As usual, weekends are my foodie playground… and this time, my partner and I decided to go a little further from home to explore another eatery in Kuala Lumpur.
Most of my eatery reviews revolve around Asian cuisine (Japanese, Korean, you name it), but that day I was craving something different. I had a few options lined up, but I eventually settled on something I’ve never tried before, American-style barbecue.
That’s how I found myself on the way to Cowboys Barbecue & Grill. Google Maps got us there easily, but the road leading to it was a little tight and crowded. The traffic was moving slowly since the area had several Chinese restaurants, and people casually parked on the side of the road.
It was a bit confusing at first because I didn’t immediately spot the restaurant, but as we drove further in, it finally came into view. I was also a little worried parking might be a nightmare, but to my surprise, there were plenty of spaces available at the nearby shop lots.
✅ About Cowboys Barbecue & Grill
Located in Ara Damansara, Cowboys Barbecue & Grill specialises in Muslim-friendly American-style barbecue inspired by Texan flavours. From slow-smoked brisket and tender ribs to burgers, quesadillas, wings, and hearty platters made for sharing, there’s definitely no shortage of comfort food here.
What I like most about the menu is that it doesn’t feel intimidating for first-timers. Whether you’re craving smoky barbecue classics or simply looking for something different from your usual weekend lunch spot, there’s probably something here that’ll catch your eye.
And trust me, looking at the menu while hungry is a dangerous game.
I thought I had my order all figured out before arriving. Apparently, my stomach had other plans. 😂
✅ The Menu That Made Me Drool
We walked straight up to the counter to order since it’s a self-service setup. I was already drooling just reading the menu, but we stayed on track and followed through with our original plan: chicken wings!
The wings came with 4 sauce options:
- Buffalo Blaze
- Classic BBQ
- Garlic Parmesan
- Mango Habanero
Tempting as they all were, we ordered 6 pieces of Garlic Parmesan and 6 pieces of Buffalo Blaze. Then, in true hungry-human fashion, we added a brisket quesadilla… just in case the wings didn’t fill us up.
Spoiler alert: they did. The wings were super satisfying, and we had to force ourselves to finish the quesadilla. 😂
As for drinks, the options were pretty limited. Just soft drinks, so we went with iced lemon tea, which thankfully came with free refills.
When the food hit the table, my camera obviously came out first (gotta capture the memory before I feed myself! 😂). But once the photo session was done, I dug in… and the garlic parmesan wings stole my heart! It was literally love at first bite. The flavor was rich, buttery, and perfectly balanced. Not too salty or overpowering. Total chef’s kiss 😍.
The Buffalo Blaze wings, on the other hand, had a tangy flavour with just the right amount of heat. I enjoyed them, but they weren’t quite my favourite.
Now, the brisket quesadilla… this was actually my first time trying one! It came with crunchy nachos and a tasty dipping sauce on the side. The quesadilla itself? So good. It was tender and full of flavor, and the cheese was melted to perfection, wrapping everything together in a gooey, satisfying bite. Now I totally get the hype.
✅ Lunch Was Going Perfectly Until…
The vibe at Cowboys Barbecue & Grill was super laid-back. There weren’t many customers when we arrived. I actually thought it might’ve been closed at first! But lucky for us, that meant no long wait for our food and no pressure to rush through the meal. There were plenty of tables, so we could just chill and enjoy our meals at our own pace.
One quick heads-up, though… there’s no air-conditioning here. Just ceiling and floor fans doing their best. And since I melt faster than ice cream on a hot plate, I made sure to grab a table right next to a fan so I could eat in peace.
And then… plot twist. My inner klutz showed up, and I spilled a full glass of iced lemon tea right onto my jeans. Yes. The whole glass. 😭
I froze for a second… like, did that really just happen? The top of my jeans, right around the thighs, was completely soaked, and the mess kept spreading down to my knees and all the way to the back. Thankfully, my partner came to the rescue; he quickly grabbed some tissue paper so I could clean myself up a bit. Once we finished our meal, we headed to the car park, and he sweetly walked behind me to cover up the back of my jeans.
I laughed it off afterwards and even teased him, saying, “If it had happened to you, you’d probably be grumpy for the rest of the day!” Meanwhile, there I was, making fun of myself, standing under the blazing 38°C KL sun for over 30 minutes, trying to air-dry my jeans. I even rested my legs on a hot car like it was an iron. 😂
✅ Is Cowboys Barbecue & Grill Worth the Price?
For two people, we spent RM78 for 12 pieces of chicken wings, a brisket quesadilla, and our drinks.
Personally, I thought it was worth it.
The portions were generous enough that we were already struggling to finish everything we’d ordered, and the quality of the food definitely met my expectations. In fact, the brisket quesadilla could easily be shared between two people if you’re planning to order a few other dishes alongside it.
Of course, Cowboys Barbecue & Grill isn’t somewhere I’d consider a budget meal spot, but I also didn’t walk away feeling like I’d overpaid for the experience. Considering the portion sizes, flavours, and the amount of effort that goes into preparing smoked barbecue dishes, I found the prices to be fairly reasonable.
(Menu and prices may change from time to time.)
✅ Location & Opening Hours
If you’re planning to visit, Cowboys Barbecue & Grill is located in Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya. Despite being tucked away within the Ara Permata Business Centre, getting here was fairly straightforward with Google Maps leading the way (thankfully! 😂).
📍 Cowboys Barbecue & Grill
5, Jalan PJU 1A/42, Ara Permata Business Centre,
47301 Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
🕐 Opening Hours:
Daily, 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Last call at 9:30 PM).
For the latest menu, prices, and updates, I recommend checking out their official website before your visit.
Cowboys Barbecue & Grill Official Website
✅ Would I Recommend Cowboys Barbecue & Grill?
Absolutely!
If you’re looking to try American-style barbecue, I think Cowboys Barbecue & Grill is well worth a visit.
Beyond the food itself, I also enjoyed how laid-back the entire experience felt. There was no pressure to rush through our meal, and despite my unfortunate iced lemon tea incident, I left with plenty of laughter and another memorable foodie adventure to look back on.
Is it somewhere I’d visit every week? Probably not. But is it somewhere I’d happily return to whenever I’m craving American-style barbecue? Without a doubt.
There are still plenty of dishes on the menu I’d love to try, which I suppose means I’ll have to make another trip back someday. Hopefully, next time, I’ll leave with a happy stomach and dry jeans. 😂
Wanderhoney Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.8/5
Until the next craving calls.
X, Hani 🌻
