We liked this place a lot and will return. The atmosphere is casual within reason. I wouldn't show up looking like a slob, though, first impressions being what they are. We ordered the fried pickles (always a must), the brisket plate with corn bread and deviled eggs as the chosen sides, and the mac -n- cheese shepherds pie. She enjoyed the mac -n- cheese but could finish only half of it. It's a lot of food no matter what entree you choose, so bring your appetite. The brisket was some of the best I've ever had. The place knows how to do brisket, that's for sure. I didn't care for the deviled eggs, though. I like deviled eggs, but their deviled eggs had too much going on in my opinion. I wouldn't order them again. The fried pickles come with a surprise. Not really, our server told us the round ball with the fried pickles was a fried pickled egg. It wasn't for me, but it might be for you. The service is excellent. Our server, Morgan, did a great job despite the place being hopping. We would happily sit in her station anytime. It's beer and wine only. They have a good selection of draft beers. My favorite wine is Makers Mark, so I can't speak to the wine. ;-) Pro tip 1: You will want to have a reservation if you are going on a Friday or a Saturday night. When we arrived for our 7:00 p.m. reservation, people without reservations were being quoted a wait of 45 minutes to an hour. Pro tip 2: If you have a reservation allow extra time to find a place to park. There is a lot going on in Old Town Orange, and parking can be a challenge. So why not five stars? The parking hassle factor. My pictures are better if you click on them. Cheers! read more

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Some things we liked- pulled pork was melt in your mouth tender, Mac n cheese was creamy, solid. Tater tot's came out nice and crispy, dipped with spicy ranch - muy bueno! Things that were nah, pass- the sausage had no snap! Tasted non-descript. Things that were just ok- the Burnt ends- sufficiently tender with a nice coating of sticky sauce but didnt blow us away. Service was prompt and efficient. This place had a nice ambiance but it probably would not be a destination spot for us. read more

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Walked in as a first time customer on a Saturday. It was very slow around noon. We sat down and ordered our iced tea and water and then placed our food order. Over an hour goes by and we still didn't receive our food. The server comes to inform us their WiFi was down but our food would be out shortly. About another 15 min goes by and we still don't have our food. Needless to say we got up and let them know we were leaving and didn't want the food. The people at a table that sat down about 20 min after us received their food. Wouldn't return. read more

YUMMMM!!! 4 small plate was Plenty for the two of us. Burnt Ends were tender & sweet. Smoked Candied Bacon is like dessert ~ lots of brown sugar. Mashed Potatoes may have some cheese in them, they're good. The Green Beans came with nice tiny long thin crisps of onion ~ unfortunately, the garlic was strong and bitter. We had three glasses of red wine. The pores were decent. The wine was nothing special. Happily, we were there on a very quiet Tuesday evening at 7 PM. We sat in a corner table with bench seating. Our waiter was also the bartender; I think it was Matt. He was perfectly attentive, friendly, and helpful. One thing Smoqued could improve, recover the bench seat. The fabric is worn out and unappealing. Not inexpensive, but it's worth the money. read more

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They have a great happy hour that I would highly recommend! Got the fried avocado and it was yummy and something I hadn't tried anywhere else. I always get the burnt ends which are flavorful and saucy - but this most recent time they seemed extra oily and hurt my stomach a tad but that could be a me thing. I also love adding even more bbq sauce which they have different types of bbq sauce on the table to try with your food. My spouse got the pulled pork sandwich and said it was good but next time wants to try a plate combo. The corn bread was a bit dry and not the best I've had but it was okay. Overall a decent spot for bbq if you're in old town! Oh and they had a great music play list! read more

Smoqued California BBQ - Burnt ends and fried avocado - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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First time visited and highly recommend! Food was delicious and staff was great. 6 in our party and everyone loved their choice. From chili to Mac n cheese and brisket was absolutely fabulous! The atmosphere was awesome. read more

I love going to Orange circle and last Saturday we decided to Smoqued This place is really cute and we were sat in a table with a bench and were very comfortable. I asked for water and it tasted like tap water even with lemon. I wouldn't get a soda or tea because I'm sure the ice comes from the same water source. I ordered the pork ribs which had zero flavor. The BBQ sauce is good but I could only smother the ribs with so much sauce. I had cornbread with the ribs which wasn't bad. The butter that came with it was soft which was perfect for spreading. The service was good and the server was very sweet. I'm glad I tried this place but probably won't come back. read more

