After years of wanting to try this place (and only living 5 minutes away), we FINALLY checked it out. It's gotten so many rave reviews, we couldn't resist. Last summer, we ate at the famous Franklin BBQ in Austin, TX. This was comparable. We ordered the Beef Brisket, Pork Spare Ribs, and Pork Butt-Pulled Pork. We added a side of Smoked Sweet Corn and Smoked Mac & Cheese. Our order included a mini side of Slaw, Rolls, Pickles, and BBQ Sauce. The meat was very delicious and tender, and fell off the bone. The sides were also so very good!! They have a great set up: deli counter at the back of the Minute King Market & Deli. Staff is super nice and helpful. They open only on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Staff said a lot of the sides and specials are likely to sell out by noon or 1 p.m. but it just depends on the turn out. There was no one waiting when we arrived around 11 a.m. We also grabbed a couple of Angry Orchard hard ciders to pair with our barbecue. Next time, I'll try the poultry (turkey and chicken). Highly recommend! read more

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Best ribs ever!! Great side dishes. Totally recommend this place. Get there early till run out. read more

Restaurant is located inside a convenience store. Meat was decent. We got beef ribs and brisket since they were sold out of tri tip (prob cause we came towards ends of day) I've definitely had more moist brisket. Beef rib was good. Sides were also okay and a little dry but again I think it's cause we went near close. read more

JW Hayes BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Delicious and quick BBQ that definitely will satisfy your craving! Had heard about this place for ages and finally got the chance to try. Service is wonderful, and there's some seats outside to grub right away if you can't bare to take it home! read more

The staff was nice and the food was good. You have to sit outside. It can be loud from the airport. There are only a few parking spots. read more

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Found this small Bbq place near my work. It has some seating outside to eat because its not a restaurant, its a liquor store with a smokehouse oit back. Service was good with helpful employees. I was a little early before they opened but they were kind enough to help me because i was studying menu because it was my first time there. I tried the brisket, prok ribs and deviled eggs. The brisket was super tender and juicy cut it with a fork softness. Ribs had good flavor with nice grilled taste and pull off bone easy. Deviled eggs were ok tasted better when dipped in thier bbq sauce. The bbq sauce was very good almost had a berry hint to it. Food came with pickles, coleslaw and bread. read more

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JW Hayes BBQ is everything I hoped it would be--and more! I'd been wanting to try this place after seeing it all over social media, and the fact that it's located inside a liquor store and only open on Saturdays just made it even more intriguing. Usually, the best barbecue spots have limited hours because they focus on quality over quantity, so I had high expectations going in. When we arrived, there was already a line, which only reassured me that we were in for something special. The prices were very reasonable, and the service was fast and friendly. We ordered ¾ lb of brisket and ¼ lb of tri-tip just to sample it, and to our surprise, it came with Hawaiian rolls, sauce, and coleslaw--such a nice touch! We didn't even wait to take it home; we ate right outside the liquor store, and wow--this BBQ did not disappoint. The brisket was insanely tender, juicy, and packed with smoky flavor. It immediately took me back to authentic Texas barbecue, which I've missed so much. The tri-tip was just as incredible--super tender and flavorful. I even made a little brisket and tri-tip sandwich with the rolls, and it was absolute perfection. Yes, they're only open on Saturdays, but that's exactly why the barbecue is so fresh. You know you're getting the best quality every single time. If you love barbecue, JW Hayes BBQ is a must-try. I'm already looking forward to my next visit! read more

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Arriving just after 10:30 A.M., I waited in line about 20 minutes to place my order at the counter. On this 1st visit, I ordered 1/2 pound of each of their Pork Spare Ribs (3 ribs), Beef Brisket (2 slices), and Pulled Pork. In addition, I ordered sides (8 oz. each) of Smoked Mac & Cheese and Smoked Sweet Corn. Orders came with complimentary Hawaiian sweet rolls, a small cup of coleslaw, pickle slices, and barbecue sauce. it's a good thing I opted to select a 3rd meat, as our order generously fed 2 of us All 3 meats were tender and full of smoky flavors -- our favorites were the beef brisket and pulled pork! We enjoyed the sides, as well. The young, energetic crew was personable and incredibly efficient! Expensive, especially for the quantity received. Parking is limited (a few additional spaces are in the back of the building). Glad to have experienced this little place! read more

