Fire and Flavor: Inside Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Good Luck Smokeshow
The inaugural Sweet Auburn “Good Luck Smokeshow” was a one-night tasting event hosted by Sweet Auburn Barbecue in Atlanta. The beloved Poncey-Highland location shut down the block for an evening of food and cocktails with “fire, flavor, and community” theme. The event benefited Asian American Voices for Education, a nonprofit supporting AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) causes. THe Good Luck Smokeshow celebrated Asian American culture through food, storytelling, and festivities, drawing a sold out crowd feasting fusion of Southern barbecue with Asian influences.
Sweet Auburn Barbecue
Sweet Auburn Barbecue was founded by siblings Anita Hsu and Howard Hsu, second-generation Chinese Americans who blended their heritage with Southern barbecue roots. The duo started out as food truck at the historic Sweet Auburn Curb Market it evolved into two brick-and-mortar spots. Their menu reimagines classics like brisket and ribs with Asian twists—think pimento cheese wontons, brisket egg rolls, coconut lemongrass ribs. Really bold flavors from two different worlds.
Breathtaking and Belly Filling
The food lineup was unbelieveable featuring both Sweet Auburn and killer lineup of guest chefs including Sweet Auburn, Soupbelly, Spring(Michelin One Star restaurant in Marietta, Georgia), Ganji, Leftie Lee’s and more. Minhwa Spirits was pouring Soju alongside Three Taverns Ukiyo (rice lager) and Scofflaw Brewing’s Juice Quest. Don’t take our word for it, check out this food lineup:
- Sweet Auburn BBQ: The host restaurant served smoked char siu pork and brisket rendang.
- Kamayan: Lechon pork belly with garlic rice.
- So So Fed: Peanut noodles.
- Dhaba BBQ: Lemon pepper masala wings.
- J Chong: Dan dan tots with Sichuan pork and fermented mustard greens.
- Soupbelly: Chili oil wontons.
- Leftie Lee’s: Black sesame blondies.
- Spring: Spicy Korean beef tartare.
- P Thai’s Khao Man Gai and Noodles: Khao man gai, a dish of poached chicken and rice.
- Xi’an Gourmet House: Cold noodles.
- Ganji: Pork belly burnt ends.
- Lucky Star: La rou fan, a Taiwanese braised pork dish.
The entire event was nothing short of a star-studded flavor adventure worth every penny of the $125 dollar price tag. From amazing mains to experimental dishes like black garlic custard, on the street in Atlanta at sunset sipping soju was the best place to eat in the city that day.
Don’t miss it next year.