The food in this place is fantastic!! The pulled pork sandwich was so tender and taste was on point. The staff was very pleasant!! The owner Rick is a national awards bbq smoker. He has won over 30 awards and trophies. Please stop by you won't regret it! The restaurant inside is very homey. read more

First time here with my wife and kids Customer service Stefano was so polite & he recommended what to order and we don't regret it highly recommend this place.... Food was amazing 10/10 read more

Stopped by to try a new restaurant. The air conditioning wasn't working inside. They only have one unisex restroom. The prices for the quantity of food given is expensive for an average bbq. There are no fountian drinks only refrigerated drinks. The cashier was not pleasant and no customer service. The owner came out and said hi but didn't ask how the food was so I didn't give my opinion. The presentation of the food was nice. But unless you have a lot of money , this place is not for you. I spent over $104.00 for 3 adult items , 1 child item and 5 waters. You can get just as good bbq at wood ranch, Lucile's or Dickey's BBQ. For the amount of money, I expected better service. Most bbq places provide biscuits, rolls or bread and sauces. I support support small businesses but expected better customer service. You order at the cashier and they bring food to your table. Their silverware is plastic. read more

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Best BBQ place in California from a Kansas city boy (husband)!!!. well balanced flavors and juicy read more

Hickory & Spice - Smoked turkey plate with a side of Mac and cheese, ranch beans - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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I have never taken the time to leave a review but here goes. I absolutely love the onion rings BUT was extremely disappointed that for $20.00 (2 orders) we received 10 onion rings. How can an onion ring cost $2.00 each?!?! read more

To be honest.. I have had better BBQ. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty good but not worthy of 5 stars. I feel like the portions were small for the prices. $22 for the Brisket plate, I don't think they give you much meat for the price. I don't think I would be coming here again just because of the prices. read more

Hickory & Spice - Brisket plate with Mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

BRISKET! BRISKET! BRISKET!! Absolutely perfect and NO sauce needed! We got a pound of brisket and a pound of pulled pork. Both were totally amazing!! Went back for more takeout a week later! Ordered the same meats but added the onion rings which are so damn good! Thick cut sweet onions with the perfect amount of crunchy goodness on the outside! Those complaining about the price clearly don't understand smoking/bbq OR the cost of premium meats! It's very labor intensive and this place does it to perfection! SO juicy! Best bbq we've ever had! And we've had a lot of Texas BBQ! read more

Hickory & Spice - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

We were so excited to try this place. And well.... What a disappointment. First of all--no chicken? Seriously? How is that possible? And why would you, as a restaurant, not at least have a chicken option? The prices are OUTRAGEOUS. But we would have been ok with that if the portions weren't so small. For $32, I was at least expecting to have some kind of leftovers or at least have my mind blown by the food. Being expensive with small portions doesn't make you an elite restaurant. It just makes you overpriced and cheap all at the same time. Our food was lukewarm at best. The sides weren't hot either. It was average tasting--nothing that was redeeming. We won't be back. And we will be telling all of our friends to not even waste their time. read more

I have to say that this place was interesting. Clean, well organized and new. The max and cheese that came with my meal was clearly made there and I liked it. For the meat I order the brisket and it came with a sauce. Nothing to write about the sauce which was a good basic bbq sauce. The meat was very nice although I wished I would have gotten a little bit more. It was a tad salty, good ring, and moisture level. I wished someone would have asked me if I wanted a little more fat on my meat as I like it closer to the flat than the point but hey it worked. Now a days pricing is always a problem and I have to say that this was the other obvious issue for me. It was hard to come back and spend the amount that I did for lunch just for what I got. That is an issue primarily because well it's hard to pay what I would pay for dinner at lunch. read more

We had a birthday party for my daughter and we needed food - right. I found this place through Yelp as a suggestion. I ordered brisket, chicken, corn, beans, Mac and nuggets/tater tots. We had way too much food left over, but our guests said this was the best brisket they have ever had. I highly recommend this place for catering your next party. read more

