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    Sweet Lou's BBQ

    4.8 (379 reviews)
    ModerateBarbeque
    Closed 10:30 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Sweet Lou's BBQ Photos

    SWEET LOU'S BBQ ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Sweet Lou's BBQ

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    Reviews With Photos - Sweet Lou's BBQ

    Blueberry Corn Bread...
    Devany B.

    Sweet Lou's BBQ is a fantastic place to enjoy a delicious meal with family and friends. The staff is incredibly friendly, welcoming, and attentive, making the entire dining experience enjoyable. The BBQ is tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Every side dish we tried was just as delicious as the main course. Best of all, the portions are generous and reasonably priced. As a family of five, we were able to enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank. We will definitely be coming back! Highly recommended!

    Leeza D.

    I love BBQ and Sweet Lou's has been around for a while, but they just took over this space less than a year ago. Love the Ala cart and combo menus. The owners are very nice. The food is good. There's a nice seating area at the rear of the restaurant and plenty of parking. They have been BbQ'ing for almost 20 years so come and give the a try. Please come and create your own adventure.

    Pulled Pork Nachos
    Trent K.

    Came back to give it another try and way better than our first visit. Overall improvements to the service but the best part was the food. They must have changed whatever they were smoking the meat with because the flavors of the bbq is way better. The Mac and cheese was still a bit watery and not just what I like but I'm sure for others it's great. Definitely willing to come back after this visit and hoping they keep the consistency

    Brisket sandwich
    John O.

    There's a derelict Chuck E Cheese across the street and very little else in this quiet corner of Huntington Beach. Walk into the old A frame restaurant and they'll had you a clipboard to fill out your order. There's some covered seating in the back patio. This is a real family run place and Sweet Lou is front and center. He'll serve you up your order then pay at the cashier. They have brisket, pulled pork, ribs and sausage along with the classic bbq sides. The brisket looked a little hammered to me but sauced up on a roll it was good eating. My friend had pulled pork and rib tips and looked excellent. I will be back to try those. Beverages are an old selection of canned sodas and water.

    big beef rib combo with side of coleslaw
    Erin M.

    Oh my goodness! What a really great find. Thank you my fellow Yelpers for putting Sweet Lou's BBQ in my radar! FOOD My partner and I ordered two combos with a couple extras: - 4 meat combo & 4 oz side ($19) Brisket, Pulled Pork, Kielbasa Sausage, and Turkey - 1 big beef rib & 4 oz side ($15) - 8oz Mac n Cheese ($4) - 1 St. Louis spare pork rib ($3) - 1 pc Blueberry Cornbread ($3) The side options for the combos are baked beans, coleslaw, macaroni salad, or potato salad. For both combos, we ordered the coleslaw, which was surprisingly flavorful and refreshing. Sometimes places serve bland coleslaw, but everything here felt intentional and perfectly seasoned. Both combos were so good, but the bbq that blew me away were the big beef rib and the St. Louis spare rib. Next time, I'll be ordering just the beef rib combo and some extra St. Louis ribs. Yum! Both ribs were so moist. The beef rib fell off the bone completely! The bbq sauce was sweet but not overly so, and complimented the meat well. Mac & cheese was seasoned well. I kept going back for more! And the blueberry corn bread was moist, and the blueberries gave it a nice tang. Next time, we'll try the jalapeño one that was sold out when we got there. The owner brought a peach cobbler dump cake for us to try, and it was sooo good too! Not too sweet. Overall, I thought the food was priced really fairly compared to other local bbq joints in Orange County and LA. The quality of food is probably the best I've had at any bbq joint around here! (This will probably be our new go-to for beef ribs!) SERVICE Service was great here! We were greeted by the owner, Lou. And he really IS sweet! The two workers today, Irene and Irene (yes, there's two!) were so kind too. They took my order sheet, prepared our order, and even gave us an extra pork rib so we won't fight over it! (And you know what? It was so good - I think we would have fought over it!) AMBIANCE There are a few outdoor tables lining the perimeter of the restaurant and a small outdoor patio that is fenced off. The patio is inviting, lit up at night, and set up with a few tables that have utensils, wet napkins, and regular napkins. The owner came out a couple times to check on us, and we shared a nice conversation about how he started barbecuing. Can't believe this place opened back in June 2025! Also, the owner says he's working on setting up a phone line so that customers can contact the restaurant. 5/5 stars; I'm coming back. Thank you for the memorable visit!

