Absolutely incredible. The Southern vibe you get from not only the awesome meat, but the restaurant itself is one of one in SoCal. The food melts in your mouth. Cutting brisket with a plastic butter knife as easily as I just did is honestly mind blowing. Service is elite. Rick, the owner, is an incredible guy. Genuinely so worth the travel. Highly Recommend! read more

Food is delicious and amazing Service was excellent and they recommended the lemonade mango delicious I really enjoyed it Atmosphere: simple read more

Fair warning. I was born and raised in Texas. So.. I am a hard person to impress with bbq. A coworker recommended me here so thought I would give it a go We ordered a brisket plate. A rib plate and onion rings. I'll break it down Pork ribs were the highlight for me. They were served with sauce on top.. and I prefer them dry. That being said. They were well cooked. Not amazing. But fine Pork ribs : 7/10 Side dish was a runny Mac and cheese: 4/10 Onion rings are pretty perfect. Thick slices with crunchy panko-ish breading. Onion rings 10/10 Brisket plate with 2 sides: sweet potatoes and beans The brisket over all was salty and a bit dry. We were served two fatty pieces from the middle. And a couple not so fatty ones from the ends. Those were dry. The fattier ones were better. But still really salty. Wasn't a fan Brisket 5/10 Beans: a bean medley?!? Multiple variety of evens. Which I am assuming had some bbq sauce in the broth as they were both vinegary and sweet. Honestly. I hated them We threw the entire side away Beans 0/10 Sweet potatoes : Sweet! Like. Really sweet. With a candied pecan crust. If sweet sweet potato casserole is your jam. .. this might be for you... it wasn't for me Sweet potato: 3/10 The bread and butter pickles were good On a side note. Ketchup is served in little plastic cups.. as opposed to a squeeze bottle. The onion rings don't actually fit in the cups to dip them in ketchup. So.. yeah that's annoying. Bbq sauce is also served in those little cups. Where are the squeeze bottles of sauce lol. At least they don't charge for bbq sauce like heritage does. All in all was nice to get a new place. Did it remind me of bbq back home? No. Would I return? No read more

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Like all the other negative reviews have said: dry brisket and they barely give you any. I should've taken a picture but the brisket literally had the same consistency as breast meat chicken. I've had better breast chicken in fact. Really disappointing for nearly $30 with one side. Ribs were really good though and sides were decent. Onion rings were also good but I don't go to a BBQ joint for the onion rings, and if you do then your review is pointless. I wish they had more pride in what they served to customers. read more

Wowie!!! This place is delicious. Ate here last night and came back again. Onion rings are THE BOMB. Crunchy and full of flavor. They are a great addition to the wonderful sandwiches. Pulled pork is incredible, tender and flavor is great. Nice coleslaw too. The lean brisket is another great item. The tacos perfect!! Ranch beans are new for us and again, yummy. The service is so good- everyone is happy and food served quickly. Clean and cute location. TVs and a bar area in addition to tables. Walk up and order and choose your seat. Definitely visit this spot. Well worth the drive and price. Incredible!! read more

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Best Texas BBQ in Southern California hands down. Better than Harper. Better than Heritage.

The restaurant was exceptionally clean. The staff were friendly and took care of business. Did not see them standing idling around. in between customers, they were bussing tables, cleaning areas, and keeping busy taking care of the restaurant. The brisket was extremely tender with a great bark and smoke ring. The pulled pork was moist and great. The Adult Mac & Cheese is the kind you would make at home with quality ingredients. The Ranch Beans were flavorful. They never had a chance to cool off, but I bet they would be great served cold too. This is a BBQ joint where the pit master puts everything into his restauran. read more

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The Lord of the rings is no myth at Hickory & Spice. The reviews and fan chatter is true. Their onion rings are evenly coated with plenty of batter that gives it the right crunch. The onion does not pull away when you bite into it, there's a consistency of batter to onion ratio per bite. Smoked meats paired with fresh toppings and ingredients. Great quality of food and flavor. The restaurant staff go the extra mile to make each customer feel welcome and comfortable. Food and service A+ read more

