Apocalypse BBQ will move from its current Southwest 104th Street location to a bigger space in Kendall Village this March, owner Jeff Budnechky announced via Instagram Live on January 20.
"We're taking a big step in a new direction," Budnechky said during the announcement. "We'll have an insane amount of space and way more seats to cater to many more people."
The barbecue spot will take over the space at 8695 SW 124th Ave., though Budnechky interestingly enough sidestepped its most recent tenant, referring to it only as "the old diner space" and "formerly known as the Starlite Diner" during his announcement. The space most recently housed Latin House Grill until its November 2024 closure.
Smoke Signals
What started as Budnechky's pandemic project on a Weber Smokey Mountain smoker grew into a full-service restaurant – one that famously doesn't take reservations or phone calls. Since opening in 2022, Apocalypse BBQ has drawn hours-long lines for its Brazilian-Argentinian and Cuban-influenced barbecue, with buzzed-about dishes like cafecito-rubbed ribs, wild boar burgers topped with smoked brisket bacon, and skull-shaped cornbread.
The spot keeps crowds happy during the wait with free beer, though regulars know to show up early – the brisket waits for no one.
This is why news of this larger spot can truly change the game for customers who find the one caveat to its greatness is the long wait.
Future Plans for Miami's Famed Barbecue Spot
When asked about the fate of the current location, Budnechky played coy. "We'll talk about that later," he said with a chuckle when viewers asked if they planned to keep both spots running. He noted Apocalypse will stay open at its current location until the move but stopped short of confirming its status afterward.The pit-master even teased menu expansions towards the end of the Instagram Live, including breakfast. "We got a whole breakfast menu we got to talk about. Coming soon to a diner near you," he said.
The new location most recently housed Latin House Grill, which closed in November 2024 after 12 years. Latin House started as a food truck during Miami's early 2010s food truck mania before settling into brick-and-mortar digs known for Chimi Burritos, Flatton tacos, and Muffin Top burgers.
"We're never going to leave this neighborhood," Budnechky promised during the announcement. "We're all about the people, and we're going to stay here with the people for as long as we possibly can."
Apocalypse BBQ. 8695 SW 124th Ave., Miami. Opens March 1.