    Sign on the door "sold out"
    Debi R.

    It was very disappointing as I went there to pick up dinner as Ive heard it's great barbecue. I got there and there at 5:40 pm and they were all out of food I even tried Ed calling prior but it was here catering # and it was a recording. They really need to have a working # for the shack which he gave me to use next time. I guess if u want it make sure you go early!'

    Troy D.

    First Visit The entire was staff was more than helpful. We were treated with a smile in a non busy day. Kudos Order the combination plate. Price was ok I guess. Par for bbq. My favorite was the pulled pork! We ordered a side of pork ribs. They were outstanding The brisket on the combination plate was not my favorite. It was a bit fatty, too much. Not to tender sorry to say. Other than that Highly recommend Thank You for reading

    Stanley R.

    Oh my lawd! This is the barbecue of our dreams! My best buddy and I specialize is delicious barbecue. We love pizza and tacos as well, but barbecue is closest to our heart. We haven't had a favorite place for barbecue in years. Well that has all changed since we had lunch at Sweet Lou's Barbecue on Wednesday. This place has the very best we have tasted in many years. My pulled pork sandwich with the house made sauce was the best! The potato salad side was tasty, the blueberry cornbread was scrumptious. The service was down home wonderful. Sweet Lou was...well...a sweet sweet man. His team is on-point! Plenty of parking at lunchtime, a comfy private patio. This is your new favorite barbecue! I will see you there for lunch this Wednesday!

    ST. LOU SPARE RIBS
    Luis R.

    Food was a great, I thought the macaroni was just amazing, the turkey wasn't dry, link was well cooked, the ribs were great, the only think was the brisket that disappointed it was a little dry and idk if they chop it up and serve it but i didn't get any good slices other then that honestly food was great the vibe was super welcoming. and there was a couple a sweet young lady's in the front helping me with my order.

    Beef Rib Combo- Rib and 4 oz baked beans

    Where do I begin? Ok, so my wife and I came across Sweet Lou's BBQ by searching for bbq spots near us, one weekend. We found Sweet Lou's and went over there (they're 1.4 miles from our home) and to our disappointment they were sold out of just about everything (which was a good and bad thing). Well we went today, and now we see why!! The food was delicious (that's an understatement and My opinion, of course) not only was the food delicious, the staff was friendly and attentive. My suggestion is the 4 meats combo (pulled pork, brisket, kielbasa sausage, and turkey) YES TURKEY! And it was juicy and not dry at all... also I suggest you go between 2-4 pm because they do sell out. Cornbread , beef rib , and banana pudding . We ate in the patio and met Lou himself and instantly felt like I was talking with family! The vibes here are welcoming and a good time! Again, I recommend stopping by and giving them a try. Oh, and before I forget, their bbq sauce is homemade! It's so good they bottle and sell it.

    4 meat combo and a side of blueberry corn bread
    Lance N.

    So this was our first time here. Didn't know the process until we finally reached the counter to order. Grab yourself a clip board with a menu and check off what you would like to order. Then hand the order to the gentleman behind the counter. This wasn't apparent to us right off the bat, but will need to remember it for the next time. So I have mixed feelings, as my mom didn't fully love her meal. I can only say this about my 4 meat combo plate. The turkey was nice and Smokey and moist. The sausage was good, but would have liked a bit more spice. The pulled pork and brisket were good, but you have to enjoy a bit of savory fat for moistness and flavor. I know some people who would not like it and call it too fatty. The pork was moist and good, but would have liked a bit more bbq sauce. I also ordered a side of their blueberry corn bread and like most corn breads I have had they are a bit dry. I was surprise not to receive any butter, but added a bit of honey when I got home, which helped add some sweetness and moisture. Overall, I would go back and possible try one of their sandwiches. The people were friendly and helpful. So give it a try and enjoy....

