BY JILL WHALEN

jwhalen@tnonline.com

A food trailer started by Lehighton natives was ranked one of the top barbecue restaurants in the country.

Grill Life Barbecue, 2562 Route 309, Orefield, was the only Pennsylvania business named in the top 100 barbecue restaurants by BetUS.

“On our menu is a traditional American barbecue,” said owner Joe Zellner. “One thing I am proud of is every single thing on the menu, from rubs, sauces, sides and the way we cook our stuff, is all homemade.

“I don’t believe in using commercial products when you have your own business, especially when barbecue is so personalized.”

Zellner opened Grill Life Barbecue in 2022, and works with his brother, Brandon Zellner.

Their retired father, Joseph Zellner, helps on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

“The idea of Grill Life wasn’t the original idea. The business was in Florida for seven years named Brothers’ Q,” Joe Zellner said.

He and Brandon were partners in the Brothers Q venture.

Brandon returned to Pennsylvania after three years, but Joe stayed on for another four.

“While I was down there I had a merch (merchandise) idea, which I wanted to call ‘Grill Life.’

“I never pursued the idea. I mean, realistically, any type of grilling or cooking is a passion and a lifestyle,” Joe Zellner said. “So, when I moved back home after selling the business to be with my daughter and family, Grill Life Barbecue was going to be the new name.”

The name stuck for the business and its food truck.

Grill Life Barbecue serves up brisket, ribs, pulled pork, chopped chicken, sausage, wings — and even pork belly. Homemade sides include smoked macaroni and cheese, smoked brisket baked beans, smoked cheddar bacon potato salad, cornbread and coleslaw.

“Our most popular items are brisket, ribs, mac and cheese, and our potato salad — and we do sell out almost every day,” Joe Zellner said. “I would like to say it’s good stuff!”

Special recipes didn’t happen overnight, however.

“Back in 2012 we spent one to two years practicing in the backyard,” Joe Zellner said. “Usually every Saturday and Sunday my brother and I would throw stuff together,”

Admittedly, he said, the two “destroyed” multiple types of meats.

But they kept trying.

“After that we got addicted to the method and started to really personalize our own flavor into everything after we got the cook down,” he said.

The two also visited the country’s “Barbecue Capitals” to learn the various flavor profiles offered in different states.

They developed three rubs and four sauces. The rubs and sauces stayed mostly true to their original recipes over the years, with only a few minor tweaks here and there.

“At the end of the day, our version is a Kansas City/Texas hybrid,” Joe Zellner said. “Although those two are our favorite styles, we do offer regional sauces such as a white Alabama sauce and a tangy Carolina sauce,” Joe Zellner said.

The backyard barbecuing led to competitions, then the Florida venture — and now Grill Life Barbecue.

Down the road, Joe Zellner said Grill Life Barbecue hopes to open a small restaurant.

The BetUS article ranked Grill Life Barbecue 84th out of the top 100 restaurants.

The list was based on Google reviews and prices for foods.