Hickory & Spice - Lord of the rings - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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IDGAF how good your food is, but if you run out before 5pm despite your hours then you can't run a business properly. All they had left was brisket and a few sides. Brisket was not bad but does not live up to any hype you've seen on social media. The BBQ sauce for the brisket, however, was quite good. Got the regular brisket plate for $25 and the portion was tiny. ONE slice of brisket FOR $25. The cream corn was kinda bland and forgettable. Will never come here again as there are better BBQ spots that give you normal portion sizes. Check out Smoke Queen BBQ in Garden Grove. They don't have trouble running out of food despite the lines. Brisket there is way juicier and flavorful too. read more

those onion rings. my god. I'd been craving bbq for months and finally decided to stop by a spot I kept seeing recommendations for. the cashier taking our order was so helpful when we were clueless on what to order. we ended up getting a half rack of ribs, brisket, onion rings, and sweet potato casserole. incredible on their own but mix and match...oh my goodness. so yummy. restaurant appearance wasn't anything special visually but it's all in the food anyway. we will be returning. read more

My husband is a huge BBQ fan and this spot hits the spot! The onion rings are so crispy and have a sweetness to it. I usually don't care for brisket, but this one was so good. It had a yummy pepper flavor to it and was so tender. Ribs were also really good, it wasn't fall off the bone, but still tender and flavorful. The Mac n cheese was probably the only thing I didn't care for, I don't really like the grainy-ness of it. The staff was really nice and attentive, the chef even came out to check on us. I wish this was closer to me, but I would def come back if I was in the area. Oh! The pickles were really good too! It was crunchy, tangy, and sweet. read more

Hickory & Spice - Pulled pork and onion rings - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

Was in the shopping center to try a different restaurant but saw Hickory & Spice and the aroma from the place drew us to their front door. We were cheerfully greeted by a nice young man who took our order at the counter. We were lucky enough to get the last order of full rack pork ribs they had. Let me tell you it was some of the best ribs we've had in a long time. Put Lucille's to shame. Even the Cole slaw was a hit and the onion rings crispy and not greasy. This place did not fail to impress from the service to the food. Ambiance is rib joint pleasant. And the beer selections were impressive. read more

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Second time at this BBQ joint. Came back mainly for the Beef Short Ribs which is only available every other Sunday. And it didn't disappoint. The Spare Ribs were good as usual. But the Briskets and Corn Muffins are a big dry. Therefore I'm only giving 4 stars for the food. Service is great and as a bonus treat, Greg from "Grub with Greg" YT channel and his son came in, so you know it's gotta be good for this to be his frequent spot. read more

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The service was great, and we liked the fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, but we were disappointed with the brisket; it was too dry. It was supposed to fall off on the side of your finger when lifted, and the pulled pork could also be improved. I think the place is overrated; nothing exceptional compared to other BBQ places. We will keep our search for a true BBQ pit. read more

Had to come check out Hickory & Spice after hearing several friends rave about it. I'm pleased to report, the hype is real! The dining area is cozy yet spacious and is arranged nicely. Orders are placed at the counter and delivered to your table when it's ready. Beverage selection is comprised of canned soda and bottled water/tea. There is also a sit down bar. Service was outstanding! The counter employee was friendly, efficient, and happy to answer questions. Throughout the meal the workers checked in on us and the owner even stopped by our table to ask how we were doing. The food was delicious! In order to try more things, I shared everything with my friend. The turkey sandwich was ah-mazing! Sliced, smoked turkey breast with melted cheese, a very yummy honey mustard sauce (and I usually don't like mustard!), and a very nice cranberry pecan spread had me wishing I didn't have to share! The adult mac & cheese was creamy and cheesy with bits of bacon mixed in was definitely more sophisticated than the average mac & cheese! The cheeses were very mild, so this dish could've used some more seasoning. We also had the tots with "fairy dust" which were perfectly crunchy with a hint of sweetness. Looking forward to coming back soon. And I won't be sharing my turkey sandwich next time :) read more

