This past weekend I went to Heritage Barbecue for their grand opening in San Juan Capistrano, CA. As implied by the name, it is a barbecue joint. Chef Danny Castillo and his team have been working hard to get to the grand opening that occurred this past Saturday (August 8, 2020), and it proved to be a great success.
Some History
What began as barbecuing in the backyard led to the excellent strategy of having pop-ups around Orange County breweries, which has led to an official place of their own. Of course, anyone who is an avid Food Network viewer has seen shows like The Great Food Truck Race and may think this would have been a great food truck option. I agree and disagree with this idea.
It could work as a food truck, as it would feature really great food. However, it probably wouldn’t be what it is today if they didn’t go the brewery pop up route as they did. Chef Danny is someone who clearly enjoys food and is looking for ways to transform and better his techniques when it comes to barbecuing.
For example, having done the brewery pop-ups, it gave Chef Danny an advantage of learning what beers would cook best with his meats, mac & cheese, beans, and pickles. Now, with a brick and mortar location, Heritage Barbecue is currently partnered with Capistrano Brewery.
So how did it all taste? Glad you asked!
The Food
After waiting in line for 5 hours and drinking their refreshing sweet tea (Abe’s Sweet Tea), I settled down to taste their Beef Rib, Classic Mac, Brisket Borracho Beans, and, to top it off, an order of Rebel Cheesecake. The wait was worth it, as this was the best barbecue I’ve ever had in Southern California.
The Beef Rib was delicious, the meat was so tender it fell right off the bone! It was one of those moments when the meat feels as though it’s melting in your mouth after each bite. The flavors and smokiness from their industrial-sized smokers can make your mouth water.
The Classic Mac was like a waterslide of cheddar and jack cheese, with Mornay sauce that covered each noodle perfectly with a chicharron topping. Everyone is different when it comes to mac and cheese, and I enjoyed theirs because nothing was overpowering, and every bit of seasoning complimented the other.
As for the beans, they were also just as good. The Brisket Borracho Beans contain pinto beans that have been slow-cooked with jalapenos, tomatoes, dried chiles, chopped brisket, and cotija cheese. I mean, I was able to enjoy more of their tender meat within an order of beans, so that’s a win!
With your food, you’ll also get complimentary extras – BBQ sauce, mustard, pickles, pickled jalapenos, and pickled onions.
Dessert
And, of course, why not end a meal with a cheesecake?! I noticed the Rebel Cheesecake on the menu, and it was even more intriguing to learn that it’s smoked. Being one who enjoys cheesecake plenty, I’ve never had one that was smoked. As I was interested in trying Chef Josh Lozano’s version of a burnt basque cheesecake, I had to check it out.
In tasting it, I noticed it had some hints of peppercorn and gouda. What was most surprising was how creamy it was once the spoon hit my tongue. It was like a daydream. Everything around me felt as though it went silent as my taste buds were most content. This actually speaks to my entire meal and experience.
Mom Knows Great BBQ
I also left with a pound of brisket to let my family have a taste. My mom was most surprised the meat was so good. If anyone I know knows barbecue, it’s my mom, a Texas-born woman, who knows what good barbecue tastes like.
“You know it’s a good piece of meat when you don’t need to put any sauce on it,” she said.
The Best In SoCal
Chef Danny definitely has established what I think is the best barbecue experience not just in Orange County but in all of Southern California. I’ve been to other barbecue locations and some chains here and there. None of them compare to the taste or quality at Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano.
It’s great to see a barbecue place do pop-ups in various locations, only to finally have it’s opening and a permeant location, especially at a time as challenging as now.
I’ll be headed to Heritage Barbecue again and highly recommend the food if you’re looking for an Authentic Central Texas-style barbecue.
What to Know:
Heritage Barbecue is located at 31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA. The business is open Wednesday-Friday from 3:00 PM to when they’re Sold Out and Open Saturday-Sunday from 12:00PM – to when they’re Sold Out. If you’re looking for Beef Ribs, they’re only sold on the weekends. There are parking lots available by the train station and street parking as well. After finding a parking space and ordering, you’ll find that outdoor seating is available, which is helpful with how times are currently. Or, if you don’t feel comfortable sitting outdoors, you can take your order to go.
Learn more at their website – https://www.heritagecraftbbq.com/
Follow Heritage Barbecue on Twitter at @CraftBarbecue and on Instagram at @HeritageBarbecue to get updates on their specials, what the crowd situation is like, what’s still available, what has sold out, and any other special messages the crew wants to pass along.
write2recite 
“I left with a pound of brisket”
My hero. 😁
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