Love the Tri tip and pork steak. Beef cheek is good but won't be ordering again, just our taste. We came at 11:05 to beat the crowd. Great place. People behind the counter were friendly and helpful. Food was great. We went for lunch take out again the next day for pork belly burnt end and Cubano sandwich. Both excellent. Will surely put this one on our rotation! read more

Harper Barbecue - Tri tip, beef cheek, Iberico pork steak - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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What a cozy and tasty spot! They have outdoor and informal seating. The food, amazing. Definitely try the ribs and sausage! We also got their mac and cheese, so good. I would skip the potato salad, a little bland. But overall, great spot for some bbq. Will definitely be returning. read more

Harper Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I really wanted to love this restaurant, but unfortunately it fell short. We decided to go in on Easter for lunch. The restaurants atmosphere is open and airy, and when you walk up you smell the smoked bbq! The staff were friendly and welcoming, and gave us lots of suggestions. Now to the food! I'll rate each thing individually but one common thing with all the meat.....they were all cold. Pastrami: 7/10 The flavor was good, but needed To be sliced a little bit more thin; what we received was slightly chewy. Tri Tip: 8/10 cooked well and the flavor was good; Chicken: 9/10 probably the best thing we had. Cooked well, and you get the bbq smoke taste; Macaroni and cheese: 5/10 it was lacking salt and the cheese felt runny. Potato Salad: 8/10 not your typical salad, has a modern twist my husband really liked it: Coleslaw: 7/10 felt like there was a lot of vinegar You help yourself with the bbq sauces, the Cali gold was probably the best, wish they served a spicy bbq sauce. If you have food allergies, I did email them and they did tell me that they can't accommodate due to the risk of cross contamination. They did just open up, and I am willing to try it again! I hope they read the reviews and fix the little things. read more

Harper Barbecue - Macaroni and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Our first visit... Excellent service ... employees are well-trained, friendly, good experience with the "we serve you cafeteria-style" format. Ambiance...very well thought out facilities...high quality furnishings...great table layout...lots of space inside and out. Food Quality...we had the ribs and prime blade meat. Both were well smoked and excellent. The various sauces provided are excellent. The blade meat was remarkably tasteless...hard to believe looking at it. I can only believe that it was produced to eat with sauces to give it flavor. The meat looked excellent - perfectly done. Sides...we had the slaw and the beans...both were tasteless and unremarkable. This is a place that dances to its own drummer - well funded - they open and close when they want. Closed for Christmas eve and Christmas because "we're closed Monday through Wednesday. When you ask them for a roast cooked to take out they look at your like "you want what? well yeah I guess we can do that...you want to set a time in the future to pick it up, not today?" read more

Harper Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

-Harper bbq- officially opened on 3.27.25! we stopped in to try all the things & anticipated a wait. We were there around 3:30 on 3.28 & waited about 15 minutes or so to place an order. It was their second day being open, so we showed up knowing that we might not be able to try all the items on our list. When we got there they were out of a few of their meat selections & sadly their kitchen was closed from 3-5. We ordered Tri-tip, Jidori Chicken, Harper Slaw, Brussels sprouts Caesar, Pit Beans & the Jalapeño Cheddar Bratwurst as well as a few rolls. Both the chicken & Tri tip were full of flavor & the cheddar bratwurst was cheesy with a hint of jalapeño. My favorite side was the Brussels sprouts Caesar. I'm not a big fan of slaw & I did try it and felt like it was just okay. Loved the pit beans & the Calibama sauce that they coated then chicken in was amazing! The rolls were plain, kind of stale, totally something I'd skip next time we go. The interior has seating & a bar section with tvs. There is outdoor seating on both sides of the restaurant with a good amount of booths. There are two individual restrooms & an outdoor sink if you just needed to wash your hands! We are so glad we a had an opportunity to try some items on their menu as I anticipate the wait/lines for this spot will be insane on the weekends! When we come back we want to try their sandwiches & their Mac & cheese as well as a few of their desserts! Sad we weren't able to this visit, but totally understandable since they do need a few kinks to work out! read more

