The Best Barbeque in Irvine

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (404) • $$

"Tried their 2 item mix combo with short ribs and chicken katsu + spam musubi. The food was phenomenal and so delicious. It truly hit that Hawaiian bbq comfort food spot. I cant recommend them enough!The staff are super friendly and helpful! The restaurant itself was clean and playing fun Christmas music which is very fitting for the times. Love this place and can't wait to visit again!"

Brew Kitchen Ale House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (729) • $$

"Visited this restaurant for a Christmas party. There were like over 50 of us. It was nice they had accommodated everyone who showed up. Even added extra tables and chairs outside of the restaurant. Mario was our server. He worked extra hard to serve us. Made sure every one was taken care of. He did do an amazing job. The restaurant was all decked out in a Christmas setting. Super cute! Definitely felt the holiday spirit. I had ordered the brisket grilled cheese with a salad on the side. It didn't disappoint me at all. Lots of flavors enjoying every bite. Everything on the menu looked and sounded delicious. Drinks were on point. They offered holiday drinks which came in cute Christmas glasses garnish with fruits and fresh herbs. I loved how they added blankets to keep you warm since we were outside. Overall was a nice place and will definitely revisit in the future."

Halves Boiling Pot + Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (854) • $$$

"Half hot pot, half bbq grill, one full belly! Absolutely delicious, especially that Mongolian broth. A bit pricey sure, but well worth it for good quality meat. We went on a Sunday evening and it wasn't too busy, one waiter behind the bar and one waitress working the floor, both were very friendly and helpful. A lot of the negative reviews mentioned poor service, I can see that if the restaurant was packed, 2 servers may be overwhelmed, but this is a cook your own food restaurant, serve yoself! lol, we experienced excellent service all around."

Aloha Hawaiian BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$

"Really enjoy their combination with Katzu chicken and ribs, white rice, and cabbage.( it also comes with macaroni salad, but I can't eat that.) the one cash register to the far left needs a little more counter space but other than that the food is delicious."

GUI BBQ Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (390) • $$

"for a late night spot in OC, this definitely gets the job done! it can easily get pricey so I'd recommend going in a group + ordering a dan dan noodle to help fill up!recommendations: taiwanese sausage, fish tofu, fish balls, shiitake mushrooms, dan dan noodles, chicken gizzard, beefmeh / do not recommend: lamb (can get gamey), cucumber salad, scallops with vermicelli (overcooked)service is alright - they don't check on you often, each time i'm here the fire for the hot plate runs out. tip - BRING A SWEATER THE AIR CONDITIONING IS SUPER AGGRESSIVE"

Pit and Bull

★★★★★ 4.5 (68)

"Melt in your mouth, juicy goodness tri-tip. This is our Friday night ritual along with beer and dessert. We order from the cashier, they provide a pager and will page when it's ready. Seating area is self-serve. Family oriented vibe with pinball machines."

Frank BBQ & Noodles

★★★★★ 4.5 (112)

"Parking was a bit tough, but they do have an underground parking garage. The restaurant is small but worth waiting to try their food. You scan the QR code on the table to order. We ordered the Honey BBQ, Roasted Duck, Wonton, Ginger Scallion Oil Chicken, Fried Chicken, and Lemon Tea. Everything was delicious! You must try their Honey BBQ and roasted duck! It was very flavorful and tender. The wonton was also good and not spicy. The Ginger Scallion Oil Chicken is cold served, but it's also very good. The fried chicken is like popcorn chicken and served with spicy flakes. Every dish we had was delicious and very filling. The lemon tea was also very good and not too sweet either. I'd definitely come back for more!Recommendation(s):- Honey BBQ- Roasted Duck- Wonton- Ginger Scallion Oil Chicken- Fried Chicken- Lemon TeaService: 5/5Tip(s):- Parking can get tough, but they do have underground parking- Restroom available- Scan QR on table to order"

Seoul N Spirits BBQ

★★★★☆ 4.2 (137)

"Another KBBQ spot, third time's a charm they sayK-House, Gogiya, hope this one is here to staySeoul N Spirits is non-AYCE, you order à la cartePlus soups and stews that will warm your heart Located in a plaza that's a bit quiet and off-beat If you know Tanaka Farms, it's across the street It wasn't busy, I found a parking spot out in front Was seated quickly with no long wait, to be blunt Apps include kimchi pancakes, corn cheese-zers Dumplings, glass noodles, other crowd pleasers Meat menu has the typical pork and beef dishes Also bibimbap, stir-fry, grilled and braised fishes Brisket (chadol baegi 차돌박이) was a good startFollowed by the Ribeye (등심), that was smart Steamed Egg (gyeran jjim 계란찜) is soft and fluff Marinated bulgogi (불고기) texture is slightly tough Yangnyeom Galbi (양념갈비) was very sweet Paired with nice and hot kimchi stew, a real treat! Marinated Jumuluk (주물럭) goes well with rice Boneless Short Rib (ggot sal 꽃살) was also nice They will cook the meat for you right at the tableBut sometimes they are busy and unable Watch the grill to ensure the food doesn't burnOtherwise that'll be a lesson you'll learn!"

