Great place for drinks and a chill time! I loved the game selection and the retro movie posters!

My girlfriend and I came here specifically because we wanted to find a place where we can drink but also not have drinking as the main focal point. She told me that she's been eyeing Barcode for a while but never had a chance to go so we decided to go and check it out--lo and behold, this place is pretty sweet. Immediately, when you walk into the rear patio entrance, you have a patio with a fire pit if you want to just hang out with friends. Once you walk into the main are, you see arcade booths lining the wall with some really cool games. Some noteworthy games were Metal Slug X, SF Third Strike, Tekken, Super Smash, and MvC 1 & 2. They also have pinball machines, NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis emulators for the older crowd. Bartenders are all super friendly and they'll tell you how all the games and their pricing work. Drinks are pretty cheap! They're premixed I believe and they're a bit on the sweet side but for $9.xx a drink, I honestly can't complain. When I was there, they were playing John Wick 4 and Blade on the TVs. The walls are lined with video game, TV, and movie nerd pop culture. There's a wall that is dedicated to video game posters. There's a stream going for Street Fighter 3rd Strike. You can tell this place is a love letter to retro games and fighters--and you see that they cater to their audience. Overall, it's a cool spot to spend with friends playing video games and getting a little tipsy. Next time we want to try the food! read more

Solid little gem of a bar located in downtown Garden Grove. Came here by pure chance. Was driving through and decided to try a nearby bar to have a quick beer . It was totally my style. Loved the vintage arcade vibe and the lighting/decor inside was very cool. As a gamer myself, it definitely hit the spot! You come in from the back not the front. They have a outside seating area as well. The customer service seemed pretty good. The first bar tender I had immediately attended to me without me even trying to get his attention. Another dude wasn't as nice but maybe he just wanted to go home lol I would say they could definitely improve their beer menu at least in terms of the options they have to offer. It's pretty limited but, nonetheless, it gets the job done if you're just looking to grab a quick beer without thinking about it too much. Have yet to try the food, so don't have much to say there. I recommend this place for groups but it's also dope for even a casual solo visit (think Mandalorian at Mos Eisley). I dig it. read more

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I consider this a second or third "home away from home." Great spot and great atmosphere. Perhaps what I enjoy the most about this bar is the level of curation that is given to the spot. There are plenty of movie posters and memorabilia on the walls. It's a celebration of both the best blockbuster movies from the 80's and 90's, as well as fighting games. My personal favorite is at the entrance where there is a Mega Man mosaic made up entirely of floppy discs. This does cater to a much older crowd, and because of this, drinks are perfectly measured. You do taste the alcohol in their cocktails, but none of them are too stiff that it wouldn't please your average bar goer. If you're someone who can't handle their drinks, any of the cocktails are fine. Even though it is next to a college, this isn't really a "college" bar. If you are looking for something stronger, you can ask for more spring in your drinks, but I would honestly just recommend the beer selection. The choices are unique enough on the beer that you can choose your level of how much you want a punch. Notice that I haven't even mentioned anything about video games. As a fighting game player since the 90's, this is the main attraction for me. There are multiple setups throughout the bar to cater to your interest. A lot of the space around the main area is console gaming. You'll see a Nintendo Switch setup, as well as various mini-consoles that have been modded. Everything plays as well as it should, but it's the arcade that is really of note. There are old-school candy cabs and modern vewlix machines out on the floor. These are *NOT* the way more of the Americans experienced these games in the 90's, but more in line with Japanese arcades with Japanese parts. The "canonical" Capcom games are all there: Third Strike, Super Turbo, Capcom vs. SNK 2 and Marvel vs. Capcom 2. If you're looking to play, I'm generally someone who will play any game. (Vampire Savior, also known as Darkstalkers 3, is my personal favorite.) That being said: if you're all about Third Strike, this is the spot to go. The arcade is "old school." It is the last true American arcade experience next to probably 82 on the West Coast, but they're catering towards different audiences. (82 is more of the "golden age" of arcades in the 70's and 80's. Barcode is more 90's.) You put your quarter down if you want everyone to know "you got next." Having lived through it, this is how it went in the late 90's American arcade scene. Everything is a quarter (which is beyond reasonable for the experience you're getting) to play on a legit Third Strike board with premium, well kept levers and buttons. There are no leverless, no macros, no pads - you either learn to play on the cab, invest your quarter, and outplay the opponent to their face. I can't stress that this is dying part of our culture, and I'm glad there's still one final place for this kind of experience. The staff is all very friendly. Richard, the owner, is more than willing to help you if you're having an issue. Recent EVO Hall of Famer Alex Valle works there, and is more than willing to talk to you about Street Fighter, the state of fighting games, and life. Dre, Kenny, and Anthony are great bartenders who are attentive, lively and fun. I have enough of a rapport that they already know my order when I get to the door. All in all, if you're looking for a spot to grab a pint and experience a part of American Arcade culture and movie history, come down to Barcode. Tell them "Moon Jelly Kevin" sent ya. My only nitpick about the spot is that "Barcode" is too close in name to "Barcade." People might have a different understanding of what the spot is like just based on the name alone, but I assure you: they are two very different places and experiences. read more