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Went with a group of 5, 4 showed up. Dinner on the 2nd night that Harper barbecue was open. Was looking forward to trying the pastrami but unfortunately they were sold out so maybe next time. Girlfriend and I ordered a pound of baby back ribs each along with a pound of tritip and small side of beans to share. Another member ordered the bacon and Jalapeño mac and cheese and shared with the table. Everyone enjoyed the food. Long line was to be expected on opening weekend,it moved steadily and the patrons all seemed to not mind. Order at the counter and your mains and sides are prepared in front of you. There's a bar inside the dining room and I think that is where you order sandwiches along with adult beverages. Everyone was friendly and in good spirits. Several communal tables with more than one group sharing the space. I'd love to return and try the pastrami read more

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The service and the vibes were great. Easy to park on a hot Saturday, the cubano and the pork belly were great! It's a little on the pricey side but it's because it's quality bbq and it's darn good! It's worth it. Definitely coming back to try some other dishes, this might be my new go to! Also the shirts were rad, I'll get one next time to support. read more

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Officially one of my favorite BBQ places, absolutely delicious! Pork belly burnt crumbs, brisket, sandwiches and the Mac and cheese and Cole slaw were bomb, so fresh and didn't feel oily or greasy. Brisket was very juicy and tender. Service was fantastic and the restaurant itself has indoor and outdoor dining with parking to the side. Really nice area and great bbq food. read more

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Amazing! We had the V-Day platter and will have leftovers for a few meals. Loved the smoked meat and all sides were to die for. Great selection of wine and beer and the outdoor patio is super cute. read more

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I've been going to Austin Texas for seven years, so my standards for barbecue are quite high. every time a friend of mine tells me that a place in California has a good barbecue, I try it and I'm utterly disappointed. I've had this happen probably 10 times in the last few years. Harper is actually good. It is the best that I've had in California my entire life. I highly recommend it. One of the first times I went I got the tri-tip, they are usually out by 8 PM or so, but if you get there early, it is worth trying as well. read more

Harper Barbecue - Pork ribs, beef cheek, and top blade in this picture - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We bought the chicken, both tri-tips and the smoked sausage, ribs, so basically we tried everything they have to offer except the fish. The chicken was a bit dry. The tri-tip was good The sausage was excellent. And so were the ribs You could taste the smoke from the cooking. It was very nice not too overpowering their barbecue sauces are excellent. The mustard one and the regular barbecue sauce were my favorite, but I was very disappointed in the sides. I got the Brussel sprout salad. That was very disappointing. No flavor needed salt would never get it again there was not one crouton in that salad and it was very dry. We also got the corn it had Fritos underneath. We wanted the cream corn and we're told that we couldn't have it because it's in a skillet. Why can't you just take it out of the skillet and put it inside of it to go container and make the customer happy all that money paid and we couldn't even get what we really wanted . They should rethink that part of their menu. But the corn that they did have to go It was overpowered by cheese. Very little corn served in the dish would never get that again, we threw it away in the trash. The macaroni and cheese was very good. Overall, after spending $175 it was just OK. I've been to other barbecue places and it seems like either the barbecue is excellent and the side suck or the other way around trying to find the right place that has a good balance of both. I'll Keep looking. That was just our opinion of our dinner that we had last night. read more

My wife and I are big barbecue people so we made it a mission to hit Harpers Barbecue while out on a double date with some good friends. It was a solid move. We didn't hold back either. We ordered pretty much everything on the menu. We got brisket or tri tip, chicken, pork ribs, sausage, and loaded up on sides with pinto beans, coleslaw, cornbread, salad, and some extra pickles just to top things off. Total feast. The brisket or tri tip was alright, a bit dry and not as juicy as I was hoping for. Not bad by any means, just didn't steal the show. That spotlight definitely went to the ribs and sausage. The ribs were out of this world. Perfectly smoked, juicy, and literally fell right off the bone. The sausage was another favorite, super flavorful with that good snap when you bite into it. Chicken was juicy and had that slow cooked taste that's hard to beat. Now let's talk sides and sauce. The pinto beans were straight fire. Had that smoky flavor and were even better when you dipped the bread in them. Cornbread was nice and moist with a good sweet corn taste. Coleslaw was decent, not really my thing but still gave it a try. Salad was refreshing and balanced out all the heavy meats. But the real MVP was that California Gold sauce. That stuff is a must. Poured it over the brisket and ribs and it instantly elevated the whole thing. Sweet, tangy, and packed with flavor. It brought everything together. Great food, great company, and the kind of spot that makes you want to come back and try even more. Perfect for a casual date or group hangout when you just want to grub and enjoy life! read more

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The food and the ambience was amazing. Great barbecue spot. looking forward to our next visit at Harper BBQ.

