Specialties
We keep it simple, crispy, and full of flavor.
Hot Grease is a Southern-style fried snapper (NOT "fish & chips"... but if you that... you'll LOVE this) pop-up serving just one thing and doing it right. Our menu is tight: snapper only, battered fresh with our house-made seasoning blend, served with seasoned fries and our signature tartar sauce made from scratch.
No frills. No fluff. Just fire.
History
Established in 2025.
Hot Grease was born from a deep love of Southern cooking, cultural storytelling, and community joy. Hot Grease hit the streets in 2025 serving crispy fried snapper, seasoned fries, and house-made tartar sauce all with soul and a little heat.
We’re not a brick-and-mortarwe’re a pop-up. That means you won’t find us in one place every day, but when we pop up, we show out. Catch us at art walks, night markets, festivals, and invite-only events across Orange County.
Hot Grease is also home to The Potlikker Line, our Reproductive Justice Mutual Aid Fund. 3% of every sale goes directly toward supporting abortion access, postpartum care, birth support, and gender-affirming care. We believe joy is the agenda and that community care can start with a plate of fish.
We’re available for catering, pop-ups, and private events. If your gathering could use good food with a mission behind it, Hot Grease is ready to roll up and fry out.
Meet the Business Owner: Asha S.
Hot Grease is a culmination of everything I love: food, feeding people, community, and reproductive justice. I grew up between Orange County and my family’s roots in Georgia, where the fish fry was more than just a meal, it was a whole event. I still remember cleaning fish with my grandma, oldies playing in the background, and fighting over the hot sauce and white bread.
I created Hot Grease to bring that joy and flavor to the streets of OC. We serve crispy fried snapper with a bold house batter, seasoned fries, and scratch-made tartar sauce. But we’re more than a pop-up, we’re a purpose.
A portion of every sale supports reproductive justice through our mutual aid fund, The Potlikker Line. At Hot Grease, we’re here to nourish the people, body, culture, and soul.