Bourbon Street Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (537) • $$

"I strolled into Bourbon St. on Sunday. A few gents were watching a playoff game on TV. Jacob, the bartender, kept the bar clean, took orders promptly, and engaged occasionally in congenial conversation with what appeared to be the regulars for a Sunday afternoon.Jacob took my order shortly after I sat down. His demeanor and self presentation were well suited for this bar & the line of work. I don't drink much, so I simply asked for a pineapple juice. Jacob poured the glass, served the glass, and took my money more expediently than most bartenders--even during a slower time of night. The juice kept me loose too.5 stars. A solid & sufficiently staffed bar."

Marble Steakhouse & Grille

★★★★☆ 4.1 (452) • $$$

"This place is a nice scenery away from ayce kbbq. You could tell this place focus on service and quality meat since it's not ayce. We were seated in the middle tables without the table grill but they cooked the meat elsewhere before putting it on our portable grill to keep warm. They were great in keeping our banchans refilled once they're empty, it's nice of them without having us to ask!We had a large party so we ordered 3 combos, as well as some other side meats and raw crab which was plenty of food. The crab was very flavorful and fresh compared to other Korean restaurants. They also provided us all with gloves to keep our hands clean. Come here if you want good quality Korean bbq meat!"

Kyung Bok Kung

★★★★☆ 3.9 (423) • $$$

"When I walked in, the restaurant had the ambiance of a fancy, traditional Korean restaurant. It was 3pm on a Saturday, and most tables were already reserved for dinner. The banchan and the grilled freshwater eel was just okay. However, the beef tartare wasn't fresh or tender. I also tried the Korean-style marinated BBQ, but it was dry and tasted old."

Genghis Khan Mongolian BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.9 (410) • $$

"Yes, it is a hole in the wall. Yes, the decor is pretty simple. Yes, the menu is a piece of laminated paper. Yes, you will have an amazing experience with the nicest staff in Southern California. You will only need to go once, to feel like family and then you will keep going back and you will tell your friends and family, and they will become part of the family there."

Street Tawa BBQ

★★★★★ 4.8 (12)

"Had the Jalapeño smash burger & brisket sandwich. Both were amazing! The smash burger bun had a great crispy texture, but soft inside bun, the meat was perfectly cooked.The brisket was juicy & tender, just how brisket should be, with great flavor! It had just the right amount of sauce & toasted sliced bread halves to deliver that delicious brisket."

Tsuruhashi - Fountain Valley

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$$

"2 AND A HALF HOUR WAIT. The meats are high quality here. It's not some subpar AYCE meat. The best part was definitely the two sauces they give. It pairs so well with all the meats!! My review is 5 stars for just the food itself, not taking into account of the wait time. I wouldn't wait 2 hours again. Maybe 1 hour max."

949 Grill Lounge

★★★★★ 4.6 (16)

"WOW! Hands down the best Chinese restaurant in the area. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Would even rate it 15 out of 10.I've ordered the Beef & Pork Belly Skewers, Egg Fried Rice, Pork Short Rib Noodle Soup, and Small Glutinous Rice Balls from here and EVERY single dish here far exceeded every expectation I've had. I've been struggling to find good authentic Chinese food in the area that meet my standards, but this restaurant completely hit the nail on the head. Everything tastes exactly like all the amazing Chinese dishes I had growing up and reminds me so much of home! Not to mention the portion sizes and prices are very good.My heart and stomach are always full after eating from here. Will be supporting this restaurant over and over again!"

Wang Cho Korean BBQ

★★★★☆ 4 • $$$

"Review:This Korean BBQ spot is amazing! The meat is incredibly fresh, and you can taste the quality in every bite. The selection is fantastic, with plenty of options to satisfy everyone at the table. The grilling experience is fun and interactive, making it a great place to enjoy with friends or family. The staff is friendly and attentive, ensuring you always have what you need. If you're looking for delicious food and a memorable dining experience, this is the place to go!"

