About this episode

Gabriel Ornelas interviews Andrew and Michelle Muñoz about their journey in building Moo's Craft Barbecue and the deeper meanings of hospitality and community.

In this episode of On The Pass , Gabriel Ornelas sits down with Andrew and Michelle Muñoz, the husband-and-wife team behind Moo's Craft Barbecue — one of the most celebrated barbecue restaurants in Los Angeles. What started as a humble backyard project between friends has grown into a nationally recognized destination for Texas-style barbecue in LA, earning critical acclaim, a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and a James Beard Award nomination. But this conversation goes far beyond brisket and smoke. Andrew and Michelle share the story of building Moo's from the ground up — navigating the realities of running a restaurant, the responsibility of leading a team, and the deeper meaning behind hospitality and community. Together, they reflect on the discipline of craft barbecue, the evolution of the Los Angeles food scene, and the balance required to sustain both a business and a life. This episode is a conversation about perseverance, partnership, and the belief that great food can bring people together in powerful ways. For anyone interested in barbecue, restaurants, entrepreneurship, or the spirit of hospitality, this is a conversation about what it really takes to build something…

People in this episode

Host: Gabriel Ornelas

Guests: Andrew Muñoz, Michelle Muñoz

Topics covered

• barbecue
• restaurant entrepreneurship
• hospitality
• community
• Los Angeles food scene
• partnership
• perseverance

Keywords

• Moo's Craft Barbecue
• Los Angeles
• barbecue
• hospitality
• entrepreneurship
• Michelin Bib Gourmand
• James Beard Award

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Moo's Craft Barbecue, Michelin, James Beard Award

Places: Los Angeles, Texas

More episodes of On The Pass

• 146. Pablo Soto: Leadership, Pressure & Life After the Storm · July 15, 2026 · 53 min
• 145. William Bradley: Discipline, Identity & 3 Michelin Stars · July 1, 2026 · 56 min
• 144. Niki Nakayama + Carole Iida-Nakayama: Success, Resilience, and 15 Years of n/naka · June 17, 2026 · 1h 5m
• 143. Diego Gutiérrez: Stewarding One of the World's Great Hotels · June 3, 2026 · 52 min
• 142. Jorge Vallejo: Inside Mexico's Most Celebrated Restaurant · May 20, 2026 · 1h 0m
• 141. Brian Limoges: Redefining Kitchen Culture · May 6, 2026 · 54 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the On The Pass podcast page.