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I'm grateful and appreciative of those who are passionate about their craft, and BBQ pit-masters are no exclusion. I'm a fan of TX BBQ in general and have tried the best of the best in Texas, so trying any new BBQ place (regardless of which State), I go in with an open mind and no pre-expectations. When my husband said he heard of a Texas Style BBQ spot in Newport Beach (that is only open on Saturdays), we decided to give it a try. They set up shop inside a corner store called, Minute King Market. Arrived early thinking they opened at 10am, but actually they open the counter and start selling at 10:30. Kudos btw, to the gentleman working in the Minute King Market who did a great job directing the foot traffic inside. NOTE: My review is soley based on their beef brisket, of which we ordered 1 lb. We had equal parts of the point and flats, which in my humble opinion, were legit with perfect tenderness and chew! The smoke ring and flavor of the brisket were spot on for our liking, which certainly did not disappoint. Our order came with 8 pieces of King's Hawaiian rolls, 2 small sides of 'slaw, 2 small sides of pickles, and 2 courtesy sides of sauce, which his brisket certainly does not need at all. Thank you Mr. Hayes for your dedication and passion to your craft. Your beef brisket certainly did not disappoint, and we enjoyed it wholeheartedly. Happy eating y'all...till next time! read more

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Now serving delicious BBQ during the week in addition to Saturdays! YAY! This is the first week that they started smoking up meats on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday's from 4pm -8pm, along with their usual Saturday's from 10:30am -4pm, or until they sell out. I have witnessed them selling out by 1pm, so it's best to go before or by noon. A few must's are their Pulled Pork Sandwich, their Beef Brisket Burger, and the Dino Bone, aka Prime Beef Short Rib, and of course a side of the smoked mac&cheese and coleslaw. read more

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Sooooooooo tasty! Make sure you get there early... the sell out! Highly recommend. Butter chicken was divine

Absolutely delicious. Came in on a Friday afternoon after work and wanted to try the brisket and Mac & cheese, unfortunately they were sold out of the brisket so we got the pork ribs instead and they were great. Super moist and the seasoning was super flavorful and it wasn't heavy on the bbq sauce (not the biggest bbq sauce lover). Mac & cheese was really good too-next time going to try to the potatoes. Service was fast and they packaged it very nicely and included pickles and bread. Can't wait to try more on their menu. read more

This truly is the best BBQ in SoCal and it blows my mind that they only have this many reviews. I can't wait till summer till they are open more days. Not only is the meat insane but the sides are just as good. The corn, coleslaw, Mac n cheese are 10/10 just to name a few. read more

We checked out JW Hayes on a friend's recommendation. Told us they were selling amazing BBQ out of the back of a liquor store in Newport Beach. We were definitely intrigued just on that alone. After trying the BBQ, I gotta say this is literally a hidden gem. It's top tier BBQ and just the randomness of it all made it that much better. We tried the pork ribs, brisket, smoked prime rib, the pulled pork (pork butt), and the prime brisket burger. The pork ribs were solid, seasoned and smoked very well. I think the pulled pork was probably my favorite. I made little sliders with rolls and pickles they give you, and it was amazing. The prime brisket burger was also another standout for me, just really good. The sides are all solid, I especially really liked the smoked scallop potatoes, so good. Overall, we really liked this place. One thing to note, they only open Saturdays so keep that in mind. We definitely want to come back and try some other things on the menu. read more

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We finally made it in! We tried the pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket,Mac n cheese, and Cole slaw. It was all excellent. The seasoning is perfect on the ribs. All the meats were tender. It is a bit pricey but we will come in again and recommend to others who want great bbq. The service was fast and friendly. read more

