Fantastic BBQ -- and a great family-friendly hidden gem in Santa Ana…read more
As someone who genuinely loves Texas-style BBQ and halal food, I've been meaning to try Gee's BBQ, and I'm really glad I finally did. This is the kind of BBQ spot I'm happy to seek out.
We stopped by on a Sunday around 5:30 PM with the family after a trip to the Discovery Cube Science Center. Gee's wasn't particularly busy when we arrived, so we were able to order easily and grab a seat. Our food was prepared quickly, fresh, and with great service from start to finish.
I went with the 2 Meat + 2 Sides platter, choosing the Picanha and beef back rib, with mac & cheese and smoked fried rice. The Picanha was the standout for me--beautifully grilled with that delicious char and a wonderfully beefy flavor, while still being tender and juicy. The beef back rib was also tender, smoky, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying. You can tell there's some real attention being paid to the meat here. Gee's describes the beef back ribs as being smoked for 8 hours and finished with their house glaze, while the Picanha is charcoal-grilled, and you can definitely taste that wood-fire/charcoal character.
And don't sleep on the sides. The mac & cheese was rich, creamy and cheesy, and the smoked fried rice was a really fun departure from the usual BBQ sides--savory, smoky, and flavorful with egg, vegetables and their house sauce. The scratch-made sides are one of the things that seem to come up repeatedly in reviews of Gee's, and after trying these two, I understand why.
Then there was the Gee's Pudding. This was excellent. It's a Brazilian-style vanilla custard topped with chocolate, Oreo crumble and vanilla wafers, and it was creamy, sweet and just plain delicious.
The funniest part of the meal was probably my wife's reaction. She's not really a Southern BBQ person, so she actually got her meal from Papi's Tacos & Churros next door. But she tried some of my Picanha and the sides...and immediately admitted they were really good. And she absolutely loved the Gee's Pudding. So I'd say that's a pretty strong endorsement from someone who wasn't even coming there for BBQ!
A few things that are useful to know before visiting--not negatives, just part of the experience:
- Gee's shares the space/kitchen area with Papi Tacos, and the whole setup is connected to a gas station. Honestly, I think that's pretty convenient, especially for travelers, commuters, or families where everyone wants something different for dinner.
- Parking immediately around the businesses and car wash is somewhat limited, but there's plenty of street parking nearby.
- The seating is an outdoor, Southern backyard-style picnic setup. I actually think it adds to the character of the place, but on a hot summer day--or if flies are particularly active--it may not be everyone's ideal dining environment.
None of that takes away from the food for me. In fact, I think the casual, no-frills setup fits the whole vibe. This isn't trying to be a polished white-tablecloth BBQ restaurant. It's about the pit, the smoke, the meat and the food.
Gee's has also built quite a reputation for its smoked meats, with offerings ranging from 14-hour prime brisket and giant dino ribs to lamb barbacoa, sausage, tri-tip and Picanha. Their current menu emphasizes traditional smokehouse techniques, scratch-made sides and wood/charcoal cooking.
Five stars from me. The meat was tender and delicious, the sides were memorable, the dessert was fantastic, and the service was great. As someone who is pretty particular about BBQ, I left very happy--and I'll absolutely be coming back the next time I'm in the area.
Highly recommended, especially if you're looking for halal BBQ that does something a little different from the typical Southern BBQ lineup.