One pitmaster certainly turns heads by always wearing his hat and boots, but Chad Phuong — known as the “Cambodian Cowboy” — has got the smoker skills to prove it.
His roving business of blending American barbecue with Cambodian flavours is taking Southern California by storm.
“What’s the Asian guy doing with, with some boots and a hat on, like trying to sell barbecue as a gimmick and stuff,”He spoke to CBS News.
It began in 1980, when Phuong’s family fled Cambodia and arrived in California. His father was murdered by the Khmer Rouge.
“I remember vividly every, every, every stuff that happened, we had to walk through landmines, through sniper fire, even sleeping in the jungle just to make it to the Thai Cambodian border for help,”He spoke to CBS News.
For a time, he moved to Texas with his stepfather. There, he learned American barbecue and added Cambodian flavors to his recipes.
He returned to California after the pandemic and lost his job. After that, he decided to make his hobby his career.
He’s developed a loyal customer base that keeps coming back for more finger-licking goodness.
Phuong says he hopes to open a restaurant in the near future, but in the meantime he’s going to keep rolling his smoker around Long Beach giving his all to his hungry customers.
“I give 110% wherever I go and no slacking. Once I lace my boots and put on my hat and start cutting the meat,”He said.