It’s hard to believe it’s been only four years since Heritage Barbecue completely and forever changed the barbecue scene in Orange County, California. But even before this restaurant opened in San Juan Capistrano, the pop-up cottage kitchen in Anaheim (or was it Fullerton? It seems like a lifetime ago) had already captured my heart. Being from Texas, I’ve always held barbecue restaurants to a very high bar. Heritage not only met that bar but far exceeded it. The brisket here is not only authentic, it is better than most brisket in Texas. The sausage, too. And the ribs, the pulled pork, the chicken… and coming soon, crispy smoked pork belly (which I was privy to sample at the anniversary party last week).
Congratulations Daniel and Brenda Castillo and the hardest-working kitchen crew in Orange County. What these folks do is not easy. It’s dirty and sweaty and smoky and the work continues around the clock.
31721 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, CA, @heritagebarbecue
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