I was immediately greeted by an employee while in line and she told me about their specialties. I tried the smoked beef cheek, pork ribs, and sampled a bite of pichana. The homemade rolls are complimentary and delicious like your grandma would make. the beans were standard . The meats melted in your mouth. I can't wait to go back and try some other other dishes but regardless, I will always get at least the beef cheeks or ribs. They were incredible. This is the best barbecue I've had in SoCal. Too bad I live 80 minutes away. read more

Harper Barbecue - Beef cheek, pork ribs, a sample of pichana, homemade rolls and baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Harper's is not just an excellent bbq but also well connected to their side business of manufacturing the best smokers on the west coast. This is critical because the owners understand that to run a michelin worthy bbq you have to be a master of every aspect of the cook. This place in every way exceeds that standard and is deserving of your patronage. read more

Cool new place with a casual vibe and amazing BBQ at a very reasonable price. My bestie and I recently tried Harper for the first time and we were impressed by the food. We arrived at peak time around 6:30pm on a Friday, so the line to order was out the front gate. It took about 30 minutes to order, and that's the only issue I had with the place. As you order, the staff builds the BBQ portion of your selection, along with some of the sides. So for those patrons who are slow orderers or clueless because they're first timers, the process was longer than it needed to be. All that aside, it was well worth the wait. We had the tritip and chicken, Mac and cheese, cornbread, and coleslaw. All of it was delicious. We will be back for their sampler platter for 4, which is a good deal at $79. read more

Such a cutie lil barbecue spot in Costa Mesa! Feels like you're eating at someone's house. It's an order and sit down situation but the team graciously was taking drink orders while we were waiting in line. We ordered the beef cheek, tri tip, and top sirloin along with a bunch of sides! Usually restaurant mac and cheese and whatever to me but Harper makes theirs to order so it's delicious. Can't wait to come back here all summer, such a vibey spot! read more

Harper Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is one of those hidden gems that has been on my radar a loooong time. They are only open Th - Sun so my timing has been bad. This week that changed and I made it in. Kind of hidden in the neighborhood and parking is limited so plan accordingly. I pulled up and saw a line out the door, it was early too. Found parking down the way and was hit with that awesome bar b que smell when I got out of my car. You could tell this place was serious about meat. And everything looked and smelled amazing. Lots of specials on the door when you walked up, and a pretty straight forward menu. I got the tri tip sandwich and it was great, I do think in hindsight I should have done a tray of meats, but the sandwich was really good. Excellent service, good prices, portions based on what you order for the meat so you can go heavy or light depending what you want. Watching them handmake the sides was pretty kewl too. Even the simple salad looked gourmet as they did it up. Looking forward to coming back and bringing the family next time. See ya there. read more

Harper Barbecue offers mouth-watering, savory and delicious BBQ. The ribs were the best I've ever had in Orange County. The staff were super nice and helpful in explaining what their menu offers. I love the vibe of this place, bright , opened and airy with both indoor and outdoor seatings. Come early as there are limited parking space or else you will have to park in the street and walk to it. Highly recommended! read more

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Absolutely awesome California style BBQ spot! All the staff was extremely friendly and the food was fresh and tasty. Our favorites were the smoke house salad and the mac and cheese. Will def be coming back to try more of the prime smoked beef! Can't wait. read more

Food - smoky flavors, fair variety of choices, served at good temperatures, quality ingredients. You will not be disappointed. Variety of drinks( non alcoholic) and variety of beers Service - very good to excellent service. You can tell they appreciate customers. Ambiance - two outdoor eating area with blankets provided for your comfort. Spacious indoor eating area, long tables, one small private room. read more

Wow Wow Wow Amazing rub on the pork ribs!!! Tender perfectly cooked tri tip Smoked chicken - nice !! Meat carver got some good knife skills. Sausage is tasty Coleslaw tangy I could eat the chili all day!! Next time bring some read more

