A taste of Southeast Texas is making its way onto tables across the region through a locally made barbecue sauce rooted in family and tradition.
Rebeaux’s BBQ Sauce, created by Robert Orebo, blends a tangy kick with a touch of sweetness and a gentle heat — what Orebo describes as a true Southeast Texas flavor.
Originally from Liberty and now a resident of Dayton, Orebo chose a Cajun French spelling of his name for the brand, giving the sauce a distinctive identity that reflects his roots.
His love for barbecue goes back as far as he can remember.
“I started this journey when I was 5 or 6 years old,” Orebo said, recalling weekends spent around the barbecue pit with family.
Those early days — watching his uncles cook, learning patience, and standing in the Texas Post Oak-fired smoke — left a lasting impression. Orebo also credits the strong female cooks in his family for teaching him how to properly season food, not just barbecue rubs and sauces.
The recipe didn’t come together overnight. Orebo began developing it in his 20s and 30s, working through years of trial and error before landing on the right balance in 2008.
He said he never wanted a sauce that leaned too far in one direction – either overly vinegary or too sweet – but something that met in the middle.
That balance gives Rebeaux’s its distinct taste — one that complements smoked meats without overpowering them.
While serving in the U.S. Navy, Orebo continued experimenting in his kitchen, often cooking for fellow service members. Those gatherings reinforced something he still believes today – that food has a way of bringing people together.
Orebo said he believes if people would simply sit down and talk through their differences, they can often find common ground, and food is usually at the center of those conversations.
“Good food makes people put things aside, and conversations can happen,” he said.
After completing his service in the Navy, Orebo returned home determined to turn his passion into a business. It didn’t come easy and took years to gain traction. With the help of Bill Monk, co-owner of Thriftee Food Center, he got his start selling the sauce in Mason jars outside the Dayton store.
“It was about just not wanting to give up,” he said.
That persistence paid off. Today, Rebeaux’s BBQ Sauce can be found in stores across the region and continues to gain popularity. Local restaurants have also embraced it, including Weaver’s Barbecue in Dayton, where it has been used on menu items that quickly sold out.
Orebo said he is committed to keeping the sauce affordable, maintaining a $6.99 price point so it remains accessible to most customers. He is now working to expand his line with a second product, Rebeaux’s Magic Dust, a barbecue dry rub.
Production is handled through a co-packer, but Orebo remains closely involved, tasting each batch to make sure it meets his standards.
For Orebo, the success of the sauce goes beyond business.
“When my bottle is sitting at someone’s family dinner, that is worth it all to me,” he said.
Rebeaux’s Sauce has a social media presence on TikTok and Facebook. The sauce is only available in Thriftee Food Center in Dayton and select Brookshire Brothers stores at this time. Orebo said he is working on a website where he hopes to offer online sales in the future.