Big Box Barbeque lunch launch shows Canberrans love the taste of Texas

Posted on 14 July, 2025

After much anticipation, Essex-born Americanophile chef Michael Box has officially “smoked” the corner of Iluka and Kootara Crescent in Narrabundah.

By that, we mean he has unleashed the power of his 500-gallon smoker to create a Big Box Barbeque shopfront and survived his opening lunch service. And it went off! People started queuing at 10.30 am, and by opening time at 11.30 am, the queue had snaked almost to Kita, at the other end of the Narrabundah Shops.

Despite lovingly preparing more than 400 kilos of prime meat, Michael sold out in just over two hours.

“We couldn’t even see the end of the queue and just kept our heads down to serve people,” he said.

Ordering a little bit of everything!

All in all, it was pretty gratifying for the experienced chef, who currently oversees Akiba, Wilma and Loquita as their Group Executive Chef but has steadfastly been building his barbeque brand and catering company in his spare hours.

Despite some inevitable delays, red tape and frustrations, Michael said “I feel really happy that the brand has held, and that people were willing to wait for it! I have always believed in the product and the feedback today was amazing”.

Michael is also staying grounded, saying he won’t immediately double his meat orders. Yet.

He will, however, double his lunch service in August, opening both Saturdays and Sundays to cater for demand.

This was the demand…

It’s a pretty simple concept. Michael preps a tonne of Texan-style barbeque meats and sides and on the weekend he opens his corner shopfront, people come in and order off the menu on the back wall and can take away, or grab one of the seats outside (there’s room for about 25).

Despite the freezing weather at yesterday’s opening, the concept was clearly popular, and Michael promises to extend trading further when the warmer weather hits.

So what exactly was on the menu then?

There was 14-hour smoked Darling Down Wagyu Brisket with a Big Box Brisket rub, a 12-hour smoked Borrowdale Pork Butt, smothered in Big Box Barbeque Hot Vinegar, to the 8-hour Smoked Free Range Pork Belly seasoned in their Signature Rub and glazed with sweet and sticky Big Box Barbeque Sauce, or the 6-hour Double Smoked Beef, Jalapeno and Cheddar Snag, and smoked and glazed Brisket Burger with American Cheese, Kewpie Mayo, Pickles and a Brioche Bun.

These are served in big foil trays with a tonne of sides, including Texas Potato Salad, a Corn, Coriander and Apple Cider Salad, a Raw Onion Salad and Mac and Cheese. Everything comes with Martin’s Butter Bread and McClure Pickles.

Michael Box, Canberra’s barbeque king.

Come August, Michael will provide for vegetarian and vegan diets with glazed and smoked celeriac, spiced cauliflower and a fried eggplant and tomato salad.

He is also busy behind the scenes with brand and catering deals, including catering for the American Embassy’s 4^th of July party.

But he said he loved seeing Narrabundah Shops come to life on the weekend and looks forward to bringing more action to the strip through sharing his kitchen facilities with other foodie creators under the Iluka Street Market brand.

“If yesterday is what we can achieve in winter, just think of what the summer will bring.”