Had dinner here with family to celebrate my father in law's birthday just like we did exactly a year ago except this time we left disappointed and never wanting to go back. From the food, to the ambiance, to the service.. Everything was BAD. Food was so-so. I honestly enjoyed the sides more than the main dish lol The resto in itself was ok, cute in a cozy type of way as it was dimly lit, but it was too damn hot in there. It was uncomfortable. Here's the main concern, the service. 1. Waitress (dark haired lady w/ tattoos) asked who ordered the fries before putting it down and we all said its for someone who was seated at the other end of the table (we had a long table, party of 9), she still proceeded to put the plate in front of me who was seated at the end and even spilled the sauce in the process. All she said was "OOPS". Never came back to replace the sauce, never came back to clean up the mess she made and didn't even bother serving the fries to the right person. 2. Servers just kept walking by us, not once did they offer water refills, no one bothered to clean up the sauce spill. It took me a while to find a server and ask for water and some boxes for our leftovers. 3. The bald manager/host was HELLA RUDE. My brother in law asked for a bag for all the leftover boxes and this guy literally gives my brother a look, turns around and starts walking away to grab a bag. The entire time we were there he was pretty much in what seems like a bad mood lol every interaction with him was unpleasant and it seemed like he was in a rush to get us out of there. I hope they work on their staffing and the service for other patrons tho I lowkey wouldn't recommend this place to anybody and I have 0 plans coming back. read more

Smoqued California BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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So far, everything is delicious the brisket you don't need a knife to cut it and it smoked just perfectly and the beans are amazing read more

Smoqued California BBQ - Macaroni and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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After grabbing some drinks at a nearby bar my group was feeling hungry and my friend mentioned how good they thought Smoqued was so off we were. First impression it's a relatively small location but love the vibe and very welcoming staff! This was a Friday night and I was shocked how quickly my group was sat! The host walked us to our seats where we met Cody. This guy is awesome! He was super chill, helpful with the menu and very attentive overall! He recommended some food and off we were. I got the pulled pork sammich and my friend got the 420 Mac. No exaggeration I polished off my plate in minutes! Then helped my friend eat their plate of 420 Mac and VERY tasty! Long story short, great vibes, AWESOME service from Cody and great food!! read more

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Old Town Orange is our go to for our weekend treats! We're trying to visit each restaurant and check each of them out! Today, we visited Smoqued California Barbecue. Got a couple of beers. Ordered a Brisket Plate which is Brisket, dry rubbed with a house blend of spices. Also got a Pork Plate! which is pork shoulder rubbed with the same house blend of spices! Both are said to be slow smoked with Red Oak. For sides, we had Deviled Eggs, Corn Bread, tater tots and Amazing Mac and Cheese. How was it? Well, it was ok at best. Mac and Cheese was great, that much I can say. The place looked really nice, service was ok but the BBQ fell short. Let me put it this way, I liked the sides better than the supposed star of the show. #smoqued #oldtownorange #orangeca #socallocal #soso #meh #yelp #yelpelite #bbq #barbecue #brisket #pork #porkshoulder #cornbread #tatertots #beer #cheers #macandcheese #deviledeggs #socalweekendwalkarounds #pinoyfoodie read more

Smoqued California BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

Poor service. Waited at the host stand for several minutes before a blonde lady walked up. Asked if we had reservations, no, seemed flustered, started looking around. Restaurant was at about 30% capacity, plenty of seating. She says I'll go check on it, walks off, never comes back. Another lady asked if we'd been helped, we told her blonde lady said she was checking on it (before we realized she wasn't coming back). Bald dude asked if we'd been helped, same thing. He walks off, then comes back and asks if we have reservations. No. Now it's a 30 minute wait with plenty of available seating. Place used to be cool, but we won't be coming back. Judging by purge reviews, the service issue seems to be a consistent pattern. Unfortunate. read more

Food was great and service as well. The brisket and chicken were highlights. They also managed a large group very well.

