Long before anyone is watching, Raul Martinez Jr. of 105BBQ is already up and running his smoker at a house on the corner of a one-way street in Watts.
For Martinez, it has never been about creating a viral moment or attracting influencers. He’s just a man who learned his way around a smoker to provide a different life for his family.
When his dad was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, doctors put him on a bland, restrictive diet that left him with no appetite. He felt like he could no longer enjoy a good meal while managing the disease. Then the pandemic hit, and Martinez began searching for ways to cook with bold flavors his father could enjoy without compromising his health.
“I found smoke,” Martinez tells L.A. TACO. “I said, ‘Okay, let me go buy a smoker and try it out.’”
Through barbecue, he found a new calling, something he didn’t even know he was looking for.