Hickory & Spice - Adult mac & cheese and tater tots - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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Had a craving for BBQ so I stopped by for dinner tonight. While this place wasn't the best, it did satisfy my bbq craving (for now). The restaurant is located in the Target plaza with plenty of parking nearby. The restaurant has a bar area and plenty of seating as well. You order at the counter and then grab a seat at either area while you wait for your food. They also have a takeout area with spices and sodas you can check out while you wait. Service was nice and they were quick with our food. I ordered the 3 piece brisket plate with mac & cheese and cornbread, onion rings, and a five piece pork rib plate with beans and cole slaw. The mac & cheese was grainy and pretty bland, which was a disappointment considering the smoked cheeses that were used. The beans were also overly sweet and overpowered by the peppers that were used. I was really hoping to get more of a smoky flavor on both these items, and that was missing unfortunately. The cole slaw was great, especially for those who like vinegar-based cole slaw. The onion rings were good too, though I wish they had ranch because that would've made them great. The cornbread was just fine, nothing special. The stars of the show were the meats, the brisket was juicy and tender, and the ribs were fantastic. The ribs were my favorite thing, they were tender and pulled off the bone effortlessly, and were packed with tons of flavor. Both meats came with bbq sauce which also provided lots of flavor. If I were to come back, I'd totally get a rib plate and coleslaw, which is what I'd recommend to anyone visiting. Overall, this place has some promise, but it's not the best bbq I've had in OC. I'd say it's worth a visit if you're in the area, but I'd avoid the sides and focus on the meats. read more

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Love, love BBQ- was checking out a few places close to my job. Saw the reviews for Hickory and Spice and decided to try it. Shout to Stefano for taking my order- really nice, down to earth!!! To Go Order Large Beef Brisket Plate with A Large Side of Adult Mac and Cheese, Ranch Beans- and additional sides of Creamed Corn and Onion Rings. Beef Brisket so tender and juicy- just how i like it- some BBQ places leave the Brisket too long- a big slab of beef jerky. I dont who the GRILL MASTER is behind the scenes, but He has definitely mastered the ART of grilling BBQ. FYI you dont need teeth to eat this meat (Brisket). OMG so good -- give this man a TV show!!! Whoever grilled this brisket has some blessed hands!!! The Adult Mac and Cheese is good- I like Mac and Cheese with a slight crusting of cheese on top of mixed in. Oohwee the onion rings!!!! I asked for Ranch dressing, Roddy said they only serve honey mustard and ketchup with the onion rings. Funny thing is I didnt use either- the onion rings dont need any sauce. The onion rings are so crunchy with a slight hint of honey flavor. I kept eating until there was only two left in the container- Man this is soo good!! The Ranch Beans hands down the best in the Cali- if there is anyone who can top these RANCH beans I love to know.. There is a melange of beans, onions, and peppers- omg so tasty!! Last but most definitely not least - the creamed corn- can you make the sides larger- I will definitely buy!!! I dont know if there is cheese mixed in with the corn but it is delicious!!! Hickory and Spice and all that's nice-YOU definitely have some winning food combinations!!! read more

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Sooo delicious!!! Definitely get the Dino ribs!!!! And the onion rings and the brisket sandwich was delicious tooo!!!! Definitely going to be our go to spot!!! read more

Hickory & Spice - Dino beef ribs only on the weekends - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

Drove 45 mins here for bbq due to all the good reviews online, it was very disappointing. The owner greeted other tables, saw us but didn't greet. Got 2 meat plate with brisket, pork belly burnt ends and a side. The brisket was very dry even though we asked for marbled cut. Pork belly burnt ends was 80 percent fat. The side is ridiculously small, one side fits in a small sauce container. The meal cost $40 something. They shouldn't be in the hospitality business. read more

A friend and I stopped by Hickory & Spice for some BBQ lunch. You place your order at the register and then they deliver it to your table. There are mostly tables inside but there are also a few booths by the entrance. They also have a bar area and there are several TVs usually playing sports. There is a ton of parking right out front. I ordered the regular pork spare rib plate with tater tots. The ribs had great flavor and the meat practically fell off the bone. There were only three bones but they do have a large size with five bones and an additional side if you want more. The tater tots were good and there were a lot of them. I liked the pickles and pickled onions on the plate which complimented the rest of the plate well. They also have a variety of different BBQ sauces if you want to try something besides the default sauce. I heard that the onion rings here were very good so I had to order those as well and they definitely did not disappoint. They had a great thick crispy panko crust and the fairy dust sprinkle gives them a little sweetness. My friend is a regular here and he devoured the large pulled pork plate with creamed corn and ranch beans. The owner is very friendly and stopped by several tables before stopping by ours to say hello. We actually chit chatted about different BBQ places and then he generously brought out a few burnt ends for us to enjoy. They were melt in your mouth delicious. Hickory & Spice is very solid BBQ. All BBQ places are on the expensive side but the quality here is top notch and the owner and pitmaster has won many national awards for his BBQ. read more

