Crystal Wise
Talk about good timing. As recently reported by our food writer, Malcolm Mayhew, Arlington’s Smoke’N Ash BBQ is pretty darn good. And, as it turns out, Mr. Mayhew isn’t alone in his positive assessment. The restaurant, which offers a unique fusion of Texas barbecue and Ethiopian fare earned a nod from the food folks at the New York Times, who named it one of 2022’s best restaurants in the country.
According to the Times, the barbecue joint contends that the restaurant’s “vibrant Ethiopian flavors — brisket comes lacquered with awaze, a spicy sauce made with berbere — are an ideal match for barbecue.”
“We loved the idea but didn’t know how it was going to go over,” restaurant owner Fasicka Hicks says concerning their blend of flavors. “If there’s one thing we’ve learned about barbecue, it’s that people are very, very passionate about it. We didn’t know if it was something we could mess with.”
Smoke’N Ash was ultimately one of three Texas restaurants that made the Times’ final list — the others being Austin’s Canje and Dallas’ Sister. For the complete list of restaurants, head here.
