Very good experience!!! You walk in and the menu is above the register. You order and pay first then grab a seat. We ordered the turkey sandwich, regular brisket platter with creamed corn and the side of onion rings. Everything we are was excellent!!! The turkey sandwich was a great mixture of southern and Thanksgiving. The regular brisket platter was three slices and one side, which was enough for lunch. The creamed corn had some heat and was tasty.... but those onion rings.... TO DIE FOR. Husband said, the best EVER. read more

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Delicious smoked meats ... friendly staff, very clean dining room and it has a a very rugged vibe. read more

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Absolutely mouth watering delicious bbq! Definitely need to come here more often! Brisket was tender. Love the ranch beans. read more

Restaurant in the Target center area off Tustin avenue. You order at the counter and there is inside eating or many take out. Our service was slow as some people at the table got food well before others. The brisket was the best I ever had. The sweet potato is decadent and the cream corn excellent. If you like large onion rings, they are great. I had to get more sauce as they only had sauce in small cups. I went and got more as it wasn't enough for me. Warning- go earlier as they do run out if some items. We heard that as we were leaving at 7 and others have said this often happens. Definitely worth a try if you like barbecue. read more

The food was delicious the customer service top knotch. The best part was having the owner himself come to our table and making us feel at home. We drove all the way from Hemet to come have dinner there. It definitely was worth the drive. We will be back for the Dino rib next time. read more

The food here is amazing, specifically the beef ribs and pastrami! Those are both specialties that frequently come and go, but are hands down the best. On the normal menu, the smoked turkey and ribs are my favorite. The baked Beans are my favorite side along with the sweet potatoes! Good comfort food all around. The owner and pitmaster comes out to check on you frequently, he and the team are really kind! read more

Delicious food, great service. This place is a gem and worth going and checking it out!

There's a new bbq king in OC and it's Hickory + Spice! Heritage BBQ has nothing on this place I hate to say. Hickory + Spice seems like it's run by a multi-time bbq champ so that might help account for it, but do not sleep on this gem. Brisket - 5/5 - better than many spots I've had in Austin. Pork ribs 5/5 - Amazing, best I've ever had. Smoked Turkey - 3.5/5 - Good especially for sandwiches, very juicy but nothing crazy flavor wise for me. Mac N Cheese - 3/5. It's alright...kind of runny and mild when I was hoping it'd be richer and creamier. Still good though. read more

My wife and I have been back a handful of times now and the food is ALWAYS excellent! From the pulled pork to the tri tip to the brisket... and the sides are PHENOMENAL! Mac and cheese, seasoned tater tot's, all great! We tried cornbread and AMAZING. We saw the beef ribs and WOW, talk about a serving! We're local, so of course we'll be back. read more

For the best bbq in California (and probably most other states), you gotta pay a little extra, but you will be wowed. First, the onion rings did not disappoint. They truly are the best. They're breaded so they don't fall apart, and they're sweet yet salty.. just so flavorful and good. You really don't need dip with it but my husband did love the mustard it came with. My 5 year old liked them! He also loved my ribs, and they were the best ribs I've ever had. My husband got the brisket. I thought the ribs were an excellent portion size especially since the bone was so meaty! Made me realize ribs I had a couple weeks ago elsewhere were pitiful! The kids split the chicken nugget and tots, and I'm glad I just got the one order for them. Big serving, tots were delicious! We didn't love the Mac n cheese.. but it wasn't hot so that played a factor. Pitmaster came to say hi too, how cool is that! Excellent spot, quick friendly service, we will definitely be back!! read more

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Delicious! We were in the Target parking lot and I was about to order from another bbq place till my husband looked up and saw Hickory & Spice BBQ so we decided to try it out. The place is super spacious and has plenty of tables for bigger groups to gather. We ordered the brisket plate with 2 sides (tater tots and creamed corn), half rack of the pork ribs, and a pulled pork sandwich. The flavor of the meats were so good. The brisket was really tender and so flavorful! This entire meal fed 5 people so they weren't skimpy on the portions. I definitely recommend looking them up and giving the bbq here a try. Great customer service too! read more