6 stars. 5for being good bbq and 1 for the work ethic it takes to smoke a 22 hour brisket. Real Texas style bbq! no frills and straight up bbq. no beer yet as it's soft opening phase but the food is a good secret before it gets too crowded. Love it. read more

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DAMN GOOD BBQ! After living in Texas for a few years I've experienced some good bbq and this was fantastic. The pulled pork sandwich, brisket, Mac & cheese, beans, pecan side were all fantastic! We did takeout and it was a quick process. So happy to have a good bbq spot near us. Can't wait to go in again. Also, for the ppl giving bad reviews for a salad or chicken. This place is not for you. Bye Felicia. read more

Southern BBQ at its best! Lived just outside of Houston for 2 1/2 years and don't remember it being this good. Atmosphere is laid back and comfortable. They have a bar, beer and wine. The owner is very personable and has been there every time I have been there. Good place for families. read more

The best in Orange - everything from the Ribs to the Brisket and his Cole Slaw is definitely the best - great beers to choose from and our go to BBQ joint - and we drive 30 minutes from South County to enjoy and yes it's finger licking good for real! read more

Food has good taste, but was room temperature. Portions are the smallest I've ever seen. $15 Turkey sandwich is the size of a small hamburger bun and comes with no sides. The brisket plate is $22 and comes with one side...want the brisket plate with two sides? That'll be $32! With the $22 plate you get about half the amount of meat that you would expect for the price. Don't come here if you are hungry. BBQ beans were good, but also a very small portion. I had to ask for BBQ sauce. Service was fine, everyone was new and being trained. Interior was nice, but inside it was eerily museum quiet. Sadly, with so many options in Orange, I don't see us ever coming back. read more

So good! Located in the Target shopping center off Tustin Ave. & Meats. We ordered brisket, spare ribs, creamed corn, mac & cheese, tator tots and onion rings. I can't even pick a favorite item. They were all delicious! We will definitely be back! No outdoor seating, so pup can't join us, but they have plenty of indoor seating. Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu! read more

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Hands down the best BBQ in Orange County. I have been here twice now and both times they've knocked it outta the park. Brisket is tender and great flavor. I pair with the vinegar slaw. The guy who owns this place bleeds BBQ. He's the real deal and so is Hickory & Spice. Will be back again and again! read more

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This is not your average BBQ. Its not even excellent BBQ. It is literally the most mind blowing competition level BBQ you may likely ever eat to the point that every bite is practically a religious experience. And this was true of all ten different items i tried, even down to the tater tots! On top of the food: the atmosphere, interior design, and hospitality of the staff makes Hickory and Spice a truly gourmet experience. I talked with the head cook, Rick, who with the help of his son, Luke, has been winning national BBQ competitions for half a decade. Rick has since become bored with winning so often that he wanted to take on a new, even harder challenge: starting a restaurant (much to Luke's chagrin!). Are the prices high relative to the portions when compared to most BBQ places? Yes. Do they have some restrictions that might offend the average restaurant goer (such as not offering ranch dressing)? Yes. But this is not a place you go to because you're "just looking for a meal". This is a mecca that will attract BBQ enthusiasts from far out of county and probably even out of state to experience. I used to go to Orange Hill to get their Tomahawk steak whenever i had an excuse to celebrate with delicious meats but I will now be replacing that will Hickory and Spices brisket moving forward! Thank you Rick, Luke, and team! read more

I highly recommend you give this place a try. Probably the best BBQ joint I've been to. The thirty plus BBQ trophies on the walls are well deserved. They were cool, they brought us samples of all the meats on their menu today and all of it was amazing. We will be back. read more

Best BBQ anywhere, easily. Rick is the pitmaster and has a bunch of awards, for good reason. His style and menu are simple, the meat falls off the bone and is packed with flavor. Highly recommended. read more

