This place is truly the definition of mediocre. The "fresh" meats that I sliced in front of you are cold and have clearly been sitting all day in the "warmers." Overall I am beyond disappointed. I spent 40 dollars for a measly plate of barbecue only to be let down by my subpar Mac n cheese and cold chicken. I was really bummed after I went here to have spent so much and gotten so little fulfillment afterwards. My advice... stay away for Harper barbecue read more

Had bbq to go on the 4th of July. It truly is a bbq oasis. Bbq and sides good. Not hyped as other places. Hope they stay the course and be a true their food instincts. Cheers! read more

You can't find better BBQ outside of Texas. I've been to Franklin BBQ, Terry Blacks, and Pinkerton's and Harper is right up there on the list. Look no further!! read more

We ordered the "platter", which included Ribs, Tri-Tip, Chicken, and Sausage, plus rolls and cornbread. All of the meat was very good (dry rub). The side dishes, Potato Salad, Beans, and Coleslaw, were ok. Not much flavor in any, or any wow factor. A lot of people to include families with small kids which made it very noisy. read more

My bf and I were walking to Shirley's bagels and came across Harper BBQ. Thought to give it a try and oh boy. We ordered the Tri-tip and it was delicious. They offer all kinds of meats. I added the jalapeño sausage and it was really good too. We got the chili and Mac n cheese and it did not disappoint. I'm glad we walked by and gave it a try. Will be back for sure read more

Solid Start with Serious Potential - Rooting for This Spot to Rise Dropped by Harper Barbecue in Costa Mesa after hearing some buzz, and I have to say: this place has real potential. The vibe is welcoming, the staff was fantastic, and you can tell there's heart in the smokehouse. The breakdown: * Ribs - 7/10. Solid but I like mine with a bit more moisture and that sticky finish. * Beef Cheeks - Originally had them at a 7, but after the salt settled in... I'd say 6/10. * Pastrami - 7/10. Decent bark, respectable slice, just not quite East Coast-good (yet). * Potato Salad 9/10 - Hands down the star. Dill-based, bright, and unexpectedly addictive. I don't know what they're doing in that bowl but I'd come back just for that. * Beans - 6.5/10. Flavor's there. Sauce is great. But texture-wise, they're a bit too firm--hasn't hit that campfire comfort level yet. * Coleslaw - 6.5/10. Clean, not too mayo-heavy. Does the job. * Cornbread - 7.5/10. Moist and slightly sweet with a good crust. What really stands out here (beyond the potato salad) is the energy and care. The team is friendly, warm, and clearly passionate. The space itself is beautiful--inviting without being fussy. They've only been open for about four weeks, and for that, they're already showing strong bones. Once they dial in the salt levels, hit their texture targets, and lean into what makes them distinct, I think Harper's is going to be a major force in the local BBQ scene. Overall: 7/10 right now--but I'm fully rooting for them. Bookmark this one. It's going to get good. read more

Honestly the food was not satisfying, we ordered a sampler plate for two so we could get a taste of everything. The meat was all over cooked and not tender. The side of the Brussels sprout salad was tough and hard to chew. The Mac and cheese dry and the Moroccan salad dry and lacked seasoning. The atmosphere is really nice, but we were really bummed the food was just average, $110 for the order and two beers, really disappointed. read more

Great family owned BBQ. They have a passion for great food. I loved the ribs. Great service as well.

Great service, but the bbq was just ok? Not bad at all, just nothing that made me say "wow".

Took a wrong turn and found this delicious gem. Beef cheek is a must. Beautiful inside and out. Loved a lot. Will be back.

Ordered the tri-tip sandwich. Very tasty but very cold. Didn't think I'd get an ice cold roast beef sandwich at this place where they are cooking hot food. The potato salad was very unremarkable. Please heat the beef! Nice place. I'll try again in a few months. read more

Great food and a really nice venue. Will be back for beers and bbq. Place is pretty busy but able to handle it.

LOVE this place! Came by for lunch at 12:30 on a Saturday. It was busy but there was enough open seating for our party. Between 2 of us we had 4 pork ribs, Iberico pork, and beef cheeks. The ribs were incredible- I loved the rub. Beef cheeks were so rich. Pork was good but our least favorite of the three, I'd definitely recommend the ribs and beef cheeks. Cesar Brussels sprouts were addicting good. Potatoes and beans were solid. I love the vibe and it was paired with incredible food and a nice beer selection. Can't wait to come back and try everything else in the menu! read more

We were excited that a bbq restaurant opened in oc but we did not enjoy the food. It was expensive ($30 a person). We are used to Texas bbq aka real bbq. We left with tummy aches and disappointed taste buds. The ambiance and patio were very cute but that's all they have going for them. The meat was good but the sides were funky! (Mediterranean spiced farro?? Brown sugar potato salad??) service was fine. We won't be back! Now we're out $100 :/ read more

Harper Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Was fortunate enough to participate in one of their soft opening days. Food was on point. Had a bit of everything on the menu and everything was top notch. This place is going to be packed when it officially opens. Go get you some of that Prime Beef Cheek!! Congratulations getting Harper Barbecue up and running! read more

