Smoke'N Ash BBQ

The story

Smoke'N Ash BBQ in Arlington, TX: The World's Only Tex-Ethiopian BBQ

Where Texas Smoke Meets Ethiopian Flavor

In Arlington, Texas, Smoke'N Ash BBQ has created something genuinely new: the world’s only Tex-Ethiopian barbecue. This is the work of married couple Patrick and Fasicka Hicks. Fasicka, who was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Patrick, a Texas native from Waco, started with a smoker trailer and weekend pop-ups. As demand for Patrick’s smoked meats grew, they moved into a brick-and-mortar space, and Fasicka began adding her family's traditional Ethiopian recipes. The flavors of two proud culinary traditions gradually mingled, giving birth to dishes that belong to neither world but to a new one entirely.

The menu is a direct expression of this fusion. The signature Loaded Injera Nachos swap tortilla chips for spongy, tangy Ethiopian injera, topped with smoked meat and all the fixings. The Awaze Pork Ribs are slathered in awaze, a complex Ethiopian chili and spice paste, before being smoked low and slow. These two dishes caught the attention of Guy Fieri, who featured Smoke'N Ash on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. The restaurant has also earned a spot on the Michelin Guide to Texas as a Michelin Recommended restaurant, a recognition the team calls a "great honor."

Smoke'N Ash BBQ is a testament to what happens when a couple brings their full backgrounds to the table. It’s a place where the deep, peppery bark of Texas brisket meets the berbere-spiced warmth of an Ethiopian stew, and where a shared love of food builds a bridge between two cultures. The result is a singular BBQ experience that has drawn national attention from The New York Times and Texas Monthly, and one that continues to redefine what Texas barbecue can be.