There’s something sacred about barbecue. It’s more than smoke and spice: it’s the soundtrack of dominoes slapping on a folding table, the laughter echoing across a backyard, and generations gathering around a grill that’s seen better days but still delivers magic. For Black History Month, we’re shining a spotlight on a brand that gets this on a soul-deep level: AC Barbeque, the brainchild of two entertainment icons who decided the world needed a barbecue brand that truly represented Black culture.
Anthony Anderson and Cedric The Entertainer didn’t just start a restaurant. They built a movement.
From Backyard Dreams to a National Brand
When Anthony Anderson (Compton, California) and Cedric The Entertainer (St. Louis, Missouri) looked at the national barbecue landscape, they noticed something was missing. Despite barbecue’s deep roots in Black American history: from enslaved pit masters who pioneered smoking techniques to the community cookouts that became cultural cornerstones: there wasn’t a major barbecue brand representing Black people in the space.
That realization sparked AC Barbeque.
“We just always believed that barbecue was a part of our culture, going all the way back in history,” Cedric explained. And Anthony put it even more personally: “When you go to a barbecue, no matter where you go, it’s like a family reunion. You’ve got the spades, you’ve got the dominoes, you’ve got the good music, you’ve got the great food, you’ve got the great camaraderie, you have family around you, and that’s what this business is for us.”
Their journey wasn’t just about opening doors: it was about honoring the pitmasters, the grandmothers, and the backyard legends who made barbecue what it is today.
Kings of BBQ: Learning from the Masters
Before the flagship restaurant, before the sauces hit shelves, Anthony and Cedric hit the road. Their TV series Kings of BBQ took them across the country, sitting down with regional pitmasters and learning the stories behind the smoke. From Texas brisket traditions to Carolina whole-hog techniques, they documented the diversity and depth of Black barbecue heritage.
The show wasn’t just entertainment: it was research, reverence, and relationship-building rolled into one. Every stop reinforced what they already knew: barbecue is a cultural institution, and it deserves to be celebrated on the biggest stage possible.
The Flagship: Westfield Century City, Los Angeles
In May 2025, AC Barbeque opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles, bringing the founders’ vision to life in one of the city’s most high-traffic dining destinations. The fast-casual concept blends bold, authentic flavors with Southern hospitality: creating an experience that feels like stepping into a family gathering.
The menu reflects everything Anderson and Cedric learned on their BBQ pilgrimage. Expect tender, smoky meats prepared with time-honored techniques, signature sauces that balance sweet, heat, and tang, and sides that could hold their own at any family reunion. But beyond the food, it’s the atmosphere that sets AC Barbeque apart: a space where culture, storytelling, and community come together over every plate.
For food and beverage professionals tracking restaurant marketing trends, AC Barbeque offers a masterclass in brand authenticity. This isn’t a celebrity vanity project; it’s a mission-driven concept built on genuine cultural connection.
Taking It to the Next Generation: HBCU Campus Kitchens
Here’s where AC Barbeque really sets itself apart in the hospitality industry. As proud HBCU graduates themselves, Anthony and Cedric understood that their brand could do more than serve great food: it could inspire the next generation of Black entrepreneurs, business leaders, and culinary talents.
In 2024, AC Barbeque launched its first campus kitchen at Jackson State University, bringing authentic barbecue and a message of ownership and excellence directly to students. By fall 2024, they’d expanded to six additional HBCU campuses. And in spring 2025, the brand debuted its first food truck at Howard University: one of the nation’s most prestigious historically Black institutions.
These aren’t just food service operations. They’re designed to expose students to entrepreneurship, brand building, and the business side of the food and beverage industry. For young people considering careers in hospitality management or food service, seeing two successful Black men building a national brand from scratch is powerful representation.
“It’s about legacy,” Anderson has said. And that legacy extends far beyond the plate.
More Than a Restaurant: The AC Barbeque Lifestyle Brand
AC Barbeque has evolved into a full-fledged lifestyle brand, bringing the flavors and spirit of Black barbecue into homes across the country. Their product lineup now includes:
- Signature sauces that capture regional BBQ traditions
- Rubs and seasonings for home pitmasters
- Grilling tools for backyard cookout perfection
- Apparel that lets fans rep the brand with pride
Through key retail partnerships, AC Barbeque products are now accessible nationwide: meaning you don’t have to be in LA to bring a taste of the brand’s cultural mission into your kitchen. For food and beverage companies watching the rise of celebrity-driven CPG brands, AC Barbeque demonstrates how authenticity and heritage can differentiate a product in a crowded market.
Why AC Barbeque Matters for Black History Month: and Beyond
Black History Month is about celebrating contributions, honoring legacy, and recognizing the innovators who shape culture. AC Barbeque checks every box.
The brand acknowledges the often-overlooked history of Black pitmasters who developed the techniques that define American barbecue. It celebrates the communal traditions: the cookouts, the reunions, the gatherings: that have sustained Black communities for generations. And it creates new opportunities for Black entrepreneurship, ownership, and visibility in an industry that hasn’t always made space at the table.
For hospitality professionals and food service industry leaders, AC Barbeque also offers lessons in:
- Brand storytelling: Every element of AC Barbeque connects back to a genuine narrative
- Community engagement: The HBCU partnerships create loyalty and purpose beyond profit
- Multi-channel expansion: From restaurants to retail to food trucks, they’re meeting customers wherever they are
- Cultural authenticity: The founders aren’t just endorsing: they’re actively involved and invested
The Takeaway: Food as Cultural Connection
At its core, AC Barbeque reminds us that food is never just food. It’s history served on a plate. It’s memories made tangible through smoke and sauce. It’s community built one meal at a time.
Anthony Anderson and Cedric The Entertainer have created something that transcends the typical celebrity restaurant. They’ve built a platform that honors Black barbecue heritage while creating pathways for the next generation. And they’ve done it with the same warmth, humor, and authenticity that made them household names in entertainment.
This Black History Month: and every month: AC Barbeque stands as a testament to what’s possible when culture, cuisine, and community come together.
Ready to experience it for yourself? Visit the flagship location at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles, look for their products at retailers nationwide, or follow @ACBarbeque on Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates. And if you’re lucky enough to catch the food truck at Howard? Tell them Food & Beverage Magazine sent you.
What Black-owned food and beverage brands are you celebrating this month? Drop your favorites in the comments below: we’d love to hear from you.
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Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