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Looks like this place has been winning tons of bbq competitions. In an interesting location. I made my way over during lunch and it was very busy. It' also has been going viral on social media. They were a bit short staffed. But the owner made sure to come talk to every single guest while they were waiting for their food. I ordered the brisket along with the adult Mac and cheese and the world famous onion rings. The onion rings are so darn good. It has a sweet maui onion and sugar seasoning. The fatty brisket was great as well. Fell apart perfectly in my mouth. Mac and cheese I ended up finishing on the spot, when the goal was to bring some home. Recommendation: Onion rings, brisket, adult Mac and cheese read more

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Definitely worth of the best barbecue spots in Orange County. I enjoyed their meats and the sides are good as well. I just put them on third but not by much. On a personal note due to the sides, not bad, just a personal preference. read more

We had been waiting to pay a visit to try the bbq and we were definitely not disappointed. We tried the ribs & brisket which were all amazing. read more

Hickory & Spice - Inside - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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Some of the BBQ around. Great wait staff. The food is absolutely delicious. Great beer as well

Hickory & Spice 2143 N Tustin St, Orange, CA 92865 If you love BBQ you got to eat at Hickory & Spice in Orange where Pitmaster Rick serves up the tastiest tenderess slip off the bone ribs and the juiciest most delicious brisket in all of Orange County. Everything was so good from their pulled pork, tater tots, cream corn, and make sure to leave room for their world famous onion rings. They're over the top crunchy goodness is worth coming back for again and again. read more

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This place reminds me of bbq joints in the south where I am from. Cozy and calm atmosphere! The food was good too. I really enjoyed the ranch beans. Service was good as well as the owner and waiter checked on us several times. My only complaint isn't really important but I do wish they had fresh tea/fountain drinks to really make it feel like a bbq spot where I'm from and bbq sauce on the table for free pour but that's neither here nor there. read more

Best BBQ in Orange County! 12/10 Every item on the menu is INCREDIBLE! I gladly drive from Coto to this spot because no other spot comes close read more

Hickory & Spice - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

This is the second time I have eaten at Hickory & Spice. I can't say enough good things about this restaurant! You're greeted with a wan hello even as you're coming through the door! The holiday decorations are to die for. The food was served promptly by a friendly waiter. My pork ribs had a fantastic smoke ring and the flavor was delicious! The cream corn is in reality an elote street corn in a cream sauce with all the right fixings. Let's not forget the 'adult' Mac n cheese - over-the-top flavor! Who knew sun dried tomatoes were the bomb in M&C?? I highly recommend H&S. Great food and they test you right! read more

Hickory & Spice - Here is a small sample of the holiday decorations in front of their smoking wood! - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

What a fantastic meal! We ordered pork ribs, pulled pork, and brisket (half lean, half moist) along with onion rings, adult mac and cheese, slaw, and sweet potato casserole. We're chowing down and the owner, Rick Mysse, comes out to chat. I'm a competition BBQ judge and knew Rick was a very successful competition BBQ cook, so I mentioned how we came to find his restaurant. A few minutes later, he comes back with a giant beef rib (on the house!). It was amazingly tender and flavorful. The pork ribs were exceptionally tender with a nice balance of tang and sweet on the sauce. Pork was moist and flavorful. The brisket (lean and moist) were both excellent as well. Eat it without sauce, and be sure to try the pickles and onions with it. The meats have just the right amount of smoke as well. As for the sides, the onion rings are crisp and flavorful. I personally like my slaw a bit sweeter than Rick's, but it provides a nice counterbalance to the pork and brisket. The adult mac and cheese has gouda, jack, and cheddar cheeses. It would be even better with a bit of browning on the top, but again, just personal preference. The sweet potato casserole could easily be dessert. Rick took me back to the kitchen and was as generous with his time as he was with his BBQ. On the way out, he gave me a bottle of the rub used on the beef rib. Service from the staff was also friendly, quick, and efficient. You won't be disappointed if you go here. PS. To the reviewers complaining about cost - Prices are right in line with the best BBQ joints around the country, even more so considering it's Orange County, CA. read more

