Hickory and Spice BBQ — Restaurant in Orange

Strap in, this is a hefty review…I’ve been coming here everyday after church and can I just say, everything about this place is FANTASTIC. The food here is 1st place competition winning quality!(literally, the owner competes in competitions) Me and my family got huge beef ribs with a mouth-watering char on the outside, we used the plastic knife to cut into it and it just completely fell off the bone! MUAH! chefs kiss🤌🏼 The side of Mac n cheese is made with 3 different cheeses topped with tomato pieces, it is SO creamy and extremely flavorful. The pulled pork sandwich is definitely worth a shout out, the meat is so tender and juicy especially topped with their amazing barbecue sauce! Many reviews have said that the food is pricey for the amount of food that they provide but honestly, it’s about the same price as a greasy/watery meal at Denny’s. And I can’t imagine thinking the portions are too small because you would literally have to be a crazy person to eat more than what they give you, the portions are so filling! The owner does ALL the cooking. His name is Rick and he works so hard all day EVERY day. He always makes sure to walk around and greet the guest and it makes the whole experience feel so welcoming and true. As for the interior of this establishment, let’s just say I hope heaven smells like this! It’s very clean and well decorated, there is lots of space for families of all sizes! I read a review that was a one star because there wasn’t ranch. Honestly people if that’s your biggest concern walk your butt across the parking lot to target and buy some ranch!! Anyways I know this was very long but I hope this helps anyone looking for a good authentic BBQ place! As my review states, 5 stars...

This is not your average BBQ. Its not even excellent BBQ. It is literally the most mind blowing competition level BBQ you may likely ever eat to the point that every bite is practically a religious experience. And this was true of all ten different items i tried, even down to the tater tots!

On top of the food: the atmosphere, interior design, and hospitality of the staff makes Hickory and Spice a truly gourmet experience.

I talked with the Pitmaster, Rick, who with the help of his son, Luke, has been winning national BBQ competitions for half a decade. Rick has since become bored with winning so often that he wanted to take on a new, even harder challenge: starting a restaurant (much to Luke’s chagrin!).

Are the prices high relative to the portions when compared to most BBQ places? Yes. Do they have some restrictions that might offend the average restaurant goer (such as not offering ranch dressing)? Yes.

But this is not a place you go to because you’re “just looking for a meal”. This is a mecca that will attract BBQ enthusiasts from far out of county and probably even out of state to experience.

I used to go to Orange Hill to get their Tomahawk steak whenever i had an excuse to celebrate with delicious meats but I will now be replacing that will Hickory and Spices brisket moving forward! Thank you Rick,...

Quick Summary This BBQ epitomizes OC dining: really good food without being overly greasy/heavy. The turkey is something I would come back for over and over again. Brisket and ribs were very solid as well. Onion rings and the sides were very good as well. Lots of parking available and no wait needed

Food- 5 stars Turkey- this was incredibly tender and flavorful. I would come back to get more of this on a regular basis

brisket- very good as well. Moist and tender without being too heavy or greasy

ribs- these were really good as well. Very tender and falls off the bone. The sauce is similar to a Chinese BBQ pork, which was very good

Onion rings were solid and well made. Definitely not frozen

Beans- these were really solid as well. A tad sweet but very good

Mac and cheese- these were solid as well. But aren't as good as the beans or onion rings

Service- 5 stars Fast casual spot. Food arrived pretty quickly and all the servers were very helpful throughout our meal

Bottom Line Fantastic BBQ spot without making you feel too guilty when...