Atlanta-based Sweet Auburn Barbecue is bringing back its Good Luck Smoke Show on May 20 for a one-night celebration. Timed to coincide with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the party 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 has expanded with more than 15 chef tasting stations, cocktails from Minhwa Spirits, beer and wine, 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, which supports small businesses and cultural vibrancy along Buford Highway, one of Atlanta’s most diverse corridors.
The event is 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. Participants include Eric Huang (Pecking House, New York), Doron Wong (Cha Cha Tang, New York), Vish Mayekar (ELEM, Vancouver), 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), 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), 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 May 20 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Sweet Auburn Barbecue on N. Highland Avenue. 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.