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"Hickory & Spice BBQ" has been on my to-do list for a while. But the store is open four days a week. (It is closed Mon, Tue and Wed.) When I try a BBQ restaurant for the first time, I order pork ribs and beef brisket so that I can compare them to other BBQ restaurants I have visited. On this occasion, I ordered 1-lb of beef brisket ($32.00) and a pork spare rib plate ($22.00). This set comes with three pork ribs and choice of one side. I chose the "adult mac & cheese". A can of soda ($2.00) and tax ($4.34) brought my ticket to $60.34 before any gratuity. The ribs were well done. At first glance, the meat looks firm. But as you bite into it, the meat separates from the bone cleanly, and the meat is tender. Before serving, the kitchen applied a thin stroke of sauce. This interfered with my ability to experience flavor of the basic rub and smoke alone; but the sauce tasted good, and the application was light. The brisket was very good, too. The meat was tender and moist. It had a nice smoke taste, with a little under tone of pepper from the rub. The adult mac & cheese was interesting: Typically, when you order mac & cheese, the dish is "drier". This interpretation is more like pasta with cheese sauce. It was good; it was different from what you expect. The website has location and hours of operation: www.hickoryandspice*com I recently returned from Kansas City--a town that prides itself on its BBQ restaurants. The food here is as good as anything I ate in KC, MO. read more

Food: Brisket, Pulled Pork, Tots, Creamed Corn Got here right at 11:30 when they opened and I got my food right away. We ordered a pound each of brisket and pulled pork with sides of creamed corn and tater tots, everything was pretty good! The brisket had a nice flavor to it, as did the smoky pulled pork. They were not the greatest you'll ever have, but they are solid, especially in the lackluster OC American BBQ scene. The tater tots were dusted with a dry rub of sorts and it gave it a nice flavor and the wife said the creamed corn was up there with Summit House's corn. Other members in my group ordered the pork ribs, and onion rings. The onion rings were amazing (highly recommend). Nicely battered on the outside, with a dusting of the same rub that comes on the tots. Restaurant: The restaurant opens at 11:30am, make sure you are there as close to that time as you can be. We were able to go in, order, sit down and get our food in like 5-10 minutes. The whole time we were there eating, there was quite a long line of people trying to get in. Notes: You can only order the meats by the pound, no half pounds. One pound of brisket, one pound of pulled pork, tots, and corn was about $75. read more

The guys and I went last night for some BBQ. We were looking to feast. We went to Hickory and Spice, not knowing what to expect. They were busy, which is always a good sign. The restaurant was very clean, very new looking, not sure when they opened, but it has a new feel. One friend got a large brisket plate, the other got a large pork plate, I got a large pork rib plate. We shared an order of the onion rings (they call them "Lord of the Rings," how could we not?!). Portions were super generous, I finished my ribs, but both friends brought at least half of theirs home with them, because there was so much food. We all got tater tots and mac & cheese as our sides. Tots were epic, 10 out of 10. The mac was mid, I'd probably get corn or sweet potatoes next time. The gigantic onion rings are a must-have, my precious, one-ring-to-rule-them-all type situation. When I ordered, the cashier said they were out of ribs (it was the end of the night, and they sell until they sell out). I showed my devastation, and he went back and checked to see if there was enough for my large rib plate. Thankfully, there was just enough. Ribs were so tender, seasoned and sauced perfectly, fall-off-the-bone. I even ate the cartilage which was soft enough to easily eat. I picked some pulled pork and brisket off of my friends' plates, pulled pork was sauced very well, with a great texture. The brisket was some of the softest, most tender brisket I've had in California, better than 95% of OC BBQ places. They have a modest beer menu, but we all liked what we got. I got a hazy IPA that went great with everything. If you're looking for a good BBQ in North Orange County, Hickory and Spice BBQ in Orange needs to be your go to. Next time, I'm hoping to get back on a day they have beef ribs. read more

Hickory & Spice - Ribs, Mac & cheese, Tots (10/10). - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

This place is really good! We were in the area and were looking for a great place to eat and we found it. They were really friendly and helpful when ordering. The food was BOMB. We tried the brisket, pulled pork and turkey and they were awesome. Quick note - get the tots, you won't be disappointed. read more

