Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun: a long dinner table set for guests in a backyard

Dallas Catering and Special Events

Dallas Catering and Special Events by Chef Kent Rathbun

I've been catering in Dallas since 1990. Back then I was cooking and running every event myself. Today I lead a full-scale catering and special event company. From backyard parties to ranch weekends to corporate events, we bring the food, the team and the equipment.

PLAN YOUR EVENT CALL 469-576-6407

1990Catering in Dallas since

5Trailers in the fleet

4xJames Beard nominee

IRON CHEFAmerica champion

The Fleet

We cook and pour on site, right in front of your guests.

The fleet is five trailers. There are three rolling kitchens, HQ, The Transformer and Big Red, plus the White and Black trailers from Double R Mobile Bar. Each one is an add-on for events we cater, and each one comes with our team. We bring them to your home, your ranch or your venue.

HQ

The Rolling Headquarters

HQ was built to be the rolling headquarters for Rathbun's Curbside BBQ. It served the public at Klyde Warren Park in downtown Dallas, and during COVID at Lovers Seafood and Market and on the Katy Trail. We still take HQ out for public pop-ups. Its main job today is being the centerpiece of our catered events.

Gas grill and full gas kitchen: barbecue, burgers, tacos or breakfast
Full coffee bar with espresso, cappuccino and nitro cold brew
Sound system and three TVs
Patio setup available, with tables, chairs and linens as rentals

$2,500 per dayFollow HQ pop-ups on Instagram

The Transformer

Rolling Kitchen by Pitmaker

The Transformer is the newest rig in our fleet. It's a full rolling kitchen, custom built by Pitmaker in Humble, Texas.

The Vault, a vertical smoker
The Long Rifle Sniper, a horizontal offset smoker
Wood-burning grill
Hot running water, cabinetry, lighting and a sound system

$1,500 per day

Big Red

Rolling Kitchen by East Texas Smokers and Grills

Big Red is a full rolling kitchen, custom built by East Texas Smokers and Grills.

Wood-burning grill
Offset smoker with an oven section
Plenty of storage and counter space to prep on
Hot running water, lighting and a sound system

$1,500 per day

Double R Mobile Bar

Our Family's Mobile Bar Trailers

Double R Mobile Bar is our family's mobile bar company. We have two vintage horse trailers turned into bars, the White Trailer and the Black Trailer. Same setup, same packages. The White Trailer is really great for bridal showers, baby showers, weddings and celebrations like those. The Black Trailer is a great fit for bourbon tastings, beer tastings, cigar parties and similar events, and we can bring it into the mix for other occasions too. Either one pairs great with any event we cater, and TABC-certified bartenders come with it.

Two vintage horse trailer bars: the White Trailer and the Black Trailer
Runs on its own battery bank, so no outside power is needed
Works for about 30 to 200+ guests
A portable bar cart for indoor venues, tight spaces or a rain plan
Free delivery, setup and breakdown within 30 miles of Dallas

The Trailer, from $850. You bring the alcohol. Includes the trailer, bartenders, setup, breakdown, ice and cups.
The Whole Rodeo, custom quote. Full service with beverage planning, alcohol, mixers and garnishes.

VISIT DOUBLE R MOBILE BAR

Book the bar: 972-860-1740 or book@doublermobilebar.com

The white Double R Mobile Bar trailer with guests under the trees — The White Trailer

The black Double R Mobile Bar trailer styled with pumpkins for a fall party — The Black Trailer

Bartender pouring drinks at the Double R Mobile Bar at dusk

Double R Mobile Bar white horse trailer bar set up for an event

Signature Display

The Sushi Forest

The Sushi Forest is a display I designed. Sushi and sashimi are set among bonsai trees, beautiful stones and driftwood. It's really stunning, and it's something special we do for our events.

The Sushi Forest, sushi and sashimi displayed among bonsai trees, stones and driftwood by Chef Kent Rathbun

The Sushi Forest under warm lights, with bonsai trees, driftwood and sushi platters along a wood counter

Sushi rolls and nigiri on black slate boards beneath bonsai trees and driftwood

Sushi rolls and nigiri on slate boards among bonsai and moss on the Sushi Forest display

Close-up of salmon nigiri and sushi rolls on black slate boards

Close-up of sliced sushi rolls lined up on a black slate board

Rows of tuna nigiri topped with wasabi on black boards

Seared fish with microgreens above rows of tuna nigiri, beside a bonsai tree

Salmon sashimi fanned on a stone with radish slices and microgreens, among moss and driftwood

