Top Texas BBQ restaurant announces major update on new space

A platter with brisket, turkey, sausage, chicken, meatloaf and various sides at Yearby's Barbecue and Waterice. The restaurant is close to finalizing its move to Allen, Texas. Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News One of Texas' most fascinating barbecue stories may finally be finding its happy ending.

Yearby's Barbecue & Waterice , the top-50 barbecue smokehouse that dares to combine Central Texas' most famous foodstuff with Philadelphia's most delicious dessert , is close to opening the doors of its new location in Allen, about 26 miles north of Dallas and only six north of its former home in Plano.

"Thank you all for your patience, support, and excitement as we prepare to welcome you to Yearby's Barbecue & Waterice in Allen, Texas!" read the restaurant's update in a Facebook post Tuesday evening. "We're excited to share that we plan to host our inaugural soft opening very soon!" Article continues below this ad The update continued to note that interested folks will get an RSVP to the soft opening.

"We can't wait to open our doors, fire up the pits, and share this new chapter with you," the post continued. Sabrina and CJ Henley opened Yearby's in 2021 in Pilot Point, focusing on halal beef as both owners are Muslim. Their food, including brisket, beef short ribs and smoked meatloaf, earned plentiful praise and helped lead them to a coveted spot in Texas Monthly's 2025 Top 50 Texas BBQ Joints list.

Along with the 'cue, the Henleys serve homemade water ice, a treat born in Philadelphia, which is where Sabrina is from originally. Article continues below this ad Bob Morris feeds Carla Morris from their platter at Yearby's Barbecue and Waterice in Pilot Point, Texas on Saturday, May 24, 2025.

Juan Figueroa/Dallas Morning News But just as the plaudits came in, moves were being made. Yearby's announced in August 2025 it was heading to Plano, with an opening date set for October of the same year. Best bites, new spots and the restaurant news people actually use.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms Of Use and acknowledge that your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy . But things changed less than one year later. In June, the Henleys decided "to abruptly close" the Plano location because they "secured a long-term lease on our next home." They called the move "a major step forward for our company and for everything we have been working toward over the last several years." Article continues below this ad That new space will be at 405 Central Expressway S. in Allen, a former Dickie's Barbecue Pit, according to a Google Maps listing.

Oct 14, 2026 Deputy Managing Editor for Texas Lifestyle Timothy Malcolm is Deputy Managing Editor of Texas Lifestyle at Chron, where he writes and edits stories from across a broad spectrum, including breaking Houston and Texas news, food, travel, culture, transportation, energy, sports and features.

Over his 20-year writing career he has served as food critic, launched magazines, worked as a grantwriter and even interviewed Taylor Swift. Timothy is also an accomplished travel author with two books published by Hachette Book Group— Baseball Road Trips and Drive & Hike Appalachian Trail .

He is happy to talk baseball, early 1980s R&B and pro wrestling when he’s not cooking for his wife and daughters.