was announced via a Facebook post on October 28. The message read, "ALLEN, TX., it’s been real…Doors closed today at 4. Stay tuned. We ain’t done yet." M Crowd CEO Edgar Guevara confirmed the decision in an emailed statement. He described the move as a difficult choice made after much consideration.

Guevara expressed gratitude to the Allen and North Texas communities. He thanked the dedicated team members and loyal guests for their support during the restaurant's short tenure. The statement noted that serving guests had been a privilege for the M Crowd team. The group did not provide specific reasons for the closure.

M Crowd and Sanchez dissolved their business relationship with the Allen location's end. Guevara stated that M Crowd's involvement with the Vaqueros brand has concluded. Any future news about the brand will come directly from the company. Sanchez remains the founder and pitmaster. He had previously run a highly rated food truck in Grapevine.

The food truck launched in 2018 and earned national attention. Sanchez's birria tacos gained prominence through features in The New York Times and Texas Monthly. His work also appeared on Cooking Channel programs. The truck menu included brisket, ribs, and smoked cochinita pibil. The Allen restaurant expanded this menu with barbecue-influenced Mexican dishes.

The standalone location was announced in 2023. It received strong reviews upon its 2025 debut. The restaurant was nominated for Best New Restaurant in the 2026 CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards. Critics praised the brisket, pork carnitas, and sides. The apple-Gorgonzola slaw and three-cheese mac and cheese received specific mention. The birria tacos and consomme were highlighted as standout items.

Sanchez had expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with M Crowd in 2023. He said the collaboration allowed him to focus on cooking. M Crowd is known for neighborhood dining concepts like Mi Cocina. The group was founded by the late Mico Rodriguez. Sanchez and Guevara had worked together to bring the Vaqueros concept to a physical location.

As of October 29, 2026, no further details have been released regarding future plans. Sanchez has not yet issued a public statement about the next steps. The Watters Creek Village location is now closed to the public. The brand remains active under Sanchez's ownership. M Crowd has stepped back from daily operations.