A New Carryout Pairing Boba With Texas Barbecue Will Open Soon in Truxton Circle

A high-traffic intersection in Northeast is set welcome a new takeout spot for boba tea and barbecue next month. Sings for Aunteaboba x Supreme Barbecue are up at the corner of North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue NE. The two-for-one operation comes from Jeremy Canlas and his dad, Juan, who plan to serve the same slow-cooked meats they serve at Leon’s BBQ in Lanham, Maryland.

The two-part venture moves into a long-vacant building that formerly housed New York Pizza. A large smoker planted inside will cook 16-hour brisket, pork ribs, and jerk chicken. The menu also includes deep-fried catfish, whiting, and tilapia, with sides like collard greens, cole slaw, and mac and cheese.

The Lanham location of Leon’s BBQ is a duplicate of the original in Galveston, Texas. Juan visited 10 years ago to sample for its secret dry rub and recipes handed down generations to its owner Leon O’Neil.

“It’s the best barbecue I’ve ever had in my life,” says Canlas, who got the green light from O’Neil to open a franchise in Maryland.

The bubble tea side of the dual D.C. operation also marks an expansion for Auntea Boba, which debuted inside Gigi’s Kitchen in Fort Washington, Maryland two years ago.

Popular taro and honeydew flavors join other liquid options like “halo-halo” smoothies, cereal milk, strawberry matcha, coconut milk teas, Vietnamese iced coffees, and more. Auntea Boba’s short list of snacks also making their way to D.C. include popcorn chicken (mild, spicy and extra spicy) and slim, crunchy Filipino favorite lumpia shanghai.

“What also makes Auntea Boba unique is that our teas are all brewed to order which allows for that fresh tea taste and aroma,” Jeremy Canlas tells Eater.

Jeremy Canlas/Auntea Boba

A second Aunteaboba x Supreme Barbecue location is under construction at the Bradlick Shopping Center in Annandale, Virginia. Aside from making use of a 16-foot ventilation hood, all the kitchen equipment in D.C. is new.

While the smoked meats menu looks a lot like Leon’s, the name and tweaked sauce recipes are new.

“We changed the name to Supreme because my wife likes the [streetwear] designer,” Juan Canlas says. “And we listened to our critics who said ‘you have the best barbecue but your sauce sucks.’”

Hours are tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with orders placed online for pickup and delivery.

• The D.C. Boba Guide: Where to Find Bubble Tea [EDC]
• A Boba Tea Pop-Up Finds a Permanent Home in NoMa [EDC]