Smoked Beef Cheek Barbacoa

Preparation info
  • Makes

    2 to 2½

    pounds
    • Difficulty

      Easy

Appears in
Asian Smoke: Thai and Southeast Asian Barbecue from the Curry Boys

By Andrew Ho, Andrew Samia and Sean Wen

Published 2026

  • About

There’s nothing quite like a Sunday morning in Texas, where the only real question is: “Where’s the barbacoa?” Seriously, it’s practically a ritual. You roll out of bed, maybe a little groggy, and suddenly, the rich, smoky aroma of slow-cooked beef cheek barbacoa fills the air. It’s a dish with deep roots in Tex-Mex culture—a celebration of flavors and community that brings friends and family together over breakfast tacos and good vibes.

Now, we like to switch things up a bit. Our r