Acclaimed local pitmaster secretly opens a new barbecue joint in Hackensack

Robert Austin Cho never announced his new restaurant on Google. Never listed it on Yelp.

The last time the pitmaster made headlines was when he closed his beloved Westwood barbecue joint Kimchi Smoke in 2023 — and, after that? He was quiet.

Well, that is, except to the handful of people who follow him on Instagram.

In the late winter, Cho took to social media to announce the opening of his newest restaurant Austin Cho Kitchen. But, shortly after, again went quiet.

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Returning to Instagram, he posted a picture with Austin Cho Kitchen's staff, stating the Hackensack barbecue concept had officially soft-opened.

"Don’t tell nobody," he wrote in the caption. "You are the only person that knows."

Brisket, pulled pork, wings and more at Austin Cho Kitchen

Austin Cho Kitchen is currently open in Hackensack Tuesdays through Thursdays, from 4 to 8 p.m. Still in its early stages, the restaurant does not yet have a menu of its own; instead boasting the cult-favorite dishes of its predecessor, Kimchi Smoke (which still has one location operating in Ridgewood).

"Hopefully, we can get used to the flow before it gets loco," Cho wrote on Instagram. "For now, (we're serving the) Kimchi Smoke menu, then we’ll add new items in before we launch for real."

Some dishes to expect during this early period? Chopped brisket and kimchi sandwiches, pulled pork fries and Korean BBQ wings, to name a few.

"Can't wait to visit!! Love to see this for Hackensack!!," @njcomfortfoodie said on Instagram.

"WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE THIS NEAR US," Ambassador Studios Creative Agency wrote emphatically.

Over a hundred others — across the four posts regarding the opening — shared similar sentiments.

"There goes all hope of losing weight for summer," @playingwithfoodnj joked.

Jersey barbecue 'worth the drive'

For the past year, Cho has taken a hiatus from running his Westwood restaurant to focus on Kimchi Smoke's food truck and catering business. During the days his former spot was open, it was regarded as one of the top barbecue destinations in the area.

The Record's previous food critic, Elisa Ung, deemed Kimchi Smoke “worth the drive from anywhere in New Jersey.”

Though the fledgling Austin Cho Kitchen has yet to release its formal menu, it rides on the back of that prior success — promising us globally-inspired barbecue dishes crafted to impress.

And we, like those online, "are so here for it."

Austin Cho Kitchen is located at 163B Main Street in Hackensack. For more on the restaurant, prospective guests can follow @austinchokitchen on Instagram.

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.