Mark T.

Gave Ribbro BBQ another shot. I was in the area and wanted BBQ, and although I have not had very good experiences at this location, I opted to give it another shot. As every experience I had at this location, the service was incredible, the people working here are always super polite, very helpful and friendly. This time I ordered the Brisket and a big Korean Beef Short Rib (one bone). The Brisket was tender and juicy, I would still have preferred a little more salt, but honestly I am partial to Texas style and this is BBQ with an Asian flair, so I guess that might be why it's just not as salty as I like, not that it wasn't good, it's just my preference. The Korean Beef Short Rib was also very tender and very flavorful, and not dry at all. I did not order sides cause that's just not my thing, when I go to BBQ, I am just there to eat the meat. I am glad that this experience was much better and am gladly raising the experience to a solid 3.5 to 4 stars.

Romuel Dave C.

We had Ribbro Bbq cater my friend's son's 1st birthday...and we are so happy that we did. THEY TOOK CARE OF EVERYTHING. Though for the price, I do believe it should always be like that. They are pricey, but what REAL BBQ spot isn't? It's expensive because it takes time, money, and effort to put out a product that's worthy of being called BBQ. Mama took care of our order, and went over the itemized list with us before we loaded up. Customer service 101. Inside is pretty typical of an OC BBQ Spot, wood/brown; however it was clean and spaced well. All the food was delicious...with my favorite being the burnt ends. The smoke flavor was well absorbed, and the meat not dry at all. That is literally the biggest fear of purchasing large order of smoked meats. The Kim Chi slaw is refreshing, and a new take on an otherwise typical/lackluster side. BBQ beans were nice touch on a classic. Potato salad and Mac n Cheese were also very good. Bread came un-toasted, and we were explained to that, that is not how it is usually done in-house, however with such a large order, it came to us plain. Not a deal breaker really, and honestly the correct way to do this. The side of BBQ sauce, all the utensils came packaged for us. Again, for the price, it should, but its always a nice touch that they actually did. I would love to come back and try some of their other dishes and meats. Thank you again Ribbro for making my friend's son's birthday a hit!

Dan L.

I had no idea this was here, and it's 10 minutes from my house. I had to give it a shot once I found it. This isn't your traditional bbq spot like you might find in Texas. I'll be nice. Pork belly burnt ends - cooked well, but not a fan of the Asian(ish) glaze. They were actually really good, but not traditional bbq. Brisket - cooked okay, but they were soggy like they've been just been sitting covered up with pieces stacked on top of each other. They were just okay. Pork ribs(spareribs) - were obviously sitting a while. A little dry, but a decent pull off the bone. Not a fan of the pepper rub. Sausage - tasted like bologna. I like smoked bologna, but these had no smoke to them. Not a fan. Mac 'n cheese - obviously used that packaged creamy cheese. It wasn't bad, though. Beans - not a fan. Pre-made and not good. I'll eat here again just to get the pork belly burnt ends. Unfortunately, this place is about average for California. I hope they do well. The staff here is really friendly. They got 3 stars due to the burnt ends and great staff. I recommend you give this place a shot, but set your expectations to California bbq and not Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas City, or the Carolina's.

Peter M.

A colleague and I had lunch at Ribbro recently, and I was pretty happy with my lunch. As you would kind of expect with the barbecue place, the food was pretty expensive, but they did have a lunch special with a brisket sandwich and it was pretty damn good. After I had finished my meal, I noticed that they had a pickle and onion bar. I sampled a few of them and they were delicious. It would've gone excellent with my lunch. I mentioned that they needed a big sign to the owners and they were super nice. The ambience was good kind of a dark lit barbecue place. I might come back. I don't know it's pretty expensive.

Taiyee V.

This place looks like a mom and pop spot owned by Korean family. The vibes were giving ~Texas ~ which was funny bc the cashier was an older Korean lady. We came on a Saturday around 1pm, it was not too busy. The fries were 10/10. It's crispy, well seasoned and I want an entire bag of it. The fried rice was 10/10, sooo good and kinda wish I ordered more of it since I was sharing this with my friends. The pork ribs were honestly forgettable. It's good but not great. However the SAUCES! They were amazinnggggg and I love that they give you pickled vegetables too (very Korean of them haha). We had a lot of fun trying the different sauces. It's a great time

Anita M.

The food here is amazing! We found this restaurant by chance and the meats are so flavorful and tender - you're basically guaranteed to like whatever you order. Co workers and I came here and we ordered a variety of meats from ribs to brisket as well as coleslaw, mac & cheese and their chips. These were so delicious and the price point wasn't bad either. Oh yeah, they also provide free toast with your orders and everything pairs together so well. The servers are super nice and helpful, and you always feel welcomed as soon as you enter the restaurant. If you like meats and/or bbq, this place is for you. 10/10 would recommend to anyone.

Jenn R.