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This place is a hidden gem. I first heard about it from Greg, and I'm glad I gave it a try. For about $38, the dino ribs alone will put a smile on your face. Just make sure you call ahead or go on the weekend--that's usually when they have them. If you don't, you might miss out and end up with pastrami instead... but honestly, that's not a bad backup at all. The pastrami is meaty, flavorful, and pretty addictive. The tots are another highlight. They come with their honey rub (aka "fairy dust"), and it's seriously good. If you haven't tried this place yet, I definitely recommend it. It's one of those spots you'll want to come back to. read more

I ordered a Regular Beef Brisket Plate with the "Adult" Mac-n-Cheese for the one side. Pros: 1. Brisket was tender, almost melt in your mouth. I appreciated that they included strips with varied marbleization. 2. I like when pickled items are part of the plate, especially if they're made in-house. Pickles were sour while the onions were sweet, so you get a good mix. Cons: 1. Smaller portion than I had expected for a regular-sized hearty meal. It looked a little sad on the metal tray. 2. Brisket was very salty. I didn't want to add any sort of sauce to offset it since I was worried about overpowering flavors, and I don't like brisket doused with sweet barbecue sauce. 3. "Adult" mac was disappointing with how bland it was. I love smoked gouda, but this mac didn't taste cheesy enough to me, or maybe it needed some more salt. Also, the thick, starchy tubes of penne didn't seem like the best vehicle for the blend if cheeses used. I'd prefer elbow, shell, or corkscrew. I sampled a burnt end from my friend's plate, and it was decent. Different from the mouthwatering, savory, juicy meat cubes in the Midwest, cuz those are something else. They set the bar pretty high, so props to Hickory and Spice for offering their version of a beloved food. Free lot parking is part of the large corner plaza. Fast-casual spot where you order up front a then take your number to one of the many tables inside. Service was quick and friendly. Staff dropped by many times to check on us. Interior was clean and casual. You can tell that they take pride in what they do there. read more

Hickory & Spice - Regular brisket plate with "Adult" mac-n-cheese. Both were ok. Small portion. Burnt ends were just added for the pic - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

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Brisket has good flavor. Didn't care for the cold street corn or the mac and cheese. Biggest disappointment was no ranch dressing for he 6 huge onion rings. read more

Don't sleep on the tacos or meatloaf here. Easy to go with some of the amazing traditional bbq options but be adventurous you won't be disappointed. Great service that moved quickly despite a well deserved line. Had put off trying this place because of parking but well worth it and not too bad on a busy Sunday. read more

This place is a rip off! 4 small pieces of brisket for 25$. Do yourself a favor and take your money somewhere else. I will never be back!

Brutal- No Mac N Cheese No Ribs Missing items on a small menu Owner guy walking around so unapologetic read more

Good is good, but it's not great. While the restaurant is clean, and the help is really friendly, the food is kind of middle of the road for me. I had the brisket and the ribs, and the ribs turned out to be the better part of it. Portions were aligned with the pricing for barbecue, but I failed to see the hype listed in other reviews. That said it is definitely a good option if you're in the mood for barbecue. read more

Hickory & Spice - Brisket, pork ribs, tater tots, and "adult" macaroni and cheese. - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

Plenty of parking and we got there right when it opened so there wasn't a line; however one did form after we sat down! The ribs were so good we had to order another rack! We'll pass on the brisket next time - flavor was good but a little tough for us. We'll definitely also get the pulled pork, onion rings and creamed corn again. The flavors were delicious! The cornbread is a little small for $2 but my toddler and husband enjoyed it! My toddler also liked the Mac but I wouldn't order it again for myself. I'll definitely be back - the food and service were great and we were all stuffed! read more

Been there 6 times so far and it's consistently the same. All for the same reasons why I keep going back. Everyone talks about their killer onion rings but don't sleep on the sweet potato side!!! The best of anywhere I tried. The best days to come are certain special sundays where they have their beef rib. Last time I ordered 2 of the large Dino ribs which had 2 giant ribs and a pound of brisket! Sooooo moist, full of flavor and tender! I thought there'd be leftovers but my fam of 4 destroyed every last bite. We had to roll out of the restaurant!! I tried the pastrami (certain special days) and turkey are great. I haven't gotten around to trying the pulled pork or spare ribs because I keep getting the usual. All the sides are worth getting. To finish don forget the banana crème pie dessert cup! You don't need to drive far to get his delish flavorful tendernism!!! read more