Bonsai trees above salmon sashimi and sushi platters on the Sushi Forest display

Salmon nigiri and sushi beside a cup of chopsticks on the Sushi Forest display

Salmon sashimi with radish and microgreens on a stone slab, framed by driftwood and a red flower

Salmon sashimi, sushi rolls and a block of tuna on slate with shiso leaves and moss

From Our Kitchen

Dallas Catering Menus, Cooked On Site

Red Wine Glazed Pork Belly, Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun — Red Wine Glazed Pork Belly

A barbecue spread on a wooden board: brisket, sausage, ribs, chicken, sauces, beans, slaw and pickles — Barbecue Spread

Racks of pork ribs with a red rub on a smoker grate — Smoked Pork Ribs

Glazed cubes of smoked meat with green onions and grilled peppers on a black tray — Glazed Burnt Ends

Smoked beef ribs with a dark bark, cut apart on a black tray — Smoked Beef Ribs

Sliced smoked brisket with a dark bark on a wooden board, with grilled yellow and green peppers and an orange chile — Smoked Brisket

Seasoned roasts browning on a smoker grate — Smoked Roasts

Five smoked sausage links on a grill grate — Smoked Sausage

Tuna Tataki Salad with Mango Cucumber Slaw, Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun — Tuna Tataki Salad with Mango Cucumber Slaw

Chicken Lollipops with Maple Black Pepper Glaze, Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun — Chicken Lollipops with Maple Black Pepper Glaze

Whole smoked chickens with a dark glaze on a smoker grate — Smoked Whole Chickens

Smoked chicken in a cast iron pan beside a basket of rolls — Smoked Chicken

Sliced meat and grilled onions in cast iron skillets on the grill — Sliced Meat and Grilled Onions

Beef and vegetable skewers on stacked yakitori grill racks — Yakitori Skewers

Rows of skewers cooking on yakitori grills while a cook turns them — Yakitori Grill Station

Skewered meat on a yakitori grill as a cook reaches in — Yakitori on the Grill

Beef and green onion skewers on a yakitori grill — Beef and Green Onion Skewers

Chicken and green onion skewers on a grill grate — Chicken and Green Onion Skewers

Shrimp and vegetables with a green herb sauce on a grill grate — Grilled Shrimp and Vegetables

Glazed meat skewers with green onion on a grill rack — Glazed Meat Skewers

Glazed skewers with green onion on a grill rack against a dark background — Glazed Skewers

A skewer of grilled vegetables and green onion on a rack, with smoke behind — Grilled Vegetable Skewer

A gloved cook tending glazed skewers on a grill as smoke rises — Tending the Skewers

Watermelon salad with crumbled cheese, basil and red onion, Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun — Watermelon Salad

Potato salad in a black cast iron pot on a grill over flames — Potato Salad

Macaroni and cheese topped with sliced red onion in a red cast iron pot — Macaroni and Cheese

A plate of pasta salad, coleslaw and smoked meat served at the buffet — Barbecue Plate

Espresso Martini Pot de Crème, Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun — Espresso Martini Pot de Crème

Seared scallops with cilantro and cream sauce, Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun — Seared Scallops

Seared salmon with asparagus, Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun — Seared Salmon

Glazed salmon topped with chives on a cedar plank over the grill — Glazed Cedar Plank Salmon

Two salmon fillets on cedar planks over a grill — Cedar Plank Salmon

Shrimp coated in a green herb marinade on a grill grate — Herb-Marinated Shrimp on the Grill

Lobster tail on a cedar plank with a grilled lemon half, beside a pot of melted butter over a candle warmer — Cedar Plank Lobster Tail

Mushroom tart plated, Dallas catering by Chef Kent Rathbun — Mushroom Tart

Dessert bites with berry sauce — Dessert Bites with Berry Sauce

Grilled oysters and raw bar display — Grilled Oysters and Raw Bar

Sushi skewers passed appetizers — Sushi Skewers

Tasting spoons and plated appetizers — Tasting Spoons

Chef Kent Rathbun and three of his crew smiling behind a spread of grilled food in front of the chefkentrathbun.com trailer on a golf course — Chef Kent Rathbun and Crew

Chef Kent Rathbun smiling under a wooden pavilion at a golf event, wearing a navy Rathbun Test Kitchen chef coat — Chef Kent Rathbun

Chef Kent Rathbun giving a thumbs-up beside a guest in front of a Rathbun’s Curbside BBQ trailer — Chef Kent Rathbun at a Curbside BBQ Event

Rathbun’s Curbside BBQ Crew

Curbside BBQ Setup at the Smoker

A cook in a straw hat and red Rathbun’s Curbside BBQ shirt working at the red trailer — Live-Fire Cooking at the Trailer