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I've been dying to try JW Hayes Barbecue after seeing it pop up on Instagram as a top "Texas BBQ" spot in the area. As a Texas native who knows good barbecue, I was pumped to finally make it to their Saturday pop-up at Minute King Liquor in Newport. I went all in: a full pound of brisket (the heart of Texas BBQ ), half pound of spare ribs, half pound of pulled pork, half pound of turkey, plus sides of mac & cheese and smoked scalloped potatoes. No cornbread, but they toss in Hawaiian rolls with every order--close enough since Texas BBQ usually rocks white bread anyway. The staff was super friendly--a younger crew who made the experience fun and welcoming . I paid without even checking the price (spoiler: it's pricey!), but I figured it'd be worth it if the hype held up. They hooked me up with sauce, pickles, and those rolls, so no complaints there. Now, the food: some hits, some misses. The coleslaw was --sweet, tangy, perfectly seasoned, not too wet or dry. Loved it. The smoked turkey breast was juicy and tender with solid flavor--another win . The pulled pork had a nice smoky vibe and paired with the sauce, I could see it shining in a sandwich with that coleslaw. Sides? Mac & cheese was meh--kinda cold and average. The smoked scalloped potatoes were tasty but TINY for $7 each. Like, one bite? Feeding four people, that felt like a rip-off for pasta and potatoes . The brisket, though? Big letdown. It was tender, sure, but where's the flavor? No smoke ring, no salt in the rub--it just didn't deliver that Texas punch I was craving . Spare ribs were fine but didn't wow me either. The sauce was decent but could use more heat or oomph. Overall, the sides and some meats were above average (I'd give 'em a C), but the brisket--the star of the show--flopped hard (sorry, an F there). For the price I paid, I honestly expected more. Pro tip for JW Hayes: throw in some white onion (a Texas classic!) and maybe kick up the sauce a notch . I won't be rushing back at this quality-to-cost ratio, but I'm not mad--the team's vibe and a few highlights kept it from being a total bust. read more

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To me this is a classic hole in the wall BBQ joint. It is located in a liquor store close to the freeway. Reminded me of my first trip to a BBQ joint in Texas that shared space with a gas station! My wife and I had the Brisket, Pork ribs, smoked mac and cheese, cole slaw and they threw in some smoked pinto beans. Over the past couple of years I have taken up smoking, brisket, prime rib, turkeys, pork shoulder etc. I have found that my brisket is pretty damn good, better (just to be clear - to me and some of my family) than some other BBQ joints. With that said - this is the best brisket I have ever had. I have eaten BBQ in TX, GA, Missouri, TN and CA with a few other places not worth mentioning. My wife and I both agreed that this was the best. Beans were very good as was the cole slaw (though my wife makes the best in my opinion and no - she doesn't read my reviews). I even tell her this when we eat out and have cole slaw. I honestly can't wait to go here again (I live over an hour away). Some additional details - we ate about 11:30am so everything was pretty fresh. There was a small line - but it got longer after we ordered. There are a few tables outside to eat at - otherwise you'll have to eat in your car or take it to go. read more

The BBQ was just average to me. The brisket was good and passed the fold test. The turkey was juicy to bad they included a slice of skin. It was like rubber. The pork ribs had no real defined bone. I was picking the meat through the cartridge. Definitely not worth the money. The Mac and cheese was very good though. It was nice to get Kings Hawaiian Rolls with the meal. This is a one and done for me. I'm sticking with my favorite place in Orange read more

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10/10, hands down. Dare I say it? The best smoked bbq joint in the OC. Better than Heritage in San Juan Capistrano? 100%! I came around 1pm and they still had dino (beef) ribs. So tender with a nice smoke ring. Can share amongst 3 people. Very juicy. Brisket, tender, flavorful, and juicy. I forgot to ask for the fatty aka "juicy" piece but they ended giving me my prefered slice. Got a slice of tri tip to try and they gave it to me on the house. They didnt have to do that, so sweet of them. Smokey and delicious! Coleslaw: the perfect crunch and not too "mayo-y" Pickles: very refreshing and helped cut through the fattiness of the meats Would come back, no questions asked. read more

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I stopped by on Wednesday at 5pm and there was a short line, which was great compared to Saturdays. The boys working the front were sweet and the service was quick. I ordered a half pound of pork rib, a half chicken, and coleslaw. The chicken is my favorite item here, it's cooked to perfection. Super tender and juicy, same with pork ribs. I always pair the two with coleslaw and it's always fresh. read more

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First time visiting with my friend! We came in on a weekday so it wasn't really busy. The two boys working the counter were sweet and efficient. I got a half pound of the pork ribs and brisket, plus a side of scalloped potatoes. Both were super tender and moist. Probably the best brisket I've had, and it came with rolls and a small side of coleslaw, which was also good. The barbecue sauce is tangy and sweet. Will definitely be coming back to try more things! read more

