Austin Whereabouts, a barbecue restaurant on Pocahontas Road in Bessemer’s McCalla community, is the only Alabama barbecue joint recommended in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide American South selection. The restaurant, run by Johnny and Laura Lafoy, grew from a food truck into a brick-and-mortar business, and customer traffic has more than doubled since the recognition was announced.
The 2026 guide included 18 Alabama restaurants, according to Business Alabama. Austin Whereabouts was among the newcomers to the selection in the guide’s second year covering the region. A profile of the Lafoy family by Drew Taylor in AL.com reported on the restaurant’s growth and its place in the Alabama barbecue scene.
From Christmas Gift to Food Truck
Johnny Lafoy grew up in Hueytown and spent about a decade in automotive work before pursuing barbecue full time. The AL.com profile reported that a small smoker Laura gave him for Christmas in 2016 helped turn his interest into a pursuit, later strengthened by a visit to his sister in San Antonio and exposure to Central Texas barbecue. That style puts brisket at the center, smoked low and slow for eight to 12 hours below 300 degrees, unlike the pulled pork and vinegar-based sauces often associated with Alabama barbecue.
Lafoy began selling barbecue to people in his community before making the business his full-time work in 2022, while he still had three months left on his contract teaching automotive technology at Hueytown High School, according to the profile. He launched the food truck with help from his church and competed in local barbecue events with lifelong friend Jody Strickland, including CahaBAQue at Cahaba Brewing Company.
A Pitmaster Trained on YouTube
Strickland joined Austin Whereabouts as pitmaster. After four years operating the food truck, the Lafoys opened a restaurant in the former Smokin’ Hot Sports Grill building on Pocahontas Road. The space has 16 tables and a J&R Oyler barbecue pit; the family has considered adding another pit and a courtyard out front, the AL.com account reported…