Tried this place for the first time last night and overall Nice place! Good games, great cocktails and cool vibes! The only issue for me is that they have limited capacity which means if they're full, you'll have to wait outside until another group leaves which kinda sucks. Also, the pinball machines were not operating for some reason Next time I'll try their food! read more

Great drinks and food. Of course if you like switch games and fighting games, this is your local spot.

Stopped by for a drink and really enjoyed the spot. The price for the games is unbeatable. We spent most of our time on the pinball machines. Then sat down to play Tetris. Some machines were off/unplugged. The front was really busy. I recognized some game consoles but not all. We stopped by around 10ish on a Saturday. Bar had no line when we walked in. Good selection of beer on tap and about 1-2 drinks per spirit. We talked about going back if we're in area. read more

Waited over 20 minutes for them to open. They did not open on time. Saw a lot of customers leaving. After opening late, went straight to the bathroom to find it without the essentials. It was evident they did not clean after or prior because the trash cans were full, tables were still sticky. For my first time, they left a bad impression when I was considering having private events hosted there. Not worth over $3K for a private party. I wouldn't want my friends or colleagues to go through my bad experience. read more

If you are a fighting game fan, this place is amazing. They even have SF6 and everything is in excellent working condition. Hey have you guys ever been to Barcade up north? Try out their burger and Barcade fries...would be amazing to have something similar for Barcode :) It'd be nice to have a couple more inches between the band-required machines. Overall most fun I've ever had in a bar! read more

Great food and drinks!! Love the atmosphere and service. Been coming to barcode for a few years now. We always have a great time. I love that they have cabs and n64 set up. Nice patio area out back with fire pit. Love it!! read more

Very cool bar. Came here last night with hubby to meet up some friends. First time here and Rich (the owner?) absolutely made us feel welcomed. I felt treated like a regular, that's how comfortable the ambiance and nice the service was. The whole place is great vibes with arcade machines , figurines from childhood on display, chic lighting, and fantastic music. The drinks are delish and very reasonably priced. The best drink is def the shoriyuken. Plus there's a ton of parking available! This place legit has it all...including a ton of really pretty single girls hanging out. read more

The place is wonderful beer arcade and great vibes. This was my first time here and everything was cool and mesmerizing. The beer and well drinks menu was delicious and creative and the host was really cool as well. They had about 20 systems and like over 100 games I enjoyed my night and will be coming back for more Service was excellent!! read more

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Easily one of my favorite places to hang out at. I can tell you that you will come out of there making a friend or two if you make the effort to do so. The drinks are relatively affordable and they have loads of arcade cabinets (mostly fighting games such as street fighter and Marvel vs capcom). They also have a wide variety of consoles to play on such as the N64, Nintendo Switch and other various retro consoles if fighting games aren't your jam. they are pre-loaded with a bunch of games on it. I would love to see a modded Gamecube/Wii or PS2 as part of the lineup of systems you can play there. I think it would do really well there. read more

Super cool bar with arcade/old school game vibes. As a huge gamer myself I loved the atmosphere. They had themed cocktails and beers. The bartenders were fast and efficient at making the drinks and they kept the area very organized. Props to them for having a fantastic barcade read more

