Big Al’s Smokehouse Barbecue’s Founder Alvin Plaskoff Has Died

Big Al’s Smokehouse Barbecue will continue serving up beef ribs and brisket despite the death of founder Alvin “Al” Plaskoff last week at the age of 74.

A press release announcing his passing states that his family will continue operating the restaurant located at 3317 Inwood Road, which debuted in 1973. Plaskoff made beef ribs a thing in Dallas when most vendors would consider them the byproducts of prime rib, even partnering with Texas’s own 44 Farms in recent years to supply the cuts.

He originally got his start in barbecue as a meat salesman for Farmer’s Meat Market in Downtown in the late 60s and early 70s, selling to popular local barbecue joints. “Travis Dickey, Red Bryan, Bob White – you name it. I sold to all of them,” Al said in 2016. After opening Big Al’s Smokehouse Barbecue in 1973, his operations grew into a citywide franchise during the 1980s, complete with catering services.

Al is survived by wife Linda Daniel, brother Martin Plaskoff, daughter Lauran Weiner, son Bart Plaskoff, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and five grandchildren. The restaurant will be closed today in observance of his memorial service at 12 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El.