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We liked this placed. Lots of seating both inside and out. We got the tri tip and picahna and both were flavorful and tender. Unfortunately the Brussels sprouts were terrible with no flavor read more

Family style... relax pick from your favorite bbq meats... Mac and cheese to my favorite Brussel sprout slaw. Cafeteria style or sit at the bar w sandwich and salad option. Open space open table. Come and relax. read more

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The Beef Cheek was delicious, my favorite!. We also had Iberico Porck Steak (which was a little fatty for me), beans, Caesar Brussels and corn bread. I want to go back for a Sandwich, they looked amazing! The service was fine overall, but the cashier wasn't very informative. She didn't mention where we could get water, and when we ordered two beers she simply handed us a number without explaining the process. We assumed the drinks would be brought to our table, but after about ten minutes we went to the bar and the bartender just poured them for us. I'm still not entirely sure how it's supposed to work. Clearer communication would make the experience much smoother. Overall cool spot, I would go back for that beef cheek sandwich! read more

I stopped by on my lunch break last Friday. First off, I was blown. Away by the selection of meats. As soon as I saw picanha on the menu I knew I was getting some. I asked to see the beef cheeks needed that too. Absolutely amazing. So good. The prices are on par with other barbecue spots in the area. picanha and beef cheeks? OMG. I'll definitely be back and bringing people with me. This is a great local spot. Everyone needs to try it! read more

Mixed feelings about Harper BBQ. The food was great but I wish there was more meat on the sandwich for the price. The atmosphere is great but if you sit at the bar on the far right you might get dripped on constantly from the AC. Service was excellent at times and then non-existent at other times as well. Lots of details to share regarding the service but I'll leave it at that. Would dine in the restaurant but definitely not interested in becoming a regular at the bar. read more

I was so excited to stumble across this awesome BBQ spot! It is bigger and nicer than it appears outside. What is best is the delicious food, all the options, the bar, and guess what.... It is all reasonably priced! That is hard to find these days and actually makes me want to take the family out to dinner. New favorite spot! read more

Harper Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is delicious! Husband and I were visiting a friend and had no idea what to have for dinner. Came upon this place here on Yelp and so glad we went! A little pricey, but super yummy! I had the pork belly BLT - yum!!! And he had the jalapeño sausage and brussel sprout Cesar salad thing :) Also yummy. Only thing we didn't like were all the children running wild, pulling out plants and sitting on tables. Parents: please mind your kids. It's a restaurant, not a play ground. read more

Amazing bbq. The best bbq I ever had. I thought Blue Smoke in NYC was the end all, be all. We went for restaurant week and the meats were spectacular and sides were different and delicious. Thank you Steve, Morgan and Ruby and a nod to August the bar tender. We will be back very soon read more

Tried this joint today, line moves really slow so patient. Dude cutting the meat didn't have much of a sense of urgency. Here's what we had: Beef cheek- super tender and tasted great. Too heavy on the pepper for my liking, but that's common with some BBQ. Picanha pastrami- really good and tender. Cooked perfectly. Baby back ribs-good and a little sweet and had some "pull". Pork steak- well seasoned and tasty. Jalapeno cheddar sausage- really good, a favorite at the table. Potato salad- it's served warm, intense mustard flavor. Not for me, but my wife really liked it. Cornbread muffin- pretty dang good, but $6 for a muffin is kinda crazy. Chili- pretty good meat chili, nothing super special though. Sauces are vinegar based, not my style but my wife liked it. The beers are $13...for an average IPA. This part was insane to me. That's like cruise or stadium pricing. Just silly. The food is on the higher end price overall. Service was good and friendly. Set up is nice. Not sure if I'll be back, but if money is no object, probably one of the better bbq joints in Orange County. read more

Harper Barbecue delivers on smoky flavor and stylish vibes. With its cute, trendy ambiance and upbeat atmosphere, it's clearly a popular spot--we waited about 30 minutes in line, but the energy made it feel more like part of the experience than a hassle. We ordered the platter for two to four, two lemonades, key lime pie, and banana pudding. The meats were the true stars: perfectly smoked, tender, and full of rich, savory flavor. Sides were a bit of a mixed bag--the rice and farro didn't stand out, but the Brussels sprouts were solid and added a nice touch of earthiness. Desserts were a sweet finish, though the banana pudding's vanilla wafer was a little too soggy for our taste. Still, the key lime pie was a refreshing, tangy bite. Overall, Harper Barbecue is a fun and flavorful stop. We'll definitely be back--next time, the mac and cheese is calling our name. read more

