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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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
2 months ago
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
5 months ago
15 days ago
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
1 year ago
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
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
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
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
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
1 year ago
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
1 year ago
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
6 months ago
2 years ago
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
9 months ago
6 months ago
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
4 months ago
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
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
1 year ago
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
1 year ago
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
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
1 year ago
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
1 year ago
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
2 years ago
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
1 year ago
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2 years ago
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
2 years ago
1 year ago
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
2 years ago
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
2 years ago
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
2 years ago
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Ask the Community - JW Hayes BBQ
Is there indoor seating or is this place takeout only?
There was no seating anywhere that I saw. This is a deli counter, inside a liquor Store/Mini Market. Sat/Sun only. Very good food, ambiance is limited.
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