BBQ Restaurants in Santa Ana

Joey's Smokin' BBQ is a quick-serve Memphis style barbeque restaurant specializing in authentic southern recipes with a California twist.

Despite their restaurant's moniker, the chefs at Johnny Rebs' Southern Roadhouse aren’t averse to local ingredients. In fact, all their produce comes from California growers. But rather than recreate Southern flavors, they prefer going straight to the source, relying on Virginian and North Carolinian farms to send country hams and Delta farms to send catfish. Said catfish simmers beneath mountains of slaw in po’ boys, one among Johnny Rebs’ many housemade Southern staples, which range from creole shrimp over cheddar grits to pulled pork slow-smoked up to 12 hours.

Though steeped in traditional Southern cooking, Johnny Rebs’ critically acclaimed culinary team puts its own twist on Southern and American staples alike. To wit: grilled cheese made with pimento and jalapeños, as well as deep-fried apple pie, which bubbles in a deep fryer stolen off a Georgia windowsill. Complemented with “suds” and “squashed grapes”—Johnny Rebs’ speak for beer and wine—feasts unfold amidst a rustic dining space made to resemble a cozy, wood-paneled home. Before the table fills up with smoked and fried meats, guests can snack from a bucket of peanuts. They're free, but any quarters diners donate in return go straight to charities such as the Granite Mountain Hotshots.

Strands of hanging lights illuminate the yard outside Beach Pit BBQ's low-slung bungalow, where guests gather at picnic tables to enjoy Southern–style barbecue. Pit masters smoke the meat for 12 hours over indirect heat from hickory- and pecan-wood-burning ovens that give pulled pork, beef brisket, and whole chickens rich flavors. Diners get a complete rustic meal rounded out by classic Southern sides that range from jalapeño-cheddar cornbread to sweet-potato fries. The restaurant slathers their slow-cooked selections with a variety of housemade sauces, including a golden mustard sauce praised in Orange Coast magazine.

The vibe is laid-back as patrons settle into adirondack chairs around the outdoor fire pit or inside at gingham-covered tables the perfect size for arm-wrestling contests to decide who gets the last rib. Youngsters gambol about a play area enclosed by a white picket fence and sit at kid-size picnic tables to enjoy their meals. The eatery strives to give back to the community by sponsoring fundraisers and catering local events.

Corea Kalbi aims to serve healthy Korean BBQ by using top quality meats that are free from MSG and offering fresh and light options such as seared Chilean sea bass and octopus cucumber salad. Their menu also includes savory dishes such as boneless bulgogi and marinated short ribs that patrons can feast upon or bring home to please their carnivorous pet dragons.