Ribs & Co

★★★★☆ 4.4 (429) • $$$

"Really enjoyed my meal here! Super spacious and clean. My group did the premium option ($55 pp) which in hindsight is sliightly steep, but no regrets. Def not a casual meal due to pricier cost pp but would love to come back for a special occasion. I think the restaurant's main selling point is their tomahawk, but that was probably our least favorite option (too dry). Luckily, there are many other greater choices to pick from. Favorites:-Joomooluk (seasoned short ribs): I was shocked at how tender each piece was. VERY tender, sooo good [5/5]-Black Angus Marinated Galbi: High quality, on the bone, tender, subtle marinade [4.5/5]-Beef Tongue: The trick is to not let it overcook, not even a little--or it'll get tough and chewy. A slight sear on both sides is all it really needs [5/5]-Woodae Galbi: Served on the bone, tender, delicious! [5/5]-Cowboy Butter: I personally loved the flavor on this, but others said it was too heavy. More for me lol [4/5]-Chimichurri: Definitely uses dried parsley instead of fresh, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it with each piece of gogi. Chimichurri is my fav part of Brazilian bbq and it translated well to kbbq. [4/5]-Banchan: All delicious. Tasted homemade [5/5]Skip the scallops and tomahawk. Scott was our server and he did a great job noticing when we were low on meat or sides, and he cooked/cut up our meat perfectly. The runners and bussers were on point with grill changes and refills. Looking forward to having a reason to dine here again! lol"

Kaju Soft Tofu

★★★★☆ 3.5 (651) • $$

"Absolutely love this place. The servers are sweet and kind. The prices are reasonable (in my opinion) for what you get. I usually order the spicy tofu soup that comes with the panchan. The little crispy fried fish are also a favorite. Recently, I shared the steamed egg dish and it's so fluffy and delicious. I can't wait to try the ginseng chicken."

Shik Do Rak

★★★★☆ 3.8 • $$$

"Honestly I love this place so much come to celebrate a lot of special events and last night has to be the WORST service I have ever received in a LONG TIME!! We were forgotten and had to multiple ask for things and remind our waiter. There marinated short ribs are the best over all I will come back another day to see if they can maybe hire more people or improve in there service"

Mong Q Mongolian BBQ Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.8 (20)

"Finally a good Mongolian BBQ place in Orange County and it's located at the Block of Orange! If you've never had Mongolian BBQ this is the best place to try. It's a fun process where you get to pick everything you want in your bowl. Pick a small or large and stuff it with as much meat or veggies that fit into the bowl. Once you're done, you tell them what sauce you want in the bowl or you can ask them for their recommendation. Watch them add noodles, and cook all the items in your bowl on their big grill. It's so fun to watch it all get cooked in front of you. The sauces that they have here is what makes it so good and unique. I highly recommend adding their house teriyaki at the end of the process!! I love this place and will definitely be back!"

Lalc Restaurant & Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (236) • $$

"This little restaurant, located a block away from the Seal Beach pier, has a simple interior with some eclectic wall hangings. I stopped in for an early dinner (or maybe late lunch) when they weren't busy. Hanna was my server and she was very cordial and attentive.I ordered the pulled pork sandwich which came with a side - I chose coleslaw. I also ordered a biscuit, based on the recommendation of other reviews, which tickled my curiosity. For a drink I got a lemonade which was tart and refreshing.The pulled pork sandwich was monstrous. Rather than a bun it's served on a long, crunchy roll. The tender pork was covered with slaw, pickles and a deliciously tangy Carolina bbq sauce and had a nice smokey flavor. As I never smelled that smokey smell of barbecue floating in the air I am guessing they smoke their meat off-site or have an amazing ventilation system.The side slaw was okay, a "healthy" version which was a bit too plain for my taste. It was a bad decision as a side since the sandwich already had plenty of coleslaw; I ended up eating little of it. The homemade biscuit was amazing. They provide berry jam and a house-made fennel butter which was incredible. If I wasn't already stuffed from the ginormous sandwich I might have ordered a second biscuit just to savor more of that fennel butter. I really enjoyed my dining experience here. Whatever you order, get the biscuit."

Tsuruichi

★★★★★ 4.7 (62)

"Delicious food. The staff are so friendly. If you are looking for a quite place with excellent wagyu beef, this is a nice optionRecommended"

Big Rick's BBQ 714

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"Just finished my meal of Big Rick's BBQ at their pop up at a brewery and literally licked the plate clean. The meats were saucy and flavorful and tender and the sides were just as good or even better! Honest to god, best BBQ I've had on the west coast."

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

★★★★☆ 3.9 (159) • $$

"My wife and I went in for lunch with minimal expectations and we were both pleasantly surprised by our experience. The quantity of food was amazing and the quality was even more impressive. The service was "acceptable". The cashier was friendly, but seemed mostly disinterested in doing anything but the minimum. Our cashier brought us our order in To Go containers, even though it was obvious we were eating there. This location seems like they expect customers to take their orders to go. Our order of Chicken Katsu had the perfect amount of golden panko breading on it and was quite plentiful. We found the Mac Salad reminded us of the Mac Salad we've enjoyed in Maui on previous trips. The Shrimp and Fish basket was very fresh and we ate most of that while in the restaurant. We took the rest of the extremely large portion of chicken home and ate 2 more meals off of it. It reheated in the air fryer very nicely."