First time visitors and both my husband and I loved it. We tried the pulled pork sandwich, rib plate with ranch beans and onion rings. We really enjoyed everything and can't wait to return to try the brisket (which looked amazing). We both grew up loving Chris 'n Pit's BBQ and although the menu is smaller here, the quality is far superior! Had a chance to meet Rick, the owner and pit master- a great guy. So happy to support a local, family-owned business, with outstanding food. We can't wait to return. read more

Just found out about this restaurant on Facebook and decided to stop in for lunch. The interior is clean and spacious. Lots of tables. We ordered the beef brisket sandwich and the pulled pork sandwich. Wow! The meat is so tender and the flavor is out of this world. You know you've got good bbq when you see all of the bbq competition trophies on display. The owner, Rick, came by to see how we enjoyed our meal. I absolutely love it when the owners care enough to check in with you for feedback. If you are in the Orange area, be sure to stop in. They are located in the Target shopping center on the corner of Tustin and Meats. read more

Hickory & Spice - Pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

Oh my goodness! I've never been a fan of BBQ... turns out I just wasn't a fan of mediocre BBQ! Every single thing I tried was the best I'd ever had -- but the brisket and onion rings totally converted me. Don't miss this one. read more

This place is the REAL DEAL! the best thing i can say about Hickory and Spice is I've been going for over a year and have never had a bad experience. The owner's eye for quality and consistency is absolutely amazing. if you get a chance to catch his beef ribs i would definitely head over. Make sure and order his made from scratch onion rings they are a must. read more

The Good: The Pulled Pork Sandwich (I asked for the slaw on the side, but they forgot to give it to me at all - it was my first time at this place and I'm pretty picky about coleslaw, so I wanted to try it before having it on my Sandwich). The barbecue sauce is great too. It's sweet and slightly spicy. It's got the perfect little kick for a wimp like me. That's about it for the Good. The Not So Good: the Mac & cheese was Meh, but I'm not a fan of Mac & cheese, anyway. I just thought this was going to be The One. The Beans. Wow, I just couldn't. They are not the average baked or BBQ beans, at all. They've got some spice, I don't know if it's Cumin or some sort of curry powder. Anyway, to me, it was more like Chili beans. Also, they don't have Lemonade. What a letdown. read more

I came in at 4pm on a Saturday and pulled up a seat at the bar to enjoy my food and a football game. The service was quick and everyone was very friendly. I had the smoked turkey combo with adult mac and cheese and a can of A&W root beer. I should probably have gotten a second side order because I wasn't quite full. Overall I enjoyed the place. They were playing Xmas music and the place was nicely decorated for Xmas a couple days after Thanksgiving. read more

The flavors are amazing! I had to try this out on their opening day because I live right down the street. Very impressed with the quality of this BBQ. Going to be a local hit guaranteed and I will definitely be back! Pic doesn't do it justice. read more

Hickory & Spice - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

Excellent food. Had some business to take care ran by this shop and decided to have some bbq. Dam it was good. Started with a rack a ribs and had to order some brisket. Absolutely delicious read more

Hickory & Spice - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

I visited this place bc many ppl suggested how good it was. I am a single senior. I asked if they can allow me to buy a half order of the onion rings & it wasn't allowed. I asked for pork ribs & it would possibly be available in another 20-min, ugh. It is dinner time by 5pm, geesh. Not very organized as everything should be available when you start the dinner hour. On a semi-positive note, I ordered the beef brisket plate which was tender, plus only 1 side of the sweet potato casserole. Everything Johnny brought to me was lukewarm, plus he forgot to give me a side of sauce until I had to ask him for it. Unfortunately, I gave him a 15% tip beforehand & they only deserved a lowly 5%. The place was clean at least. I would not recommend it for a single person especially at these prices & the reasons given. read more

