The name Smoke Odyssey may sound familiar to Jersey City locals. The business began as a food truck operating in the Hudson county area in 2019. But with so much interest in their unique take on smokey barbecue, the business now needs a brick-and-mortar. Fans can now find the restaurant serving popular dishes in Kearny.
The 1,300-square-foot Smoke Odyssey is run by a brother and sister team, same as the food truck. “When we were looking, we were drawn to the area and eventually found this place,” says Teresa Naranjo; she owns the spot with her brother, Pablo. The casual restaurant is “artsy with a date night vibe,” Teresa says. Her brother is an artist, and patrons will see his work throughout the space. Between the counter and the tables, the restaurant can seat 25 diners.
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BBQ Meets Cuban Flavors
Teresa and Pablo have a clear idea of the menu for their brick-and-mortar. “We take our creative vision of BBQ and marinate that with our Cuban culture and put them together,” Teresa explains. “It’s what we grew up on having from a Cuban American upbringing. We wanted to share with people what we do and what we like, and continue to experiment with it.”
Fan favorites dishes include pork belly burnt ends (Teresa’s favorite), ropa vieja, and baked mac and cheese. Smoke Odyssey smokes their pork belly in signature house rub and then glazes it with their house sauce. “The outside caramelizes, giving it the name burnt ends. But it’s tender and beautiful on the inside,” Teresa says. Their Cuban-style ropa vieja incorporating onions and peppers into the pulled beef. Meanwhile, their mac and cheese is made with five cheeses.
Smoke Odyssey also serves a number of unique desserts including The Odyssey Brownie. This loaded fudge brownie has smoked whipped cream, house-made chocolate and caramel sauce, and is topped with sweet rub. They also serve creamy, fresh banana pudding, and extra-large Belgian dark chocolate-chip cookies.
Where There’s Smoke There’s 🔥🔥🔥
How the business got started is “a little unconventional,” as Teresa puts it. Pablo first got a taste for smoked barbecue while vacationing in Austin, Texas. He quickly bought a smoker and started playing around with it. Soon after, they were bringing smoked pork belly, pork butts, briskets, and ribs to Red Bulls soccer game tailgates.
One day, Pablo asked his sister about starting a food truck together, combining her sweets and his smoked barbecue. Once they added the final component of their grandmother’s Cuban food, they knew they were on to something.
“In life, you must gravitate towards things that excite and inspire you,” Teresa says. “We love to bring good food to people, we love seeing them enjoy the food.”
Visit Smoke Odyssey at 853 Kearny Avenue in Kearny. Look for them online to learn more.
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Smoke Odyssey FAQs
No, they do not take reservations.
Yes, they have gluten-free options.
Smoke Odyssey offers vegetarian options, yes.
They do offer takeout, yes.
Yes, they offer delivery directly through their website.
No, they do not serve alcohol.
They do not have a kids’ menu, no.
All Photos: © Smoke Odyssey
