From Kitchen to Brick and Mortar: Birria Boss' Rise in Popularity

Birria Boss opened the doors to its first brick-and-mortar location in late November. Since opening up a storefront, Birria Boss has quadrupled their sales.

Growing up in the South Bottoms of Lincoln, Nebraska Jordan Jackson has a background in horticulture and landscaping before life as a restauranteur. 

Owner, Jordan Jackson, 31, started his birria journey pre-pandemic in 2019. 

“I started selling tacos out of my house, to my friends,” Jackson said. “I try to perfect anything that I cook.” 

Once COVID spread and lockdown occurred, Jackson spent a lot of his free time perfecting his recipe. This meaty obsession started after Jackson saw TikToks and short videos showing the process of making birria. 

“I tried a couple different recipes before I found my own,” Jackson said. “I love cooking, but I filled my time perfecting my recipe.” 

In 2022, Jackson purchased his trailer for pop-ups.

Originating from Jalisco, Mexico, birria is a meat stew or soup that is made with meat and cheese–usually with goat, lamb, and/or beef. The meat is seared and marinated for six to eight hours with a blend of seasonings and six different types of chilies. 

After slow cooking for several hours, the meat becomes so tender that it can be pulled apart with your fingers. Then the consummé or broth is clarified. The staff then fries their corn tortillas with chili oil giving it that signature orange look. 

“Usually I use beef,” Jackson said. “I tried lamb and it wasn’t super popular. But I am excited to experiment.” 

The most popular item on the menu is the Queso Birria Taco–beef birria with mozzarella cheese fried in a corn tortilla and served with onion, cilantro, salsa verde, and consummé.

The most talked about item is the Birria Ramen–ramen noodles cooked in consummé topped with beef birria, onions, cilantro, crema, and lime. 

Birria Boss plans to stay strictly birria, but they do offer some sides including baked potatoes and elote. Don’t be shocked to see some specialty fusion items from time to time. 

“We do a lot of fusion stuff,” Jackson said. “It’s important to me that we are pretty authentic. We once sold birria teriyaki wings.”

Jackson lucked out on his Downtown Lincoln location. Previous owner Charles Brewer (Stur22), reached out to Jackson personally after deciding to close Stur22’s doors. 

“[Brewer] reached out to me and he was like ‘Hey man, I don’t think I’m going to be [on O street] much longer,’ he wants to move in a different direction,” Jackson said. “He asked me if I wanted to come in, try opening a brick and mortar as a trial run.” 

Visit Birria Boss for the funky atmosphere alone. Art from local artists line the walls, and Stur22’s signature green stools liven up the place. 

“I feel extremely blessed,” Jackson said. “To even think of me? I’m just blessed. [Most businesses] come in, you sign a three-year lease and that’s it. I am thankful for him. I had a few months to come in and feel it out.” 

Birria Boss also caters. Jackson has been asked to do weddings in the past and described it as an honor and a great experience. 

“When I was doing [pop-ups], Craft Axe Throwing let me use their electricity,” Jackson said. “All the support I have gotten has gotten me to where I am now, and I’m blessed.” 

Jackson has been extremely fortunate to have had people supporting him along the way. 

“I was about to close up shop by the end of 2023 if I didn’t get a brick-and-mortar,” Jackson said. “And then [Brewer offered], I would’ve been a fool not to take it.” 

Jackson’s next steps are obtaining a liquor license and looking for people to help out. Jackson plans on retiring his trailer until he has staff set up at the physical location. 

“Right now it’s really just about building up my staff,” Jackson said. If you are interested in joining the Birria Boss team, email your resume to thebirriaboss@gmail.com. 

Jackson explains the inspiration behind his logo, an ode to where he grew up.

“If you know that gorilla [statue] in the parking lot [on 16th and F],” Jackson said. “That gorilla is why my logo is a gorilla actually.” 

Birria Boss is closed on Sunday and Monday. Birria Boss is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Thursday. They are also open late on Friday and Saturday. For more information visit their Facebook. 

“I feel it in my bones,” Jackson said. “Birria Boss is sticking around.” 

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