This place is consistently great! We love the brisket. It's smokey and delicious! We love the tangy BBQ sauce--it's a perfect combo. The adult Mac and cheese is a go to for us and the sweet surrender is the perfect end to an amazing meal! read more

I was looking for a barbecue place and I found this place near my work. There is plenty of parking since it's in the same lot as Target and there are plenty of other businesses in the area such as a Dominos, a nail salon, and hair salon. It was crowded since it was lunch time. There is plenty of tables, counter seating, and TVs to watch sports. I ordered the Brisket Sandwich, a side order of Mac and Cheese, Onion Rings, and Corn Bread which ended up being around $40. The sandwich was great. Everything went well together from the brisket, the cole slaw, the sauce, and the bun. The bun didn't fall apart as you ate the sandwich while the slaw was a good refresher from the brisket and sauce. The Mac and cheese was good it was nice and creamy. The onion rings were some of the best I've ever had. The batter was crispy while the onion rings was overwhelming with batter. Only thing that was kind of lacking that there weren't that many in an order. The corn bread was fresh and sweet which was a good break from all the savory items. I would come back again and try something else. read more

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Ribs are yummy and service here is always 10/10. The restaurant is very clean and love their sides! Especially their coleslaw and ONION RINGSSSSSSS read more

This was my first time trying this place and it definitely won't be my last!!! The food was superb. I tried the beef brisket sandwich with a side of tater tots, my husband had the beef brisket plate with tots and Mac n cheese. He also had the homemade corn bread. The meat was cooked to perfection very tender and great flavor. The place is nice we went around 1pm and there was plenty of seating. This place is definitely worth trying read more

Hickory & Spice - Beef brisket sandwich and tater tots - Barbeque Near Me - Orange, California

I will give this place a 5 s stars I love this place. The food is amazing and the owner is very polite friendly and the waiters are very friendly as well and the food has a great taste. I will totally recommend this place. read more

I am really trying to find my Goto BBQ place in central OC. If you like overly smoked meat then this is for you. I like a bit of smoke but really the flavor of meat. This just didn't hit it for me. Mac and cheese was mediocre , coleslaw was probably the best thing. read more

The Sunday Beef Rib Special is legit! The food here is consistently great and never disappoints. The Onion Rings are always a crowd favorite and we find ourselves always placing a to go order of the onion rings to take home. When you walk up to the counter to order the staff is very knowledgeable and able to field the questions we have. The restaurant is always clean, tables are bussed with a sense of urgency and presentable upon walking in. It's Always a treat to hit Hickory and Spice when driving up from San Diego. read more

My uncle recommended Hickory and Spice, so I took my grandpa and wife there. The food was excellent -- some of the best ribs I've had. Everything came out perfectly cooked. The staff was extremely friendly too, which made the whole meal even better. We'll definitely be going back. read more

Amazing service, incredible food, Onion rings and brisket to die for. They opened early for me, and accommodated a large order for my high school. the decor and the smell are off the charts, pics to come read more

My new fave BBQ in OC! I've been meaning to try Hickory & Spice for quite a while, but honestly every time I get excited about trying a BBQ place in OC, it ends up feeling and tasting like more style over substance --- BBQ for Instagram. Hickory & Spice gloriously breaks that trend with its incredible flavors and balance that show a focus on the FOOD. Every element is painstakingly thought out and executed: the deep smoke ring, the slight crunch of the rub, the slight tartness of the sauce (served on the side, of course), the sun dried tomatoes in the mac and cheese to counter the gooey richness, the refreshing coleslaw. Even the great selection of IPAs points toward how much heart has gone into curating all elements of the menu. How good was it? I absolutely destroyed the 3 rib platter, including the additional side, and went back to add a brisket sandwich, which had an amazing mango slaw to balance the incredibly succulent meat. I rolled out if there much more stuffed than I'd intended, but thrilled to have found a new go-to. Service was also friendly and spot-on, and I love seeing the chef/owner making the rounds with customers. It shows how much he really cares. read more

Wonderful neighborhood barbecue spot. Best in the southland IMO Service is always quick and attentive read more