This was my first time at any type of Bar/Arcade and I definitely loved it. It's a fun place for a date night or a night out with friends. Pepperoni pizza was delicious and I loved the fact that they had beer on tap. Staff was supper friendly and welcoming definitely coming back. read more

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Great vibes with lots of fun people. Very nostalgic of the retro video games and an awesome place to hang out. A must place to try out with a great fun owner and staff read more

In terms of ambience I was definitely a fan and anyone who loves a little blast from the past would appreciate this bar. So from the arcade games, to gaming consoles, artwork, movies playing in the background, and even the drink names I found it to be a fun experience. The food was good not great but to me bar food at places like this are meant more to keep the drinks flowing as opposed to giving me a culinary experience. Great for a fun different kind of night out. Staff is super friendly and fun. If I'm in the area again I don't see why I wouldn't drop by for a haduken or two! read more

Barcode - a wall full of video games - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Garden Grove, California

Decided to go out on a Thursday night after a long day at work. Vibe was chill and staff was welcoming. The decor was on point with anime figurines, classic movie memorabilia, etc. There's quarter games in the back and along the side of the venue. There's consoles toward the front that you can play for free. We also got to meet the owner and found out you can rent the whole venue out for a private event. Pretty cool option. read more

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Amazing mixed drinks and their arcade cabinets are in great condition. The owner is great and sometimes offers free shots just for making eye contact, very personable and cool to see him mingling with the guests. I love the retro feel and the movies playing on the projectors, 10/10 would recommend this place a hundred times over. read more

ASK FOR NACHO!!!!!! For a awesome experience. And a thrilling good time. That's all! This place is so great. Excellent pizza! Bomb tater tot's. Quick service. Great vibes all around. read more

Barcode - This is NACHO!!!! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Garden Grove, California

I don't write many reviews on here at all but I would be doing a disservice to Barcode to not inform people that I really enjoy this place. I've been coming since June of 2024 and this place is really a vibe. If you love fighting games in particular or want to be more part of the fighting games community in SoCal this is a great place to be. If you're just looking for a cool bar with decent priced good drinks and dope video game atmosphere, this is also the place to be. Rich and his staff have always made me feel welcome here which is why I try to introduce people to here whenever I can. I appreciate being able to come in as someone who doesn't drink a whole lot to come in, have one or two and maybe a snack and enjoy time on some Japanese style fighting game cabinets or just some loaded emulation consoles or pinball machines. Places like this that are this good are few and far between so if you're thinking of hitting up Barcode, one make sure they're open as they only operate 4 days a week and also sometimes might be closed for a private event, but two absolutely head over. read more

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Met up with a friend for a drink and it was a cute bar What I ate: - Chorizo fries: this was okay, kind of on the oily greasy side, but what do you expect from fries covered in chorizo? Pros: - Small parking lot attached - Plenty of street parking during the week - Full bar - Decent beer selection on draft - Staff was friendly - Video games! If you are into video games, there was a nice selection Cons: - Kitchen closed at 9pm.. which is understandable since nearly everything kind of closed down early on this street Would I come again? Probably not, since I'm not in this area read more

Chill vibe, video game and beer Aren't that a good combination?! I usually stop by this bar once in awhile. I love their craft beer selection and free use video game console with a purchase. The game options are top notch too. read more

Not my place, but disappointing imo.... It was just kinda weird being there because the environment wasn't very fun or exciting, almost dead

Cool place if youwant to chill with your homies and just get some good drinks. The owner/bouncer here is the coolest guy ever, you will always see him walking around with a drink, talking to people. Drinks here are relatively cheap (owner said he was trying keep everything under $10, so people can have a good time). Not really a place to party, but definitely chill. read more

Barcode - Inside - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Garden Grove, California

