Smoke BBQ Opening Second Location in Fort Lauderdale This Summer

This summer, Delray Beach's Smoke BBQ will bring its authentic Kansas City barbecue further south with a new location in Fort Lauderdale.

Smoke co-founders Stephen Chin and Scott Kennedy told New Times they have plans to expand the brand across South Florida in the coming years, starting with a second location at the east end of Oakland Park Boulevard. The first Smoke location opened last year on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, replacing the duo's former concept, Union. 

"This will be the most authentic barbecue experience in South Florida," said Kennedy. "Something that folks who have spent time in Kansas City will be able to relate to."

Smoke Fort Lauderdale will be located at 3351 NE 32nd St., in the shopping plaza located at the south end of Galt Ocean Drive. The new location is a partnership between Chin, Kennedy, chef Bryan Tyrell, and new partner Wijai "Song" Ketsuwan. Song is the creator of a chain of successful sushi restaurants that bear his name, including Sushi Song in Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Himmarshee Village.

Unlike the full-service, sit-down Delray Beach restaurant, Smoke BBQ Fort Lauderdale will be counter service only, said Kennedy. Smoke will display the daily available meats, smoked on-site daily, in a temperature controlled display case. The customer will have the option to select a variety of smoked meats including the restaurant's famous "burnt ends," spare ribs, beef ribs, beef brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and turkey, and watch as it's hand-carved to order. Customers will also have the option to dine in, take out, or have the bbq delivered.

Haven't been to Smoke BBQ yet? Then you've been missing out on some of the best barbecue in the area. Tyrell, who relocated to the Sunshine State from Kansas City, Missouri to open Smoke, has an impressive barbecue résumé. The seasoned pit master is best known for his ties to Kansas City's Oklahoma Joe's, as well as Bodean's BBQ in London, England, where he helped to open several locations.

Tyrell began barbecuing in the late '80s, when he and college roommate Jeff Stehney entered the world of competitive barbecue. In 1990, he became one of the original members of "Slaughterhouse Five," a competitive barbecue team formed by Jeff and Joy Stehney. In the coming years, the group became one of the most successful competitive barbecue teams in the U.S., and were two-time winners of the World Barbecue Championship where they took home the top title in the 1993 American Royal Open Division, and again at the 1995 American Royal Invitational Division.

In 1995, on the heels of the team's second win, Jeff opened his first Oklahoma Joe's with Tyrell, who served as the restaurant's pitmaster and general manager. Now considered one of the top barbecue restaurants in the country, Oklahoma Joe's was named "Best BBQ in the World" by Zagat, and was given Anthony Bourdain's stamp of approval as one of the "13 Places to Eat Before You Die" alongside establishments like Sukiyabashi Jiro of Toyko, New York's Le Bernardin and Per Se, and the famed California restaurant the French Laundry.

Smoke BBQ Fort Lauderdale will be located at 3351 NE 32nd St., Fort Lauderdale. Smoke BBQ Delray Beach is located at 8 E. Atlantic Ave. Call 561-330-4236, or visit eatbbqnow.com.

Nicole Danna is a food writer covering Broward and Palm Beach counties. To get the latest in food and drink news in South Florida, follow her @SoFloNicole or find her latest food pics on the BPB New Times Food & Drink Instagram.