    BIG Beef Ribs... Corn Bread... Macaroni Salad...
    Alejandra B.

    I have never tried a BBQ restaurant ever, and I am glad Sweet Lou's was my first choice! I was recommended this spot by someone, and grew curious whether if I would like it or not, since I have never adventured out for BBQ. Immediately coming into the restaurant, you could see everyone hard at work fulfilling orders and the smell of BBQ! They have two small tables out front of the establishment, and some private tables out in the back. I opted to eat in! I ordered the beef rib with a side of potato salad and blueberry cornbread, and my boy got baked beans, macaroni, and some cornbread as well. Upon the first bites, my boy and I looked at each other and instantly knew we made a good decision in coming here to eat! The meat was so juicy, tender, and beyond words. The BBQ sauce that came with it was awesome. The staff and Sweet Lou himself came to check in on us and asked if we were doing okay and how the food was. It was very thoughtful of them checking in on us. I explained to Sweet Lou that it was my first time having BBQ, and he came by later and brought me over pork ribs to try out! The care and thoughtfulness this establishment has is just so heartwarming and generous. I will definitely be back. :)

    Menu
    Leia W.

    Have been dying to try this new small bbq business based on community reviews I've read. There aren't very many bbq restaurants in Huntington Beach, but this is where it's at! First moment we walked in, we were greeted by a friendly and welcoming staff. The owner Lou has such a warm disposition. He came out to introduce himself and show us how their ordering works. My sister got the brisket, blueberry cornbread and potato salad. She really enjoyed it. I got the brisket sandwich, potato salad and regular cornbread. The cornbread was SO VERY GOOD. brisket was delicious and their house made bbq sauce is absolutely out of this world. The potato salad was also super good as I consider myself somewhat of a potato salad connoisseur. It had more of a dill base, which was very good. Lou came out to see how we liked everything and chatted with us for a while which was so nice to learn about how they got here and how much they really want to serve our community. They have this cute patio area out back that is enclosed to enjoy your food or you can take it to-go! They also do catering, so if you need some delicious bbq, go on in and chat with them. They have only been open a few months but are getting rave reviews already. They don't have a phone quite yet, so I recommend stopping on by if you have questions and trying out some of their delicious food that is definitely reasonably priced.

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    1 month ago

    Excellent food! Excellent people! Lou's sauce is so good. His brisket is the best around. Try it!

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    Ask the Community - Sweet Lou's BBQ

    Hi there! I'm trying to find out if your bbq ribs and/or bbq pulled pork are gluten free?

    Hi there! Yes, our Pulled Pork and Ribs are Gluten free.… Read more

    Hi Sweet Lou's BBQ. Do you sell tri-tip plates and tri-tip sandwiches? I don't see that referenced on your website menu but I see references to tri-tip in some of the comments. Thank you.

    Hi Steve M. I'm afraid we don't offer TriTip at the Shack but we do offer it for our catering services.… Read more

    Where can I find you ? I'm in Huntington Beach ! It's Saturday Dec 30 , 2023 ! Thanks Sandy

    Hi I Sandy!! Thanks for reaching out! I just got this message, so sorry. Please join the FB group SWEET LOU'S ROLLIN BBQ & CATERING. That's where we post our outings. HAPPY… Read more

    Where are you located? Do you sell food to individual s or just to groups?

    It's a food truck. So they could be almost anywhere in Orange County. :)

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    The food was great! We had the ribs and pulled pork sandwiches. Service was also good. The place is…read morequaint. If you like traditional ribs this place is for you.