Someone in OC who understands that simply slathering a bunch of sauce on some meat doesn't make it "Barbeque"! I don't have to go to Texas anymore to get the real thing. So far have had the brisket, pulled-pork sandwich, and ribs - with creamed corn, tator tots, and mac/cheese. All were wonderful! The creamed corn in particular with those bits of Jalapeño really came to life. The moist brisket pulled apart perfectly in our fingers - been a while since I've had it cooked this perfectly As folks have pointed out - it's not cheap - but there is a lot of work behind the scenes to get meat this tasty. There was not one of our family who felt hungry when we were done and I'm going to go with the quality vs. quantity debate. If you want volume and value - hit up an all you can eat buffet. If you want the real deal - this is the place! read more

Still fabulous. My husband needed some help learning to smoke brisket and Rick provided us with step by step instructions. No one would go to the lengths he did to help us. My husband hopes to figure this out, but it won't stop us from eating their amazing food. Brisket is the best I've eaten and my husband loves the ribs. And don't forget the other side dishes. The onion rings are fantastic! read more

This is hands down the best bbq I've had in Southern California. Had the brisket and ribs, slaw and beans, onion rings, and a taste of the turkey. Every bite was unique and delicious. The smoking was perfection and the texture of the meat is to die for. Why we should be so lucky to have legendary pitmaster Rick Mysee open a brick and mortar here is beyond me. But lucky we are. Holy shitballs, this is the bbq joint you're looking for. read more

When I give a five star review I'm willing to make a special trip (drive an hour plus) to taste the food again. I always hate the price of BBQ cause I'm a big eater so I'd have to spend a bucket of money to get full but the ribs don't need any sauce at all and their World Famous onion rings are the best onion rings I've ever tasted. You can eat the onion rings straight up (no sauce) or with ketchup (actually makes the onion rings worse ‍) or mix the yellow sauce (I believe to be a honey mustard) with the BBQ sauce and enjoy the crazy flavors. Delicious after a quick airfry too. Just do yourself a favor. I'd be interested to know who hates these two items and which restaurant might have better ones so I can compare read more

Great atmosphere! So fun to see all the BBQ trophies you really get to understand this is special bbq! Years of perfection! Got mine to go with onion rings! Sooo flavorful and quality! read more

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Incredibly moist and flavorful brisket with just the right amount of smoke. Need I say more?

I'll start off by saying that I am not the biggest fan of bbq...but goodness gracious, great balls of fire! This bbq is hands down some of the best bbq I have ever had! I ordered the brisket plate with creamed corn. The brisket was very tender, seasoned, and delicious!!! The creamed corn was also delicious and flavored perfectly! Other items we ordered were the onion rings, pulled pork sandwich, and the brisket sandwich. All highly recommended. I was hesitant on writing this review only to be selfish in hopes no one will ever find out so I could have it all to myself but I figured I must share how great the food and service was! Its only been open for 11 days but i predict this place will be crazy crowded and busier in no time! You must give this place a try!! read more

The food is ok here, the brisket was tender and pull apart. My biggest complaint is that all of the food came out very lukewarm at best and we dined in. The temperature of the food we received was equivalent to taking the food to go and then driving over 30 mins to get home and eating it. The dining experience you should get with food when eating at a restaurant is getting food that taste fresh and hot. Hope they can rectify this because food temperature is a major issue if you want it to taste good. read more

Hickory & Spice - Brisket was good but Mac & Cheese and Cream of Corn was nothing to remember - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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Awesome BBQ! Good craft beers. Best onion rings ever! Very friendly staff. This review is based upon several visits and the food and service is consistent. read more

Wow this bbq place is the bomb!!!! It's awesome from the brisket, pulled pork , ribs , onion rings, Mac and cheese all some of the best I have ever had. Amazing Owners to the staff all were so friendly. From top to bottom the best restaurant west of Texas in my opinion. read more

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For years Rick catered events I attended at church and we all wanted more! Finally there is a place to get it anytime we crave it. My son and I just drove all the way from San Clemente so we could the magic tater tot's. read more

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