Frank's BBQ & Chinese Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.9 (321) • $$

"Very clean and nice ambiance to dine in and would come againI got the roasted duck and honey bbq bowl and it gets the job done. Duck was flavorful but I found the honey bbq pork to lack the caramelization that I'm used to. Also got pig ears for an appetizer and it was delicious. It comes seasoned mala-style which is slightly spicy."

Santa Maria BBQ & Catering

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"SHARON deserves a raise she is working the register the drink counter and running the orders to the tables at lunch rush hour and the POS gives her drama. She is one of the main reasons we return. While the food is great she is fan freak'in fantastic ! Please help make her job a little easier. The cheesy Porker is my go to. Delicious."

Big Man's Backyard BBQ

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"Having lived in the Midwest, I have had great barbecue. The Big Man's Backyard BBQ prepared by Don Heffern is at a whole other level. If you like barbecue, you have to get by on a Friday night and taste these tasty meats and sides. Just do it!!!"

7 Japanese BBQ & Yakitori Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (403) • $$$

"Finally a Japanese AYCE BBQ plus sushi and more!! I can't get over how many different varieties of meats (steak, chicken, seafood, and beef tongue) you can choose from! The appetizers, soup, curry, sushi (nigiri and cut rolls) were endless! Dessert only included marshmallows and s'mores but I'm not mad about it. Drinks are not included in the AYCE price (current $49.99/person). Service was quick!! You order from an iPad at your table and the orders are sent directly to the kitchen. Food comes out fast!! The staff were all so nice and polite. They drop off the food and make rounds to clear empty dishes off the table to make room for more food! The grills do get replaced after good use!Love the (disco) vibe tonight with ABBA playing in the background along with other upbeat tracks! I'm so happy to have tried this new place!! Will definitely be back! Beware of the weekends: you can't just walk in! Reserve your table ahead of time. There's a line out the door at 445pm with people who made reservations! Madness but worth it!"

Waikiki Hawaiian Grill

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (228) • $

"Delicious every single time I go! Food is always made in a timely fashion and priced well considering the good size serving portions. Restaurant is always clean enough and food is of decent quality!"

The Ribjoint Roadhouse

★★★★☆ 3.5 (238) • $$

"They are convenient close. Good food friendly and local. I like taking out their combos and appreciate that they're kind of an old school Dana point business."

Aloha BBQ

★★★★☆ 3.5 (396) • $

"We just visited Aloha BBQ and we enjoyed our food! The service was great & the portions good. Even the kids meal had a good amount of food. The place is cute and has nice ambiance with hawaain music playing in the background."

Maui Hawaiian BBQ

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (339) • $$

"This restaurant is in the parking lot of the Costco by the Starbucks. All of the meats are delicious and flavorful. The best plate to order is the Hawaiian BBQ Mix, which comes with short ribs, beef & chicken, along with rice and mac salad. This plate is huge and definitely shareable. You'll probably even have some left overs. These meals go best with one of the Hawaiian Sun drinks. They have a few really good flavors available; my favorite being the Strawberry Guava Nectar. And prices are totally fair for the portions you get. This isn't even the closest Hawaiian BBQ spot to me, but it's my go to for the craving."

Mo Ran Gak Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$

"Always a lengthy wait, but well worth the delectable savories from grilled pork, chicken, and mouth-watering soft beef pieces, cooked to perfection by the friendly yet attentive staff chefs.Ensure to be on-site to add your party's name to the guestlist and don't wander too far!The interior is cozy and well-ventilated and you don't leave feeling smoky like at typical AYCE places. Pricey menu items can feel expensive but trust; it's worth it all.Can't wait to return here again soon!"

I Can Barbecue Korean Grill | Irvine

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"This is our new favorite KBBQ! They have great options to choose from. The staff at this location are great every time as well. Always making sure the bbq's are being switched out and bringing out the food very quick. You get to choose 3 item at a time to order. The wait is never too long either."

Umma's K-BBQ

★★★★★ 4.6 (374) • $$

"I visited this business yesterday for lunch. The staff was very friendly and helpful with the ordering; the space itself is small, so you mostly eat on the shared patio - it was too hot for me yesterday so i brought food back to my office. I had the combo plate with Beef bulgogi and chicken katsu, with white rice, cabbage salad, kimchi and macaroni salad. The bulgogi was a little chewy and the mac salad was a little boring, but everything else was great. (Add some soy sauce to the mac to improve it!) It was really expensive - over $20. I may come back - the food was really good, just a little pricy."