A guest takes a skewer from the yakitori grills as a cook in a Rathbun’s Curbside BBQ T-shirt looks on — Guests at the Yakitori Grill

Guests ordering at the chefkentrathbun.com trailer as the crew grills, with the golf course behind — Guests at the Curbside Trailer

Crew members grilling skewers for a guest at the trailer, with the golf course behind — Grilling for Guests

Crew members grilling skewers under the trailer awning — Grilling Under the Trailer Awning

A golf clubhouse with carts out front and the chefkentrathbun.com trailer set up on the lawn — Curbside Trailer at a Golf Club

The Rathbun’s Curbside Catering & Events trailer behind tall grass at the edge of a golf course — Rathbun’s Curbside Catering & Events Trailer

A red catering trailer with its serving window open and two screens mounted inside — Catering Trailer

A large trailer with its awning open beside a red smoker trailer under a red canopy, with a purple tent, umbrellas and guests on a sunny patio — Catering Trailers on Site

Catering Videos

SEE SAMPLE MENUS

Client Testimonials

Catering Clients and Guests

“We love Chef Kent Rathbun and his catering team. Every meal they create is an extraordinary culinary experience. Every single time we have hosted an event with them, our guests have raved about both the phenomenal food and the attentive, flawless service. Kent's team brings an unmatched level of creativity, elegance, and warmth to every gathering. What makes hosting truly stress-free is their incredible professionalism—they handle every detail seamlessly and consistently leave the kitchen and event space looking even better than they found it. The food is simply world-class. We cannot recommend them highly enough for any special occasion.”

Reem Chaudhry

“Kent Rathbun's catering creates the most interesting and exciting events. I've used him for everything from a simple dinner party to large Christmas parties with unique buffet items. The food is excellent and the service extremely professional.”

PJ Bate

“Whether it's a dinner party for 16 or a corporate gathering for 350, Kent and his team always exceed expectations! Kent's leadership, from menu curation to execution of the evening, is only surpassed by the amazing meal you'll enjoy!”

Shawn Todd

“Working with Kent Rathbun and his entire team is always a pleasure. From the pre-event planning and coordination to every detail onsite, they are incredibly organized, knowledgeable, and attentive. Beyond their expertise and attention to logistics, they consistently make our team, and our clients feel welcomed, well fed, and genuinely taken care of. We couldn’t ask for a better team to work alongside.”

Emily WaldenbergVice President, Brand Experience, Elevate

How It Works

1. CATERED EVENTSEvery trailer in the fleet is an add-on for events we cater. They come with our team.

2. RENTALSTables, chairs and linens are available as rentals.

3. TRAVELWe travel well beyond Dallas. Events more than 50 miles out have a fuel and labor surcharge.

4. ANY SIZEWe specialize in all types of social catering, small to large.

Dallas Catering From a Chef Who Still Runs the Show

I started catering in Dallas in 1990. Back then I cooked and ran every event myself. When you book Dallas catering with us today, you get my menus and my team.

Today we are a full-scale catering and special event company. We handle backyard parties, ranch weekends, corporate events and all types of social catering, small to large. We bring the food, the team and the equipment.

What sets us apart is where the cooking happens. Our rolling kitchens park at your home, your ranch or your venue, and we cook right in front of your guests. The food comes off the grill or out of the smoker hot, and your guests get to watch it happen.

Backyard pool lined with white paper lanterns, string lights and gold-draped cocktail tables set for a Dallas home party catered by Chef Kent Rathbun

Plan Your Dallas Catering Event

Fill out the form on this page or call 469-576-6407. Tell us your date, your guest count and what kind of party you want. We will call you back to talk through the menu and the setup.

Want to know more about my background? Read my story, or see our private events. The Transformer was custom built by Pitmaker in Humble, Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long has Chef Kent Rathbun been catering in Dallas?

Chef Kent Rathbun has been personally catering and running events in Dallas since 1990.

Do you cater events outside of Dallas?

Yes. We travel well beyond Dallas. Events more than 50 miles from Dallas have a fuel and labor surcharge.

Can I rent a rolling kitchen without catering?

Our rolling kitchens usually come with our team as part of events we cater, but rentals can be discussed. Call Geri at 469-576-6407 to talk it through.

How much does a rolling kitchen cost?

HQ is $2,500 per day. The Transformer and Big Red are $1,500 per day each.

Do you provide tables, chairs and linens?

Yes. Tables, chairs and linens are available as rentals.

How big of an event can you cater?

We specialize in all types of social catering, small to large.

Plan Your Event

Tell us about your event and we'll call you back.