The foodie sidekick picked up dinner for us and what I thought was going to be food for two, ended up being food for six. We had leftovers for dayyysss. THE FOOD. Ribbro Sampler (6 Meats + 4 Sides). Because he felt we needed to try almost all the meats and sample a variety of sides. Here's the breakdown... - Andouille Sausage. Smoky with a peppery snap and a mildly spicy finish. - Pork Ribs. These ribs carried a deep hickory aroma with a sweet-savory glaze; the Korean dry rub added a subtle heat that crept in after each bite. It is a bit on the firm side, but remained juicy. - Chicken. Tender and slightly sweet from the bulgogi brine with a gentle smokiness. - Pulled Pork. Juicy and lightly seasoned with smoky undertones. - Pork Belly Burnt Ends. These little cubes of happiness delivered rich, melty pork belly wrapped in a caramelized crust with a spicy-sweet gochujang kick. - Beef Brisket. Smoky and finished with a subtle Korean spice. It was a bit dry, but still good. - Tangy Slaw. Bright and crisp, the slaw gave a sharp vinegar pop that cut beautifully through all the richness. - Cornbread. Soft and lightly sweet, it had the classic crumbly texture that demanded a drizzle of honey. - Potato Salad. Creamy with light seasoning. The soft potatoes & crisp veggies were the perfect contrast that made every bite comforting. - BBQ Beans. Bathed in a rich sweet/tangy sauce, the beans were a hearty side dish that paired well with the meats. THE VERDICT. Ribbro delivered a meat medley of smoky, Korean-influenced BBQ that were all tasty. And, can confirm that leftovers are good over a period of days.

Our first experience with this place was fantastic! Even though it was a busy Saturday, we tried their Saturday special and everything was absolutely delicious. To top it off, the service was super friendly, which made us instant fans. Because that first experience was so great, we decided to cater from here to celebrate my son's graduation. While the rest of the food tasted great, we were really disappointed with the loaded potatoes. As you can see from the pictures, there was absolutely nothing "loaded" about them, they were missing quite a few ingredients and just looked sad. It was a huge bummer since this was a special celebration for my son. I'd still give them another chance because the flavor is there, but they definitely missed the mark on attention to detail for our big event.

Janel J.

So yummy. The pork belly burnt ends melt in your mouth. The kimchi slaw is packed with flavor. Their sauces, chefs kiss. The loaded fries with brisket...get in my belly.

David L.

Dude this place is amazing, favorite bbq spot in Irvine/ Lake Forrest area. I ordered the kimchi slaw, 1/2 lb of brisket, and bbq beans, and cornbread and toast. I must say everything was super good, brisket was juicy and tender. Beans had great flavor which wasn't too salty, and the slaw had the perfect amount of acidity. This place is such a home run, try it now! I wish I tried the ribs will be back!

Michael B.

American BBQ with a bit of a Korean flair? Sign me up. Truthfully, I think I've been spoiled with BBQ after living in Austin for a couple years. California may have Texas beat in a lot of things, but Texas has the upper hand when it comes to smokehouses. All this to say that I'm used to getting completely blown away from BBQ, and Ribbro didn't quite match that level. We got the Brisket, Pork Belly Ends, Pork Ribs, and Sausage. Brisket and Sausage were great! Pork Ribs had a nice crust but felt a bit dry to me. What Ribbro really has locked down are the sides. Hot damn! I was not expecting to be impressed by "seasonal veggies" but that broccoli may have been the best I've had in a long while. Potato salad was delicious and not heavy. And I absolutely loved the kimchi coleslaw (wasn't spicy for me). Very refreshing side to eat with your BBQ. Service was nice and friendly, and I liked the presentation of their plates too. I do think they're holding back on the heat a bit. For items labeled as "spicy," I was expecting them to pack some kind of punch. Even their red gochujang sauce, albeit very tasty, barely had any spice. One last pro for them: we don't get BBQ like this often because these kind of meals are very heavy. I end up feeling quite sluggish afterwards. I didn't get that feeling after this meal!

Hannah K.

If you're looking for something different from the typical BBQ spot, this Korean-inspired Texas BBQ joint is absolutely worth checking out. The fusion of flavors is really unique and brings a fresh twist to classic barbecue. The service was fantastic--friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. One of the highlights was the gochujang pork belly. It was incredibly juicy, packed with flavor, and had the perfect balance of smoky BBQ richness with that slightly sweet and spicy Korean kick. You can really tell they put thought into how the flavors come together. Mac and Cheese, potato salad, corn bread, and cole slaw were amazing as well.

Jake M.

I have been here twice. The first time I went, it was an easy 5 stars. The food was delicious and hot. The corn bread was fantastic! The second time I brought my wife and really hyped it up. This was about 7 months after the first time I went by myself. I finally thought there was an amazing bbq place around here. Well our trip that time was disappointing. The food was okay but not hot like the last time. And they changed their cornbread! The first time I had it, you could tell it was homemade and fresh. The second time I got it, you could tell it came from a package and it was smaller and not hot. A real bummer when a place starts off good and then cuts corners to cut costs and still charges the same prices to customers.