Great food. Helpful service. Was blown away that this little shop in a random strip mall had great sandwhiches and amazing onion rings. Will definitely come back. read more

Meeting the hickory BBQ guy !! Glad Mr. Hickory stopped by our table We eat all the food it was so yummy !! Coming back for sure read more

Hickory & Spice - Mr Hickory & Russell - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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Found this place on Instagram. So good! Just enough spice in the rub, juiciest brisket I've ever had, onion rings are fantastic, and they have excellent beer! Super nice people as well and chill vibes. read more

Amazing barbecue! All those food lovers out who appreciate mouthwatering food, I highly recommend Hickory and Spice. The owner is a true artist that clearly recognizes the science behind the preparation and mastering the cooking process. The staff is very helpful and always a pleasure to see. If you're looking for a great barbecue, ambience and staff, Hickory and Spice is the right place to check out. Picture shows next day Turkey and Lord or the Rings (incredible onion rings, very worthy!). read more

Hickory & Spice - Next day smoked Turkey on a roll, with a side of onion rings. A dash of chili cranberry sauce made by the owner. - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

OK so we don't live that close but I wish we did. Today we took a ride just to have some great BBQ and friendly service. We ate our lunch of BBQ ribs, brisket, beans, sweet potato casserole, onion rings with fairy dust and tried the new item Tacos my husband had two tacos one pork and one brisket he loved them great hit on the menu Rick! We love the food so much we even ordered food to go, even though we did not finish our full lunch. They do give you plenty. Sorry no pictures but the pictures of the food and the food you get look the same. No surprises. This place is a must go to!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the great food Hickory & Spice!!! read more

The food is really good! Unfortunately I didn't get his name, but the man who took our order and served us our food was very kind!! The service is excellent and it's calm and quiet inside. Perfect little spot. read more

Food was absolutely delicious. Really enjoyed the pulled pork. The beans and coleslaw were superb. Employees work their butts off. We will be back ordered things for Father's Day. Everyone enjoyed it. read more

Food and service were both amazing! Definitely coming back for more ribs and brisket :)

I was really, really looking forward to Hickory & Spice. I miss Texas barbecue and keep getting my hopes up visiting BBQ joints in California just to be disappointed. In a nutshell, the proteins were bland and had no character. The sides were mostly very sweet and a mixed bag. Items I tried: Beef brisket plate with ranch beans and mac & cheese Pork spare rib plate with sweet potato casserole and tater tots Extra side of cole slaw First, the cole slaw was the best thing of the meal. Crunchy, bright, and really great use of celery seed. The proteins: Neither the brisket or the spare ribs had any discernible bark or crust. Neither had any noticeable smoke flavor. The brisket texture otherwise was fine -- it was juicy and tender. But it tasted like it had been brined (or pickled like corned beef) and it ended up tasting like pastrami. It wasn't objectively bad food, it just tasted nothing like barbecue and definitely not Texas barbecue. The spare ribs tasted like an attempt to do "indoor barbecue" by boiling or pressure cooking ribs, then finishing them in the oven. Flavor-wise, they tasted closer to someone's first attempt at Chinese sticky spare ribs, to be honest. The texture of the center cuts (or whatever ribs were put in the center of the "rack") was good. The meat was tender and pulled away from the bone with a slight tug, but the exterior had nothing to offer. The end piece ribs were tough and chewy. The sides: Tater tots: Fried perfectly, but the "fairy dust" on the outside was really sweet, a bit like funnel cake. Sweet potato with pecan crumble: Flavor was really really good, just too sweet. Mac & cheese: Not mac & cheese. It was penne pasta in a bland, loose, grainy, mildly cheesy sauce. Ranch beans: A blend of cooked and undercooked beans. Very sweet. Bread & butter pickles: Pretty standard. Sweet and spiced. Pickled onions: Very very mild. They tasted like they were pickled in water. Just some thinly sliced plain white onion would have been better, I think. read more

Hickory & Spice - Left: Beef brisket plate (large) + ranch beans and mac & cheese. Right: Pork spare rib plate (large) + sweet potato casserole and tots. - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

