Yang's Smokehouse Opens New Location in Plano

The restaurant brings authentic Guizhou-style charcoal barbecue skewers and traditional hotpot to the local community.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Barbecue

Yang's Smokehouse Opens New Location in Plano

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Yang's Smokehouse opened in June 2026 at 240 Legacy Dr., Ste. 306, in Plano. The restaurant specializes in Guizhou-style barbecue skewers and hotpot cooked over open-fire charcoal.

Why it matters

Owner Mengjie Cao established the restaurant to honor and continue the culinary legacy of her grandmother. The kitchen uses ingredients specifically imported from China to maintain traditional regional flavors.

The restaurant occupies a space formerly used by Friendship BBQ and utilizes existing kitchen equipment. The menu features selections like wagyu, beef tongue, pork belly, and pig brain, with sour fish hotpot requiring a one-day advance reservation.

The players

Mengjie Cao

She is the owner and operator of Yang's Smokehouse who transitioned into the culinary industry after working for eight years in construction design.

The details

Customers order dishes through a table-specific QR code system. The menu centers on traditional open-fire charcoal grilling techniques characteristic of the Guizhou region.

June 2026: Yang's Smokehouse officially opened its doors in Plano.

Culture Shift

The introduction of Guizhou-style grilling to the area reflects the broader societal shift toward seeking authentic, hyper-regional culinary experiences over pan-Asian concepts. This evolution highlights a growing consumer preference for specialty dining that preserves ancestral cooking traditions.

Residents should be aware that the restaurant requires a reservation one day in advance for the sour fish hotpot. All other menu items can be ordered through a QR code system directly at the table.

The takeaway

Visitors can experience a traditional approach to Chinese charcoal grilling right in the heart of Plano. Planning ahead for the hotpot dish is essential for diners hoping to sample the restaurant's signature offering.