Upper Kirby is about to smell a lot smokier. Pinkerton's Barbecue is set to fire up its latest outpost next week in the former 59 Diner building, bringing whole-hog cooking, extra pits and more late-night capacity inside the Loop. The new spot will layer in a bread program, expanded sides and desserts on top of Pinkerton’s familiar brisket, ribs and sausage. Owner and pitmaster Grant Pinkerton says the buildout nods to the diner’s past with a retro neon exterior and a roomy pit area designed for counter-cut service.
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the Upper Kirby location is slated to open Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, at 3801 Farnham Street, near Shepherd and the Southwest Freeway. The Chronicle describes a standalone concrete structure that will let the crew run more smokers than at the original Heights restaurant and make space for several whole-hog cookers.
Project records and local reporting show the conversion has been in motion for more than a year. Community Impact noted that filings with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation listed an approximately 6,116-square-foot layout and that construction crews remained active on the site into spring 2025.
Inside, Pinkerton is loading the restaurant with multiple large offset smokers, rotisserie-style pits and dedicated whole-hog rigs, and he has wired a switch in the pit room that flips part of the neon to “Hot Whole Hog” when a pig is ready to carve. Those touches, along with plans for the bread program, a dessert lineup and an expanded sausage selection, come from the Houston Chronicle, which also points out that Pinkerton typically skips soft openings and heads straight into full service.
Pitmaster Credentials And Accolades
Grant Pinkerton’s name is already baked into the Texas barbecue conversation. He landed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, and his Heights restaurant holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand, according to the Michelin Guide. With that résumé, it is not surprising the Upper Kirby expansion is drawing attention before the first slice hits the cutting board.
What This Means For Upper Kirby
The revived diner structure is poised to give Upper Kirby a new evening anchor, with more parking than Pinkerton’s original Heights location, a practical perk for barbecue fans willing to drive in for a late plate. The decision to reuse a long-familiar building fits into a broader Houston pattern of turning old landmarks into updated neighborhood hangouts, according to CultureMap Houston.
Menu specifics and exact hours for the Jan. 20 opening are expected to roll out on the restaurant’s website and social media; the listed web address is pinkertonsbarbecue.com. Diners should be ready for opening-week lines and can watch the neon: when it flashes “Hot Whole Hog,” the whole pig is on the counter.
