Get ready, coastal gourmands, because your taste buds will soon be in for a treat. That’s because H-E-B is working on building the first True Texas BBQ in the Coastal Bend.

The popular in-store barbecue restaurant brand is coming to the H-E-B Plus! located at the corner of Staples Street and Saratoga Boulevard in Corpus Christi, H-E-B officials confirmed to MySA. It’ll be the first one in the company’s so-called Gulf Coast region. It’s all part of a $32.3 million overhaul of the store that’s been in the works since last year.

Located at 5313 Saratoga Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78413, construction work on the “full-store renovation” at the H-E-B Plus! got underway last month, a company spokesperson told MySA. The already bustling location will be expanded to stretch across nearly 179,000 square feet, as MySA previously reported in November 2025. The complete overhaul is expected to last about a year, according to Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation records, which are subject to change.

Rumors that the store would be getting the first True Texas BBQ restaurant in the Coastal Bend have been swirling in recent days, with commenters in a local Facebook group called Corpus Christi Food Finds generally expressing excitement.

“I hope so, that BBQ is fire,” one commenter said.

“We love it. Their brisket beans are the best,” another said.

An anonymous user noted that True Texas BBQ offers “really good sweet tea and loaded brisket baked potato.”

Meanwhile, other commenters were quick to mention other H-E-B amenities they hope the store will get during the renovation, like a Flaming Bird restaurant. Others mentioned amenities they hope will stick around, including a South Flo Pizza — which is the only such eatery in an H-E-B south of San Antonio — and the Texas Backyard garden center.

True Texas BBQ is H-E-B’s in-house brand of slow-smoked barbecue meats and traditional Texas barbecue sides and desserts. H-E-B employs certified pitmasters at every True Texas BBQ location who slow-smoke prime briskets over post oak for 12-14 hours. Other protein offerings include St. Louis pork ribs, turkey breast, pulled pork and pork sausage.

Sides include Texas classics like potato salad, creamed corn, mac and cheese, and collard greens, but also Caesar slaw, pinto beans cooked with its signature brisket, and cornbread with a Serrano pepper kick. Those with a sweet tooth will also find banana pudding with vanilla wafers and whipped cream, peach cobbler, and vanilla Biscoff pudding.