Since 2004
Our
Story
We take pride in serving only the finest Alberta-raised Certified Angus Beef, along with premium Canadian pork and chicken. Everything we offer is made in-house from scratch, including our sausages and burgers, which are crafted from quality cuts and trim to ensure nothing goes to waste.
All of our meats are slow-smoked using the finest BC applewood to bring out that authentic, bold Southern Alberta BBQ flavor.
Family Serving Family
What Makes a Place Feel Like Home?
It's the warm welcome when you arrive. The familiar flavors of food made from scratch by people who care. The chance to catch up with friends and celebrate life's major milestones.
If that's home, welcome home to Big T's BBQ.
Long before the sun comes up, around 1 a.m. Our crews fire up the pits and get to work. In the quiet hours of the morning, the smoker comes to life as we carefully load it with locally sourced Certified Angus Beef briskets, Pork Butts, St. Louis and Baby Back Ribs, and Half Chickens. As the heat builds and the smoke rolls, button bones and house-made sausages join the lineup; each cut tended to with patience and care.
It's a slow, deliberate process, where time and craftsmanship do the heavy lifting. Even our cheesecakes find their way into the smoker, picking up a subtle, unexpected depth of flavor. By the time the day begins, everything has been transformed, smoked low and slow, just the way true barbecue is meant to be.
While the fire does its thing, the rest of the team is hard at work. They're making gravy from brisket drippings for housemade poutine. They're mixing tangy BBQ sauce for dipping. They're getting the Blues tunes up and the platters lined with paper for massive meat feasts.
By the time you slide into a booth at Big T's, we've been at it for hours. Taking the time to do it right.
Family Owned, Veteran Grown
Family Owned &
Operated
After 27 years of military service, Leslie Gardner was ready for a new challenge. She turned her boundless energy to the restaurant industry. The moment she walked into Big T's BBQ (est. 2004), she knew it was special — wonderful food, made from scratch, that she'd be happy to feed her family and her community.
She bought Big T's in 2014, and she and her son Andrew set about making it their own. Andrew soon realized he'd found his calling! He's spent the years since honing his skills and perfecting his craft as the Master Pit Boss.
Since taking over, Big T's has grown to six locations between Calgary and Airdrie, with more on the way. We've applied the same philosophy to our growth that we apply to our BBQ — slow and steady.
Meet Leslie & Andrew
In Their Own Words
Owner & Mom of Big T's
Leslie Gardner
Leslie is more than the owner of Big T's — she's the mom and leader, too. As the keeper of family traditions and the glue that keeps the crew together.
Director of Operations & Master Pit Boss
Andrew Spears
Under Andrew's leadership, Big T's has won numerous awards including Best BBQ on a Bone at The Calgary Stampede.
Our Growth
Slow & Steady Wins
Big T's BBQ and Smokehouse is a family owned and operated business in beautiful Southern Alberta. Honing our craft in the restaurant industry for 20 years, we've grown Big T's to six locations, and counting!
Our award winning and authentic, made from scratch BBQ promises a Smokin' Experience For Your Tastebuds™ every time. Savoury, made from scratch rubs and infamous, so-good-they're-drinkable sauces are paired with traditional BBQ meats, slow smoked and grilled to perfection.
"Slow cooked, smoked to perfection, fancy enough for your wedding, and easy enough to eat on the go, anywhere. We are proud to be a small, local business; family owned and operated from day one."
The People
Our Team
Community
Big T's Gives Back
We share our Calgary BBQ wherever we can. These are some of the wonderful organizations that we support to give back to our community.
The Calgary Dream Centre
To celebrate the birthday of beloved son and brother Michael, we serve BBQ to the residents at the Calgary Dream Centre over the May Long Weekend. This group works hard to provide support to people experiencing homelessness and struggling with addiction.
Janus Academy
We bring our BBQ truck up to Silver Willow in Carstairs each August to support the Janus Academy's annual fundraiser. Janus is an accredited school meeting the needs of autistic children.
Canadian Parkinsons Association
Each September, we donate our time and BBQ to the Canadian Parkinsons Association annual fundraiser.
The Mustard Seed
Leslie volunteers in the kitchen at The Mustard Seed, and we've provided food to their fundraising event. This nonprofit provides housing, food, and other resources to people experiencing homelessness.
Recognition
Awards
What We Stand For
Core Values
We believe in respect, kindness, working hard and making it right. We love what we do on the BBQ and hope you do too.
Southern inspired, crazy delicious, straight up comfort food. Slow cooked, smoked to perfection, fancy enough for your wedding, and easy enough to eat on the go, anywhere. We are proud to be a small, local business; family owned and operated from day one.
Made from scratch and with love. We believe in community. Coming together. Showing up and standing out.
BBQ is Love. BBQ is Family.
We made it through because of you, and that's a privilege we want to keep earning.