Great environment, excellent food, and of course a great costumer service, 10000% recommendations

We came to explore downtown Orange, CA while on a min vacation and found Smoqued. We were greeted and seated quickly. The restaurant was decorated for Christmas. I ordered the chili which came with a sweet corn muffin. My spouse ordered a two meat platter with brisket and pulled pork and it came with a pickle and two sides of his choice which were the candied bacon and tater tots. The chili was good and spicy just the way I like it. The brisket and pulled pork were tender and delicious. The candied bacon was really rich and yummy. The tater tots were hot and crispy. This was a great lunch. We couldn't eat everything so we had yummy leftovers for the next day. read more

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Vibes: When the food looked so good you forget to take a picture. Good beer options on tap and rustic vibes. Brisket & Ribs -- both tender to the point of breaking apart and falling off the bone. Hella good flavor and would totally get again. Sides: I really loved the green beans. They were super garlicky, flavorful and had a good crunch. The mashed potatoes were good as well but needed a bit more flavor. The Mac & cheese also needed a bit more flavor but overall was decent. My partner said the baked beans were decent as well. Paid parking lots around the area along with street parking. 2 BBQ sauce options to choose from: a habanero and house flavor. We didn't enjoy the habanero but my partner really liked the house bbq. Service -- super nice, quick and were very attentive to whatever we needed. Overall would definitely come here again. read more

After many years living in OC, and even across the street for a short time, we finally made it to Smoqued! I'm often skeptical of bbq beyond the south, but Smoqued delivered. We got the 4 meat combo and it was plenty of food for 2 adults to feel stuffed and have leftovers. The kids meal is also solid, with great portions for $12. Our server was delightful and very attentive, though it did seem like she had a few too many tables to attend to compared to her colleagues. The ambiance feels like very local vibes, with regulars sitting at the bar, and lots of groups there for weeknight dinners. HAPPY HOUR is from 3-6 Mon-Fri, but only has $8 apps, and a selection of around 4-5 options. I'd love to see some discounts on drinks as well in the future. Overall we felt like Smoqued was great quality food at a great value and we'd love to come back! read more

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Stopped in for a bite to eat and it looked promising. I ordered the avocado fries $13, it was not very good it was burnt and too crispy. I could barely taste the avocado. I also got the brisket which was my favorite it was tender and not chewy so delicious. My only complaint was that it was cold. The sauces were just okay too nothing spectacular. I wished they would have toasted the bread it was just blah. The service was slow and it seemed like forever to get my order, maybe that's why it was all cold by time I got to it. Restaurant is big with lots of tables. Street parking only which can easily get packed around there. They also serve a huge selection of beers here. Great for big parties with kids and for date nights. Overall, I would come back because of the brisket! read more

Smoqued California BBQ - Fried avocado - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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Location: by the Orange Circle. Street Parking in front or nearby. There are also parkings in the back. Combination Plates - 4 Meats ($38) plus $5 Steak additional + 2 sides + 2 cold white breads. Meats were all delicious - very tender, fall-off the bones Ribs, Brisket Steak, Brisket and Sausage. Sides - I chose Candied Bacon and mashed potatoes. Meats were very flavorful, and I did not need to add any sauces. Carnivore all the way tonight! lol. No veggies (well except potatoes). First time tasting Candied Bacons - definitely getting it again. Mashed potatoes were very good also. I wish they have those freshly bake dinner rolls like Texas Road House - that'd be heavenly perfect pairing with the meats. Two pieces of bread they served seemed like regular white breads straight out of the bag - no toast or warm up at all. The inside was surprisingly spacious and clean. Very nice decors lights hanging. Front staff was very friendly. No wait. Waitress forgot to bring us knife to cut our meats. Then I realized waitress also forgot white breads that come with the order. I had to ask for these items. Other than these two minor mishaps, the overall experience was good since the deliciously meats made up for it. read more

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Food is good. Ambience is nice. Good music choices. Service is what stood out here. Laura A is spectacular. (I think the A must stand for "angel" because that's what she is.) She was so quick to help with a table spill, adjusting order and refills. She was busy but still on top of all of their tables. No real vegan options besides maybe a couple sides. A few vegetarian options. read more

Smoqued California BBQ - Awards because they deserve them - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