    One of the best affordable BBQ places in OC and on our family's list of regular dinner choices…read more We've been going here for years but I was compelled to write a review today because of the extraordinary service I just received. I usually call in an order for pick it up but I needed to finish up some work before dinner and my family wanted BBQ. I didn't have time to drive over there but noticed they now offer delivery so I downloaded their app. I was having trouble adding an item to my cart so I called to ask for help. After trying to walk me through it without success, Cole just offered to personally drop off the order for me. I was totally thinking I was going to let my family down and have to figure out something else. I was shocked that he even offered because I know they are a small shop and can get busy. I assumed they partnered with door dash or Uber eats for their delivery. The cherry on top was that the food got here faster than if I had used door dash Anyhow, it is rare to experience this kind of hospitality these days and thought they deserved the kudos. Thank you for going above and beyond. Our favorites on the menu are the pulled pork, brisket, sausage and chicken.

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    Holé Smokes

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    My wife and I tried Holé Smokes for the first time yesterday. We did not know it is part of the…read moreHolé Mole Mexican food brand. We were very pleased with our meal. We ordered the trio appetizer for starters and both got Modela Negra beers since it was happy hour. The appetizer was fantastic. Loved the deep fried pickles and the burnt ends. The guacamole for the chips was great. This is a large appetizer so plan accordingly. For our main course my wife ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of bacon Brussel sprouts. She really enjoyed this. I ordered the 3 meat combo with pulled pork, ribs and brisket with two sides. Mac & cheese and bacon Brussel sprouts. It was delicious. I couldn't finish my meal because of the large appetizer we got. The service was quick and friendly and the restaurant was very clean. I would recommend this for anyone looking for good BBQ and beer.

    Everyone absolutely loved the BBQ! We all agreed that the seasoning was perfectly balanced. Not…read moreoverly salty or sweet, which made it even more enjoyable. The chicken was incredibly moist (I actually thought Gee's BBQ chicken was a bit too dry). The fatty brisket was juicy and flavorful, and the hot links had the perfect kick, just the way I like them! We also ordered the mac & cheese, creamed corn elote, Brussels sprouts, and cornbread. Every single side was delicious, and honestly, everything we tried was amazing. We'll definitely be coming back!

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    Smash burger and Mac n cheese
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    Brisket, links, ribs, pulled pork and chicken were all on point.  Not to mention the service with a smile.  Thank you Holé Smokes.

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    Brisket, links, ribs, pulled pork and chicken were all on point. Not to mention the service with a smile. Thank you Holé Smokes.
    Harper Barbecue

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    The best bbq ever! Fun vibe and great food! Needs to be open everyday!!! I recommend to all my…read morefriends.

    We visited on Father's Day, so we expected a crowd, and this place definitely delivered one!…read moreParking was probably the biggest challenge of the day. The lot was full, and the line stretched past the front patio and onto the sidewalk. We ended up parking a couple of blocks away and walking over. Despite the long line, it moved at a reasonable pace. One thing that helped was being able to grab drinks from the bar while we waited. They have a great selection of beers and seltzers, and it looked like a lot of people were picking up to-go orders as well. For our meal, we ordered the 4-6 person platter, which included beef cheek, tri-tip, ribs, sausage, chicken, pulled pork, six sides, cornbread, rolls, and pickles. We also added the 5-cheese mac and cheese. Everything was flavorful and there was more than enough food for our group. The sides were excellent. We tried the pit beans, pee wee potato salad, carne con chile, farro salad, and wild rice salad. My favorite was the warm potato salad with mustard, brown butter, capers, and dill...it was unique and absolutely delicious. The restaurant offers lots of seating with outdoor dining areas both in the front and back. They also have a private room with windows overlooking the main dining room. During our visit, it was hosting a private party of about 20 people. The kids loved their root beer floats, and by the end of the meal we were way too full to even consider dessert. That's definitely something we'll have to come back and try next time. Overall, the food was worth the wait, the atmosphere was lively, the world cup was playing on the tvs and even on one of the busiest days of the year the staff kept things moving smoothly. We'll definitely be back.

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    Pork belly BLT (comes with little side of potatoes)
    Pork belly BLT (comes with little side of potatoes)
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    Sweet Lou's BBQ - bbq - Updated July 2026

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