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It was my first time coming here but will def be a regular now! There is seating both indoors and outdoors and vibes are immaculate all around! The whole place is decorated with collectibles, posters and lights- very 2000s vibes! There are also arcade games you could play with your friends. For $1/song, you can queue songs on their very modern jukebox (has ALL songs you could think of). Our drinks were delicious! I'm a picky eater/drinker so I dislike drinks that strongly tastes like alcohol and these drinks masked the alc nicely. Just tasted like juice or soda! Personal faves: secret menu Caprisun, Casper Food was amazing and comes in pretty decent sized portions. When the kitchen closed (at 10) the owner was super chill and let us bring food in because we were hungry again. Service is top notch! The owner and the bartenders are all very nice and friendly, they come to check on you throughout the night and make sure you're having fun but also comfortable and safe. Absolutely loved my night with the girls and will be coming here again! read more

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Talk about above and beyond service; the Mr. Miyagi was too strong for my friend and the bartender made her a special off-menu drink that tasted like Capri-sun and actually had gin in it (you couldn't tell at all!) To borrow joysticks, you have to have an open tab (one review said to leave a credit card with them, but when I tried to close the tab and leave the credit card with them, was informed that the tab had to be open). The Super Nintendo games were awesome! A lot of games that I'd never played before and the pixels was sooo nostalgic. The G&T I ordered was straight forward (nothing special about it that I could tell), but I was in the mood for something herbacious and it hit the spot. The bathroom is shared with Mr. Matcha, very easy to access! A fun stop if you're in downtown GG! read more

Barcode - Mr Miyagi ($9) and the gin and tonic one ($9) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Garden Grove, California

Most amazing barcade I've eve been to. Great drinks, customer service, and street fighter. thanks AV and team, I will be back!

Stopped by on a Saturday, went in for the beer but stayed for the games ! Perfect place to have some fun. read more

Barcode - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Garden Grove, California

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New review *8/24/18* We came in on an early Friday evening. I'd say a little before 6pm. Although the classic car show was going on already on Main St, the bar was hardly busy. It was a group of 4 of us which later turned to 6. The bar manager finally took our orders after about 5 minutes. He seemed rather busy because he was sweating a storm. We all ordered food and beer and chilled out for a bit. I ordered their spicy pineapple wings and my bf ordered the Bulgogi pizza. I also wanted to order their chorizo fries but they had run out of chorizo but one of the employees was supposed to be on their way back with chorizo so I left it on order. Our 2 other friends joined us about 15 minutes later. Our food had not come out yet but they were able to order soon after arriving. The food started coming finally. My pineapple wings along with another order of wings and a pepperoni pizza that my friends had ordered. My bf's pizza hadn't come out yet but eventually did, about 10 minutes later. My wings were terrible. The pineapple spread was cold and it seemed like they slapped that on after cooking the wings. The side of ranch they give you, geez could you be more stingy? We had to ask for extra sides because of how little they serve you. My friends buffalo wings still had feathers on them. Gross. My bf did enjoy his pizza. My chorizo fries never made it. My other friends food came towards the end of all our meals and 3rd and 4th beer refills. It was just bad. The bar manager was not the friendliest or approachable person. He ended up ditching us and sending over a waitress that tried to clean up his mess. Not coming back ever. Waste of a good Friday dinner I was looking forward to. If you're looking to drink and play some retro games, then that's all this place is good for. * Previous Review * Totally dug the 80s movie/old school video game theme this place had going. Upon walking in, to your right, you see a bunch of floppy discs. I was like ,"cool wall bro." Yeah soooooo take a huge step back and its actually Mega Man! So dope! The wall right beside it is full of movie posters and to the left you'll see different action figures in enclosed white cases from the movies like Batman, Guardians of the Galaxy, Back to the Future, etc. There were Pac Man arcade tables to sit, play, eat, and drink on. Those were the only ones that cost money to play. All the rest like Nintendo 64 or Super NES were all free. Although we didn't partake in the free game play we did get to try their appetizer/small plates for dinner! We ordered their Bulgogi Pizza and Chorizo Fries. The fries were my fave. They were a bit skimpy on the chorizo (and I did let our waiter know about that) but the jalapeño/cilantro aioli made up for that indeed. It was so flavorful! Had a bit of a kick but nothing too spicy and also had a zest to it. They were definitely generous with the sauce! The serving for that was enough for two people to split or one hungry mofo! It was a nice size appetizer for sure. Now the pizza, I was not too much a fan of it. The dough was excellent, which they make fresh daily. All I could really taste was the sauce. It did have a nice amount of cheese though. However I wouldn't get it next time. Oh yeah... I said next time! There will definitely be a next time!We're gonna get the fries AGAIN andddddd try their buffalo wings. Service was superb. The waiter was chill and down to earth. Much thanks for pleasant dinner! read more

