Smhokin Pot
Cajun restaurant · Carson ·
Cajun-inspired comfort food: gumbo, jambalaya, lobster mac
Cajun-inspired comfort food: gumbo, jambalaya, lobster mac
"I was incredibly saddened to hear of chef Calvin Alexander’s passing a few months ago, a tragic loss for a life taken too early because of this wretched pandemic. When his restaurant Chef C’s Smhokin’ Pot opened earlier this year, a friend and I loaded up on the Cajun-inspired fare located next to Dignity Health Sports complex. The place is close enough that I can drive locally there, which is a major boon for when I’m craving things like gumbo, jambalaya, and lobster-laden mac and cheese. The gumbo and jambalaya in particular were very good, with heavy seasoning and all the right levels of comfort that took me back to my trip to New Orleans many years ago. Now when I visit, I’ll toast to the memory of Alexander, an icon in the South Bay that will hopefully continue to make an impact with his delicious, creative recipes. —Matthew Kang" - Eater Staff
"Originally launched as a Cajun-inspired catering and food-truck operation in 2015, Smhokin’ Pot grew into one of the South Bay’s most popular mobile food businesses before debuting a permanent restaurant in Carson in April 2021, just across from Dignity Health Sports Park and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Drawing on Southern and Cajun flavors he learned from his parents, Chef Calvin “Chef C” Alexander became known for rave-reviewed gumbo and a signature garlic-forward repertoire—most notably a Hawai’i-inspired garlic shrimp that showcases the same garlic flavor used on chicken wings and lobster. His inventive takes on classics included gumbolaya with smothered fries, lobster mac and cheese, whiskey sauce chicken wings, and even a meatless jambalaya; Alexander’s recipe method was to "do a little dibble-dabble, a little sprinkle," and his mantra was to make food so good it "makes you wanna slap yo momma...but don’t slap yo momma." After more than four years operating the truck and serving at local jazz festivals, farmers markets and to hospital coworkers, the team says they plan to keep the restaurant running to carry on his legacy." - Matthew Kang
"I visited this Carson spot and enjoyed Cajun-inspired comfort: gumbo and jambalaya were well-seasoned and evocative of New Orleans, and the lobster mac and cheese and garlic chicken over rice are obvious next orders for me." - Eater Staff
"A permanent brick-and-mortar outgrowth of a popular Cajun food truck offering a full menu of Southern classics — gumbo, lobster bisque, jambalaya — and Instagram-ready plates like herb-flecked garlic lobster served over fries; the food is purposeful, heavily seasoned, and rooted in Cajun traditions." - Eater Staff
"What began as a Cajun food truck, Chef C’s Smhokin’ Pot transitioned to a permanent space in Carson in early May; owner Calvin Alexander, who grew up in the South Bay and graduated from Gardena High, emphasizes local support built over years of community participation, including the Martin Luther King Parade and the Gardena Jazz Festival." - Mona Holmes