The food at smoqued is delicious. I've used them twice for catering and they do not disappoint. I usually call in the morning, or a few days before, and submit my order. Micaela has helped me both times and she's been awesome to work with. The portions are big and the food is delicious! My guests always ask where the food is from. I've ordered ribs, chicken, Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, tri tip and corn bread. When I pick up the food, the restaurant is full and the ambience seems fun. They have a bar area but I've never tried any of their drinks. read more

Had lunch here & sat outdoors since we had a dog. The place wasn't too crowded in the afternoon. I ordered the pork shoulder with chili Mac & cheese & candied bacon ($28). The sides were great & I would order them again but the BBQ pork fell short of my expectations. The pork shoulder wasn't as juicy & flavorful as I expected. They offered 2 BBQ sauces which were basic & nothing special. It did not help with the flavor of the meat. I tried my friend's 3 meat combo: brisket, sausage, & ribs. They were good but nothing special. Overall, the food is good but not enough for me to go back. I think they need to season their meats more & offer more sauces. The server was nice & attentive especially with my dog, bringing out a water bowl for him. I appreciate how this place is pet friendly. read more

Smoqued California BBQ - Patio area - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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The food is good but.... I came in this evening to place an order to go. They were reasonably busy for Wednesday. I had walked there with my wife and dog who stayed outside. I went in to order, it took them 32 minutes to fill my BBQ order of pre-made brisket, ribs, corn bread, green beans, and candied bacon - two issues- first I specifically had asked for brisket point (fatty brisket). I made it very clear, I told the guy who took my order, the girl behind the bar, and the waitress. 3 people all of which said no problem.. Of course they gave me flat (lean brisket). I was unpacking the bag at the counter to check the order since "they always f you at the drive through" and the guy i ordered it from said before i got to the bottom box with the meat - "it is fatty brisket" I made sure??? Second issue this is bbq we all know its all cooked the green beans need to be fired a tiny bit and thats it. Since my wife was outside i came in and out 3 times every 5 minutes. The last time i came in I asked them how long for the order - the bar gal went in back and came and told me they said it will be right up. So I explained my situation of my wife and dog on the bench outside. I stated if it would more then 5 i want go outside and wait with my wife. - 14 minutes later that felt like 30 they got the order up- So then when i got home the $55 two meat dinner with an appetizer was Wrong and i was home ... This is so unfortunate I feel you cannot trust people to know thier own product the guy checked and made sure ???? The lack of awareness on the time and my situation made me feel like the staff just foes not care. That's how those actions make the client feel. It is very disappointing when you try to treat people with respect and do not be a pain in the ass - you just don't get good reliable service - it seems service is dead ..... read more

Wow, best potato salad, cornbread with sweet butter, brisket I have probably ever had. Fried chicken wasn't greasy with a buttermilk crunchy crust. The restaurant/ bar atmosphere was perfect being in old town orange and quite quant. Service was fast and friendly. Customer first type of attitude from the waitress and the owner/cook asked us how was the meal. Gotta try Smoqued, we drove 20 miles from a recommendation and will be driving back soon!!!! read more

First time here and it was amazing! The brisket plate with Mac n cheese and deviled eggs were nothing short of perfection. Lidia our server was extremely professional and recommended the brisket plate so we listened and thankful we did. The ambiance was nice as the music playing in the background made the experience memorable. Definitely coming back! read more

The food is amazing. We love the brisket, chicken, burnt ends and for the sides we enjoy deep fried avacado, deviled eggs, coleslaw. The staff is warm and welcoming. read more

Smoqued California BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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I've really been wanting to try this place and we stopped into today at happy hour to give it a shot. We stand in their doorway at the host stand for almost 10 minutes with no greeting. They have the worst entry ever as people cannot exit as you stand waiting for a table so it's just weird. Finally someone greets us and they ask us to sit at a booth, well the table next to us is listening to tik tok videos on full blast. We left immediately. Looked at reviews after and it seems their business isn't doing well customer service wise. I could tell we were about to be forgotten for a long while at our table glad we didn't even sit down. Won't come back. read more

