Garden Grove's dining scene just got a smoky twist with the debut of Smoke Queen Barbecue, an establishment marrying classic American grilling techniques with a punch of Asian flavor. Announced on the restaurant's official website, the highly anticipated soft opening occurred on March 9, and the dining spot has since been generating buzz amongst barbecue enthusiasts.

Situated within the eclectic enclave of Cottage Industries, the brainchild of developer Linda Sadeghi, Smoke Queen sits among other up-and-coming enterprises like an ice cream parlor, a matcha tea shop, and a microbrewery. Notably, before guests even enter, they are greeted by the unmistakable presence of the three 1,000-gallon steel smokers, charmingly named Romulus, Sheena, and Remus, according to an Eater LA report.

Winnie Yee, the maestro behind Smoke Queen, has evolved from a franchise owner to a pitmadam of prominence through an intricately flavored journey. Developed amid the constraints of a pandemic, Yee first tested her distinctive recipes at the Smorgasburg in Downtown Los Angeles. "Smorgasburg helped me test all my recipes, train staff, and build a small business from the ground up. It also tested me, to make me realize how badly I wanted this," Yee told Eater LA.

The menu is a mishmash of American barbecue standards and Asian-influenced offerings such as Chinese eight-spice-glazed pork belly char siu and the powerfully indulgent gochujang beef ribs introduced on Sundays. The Pitmadam sandwich, a towering stack of brisket, pulled pork, char siu, and siu yuk, is one of the specialties drawing crowds, as reported by Eater LA. Current seating options include a handful of shaded picnic tables, with more slots for seating promised shortly.

Yee, bolstered by a team of adept culinary pros including Pitmaster Jared Ruiz, General Manager Chi Tran, and Kitchen Manager Rosario Rios, as well as the crucial partnership of her brother Kevin Yee, is ready to cement her smoke-laden legacy in Southern California's gastronomic landscape. With opening hours and days set to expand from the current Friday to Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. schedule, Smoke Queen Barbecue at 12941 Ninth Street, was ready for a royal festive flourish on Saturday's opening that has already marked its territory on the palates of residents.