Sweet Auburn Barbecue Brings Back Good Luck Smoke Show

Atlanta-based Sweet Auburn Barbecue brings back Good Luck Smoke Show on Wednesday, May 20, a one-night celebration timed with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month that brings together an award-winning mix of chefs for an evening of food, music, culture, and block party energy. Now in its second year, Good Luck Smoke Show expands with more than 15 chef tasting stations, alongside cocktails from Minhwa Spirits, plus beer and wine, with lion dancers, live music, a rooftop DJ, and local artists shaping the night into a food-driven block party. A portion of proceeds benefits We Love BuHi, supporting small businesses and cultural vibrancy along Buford Highway, one of Atlanta’s most diverse corridors. Led by Anita and Howard Hsu, the siblings behind Sweet Auburn Barbecue, Tio Lucho’s, Gezzo’s and Lazy Betty, who have built their reputation by approaching Southern barbecue through the lens of their Chinese American upbringing. Good Luck Smoke Show continues that approach, bringing together a dynamic lineup of chefs whose work reflects their own backgrounds and experiences.The 2026 lineup includes Michelin-recognized and James Beard–nominated chefs, alongside a mix of local and visiting talent. Eric Huang (Pecking House, New York, NY), Doron Wong (Cha Cha Tang, New York, NY), and Vish Mayekar (ELEM, Vancouver, BC) are joined by Ron Hsu (Lazy Betty) and Howard Hsu (Sweet Auburn Barbecue, Tio Lucho’s, Lazy Betty), as well as Brian So (Spring, Marietta, GA), Viv Lee (Leftie Lee’s), and Jiyeon Lee and Cody Taylor (Heirloom Market BBQ), alongside Jay Patel (Dhaba BBQ), Pete Amadhanirundr (Puma Yu’s, Athens, GA), Parnass Savang (Talat Market), Henryk Kumar (Dank’s Deli), Zheng Li (Concept Luna), Andy Xia (Xi’an Gourmet House), Monica Sunny (The Chai Box), and GULA Indonesian Desserts & Snacks. Minhwa Spirits will feature food tastings led by Lino Yi, paired with cocktails from James Sung. “Food has always been how we tell our story,” says Howard Hsu. “For a lot of us, it’s tied to family, culture, and where we come from, but it’s also about where we are now. Good Luck Smoke Show is about bringing those voices together, chefs cooking from experience, not expectation, and giving them a place to share that in Atlanta.” Good Luck Smoke Show takes place Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sweet Auburn Barbecue, 656 N. Highland Avenue NE. General admission tickets start at $85, with VIP options up to $115, including a signed copy of Chef Ron Hsu’s new cookbook, DOWN SOUTH + EAST. All tickets include unlimited select food and beverages. Tickets are available for purchase at sweetauburnbbq.com. For updates, stay connected on Instagram at @sweetauburnbbq. A special thanks to 2026 sponsors Minhwa Spirits, True Gas, Pure Chilean, Señorita THC, Rhythm THC, The Peters Team, Coca-Cola, and Topo Chico. 

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