We came here with a reservation made two days in advance for 7 PM on a Friday night- with three people for a birthday dinner, which was noted clearly on the reservation. Despite that, we waited several minutes at the host stand while the staff openly scrambled to find a table for us. Multiple employees were saying, "Where are we going to put them?" which was not a great first impression. We were seated in between one large table that was broken apart to make two tables, and during our meal, they were talking to each other over our table. After being seated, we ordered the cornbread appetizer, which took 40 minutes to arrive. Our entrees didn't come out until about an hour or so after sitting down, and throughout the meal we had to flag down our server just to get water refills. The food itself was actually good -- when it finally arrived -- but the overall service killed the experience. After about an hour and forty minutes, our server came by for essentially the second or third time all evening and immediately dropped off the check. She didn't ask if we wanted anything else or how our meal was. I told her again that it was a birthday and asked to see the dessert menu. She mentioned there was only one dessert (bread pudding with ice cream). When she brought it out 15 or so minutes later, there was no candle, no acknowledgment of the birthday from her, nothing. We were also charged for the dessert ($15) which was fine, but just added insult to injury. She simply set the dessert down and gave us a revised check including the dessert. Gotta love when the most attentive the server is all night is when they want your credit card. To say the service was bad is an understatement. I was here for over two hours, not by choice. it was simply not a good experience for a birthday celebration and I hope the owner can fix this place! read more

As nice as this place looks, the food was a huge letdown. Honestly, this was the worst BBQ I've ever had. My boyfriend ordered the brisket plate with cornbread and mac n' cheese. The mac was fantastic--creamy and flavorful--but the brisket was another story. It was tough, rubbery, and completely lacking in flavor. He managed to eat some, but I couldn't even swallow one bite. It wasn't smoky at all. After we paid, we mentioned it to the staff, and the chef tried to make it right by bringing another cut. It was slightly better but still far from good. My best guess is that they sous-vide the meat and then toss it on the smoker for appearance, which explains the texture and lack of depth. I ordered the steak salad. The steak had decent flavor, but it was so chewy--even though it was cooked medium rare--that it was nearly impossible to eat in a salad bowl. On a positive note, the iced tea was great and the service was friendly. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make up for the disappointing food. read more

The burnt ends are the best ever! Food portions are large enough to share. This place is our new favorite gathering place.

So just when I think I've found the best spots for certain kinds of food--whether it's Mexican, Italian, American, or in this case, barbecue--I find myself being completely blown away yet again. Smoqued BBQ left me speechless today. I walked in expecting a decent lunch, nothing too crazy, but was I wrong. From the moment I stepped inside, the place smelled incredible. It's exactly what you'd want a barbecue restaurant to look like: oakwood everywhere, exposed brick walls, and rustic chairs that set the perfect vibe. They even have a great bartender who was super friendly and got my order in no time. Just 10 minutes later, my meal arrived. I ordered the sandwich expecting a standard portion with maybe a small side of mac & cheese, but nope--they don't do small here. The mac & cheese came bubbling hot in this generously sized cast-iron skillet, and honestly, it was a meal in itself! The sandwich? Ridiculous. I've never had caramelized onions and brisket come together so perfectly. The brisket was tender and smoky, the onions were sweet and silky, and the bun was soft and flavorful--basically, barbecue perfection in every bite. I have a running joke whenever I go to BBQ spots that I order the barbecue sauce with a side of meat because I'm such a sauce fanatic. And here, they didn't disappoint. They had two sauces to choose from, and both were out-of-this-world good. And the mac & cheese? Forget about it. It's probably the best--or at least top three--I've ever had. Served sizzling in the skillet, the cheese melted perfectly and formed these crispy, golden edges that were just amazing! (that's why they call it that on the menu!). It was creamy, cheesy, crusty in all the right places, and perfectly seasoned. Every bite had me laughing to myself because of how insanely good it was. To top it all off, everything was only $19! For the quality, portions, and flavors, that's honestly a steal. I left there pretty full and totally satisfied. This is definitely a spot I'll be visiting at least once a month. If you're a barbecue lover and you're anywhere in the Orange County or LA area, this place is definitely worth the drive. Trust me, Smoqued BBQ will leave you smiling with every single bite. read more