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This is the only barcade area that I've been to that I genuinely enjoyed my time. I had an issue with the PC arcade set up with controllers, but there are pre-established rules that must be followed so it shouldn't hinder any of the enjoyment I did have there. The aesthetic is really nice with nice retro consoles set up plus a couple of Nintendo Switch consoles. There is also a line of retro arcade machines with classics such as Third Strike and some pinball machines. I apologize for my older review as I was being inconsiderate to the rules and unnecessarily rude and entitled. read more

Loved the 80s 90s vibe! Lighting was very aesthetic and retro! Music was so fun 80s edm remix was playing! Games was so fun! So nostalgic and a chill environment! Will be back! Food was good and service was quick! I had so much joy being here and was grateful this place exist for a fun datenight. read more

Very cool place!!! We as fellow collectors appreciated the clever decorative elements and nerdy references. We tried a couple of the signature cocktails which were fun and reasonably priced. We didn't give the video games a try but will next time!! read more

Fairly small Arcade Bar. Games are Free Play, vintage retro styles. Kitchen closes 8pm. Drinks served all night long. They had an area with a projector, playing movies. And a backyard patio for beer pong or other games / lounge area. EDIT: Backyard patio for lounge area read more

Food is amazing , drinks are amazing , the vibe is amazing . Staff are really welcoming ,never a dull moment here . Great selection of video games . read more

Great drinks, great vibe, great music and great games! If you like nostalgic music and games, this is the spot to be. Everyone is so nice and friendly. It's my first time back since before covid but I'll be back more often now. read more

Really cool venue to hold a party for those that love the 80s! Ownership and staff are cool and super accommodating. You should definitely check it out! read more

Barcode is a fun little bar with lots of retro video games on garden grove's Main Street. Barcode is connected to Mr. Matcha - grab some ice cream, then head over to Barcode for some drinks. Note, no outside food allowed in Barcode. They have a whole menu you can order from. Came here on a Saturday night and it was pretty crowded - there were open seats, but all the tables were taken. How it works: Order drinks at the bar. Once you order, then you will be allowed to get joysticks to play the games. Drinks: Great pours, and great mixed drinks. I got the gin and juice (cranberry and lime juice) and it was surprising SOO good - tasted like lychee juice. Decently priced, i think my drink was about $8. Overall, fun place to grab drinks and play some games (super smash brothers, Atari, other retro video games). read more

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Best bar ever!! I love it here. The vibe, music, people.. everything. Barcode is the most unique bar I've ever been to. You can play video games while you chill and drink, and there's posters all over the wall, as well as figurines of Marvel and Star Wars characters. It definitely takes me back to my childhood when I come here. Marcus is the chillest bartender as well as the owner Richard. They are the main reason why we keep coming back. The cocktails and food here are really good also. Right now with the pandemic, they are only allowing 30 people per day but you can always reserve a spot! Trust me, you will have the best time if you come here. read more

Awesome concept for a bar, but the execution of the food and drink left me feeling underwhelmed. = L O C A T I O N = Barcode is actually connected to a great little soft serve shop, Mr. Matcha! I first discovered it when getting ice cream, actually. When I finally got around to coming back, I was so tickled at how they decorated the place with cool pop culture decor, retro video games, and generally nerdy stuff. = S E R V I C E = Service was generally very friendly. If you want to play games, you can check out the controllers from the bartenders. = F O O D // D R I N K = + CHORIZO AJI FRIES ($8): The fries were really bad. They were overly salty, too thin, and there was a meager amount of toppings on it. I asked the bartender to make a drink of their choice for me, and it was super sweet, but thankfully there was plenty of alcohol. Don't have high expectations for the mixed drinks. Overall, it is a cool place to hang out and play games, but I will just be ordering beer next time. ===================================== Food: 1 // Environment: 5 // Service: 4 // Price: 3 read more