Get Ready for Sweet Auburn's Good Luck Smokeshow in Atlanta Next Week

The countdown is on! On Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Sweet Auburn Barbecue will shut down the street and fire things up for the first-ever Good Luck Smokeshow — a one-night tasting event honoring Asian American stories, flavors, and firepower. Taking place during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, this outdoor celebration will unite acclaimed chefs from across the country to bring bold dishes, drinks, live entertainment, lion dances, and an unforgettable community experience to Atlanta.

Created by Anita and Howard Hsu, second-generation Chinese American restaurateurs and founders of Sweet Auburn Barbecue, the event brings together chefs from across the country who are honoring their heritage through food — and doing it on their own terms.

The lineup features heavy hitters from James Beard-recognized talent to rising voices, serving up unforgettable bites like:

• Nikko Cagalanan (Kultura, Charleston): A 2024 James Beard finalist, Chef Nikko brings soul and innovation to the table with Arroz Caldo, a comforting Filipino rice porridge layered with deep flavors that nod to his heritage and fine dining background.

• Quy Hoang & Robin Wong (Blood Bros. BBQ, Houston):  James Beard nominees and Texas Monthly Top 50 BBQ honorees, the Blood Bros. are known for smoked meats with Southeast Asian flair. They'll be serving Thit Kho—pork belly burnt ends with garlic rice and gai lan, fusing Texas technique with Vietnamese tradition.

• J Chong (Asheville): Chef J is plating Dan Dan Tots—a Sichuan twist on comfort food with pork, fermented mustard greens, sesame paste, chili oil, and cilantro over crispy tater tots. Bold, punchy, and unmistakably hers.

• Peter Nguyen (Lê Madeline, Boston): Recently named Eater Boston’s 2024 Chef of the Year, Chef Peter’s dish, Smoked bò lá lốt, wraps charred betel leaf around beef and finishes it with mắm nêm aioli, crushed pineapple, and bánh hỏi for a bright, herbaceous bite that hits all the right notes.

• Thai Changthong (P Thai’s Khao Man Gai and Noodles, Austin): Repping Bangkok-style street food, Chef Thai is serving Cold Five Spiced Pig Tongue Salad, a bold, unapologetic dish brimming with texture, heat, and flavor.

And that’s just the start. Local Atlanta favorites are showing out with dishes like Chili Oil Wontons from Soupbelly, Black Sesame Blondies from Leftie Lee’s, Spicy Korean Beef Tartare from Spring, Lemon Pepper Masala Wings from Dhaba BBQ, and Smoked Char Siu Pork with Brisket Rendang from Sweet Auburn. Expect bold flavors, rooftop vibes, standout cocktails powered by Minhwa Spirits, and high-energy sets to keep the night rolling.

Tickets are $125 and include all tastings, drinks, and full access to the experience and can be purchased at www.sweetauburnbbq.com/events-1/good-luck-smokeshow. A portion of proceeds benefits Asian American Voices for Education, supporting a more inclusive curriculum in Georgia schools.

WHAT:            Sweet Auburn Barbecue’s Good Luck Smokeshow

WHEN:           Wednesday, May 14 at 5 p.m.

WHERE: Sweet Auburn Barbecue 

656 N Highland Avenue NE 

Atlanta, GA 30306     

COST:             $125 

Tickets are available at www.sweetauburnbbq.com.

CONNECT:     On Instagram and Facebook @sweetauburnbbq

BENEFITING: Asian American Voices for Education: https://aaved.org/

SPONSORS:  Presented by Hotel Granada, Minhwa Spirits, True Natural Gas, What Chefs Want, Stanley, Esrey & Buckley, LLP, The Peters Team Real Estate, Señorita, Red Boat Fish Sauce, and Atlanta Dental Spa.