JW Hayes BBQ - Scalloped potatoes - Barbeque Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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4.5. Best Texas BBQ in the Irvine/Newport area. Just saw a sign (see pic) they are extending open days from just Sat to Wed-Sat! The brisket, pulled pork, smoked turkey and chicken are all so good. The deviled eggs are really tasty as well as their 4-cheese smoked mac and cheese which has that extra kick. read more

JW Hayes BBQ - My haul today. At 1:30pm I got the last 1/2 lb of brisket. - Barbeque Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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First time customer and we're def coming back. The prime beef rib and beef brisket were so tender & juicy, and the smoke flavor is on point. The pulled pork was slightly on the dry side and could've used some jus. The half chicken and sides were average. They also give you complimentary pickles and dinner rolls. It is slightly on the pricey side, but hits the spot if you're craving BBQ. read more

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First time customer. I've been wanting to try this place for a while. Typically barbecue is really expensive. The reasonable priced food was very good. I got the pork ribs and brisket with Mac and cheese. The smoky flavor was really good however, I have to try the beef ribs and tri-tip next time. Guys at the deli were great really nice friendly. Can't wait to come back. read more

We went on a Saturday at about 11:30 AM. There was a line, but it wasn't too long. I posted a picture of the menu and items that were available. We got pulled pork, pork, ribs, brisket. We got a few sides as well. I wasn't too excited about the sides, they were pretty standard. The pulled pork was our favorite, the brisket was good but fatty. My husband said the ribs were exactly how they're supposed to be very tender but Had some chew. The good thing is that it's excellent barbecue that you don't have to wait in a two hour line to get like heritage, but the sides leave something to be desired. read more

JW Hayes BBQ - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Place to be 1st thing Saturday morning. JW Hayes BBQ won't disappoint however BBQ is OC can be $$$ so be prepared to pay. Brisket, beans, chili, (mix the chili and beans together) delish. Line moves fast and make sure to support the liquor store - he is a gem! read more

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updating the review, nov2024 (non holiday weekend) 930, first in line 945, second person arrives 1000, sixth by 1030, a good dozen people or so, give or take that's significantly shorter than the last time i came, and i feel like they have a lot more people working so the line moves faster too -- all big pluses for a place that was already great with a pretty long wait then of course, ended up not ordering enough/eating it all myself like an idiot + came back at 1130 and there's probably just 8 some odd groups ahead of me. much better than i've grown accustomed to double cut pork chops and chicken breast were the only things sold out when i got back, and i've never tried them so they're probably worth a shot. otherwise, fantastic brisket, every single time. thank you guys for the great bbq! read more

Very good! You'd never know by the store front. Brisket burger was something I never had or heard of.. was very good.

Good barbecue in a kitschy location, open 1 day of the week at an atrocious price. Pay about $60 per person to get your fill while seated outside a googie-era liquor store at the takeoff end of the JohnWayneAirport, getting your eardrums torn to smithereens and lunch seasoned with fine elements of commercial jetfuel and exhaust. You cant even see the damn planes because of the cantilever roofs. I used to live in Crenshaw; Any black church on a Sunday will have a guy manning a smoker out front and do you just as much for a third of the price, without a snaking line through a liquor store. If you'll sit through his rant about food safety officers, he might even throw in an extra link. read more

I would not recommend this place at all. The brisket was ok, not great. The pork ribs, again ok. The Tri tip was gross, inedible. Tasted like straight butane gas. Sides, ok At best. They forgot my corn - how is that possible with less than 10 things on the menu. Pricey as well for 4/10 BBQ. Anyone who thinks this is good BBQ should jump on a plane across the street and go to Texas. Any place anywhere in Texas will be at least twice as good as this place. This place is just hype, not good food, save your $. read more

If I could leave this BBQ "COUNTER" a negative zero I would. The prices are a complete scam I paid $ 20 for two Rib bones no meat and all fat!! I paid again by the pound price for dry not a smoky taste Brisket $ 45 . In addition I purchased other items. Three sides one was the Mac and Cheese no taste at all or flavor. The prices of all were ridiculous . I have traveled all over the world from high end to food stands. I set my food bar pretty high however this place is just foul. Moving on ...... I felt sick to my stomach all night and was up with stomach pains and cramps. I called JW BBQ to report this and they have a non working number on yelp ? They are open once a week they have another number that I tried to inform them that the food made me sick and it goes straight to voicemail. Having said all of this ..... I am disgusted with the food , the fact that they charge customers for fat not meat . The grand finale was getting sick from this "BBQ" Joint!! ( I mean counter) I will not be back ever and if I can ever get an answer from the owner a full refund would be the least he could do to make this right. read more