I'd give this a 3.5 overall. Brisket 4/5 - was thickly sliced, semi-tender. I like when I feel like I'm getting a lot of meat, which was the case here. No smoke ring though. Mac and cheese 1/5- was very meh. Can't really taste any cheese flavor, and sun dried tomatoes are divisive. Almost didn't get it because of the sun dried tomatoes, but you strangely can't taste them very much either. Sweet surrender cookies and cream banana pudding 1/5 - $6 for something that is smaller than a tennis ball. I think I got 6 bites out of it, so a dollar a bite. NOT WORTH IT. That thing should be priced at like $3 max. Service 5/5 - staff are very friendly and nice read more

I love the food and comfortable vibe here. The spare ribs and onion rings were the best I've ever had. Service was great. Parking was plentiful and easy. read more

Hickory & Spice - Onion rings were so good! - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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Flavor was on point at Hickory & Spice. Now I must say, if I am paying $20 for an entree and side, I must be getting a respectable portion. When the food arrived, I was disappointed with the portion size because it looked like a kids meal . Service was fine and it was clean inside. This place is perfect if you're on a diet! read more

Hickory & Spice - Pulled pork with mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

It's a must! My husband smokes meats and they are delicious, so we are a little bit of snobs when it comes to smoked meats. Other than our backyard there's only one other place we will go to for some barbecue and I'm happy to say that now there's 2 places. This place has been on my list of places to try for about 2 years but since we don't live local and they have limited days and hours, it was harder to get to, but I'm so glad we finally made it happen. It felt like we ordered everything they had left! The brisket was amazingly tender. The pulled pork was yummy too. The kids got the mini corn dogs and didn't eat them bc they ate all of our meats! The sweet potato side was super delicious and sweet with a little crunch (pecans). The meats were served with some sweet pickles and pickles onions that were sweet with a crunch! My husband liked the beans, cornbread, coleslaw and onion rings. The service was top notch even though we came at the end of the evening when items were running out. They were so kind to offer whatever they had available. The restaurant was nothing fancy, but a great place to sit and eat. It was clean and not too loud. They have a bar and serve drinks as well. My husband is already planning round 2. read more

Feel like having a beef brisket sandwich. This is a perfect place to go. Don't forget to order to order the tater tots. read more

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I believe I am a barbecue connoisseur and I enjoy making and eating my fair amount of barbecue. Since, unfortunately my smoker is down and I've recently been reading few new techniques for smoking got me craving barbecue. My friend this recommended this place to me. Now I normally order beef ribs. but they didn't have it today. I also tend to judge a barbecue place by the brisket, so I decided to order the brisket and their turkey because it's always interesting to see how one does turkey. I also ordered a side of their tater tots with a sprinkling of fairy dust which is something a little sweet I think, as well as their banana pudding. Who doesn't like banana pudding! First the turkey it was absolutely moist and tender very juicy. Unfortunately I did not get any smokiness out of it, however I do see a slight assemblance of a smoke ring so I know it was in the smoker. but the star of this dish was not necessarily the turkey itself but the cranberry barbecue sauce that went with a turkey, this cranberry sauce was absolutely to die for. Second the brisket absolutely tender. You can cut it with a fork, again I did not get very much smokiness but the presence of a smoke ring was visible on the meat. however, it wasn't so much the main interior part of the brisket that was a star but the crust and the outer bark that was the star here. The bark with the smokiness and the spices all together just made that portion a little special. I felt that the tater tots were a little normal and mediocre when compared to the amazing meats here. I also really enjoyed the banana pudding called the sweet surrender it had little cookies inside that gave a beautiful textural difference that allowed this banana pudding to stand out. Finally come up the service. Everyone was super friendly they were very helpful and guiding me through the menu they were very willing to let me sample different items so that I was able to make the proper decisions. But not just that, but the owner came out to check on every single one of us and made sure that all of the items were up to standard. and I really found that enduring and demonstrated that he cared about his craft. This is a very solid barbecue place and highly recommended as one of the few here in orange county that demonstrates a love for the craft of bbq. read more

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Hands down, the best brisket sandwich I have ever had. Mom said the pulled pork sandwich was excellent too. Lots of smoke flavor and the slight sweetness from the mango salsa was perfect. Excellent and friendly service. read more