Great setting, really nicely laid out. And I was super excited to have a barbecue spot near us. However, the food did not live to our "hopes and dreams" lol. We had the beef cheeks and the iberico pork steak. It all looked great going in the box however, when I got it home, we realized how incredibly salty the food was, especially the beef cheeks. It was inedible. I actually took the cheeks back and the nice gentleman behind the counter, tasted them and said yeah they seemed a little salty and he gave me a replacement that he assured me was spot on. I got it home and it was pretty much the same thing. So we ended up tossing it out. I noticed a couple of other reviews that mention how salty the food is. I was hoping for the meat being flavorful from the smoking rather than just salted and seasoned to the extreme. I love the space, the layout, and the people were very helpful, but the food is just too salty for us. I am all for small businesses and I wish them great success, but we won't be repeating. read more

Omg!!!! My husband and son tried Harper's on Father's Day, I was out of town and they raved about it! We just went and got two specials and the tuna sandwich for myself (pescatarian). So so good! The bread was delicious, the lettuce super fresh, I took off the tomatoes (not for me) and the tuna was on point! You can get it melted cheese and avocado, next time. The potato salad is German potato salad, no mayo, very good. Now, let me tell you about the mac n' cheese. I'm a mac n' cheese snob. I RARELY find one I like , anywhere. I love my own. Now, this Mac n' cheese is probably one of THE BEST I've EVER had! I can't say enough about it! Perfect! The staff are super friendly, helpful, knowledgeable. The building is awesome! I love it! Very, very nicely done. The staff also keeps the place super clean. While I was waiting for my to go order, I worked in the restaurant industry for decades, the staff were very thorough with cleaning the tables which I appreciate. Sorry, no photos, we ate everything too fast! Can't recommend enough! Go try it' read more

The food and atmosphere was great. Super friendly staff. The tri tip was perfectly cooked with a nice barbecue smoke. The Mac and cheese was phenomenal and they had a good selection of beers. A great independently owned spot. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

I only gave it 2 stars because the food was marginally good. It would have been 1 star because the experience was terrible. * Had stand in a long line to have a inefficient ordering experience. * Lame wine options * Kids running around like they were at Disneyland * Full size dogs welcome (plus or minus depending on your desire to bring your dog to a restaurant) * The BBQ was good, but far from exceptional. They need to drench the chicken in their white sauce to make it great. The beef cheeks were gummy and the ribs were just OK. * Seating was uncomfortable and very low-end * NO brisket or pulled pork on the menu. Probably the biggest fail on a BBQ place. read more

this place is so cute, ordering was smooth and fast. lots of seating indoor and there's a front patio and back patio. parking is tight but worth it! the cornbread, beans and sausage were the most flavorful. the brussel sprouts lacked a lot of flavor but everything else was so good and we had plenty to eat! $48 for 2 meats 3 sides and 2 drinks. read more

Harper Barbecue - tri tip, sausage, bean, brussel sprouts, cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Food was amazing. The ambience was perfect. The sides and meat were all delicious. Beers were cold. They have enough seating inside and out. Everything was fantastic. We really enjoyed ourselves. read more

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Amazing food. Counter service. Tables turn quickly. No real table service to speak of if you are looking to get plates cleared in time for the crazy good desserts. Great ambiance and lovely kind staff. read more

Ok. The place is cool ! That's the good news. Went there today for the first time. I am from the south and their idea of BBQ and mine are totally different. Ordered the Tri Tip sandwich and it was like a shaved roast beef sandwich ! Not what I expected? The potato salad was not good and too gourmet ! The other sides were ok. The kicker one sandwich , one side and a Diet Coke $32! Would not go back. The best Q in Newport Beach is still in my backyard ! read more

If I could put more than five stars, I would. All of the food that we had was amazing. The staff was very friendly. I like the choice of indoor or outdoor seating as the weather in Costa Mesa is usually very nice. The people behind the counter were very helpful in making choices as it was the first time that I had been. I will definitely be going back and would definitely recommend to others. read more

Great ambiance and a really cool place. And the food was pretty good. The beef cheek was great. Not a huge fan of the ribs I tried. Baked beans were good but all the food could have been warmer. Lastly the banana pudding was excellent. My frustration with this place is the pricing. You get 1/2 pound of beef cheek and one small side and you are running at $24 before tax and tip. Throw in a beer and you are adding $13 (!!). So with tax and tip for a somewhat light BBQ meal with a beer you are at $45 for lunch. If they rethink some pricing (at least for a beer - my goodness), I would consider returning more often. As it is new, they may still be going strong but I find it hard to believe this pricing lasts. read more

Does anyone know when this place opens up? Writing this sentence to hit the word limit

After living in Costa Mesa for quite some time, this is my newest favorite restaurant and I don't see it changing anytime soon. As a barbecue enthusiast, I've never had anything like this. It's super family friendly and my nine-year-old son shares my enthusiasm to return. read more

Lady is nice new business but my stomach hurts so much after eating here including my family I would avoid

Over priced and supperrrr mid, way better spots all over the area. Hope this helps I could believe the portions to cost ratio lol