No pun intended, but I have a bone to pick with this place..... they have quite literally ruined every other BBQ place in CA. I went here for my first time today, and showed up 30 min early at 10 am. I was the fifth person in line. By the time they opened there were 20 people in line at 1030. I got the brisket, pork spare ribs, and a beef rib. Hands down the best BBQ I've ever had in CA, and some of the best BBQ I've had in years. The brisket melts in your mouth with immense flavor, the pork ribs are juicy, and the beef rib meat slides right off the bone with the slightest pull. All in all...this is likely going to be the only place I get BBQ in CA again. They've ruined all other places read more

When I visited here, they were out of brisket and several of the side orders. I was able to order the spare ribs and pulled pork. Both items are extremely expensive. $18 for a half pound of spare ribs which amounted to one and one half rib. For $18?? ! ! No way. And, the serving of pulled pork was $18 for a half pound which is pricey. I ate right outside of the Minute King convenience store where a small amount of chairs and tables are located. They tout a smoked/smokey flavor. Neither the spare ribs or the pulled pork had very much smoked flavor. The pulled pork was flavorless and could have used more salt. The spare ribs were nothing special. And, yes, you may ask if I have experience with good barbecue. I do and I have been to multiple good BBQ spots around the country. read more

Very good barbecue. We got the brisket and the pork spare ribs. The brisket was fantastic and not fatty. This food reheats very well too and is just as good the next day. I think all orders come with coleslaw and Hawaiian rolls also. read more

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Texas BBQ isn't about sauce, sides, or extras, but if you're going to make it and change $8+ per side/include it in your sandwiches, maybe don't half bake it or use store bought sauces? Texas BBQ is about meat and service. So let's talk about the dry lean brisket cuts you decided to slip into my 2lb order when I asked for fatty/moist only. Not to mention the deckle wasn't trimmed AT ALL on the pieces that were "moist". Texas BBQ is about smoke. It taste like you gave it a quick smoke and left it in the cooler the rest of the way, bark fell off on the cutting board. Service? I get we're in Orange County and it's almost November, but if you and the boys want to talk politics/allow for it outside of your dinner table with your family, then expect to be judged on it. Trump 2024 this, Trump that, if I wanted to be my crazy angry uncle's house I'd go there. Keep the politics at home. I see you on social media trying to argue with customers. "Try making it yourself, times expensive because of..., I give myself an A+..." Let the food speak. read more

Yuck. Bought $69 of tri-tip and it's gross. Spit out the first 2 bites--fatty and tough at the same time. The sauce they give you is a sick sweet mess that tastes like something out of a bottle from Ralphs. Turkey is not at all "smoked" and tastes like bland cooked turkey from anywhere but at $36/lb. "Smoked" Mac and cheese is worse than you get from any cardboard box version. The dog walked away from it. read more

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The ribs were amazing. Although they were a bit over cooked as just picking them up was enough for the meat to start pulling away from the bone, they were not dry at all. The smoked Mac and cheese were good. The rolls weren't anything special, they were just the Kings Hawaiian sweet rolls you can get from the store. Their BBQ sauce, that they gave us in little containers was different. Delicious but it tasted citrusy. The ribs definitely carried on this one. read more

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Everything we tried (beef ribs, brisket slices, spareribs, turkey breast) was fantastic. Few BBQ places get brisket done right (especially in CA) but this is one of them that does. Spareribs did not disappoint either. It's clear that JW Hayes uses quality meat to start with and it shows in the final product. Seating is limited to a few small tables outside as this is still very much a convenience store, so plan on tailgating or taking to go. Just be sure to get there early because you will wait in line (we happily waited almost an hour) but that is the price of admission for great barbecue. read more

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THE BEST BBQ IN CALI. This place was outstanding!!! The service moves carefully it's a long wait I'll say. But ambiance is inside a liquor store of course but WORTH THE LONG WAIT! read more

JW Hayes bbq is an excellent Texas style bbq that rivals heritage bbq in San Juan Capistrano.