Brand new ‘Indo-Tex’ barbecue spot is already drawing lines at Chase Center

Two hours before the Golden State Valkyries played their first exhibition game Tuesday, newly minted fans of the women’s basketball team excitedly queued up outside Chase Center for the debut. But one corner of the plaza surrounding the arena had an even longer line — not for basketball tickets or merch, but for the first San Francisco location of East Bay cult barbecue joint Fikscue.

Perhaps the only Bay Area restaurant to combine the flavors of Indonesia and Texas, Fikscue has won plaudits since its delivery-only 2020 debut, with the brick-and-mortar location in downtown Alameda routinely attracting wait times of 90 minutes or more since opening in late 2023. 

Fikscue’s Thrive City location opened Tuesday in a limited capacity, serving a pared-down version of the mothership’s offerings during the first three Valkyries home games this week. An official grand opening date is TBD. The space — which faces the San Francisco Bay on the upper level of the restaurant and retail plaza, adjacent to Harmonic Brewing — showcases a mural of Garuda bird, Indonesia’s national symbol, wrapped around the kitchen wall.

Slicing slabs of brisket, co-owner Fik Saleh said he’d woken up at 4:30 a.m. after three hours of sleep. He was nonetheless in good spirits. “We have a direct smoker on-site,” he said, nodding to the enormous yellow machine on the patio that allows for faster cooking times and a more expansive menu.

“Not only that, but it’s a full barbecue,” his wife, Reka, said, referring to the spacious set-up. “We have communal tables. And you cannot beat the view.” 

Fikscue fans flock to Alameda for jalapeño-cheese sausage and dry-rubbed “Dino Ribs” ($38) as well as halal specialties like batagor (vegetarian fried dumplings with peanut sauce, $12) and soto padang (beef noodle soup with brisket bits and a wealth of vegetables, plus both egg and glass noodles, served over steamed rice, $20). Unlike many styles of American barbecue, where uninspired coleslaw plays second fiddle to the meat, Fikscue’s bright and acidic rujak slaw ($10) combines cabbage, cucumber, and pineapple with peanut sauce — the perfect complement to fatty brisket.

The restaurant’s reputation preceded it — even among people who’d never had the food before. Valkyries season-ticket holder Amy Hu had taken the train from her home in downtown San Jose, arriving well before tip-off to ensure the kitchen didn’t run out. “You have to be like, ‘Do I want to commit two hours to waiting in line?’ Yes. Yes, I do.”

Her enthusiasm wasn’t enough to save the Valkyries, who went on to lose 83-82 against the Los Angeles Sparks. But inside Fikscue, the excitement remained constant. Software engineer Mark Abel sat down with half a pound of ribs, rujak slaw, and a rendang plate — a hefty order, to be sure. He said he’s a big Valkyries fan, especially the shooting guard: “I love Kate Martin.” Abel had never eaten at Fikscue. But he’d been waiting for his wife to arrive at the arena and kept smelling the smoke.