Food is out of this world, the restaurant itself has a really great style. HOWEVER, there is a staff member they could do without. (Female with smeared eye makeup and a dragon tattoo on her shoulder) After being there opening week, buying all of their merch and being somewhat regular.... We literally will not go to this establishment again due to how we were treated on Father's Day. Fathers Day My husband went to the bar and bought a beer for himself and a mimosa for me while we waited in line (several other guests did the same). After bringing others their beverages outside the gate, a female employee approached my husband and I and told us we could not stand in line with our drinks as it was technically outside their patio....understandable. But doesn't apply to those you just served beer to? My husband and I now needed to drink our drinks in shifts so we could keep our spot in line. When it was my turn to finally drink the drink he had bought me, I stood awkwardly on the patio until I noticed a table in the direct sun that everyone passed by due to the heat. I decided to sit for a moment while I drank my drink (on the patio, open seating) I was again approached by the same female who told me I could not sit there because my husband was in line and this is considered "saving a spot" though we had no intention of eating at this table in the direct sun. Telling A paying customer with a drink in hand that they cannot sit in open seating on the patio to drink it is WILD. Other customers sitting nearby that saw this, were also very put off by it and told me I should stay there. However, I did move and watched as the table sat open the remainder of the time I enjoyed my drink standing. Once we made it through the hour and 10 minutes line, we went to order and were informed that if you want anything other than a meat tray, you didn't need to stand in that line!!! They send you to the bar to order salads, sandwiches and sides! Wow, what a huge waste of time baking in the heat! Once inside we found room at the bar and in AC so all was well, until we noticed that the same female was now working behind the bar. It became very awkwardly obvious that she was purposely ignoring us. We waited over 10 minutes as she took orders and served everyone around us and engaged in conversation with all of the men at the bar. I finally went back up to the food line and let them know we needed our order at the bar since we were directed there, but we're being ignored for some reason. The gentleman was very kind and walked around to the bar as I heard him let the female server know she needed to take our order. She looked at him and walked away, we waited but by this time we knew SHE WAS REFUSING to serve us and never came over. At this point my husband asked to leave. Eventually a gentleman behind the bar made eye contact with me, I let him know the situation and he had our drinks comped. I'm still in shock that she has a job, we cannot be the only people she has treated this way. It was the strangest thing. Such a horrible look for a new business. Your food can be great, but bad staff can ruin a business. THE JUICE AINT WORTH THE SQUEEZE, rather drive to Heritage BBQ. Staff there is 100% read more

Great food and service. The chicken and ribs are amazing. Sides are delicious too! Cute spot. Will be back.

Spectacular place, staff was very friendly and the BBQ was awesome. However the tariffs are in full effect on the beer pricing. Whoa.

Overall great experience! Food was incredible!!! Cutest atmosphere and good service!!

Great Food, Awesome Service and very cool vibe. This is the best kept secret! Spread the word!

Visited this place with some friends last weekend and I'm going be honest, didn't have very high expectations as most BBQ I've had in California is usually average at best. But man, Harper BBQ blew my doors off. The star of the show was the beef cheek which honestly you don't see very often if ever on a menu. Incredibly juicy and tender without sacrificing that dark bark on the outside of it. The pork ribs and the tri tip were damn good as well. Good amount of seasoning without muddying up the taste of the meat which I really appreciate. Second to the cheek would be the cornbread. Idk how they make it like that but it was something to behold. It was mildy cheesy with a little heat from the jalapeño, but the heat was perfectly balanced out from the sweetness of the honey. The interior vibe was clean and welcoming with some pretty artisticly designed comfortable seats. It was raining when we were there, but I can imagine the outside seating would keep the vibe high on a sunny day. Place was a 5/5, can't wait to go back someday! read more

We were invited to the soft opening. Service that day was great. The food was so good and we loved the ambiance! Will definitely go again!

Food was average. One side of the menu was sold out during normal dinner hours. In addition, some sides were also sold out. Mac & cheese didn't have much flavor, same with the Brussels sprouts. Came for bbq and ended up with a cold salad with cold cubed chicken. To top things off our order took forever to arrive (over 40 minutes). Some of my meat looked raw and was cold too. Did not get the hot bbq off the grille experience with delicious flavorful sides I was expecting. Overall, the food, parking, service and prices aren't great. Design layout is nice to hangout for a beer or wine only. read more

Why 5 stars because this place is money! My favorite was the jalapeño cheddar sausage, the ribs and the beef cheek. The beans were fire and the Brussels salad was so good. The only thing I would tweak is the Mc N Cheese was lacking seasoning. Took it home doctored it up and it then became awesome. We will be back! Lastly they did an awesome job with the landscaping and interior space! read more

The food is fire!!! Ended up going on a whim so a few items were sold out but I completely understand why. We got the tri-tip and ribs and they melted in your mouth. The Mac and cheese is out of this world and no wonder why it's all made to order. We had to wait a little bit for it so sat at the bar. The bartender was very attentive and the vibes at this place are great. We will definitely return to try the rest of the menu. Also, the banana cream pie was phenomenal!! read more

Finally nice to have a legitimate barbecue smokehouse here right Great atmosphere food was amazing!!