GEORGE TOWN, Feb. 27 -- From humble beginnings in a small food court stall in George Town six years ago, the chef and co-owner behind Smokepapa BBQ is now set to open a second eatery that will be fully pork-free.

Chef and co-owner Tan Eik Hong, who once worked at a celebrity chef's restaurant in Singapore, returned to Penang with his wife, Jen Phan, in 2017 and together decided to start a business.

"We decided to start a small stall to test the market in Penang because there was no smokehouse here then," Tan told Malay Mail in a recent interview.

Smokepapa BBQ became known for its smoked chicken, beef, and pork, along with special seasonal offerings like smoked whole turkey for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The restaurant has also gaine...