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Worst service that I have ever experienced, all the servers (except Azul) were extremely unhelpful and the restrooms did not have soap for almost the entire time that I was there on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Completely unhygienic. I would not recommend eating here. I'm unsure on how the food tastes like because by the time the soap was added in the restrooms, I had lost my appetite and my food was cold. For the full story: I came on Sunday, February 1, 2026 early evening and after looking at the vintage and antique shops nearby, I wanted to wash my hands before eating a sandwich. My partner went into the men's restroom and let me know that the restroom had no soap and asked if I can go into the women's restroom to get him soap before he used the restroom. However, as I walked to the women's restroom, a woman outside let me know that there was no soap and she had notified staff and was waiting for them to replace the soap. I decided to go back and wait a couple of minutes until the woman came back. I checked the restroom a second time and still no soap, so we notified the closest server next to us. My boyfriend followed that server and the server said she couldn't change the soap but she would notify someone else. After another while waiting, our food had arrived. By this time, it must have been 30+ minutes without soap in the restrooms that we had noticed but who knows if it was even longer before that as there was the other lady who had notified me previously about the lack of soap. At some point, even the male server went into the restrooms and still did not change the soap dispenser. Completely unhygienic. By this point, our food had arrived and is getting cold, and we still couldn't wash our hands properly so I got fed up and went to another staff member who was the only one able to help and actually change the soap dispensers. All the other servers need training to change the soap. To have a BBQ place where people are eating pulled pork sandwiches and not have soap in either restroom is completely ridiculous and disgusting. I'm sorry but I will not be back again and I do not recommend this place. read more

Smoked brisket sandwich was good. Brisket pieces inside were tender and juicy and not too fatty. I liked how the sandwich nor the briskets didnt come drenched in sauce. The sauces are on the table for you to put as you wish. I enjoyed with sauces, the brisket was already flavorful and seasoned. read more

Great food. Great service. Will be back for sure. Great atmosphere. Also, there's parking behind the restaurant.

The service was not good at all I came in with my autistic brother he got a table outside while u went to get seated. The people infront of me wanted the table and removed my brother I let the host know and she still asked him to move. We just walked out If you can't accommodate disabled clients then why have a business at all! read more

Great fried chicken , tasty and juicy !! Good service , lots of seating , casual ambiance was relaxing . Large menu choices. Parking can be hard to find , sometimes , you may have a short walk but it's full of interesting shops and restaurants to explore. Worth trying out. read more

First off, make a reservation it gets busy there. Our waitress Destiny really took care of us. All the food we ordered was very good from the brisket cheesesteak , grilled steak plate and the burnt ends appetizer the sides also very good lots to choose from .The beers were also good I was able to sample them before I ordered them.Wonderful place keep up the good work guys we'll be back. read more

The service was attentive and quick. The restaurant was clean and had a few large TVs at the bar. I ordered the 3 meat combo and got 3 sides (1 extra). The meat servings were really small. I also got a Diet Pepsi, which was very flat tasting. All for about $44 and some change. The beef sausage was good and the ribs were good as well. As was the brisket, which was sliced into really little pieces. Side: baked beans- tasted average Side : Cole slaw- tasted really basic Side: Mac and cheese- tasted really good I bought the three meat because I wanted to share with wifey, but almost didn't get enough with the 3 meat combo, due to the small serving size of the meats. Would I return? Possibly, but now I know what to get. read more

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Another restaurant I have been missing out on, beyond happy that I finally stepped up and in. Their meats are good quality, prepared right, and a fair ratio of portion to price. I had the chicken and ribs combo plate. Chicken was great, went well with the two sauces on the table (my date had the regular chicken plate). The ribs were the true business, right off the bone! Had me wanting to order another plate on the spot. Got macaroni and cheese on the side as that's a classic to try at any restaurant, another smart move. Welcoming staff, welcoming environment. Our waitress was absolutely awesome. I forgot her name, but she had flower tattoos on her arms. If she is your waitress, anticipate the same friendly support during your meal. The location is by the circle in Orange. Fun shops all around, ample street parking. No regrets, go enjoy yourselves. read more

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We went on a Friday night around 5:30. They weren't very busy. The servicerwas not very attentive. Food was very good. The place was very clean. I found it kind of odd that it's a barbecue place but, they give you no wet ones or a wet cloth to clean your hands after the fact. read more