We were the guest of my son-in-law at this very unique barbecue restaurant. The choices of barbecue meat was very incredible, but we settle on Lamb. Chicken, pork spareribs, tri-tip, pork belly and Jalapeño pork sausage . Everything was delicious. The sides of barbecue asparagus , potato salad wild rice was a great complement to the meat platter. read more

Harper Barbecue - Meat platter - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place was bomb. I went today. I expected no parking and a terrible line, but was pleasantly surprised with a spot in their parking lot and a line that moved quickly. I had tri-tip, the brussel cesar salad, Mac and cheese and we also asked for rolls. Oh and pickles. The pickles were bomb. When ordering, I asked if the beans were spicy and they gave me a little sample- and ya they were a little too spicy for me. The rolls weren't on the menu, but we asked for them and they were great. They are dog friendly!! My only real complaint was the lack of shade on the patio. There are umbrellas but the way they are placed, they provide minimal shade. I cant wait to go back. read more

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Food was decent but I didn't think there's enough meat for the price. The staff were friendly and the service was good. There's nice outdoor seating with good atmosphere. read more

Really great BBQ spot with a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Perfect place to come with a group of friends, family, kids, or even dogs. We tried most of the meats and everything was really good and cooked well. The outdoor vibe makes it a really enjoyable place to hang out for a while. The only thing is my bf is Texan and pretty picky about BBQ sauces, so he personally wasn't a huge fan of the sauces. But overall, the food and atmosphere definitely made it worth the visit! read more

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

As a former managing partner of a very highly rated restaurant & bar I have some knowledge about the biz... *The room - open, airy, very clean. Lots of both indoor & outdoor dining spots - 5 Stars! *Food - the best tri-tip I've ever had! Also a very unique & absolutely delicious potato salad. 5 HUGE STARS! *Many other unique side dishes I can't wait to try! And lots of other entree choices. *Staff - all very friendly - 5 Stars! (just be aware there is no table service. You order at one of two counters - incl the bar, then take your tray to a table) *Prices - very expensive for bbq. $30-50+ per person. However great quality & preparation are more expensive. Still prices are too high for regular visits - 3 Stars. In summary, it's fantastic food & ambiance! Just be ready to pay "fine dining" prices without any table service. I would rate it 5 Stars overall if it was not so expensive & had table service. read more

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

My family cooks barbecue and so I take this very seriously! Haha! I was very impressed with the flavor and texture of the meat. The sauces were good too! The sides were a bit different than your traditional but they had great flavor and a great twist! I would pass on the brussel caesar salad/ slaw option, it was kind of dry and didn't have the best texture. I loved the potato salad and beans tho, definitely would get those again! I plan to come back to try the dessert, but I would come back and would recommend to anyone if they're looking for good bbq! read more

Harper Barbecue - Outside seating was nice! Gets sunny! - 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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Amazing! The food, the staff, the environment, it is all so amazing. I like to bring my friends here for a change of pace and they are always wildly pleased. Brought my friend for her bday and the staff were so kind and gave us an amazing key lime tart. I love their Rueben sandwich! But I love all of their food tbh. This will be a staple for me. read more

Harper Barbecue - Rueben - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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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Had the Cuban sandwich which was a daily special - they put dijon mustard on it. If the menu had said that I would not have ordered it or asked them to skip the dijon When I looked at the menu as we left it showed aioli which was not on the sandwich. A little short on meat - I made a great 1/2 sandwich using what they served though. I will go again just to give them another chance. read more

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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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

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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Service is top notch but the meat was pretty fatty with huge fat lines that were not edible. Had to cut around to eat the meat.

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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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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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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Moist juicy chicken with great mustard sauce or bbq sauce and delicious Tri tip and ribs. Reminds me of Heritage bbq in San Juan but Harpers is close to home in Costa Mesa. The staff is friendly and there is a great, energetic team the minute you walk in. read more

Love the environment! Open concept with a lot of air flow. The food was super good. The ribs fell right off the bone and the pulled pork was great. I just wish they had more BBQ sauce options that were a little thicker. Overall great place read more

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

Really good. If you're craving barbecue and want a casual dining, then i recommend this place. Parking can be a challenge so plan 5 additional minutes. 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

Oh boy is this place good! I love bbq and this place hits the spot. The staff is super friendly and patient. The prices are high, but it's meat do what do you expect? And the flavors are amazing. I particularly loved their chili as a side as well to add to the meat plate. 100% recommend, best bbq within 30 miles by far. 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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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

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

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

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

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

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