Best BBQ in Orange County

We asked our readers who has the Best BBQ in Orange County…and they answered. Below is a list of The Best BBQ Places in Orange County, brought to you by local Orange County residents who frequent these fine establishments.  We hope you can find one near you. If your favorite isn’t listed, let us know, and we will add it.

THE HISTORY OF BBQ IN THE UNITED STATES

The history of BBQ in the United States is a rich tapestry woven with influences from Native American cooking techniques, European settlers, and African culinary traditions. The origins of American BBQ can be traced back to the indigenous peoples who cooked meat over open flames, a method observed by early European explorers. The word “barbecue” itself is believed to have originated from the Taíno word “barbacoa,” which referred to a wooden framework used to cook meat over a fire.

When European settlers arrived in the Americas, they adopted and adapted these cooking methods. Spanish explorers brought pigs to North America, and the readily available pork became a staple for early American BBQ. In the southern colonies, BBQ became deeply embedded in the culture, particularly in the Carolinas, where whole hog BBQ was popular. The slow-cooking process over wood coals allowed tougher cuts of meat to become tender and flavorful.

African slaves brought to the American South in the 17th and 18th centuries significantly influenced BBQ. They combined African cooking techniques with local ingredients, and their expertise in slow-cooking and seasoning meat helped shape the distinct regional BBQ styles we recognize today.

In the 19th century, BBQ began to spread across the United States as settlers moved westward. Each region developed its own unique style based on available resources and cultural influences.
Texas BBQ, for instance, is known for its beef, especially brisket, cooked over post oak wood, reflecting the state’s cattle ranching heritage.

 

In Kansas City, a melting pot of BBQ styles emerged, characterized by a wide variety of meats and a signature thick, sweet, and tangy tomato-based sauce. Kansas City’s barbecue scene began blazing thanks to Henry Perry, the “Father Of Kansas City Barbecue.” In 1908, Perry sold smoked meats from a pushcart in the city’s Garment District, cooking animals like possums, hogs + raccoons. This ultimately created KC’s local barbecue style which is carried on today by our original barbecue behemoths.

The 20th century saw BBQ solidify its place in American culture, with the rise of BBQ joints and competitive BBQ events. Today, BBQ remains a beloved American culinary tradition, celebrated in numerous regional variations and enjoyed by millions of Americans across the country. BBQ continues to evolve from backyard cookouts to professional competitions.

Check out our list of the Best BBQ in Orange County, and let them now you saw them on My Local OC.  Send us some pictures, and we’ll post them on our Social Media.

Best BBQ in Orange County

Anaheim   Blake’s Place   2901 E Miraloma Ave   (714) 630-8574   Website

Anaheim   Craft by Smoke and Fire   195 W Center Street Promenade   714) 603-7194   Website

Anaheim   Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill  8022 East Santa Ana Canyon Road   (714) 974-6660   Website

Brea   Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que   1639 E Imperial Hwy   (714) 990-4944   Website

Buena Park   Fireman’s Brigade Barbecue @ Knott’s Berry Farm   8039 Beach Blvd   (714) 220-5200   Website

Buena Park   Gangnam Station Korean BBQ   5333 Beach Blvd   (714) 735-8204   Website

Costa Mesa   Beach Pit BBQ   1676 Tustin Ave   (949) 645-7427   Website

Costa Mesa   Holé Smokes BBQ   1500 Adams Ave # 100B   (714) 677-0531   Website

Costa Mesa   Newport Rib Company   2196 Harbor Blvd   (949) 631-2110   Website

Cypress   bb.q Chicken   4065 Ball Rd   (714) 886-2412   Website

Dana Point   The Rib Joint Roadhouse   34294 CA-1   (949) 661-9500   Website

Fountain Valley   bb.q Chicken   18639 Brookhurst St   (714) 594-3228   Website

Fullerton   Big B’s Barbeque   1948 N Placentia Ave   (714) 528-7427   Website

Fullerton   Mr BBQ   305 N State College Blvd   (714) 441-0000   Website

Garden Grove   The Smoking Ribs   14211 Euclid St D   (714) 867-6057   Website

Huntington Beach   Beale’s Texas BBQ   16400 Pacific Coast Hwy Unit 130   (562) 588-3070   Website

Irvine   All That Barbecue – Korean BBQ   15333 Culver Dr # 100   (949) 336-8965   Website

Irvine   Sauced BBQ & Spirits   13122 Jamboree Rd   (925) 533-5879   Website

Irvine   Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill   501 Spectrum Center Drive   (949) 337-4850   Website

Ladera Ranch   Oak Ranch Grill   (Known for BBQ Chicken)   28362 Airoso St   (949) 388-3243   Website

Laguna Niguel   WR Kitchen & Bar (by Wood Ranch)   28061 Greenfield Dr   (949) 342-4740   No Website Listed

Lake Forest   Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que   23760 El Toro Rd   (949) 581-7427   Website

Lake Forest   RIBBRO BBQ Foothill Ranch   26761 Portola Pkwy #2h   (949) 446-4872   Website

Lake Forest   Umma’s K-BBQ   24531 Trabuco Rd Unit G   (714) 613-3470   Website

La Palma   Wholly Smokes BBQ   5440 Orangethorpe Ave   (714) 752-6265   No Website Listed

Los Alamitos   Maderas Steak & Ribs   3642 Katella Ave   (562) 598-0401   Website

Mission Viejo   Aloha BBQ   24000 Alicia Pkwy Ste 4   (949) 581-0976   Website

Newport Beach   RIBBRO BBQ   2300 SE Bristol St   (949) 681-0108   Website

Orange   Hickory & Spice BBQ   2143 N Tustin St # 6   No Phone Orders Available   Website

Orange   Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que   4050 W Chapman Ave   (714) 634-1227   Website

Orange   Sauced BBQ & Spirits   1535 W Katella Ave   (714) 639-9104   Website

Orange   Smoqued California BBQ   128 N Glassell St   (714) 633-7427   Website

Orange   Tulsa Rib Company   220 E Katella Ave   (714) 633-3760   Website

Placentia   JD’s WINGZ & THINGZ   117 E Chapman Ave   (714) 942-4470   Website

Rancho Santa Margarita   Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill  22352 El Paseo   (949) 888-1100   Website

San Clemente   Delanya’s Smokin’ Hot Texas BBQ and More… (Delivery, Catering, or Pick up)   San Clemente – Call For More Info   (949) 939-0356   Website

San Clemente   Drift Distillery & Smokehouse   940 Calle Amanecer STE K   (949) 388-0700   Website

San Juan Capistrano   Bad to the Bone BBQ   31738 Rancho Viejo Rd   (949) 218-0227   Website

San Juan Capistrano   Heritage Barbeque   31721 Camino Capistrano    Phone Orders Not Available    Website

Santa Ana   Aloha Hawaiian BBQ   3814 S Bristol St suite b   (714) 957-1134   Website

Seal Beach   lalc Restaurant & Bar (The Backyard)   136 Main St   (562) 357-4031   Website

Tustin   Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que   2550 Park Ave   (714) 259-1227   Website

Westminster   L&L Hawaiian Barbecue   6731 Westminster Blvd. #108   (714) 903-6988   Website

Yorba Linda   Evan’s Smokehouse BBQ   4859 Main St   (714) 321-9957   Website