Harper Barbecue - Platter for two - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I have driven by this place on my way to Matty's Patties. I finally decided to try this place. I love the ambiance and decor of Harper BBQ (next time I will eat at the restaurant). I came at a good time because I was the only one in line. The staff was there. I ordered prime beef cheek, Tri tip, pulled pork, Harper slaw, pit beans, and their $6 cornbread muffin (note you only get one for $6). They offered complimentary sauces and rolls. The food was great and I will be back. read more

This place is great! It was my first time here and will definitely be coming back! The vibes were great and staff was very attentive. Be sure to get there early since the line started to form right at 11am. We got the beef cheek, sausage, and pork belly BLT, all of which were delicious! The cornbread was AMAZING!! Definitely want to come back and try more of their meats since everything on the menu looks great. read more

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Harper's BBQ is top-notch! The chicken was phenomenal--juicy and bursting with flavor. All the sides were excellent, especially the chili and farro--so tasty! The meats are clearly high quality, and the pork ribs? To die for! Can't wait to go back! read more

After a wait in the sun this was definitely worth the wait. I've never eaten a beef cheek cut before but this is by far their best item on the menu. Super tender, fatty, and has a nice smoky barbecue taste. Definitely goes really well with their house barbecue sauce and pickles to cut out the fat. Was hoping to try the picanha pastrami but unfortunately they ran out. Tri tip was a bit on the tougher side but thats to be expected with tri tip. I don't normally get sides at bbq places but the Brussel sprout ceasar caught my eye. Staff was super nice and welcoming. They recently just opened its already super busy. Hopefully they'll be able to expand more in the future to help more customers down the line. The seating environment is also one of my favorite things about this place. It feels like I'm at a family backyard bbq. Definitely coming back again for that pastrami. read more

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What an amazing new addition to the neighborhood! Dining at Harper's feels like being at a friend's backyard barbecue. It is a safe, friendly place. My favorite protein from the 2-4 person platter was the tri-tip -- everything was delicious, though. I really don't think you can go wrong with the meats! This was the perfect amount to try as a first timer. I appreciate how the pickles and cornbread are included too. I can't wait to dig into the sandwiches next time. As for the sides, the potatoes were a MUST. The taste of the fresh dill and capers were a nice refreshing cut to the smokey flavors from the rest of the meal. The beans were a little too hard for my liking (I prefer a softer texture) but the sauce was great. Admittedly, I had very high hopes for the macaroni and cheese but was a little let down by the lack of seasoning. It was very moist (which was great) but lacked general flavoring. Overall, I can't wait to come back! I hope the hours and dates are extended as popularity and business grows. ** Note: I just realized that they forgot to give us our rolls that came with the 2-4 people platter. Not a big deal, I think the staff are getting used to business so they might need some reminders. Make sure you get all your fixings! read more

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Good food, food people, family crowd. Nice outdoor seating area. Had the burnt ribs; a little too blackened for me. Will go again! read more

Heard about this place through my chef and had to check it out. Parking was easy to find, lovely courtyard for Al fresco dining, and they had the front of house lined up, ready to serve. I went at 2:30 pm on a Thursday and there was no line - got the pork BLT sandwich, the special sandwich, and then got the a la carte meats for dinner. The sandwiches were delicious, hearty and full of flavor. Meats were tender and juicy. The space had a great vibe, nice seating and good overall atmosphere. Service was on point, the owner Drew talked me through the menu. Def give it a try! read more

Harper Barbecue - The special sandwich! - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

So happy to have Harper in the neighborhood. This is a total family-friendly spot with something for everyone. Always great to get the platter and have a bit of everything; specifically the picanha, the ribs, and brisket. For sides, their Mac n cheese is always a hit, I love the corn muffin, their rolls, and the baked beans. Don't ever skip the burnt ends! They're like candy. I also enjoy their beer selection at the bar. Plenty of seating in a backyard vibe! A perfect neighborhood spot. read more

Harper Barbecue - Burnt ends - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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