Smoke Queen in Garden Grove, CA

[SheilaAnn]

We tried out this place in Garden Grove, CA. Garden Grove has a huge Asian population, predominantly Vietnamese. Hence the “East Meets West” tagline.



this is an interesting property. It’s at the edge of a residential neighborhood. It looks like 3 lots were put together and each house/garage was converted to retail/restaurant space for pop ups. Smoke Queen occupying the main house as the anchor for the project: Cottage Industries. There are several spaces for kids (sandbox, playground, etc), lots of mature trees (avocado, mandarin), and native plants.

But this is about BBQ.

We ordered a combo sandwich on brioche with slaw, spare ribs, Mac and cheese, tallow fries. Came with pickled red onion. A traditional bbq sauce and a gochuchang sauces were available. This is a quarter sheet tray for scale.









Sandwich was okay. Wish it had more slaw. What little slaw I did get was crisp and dressed well. It was a combo of pork, brisket and char siu. No distinction in the flavors. Pickled red onions were delicious. Spares were ample and super tender. Shells and cheese were just ok. Tallow fries were pretty sublime and enough for 3 people. Traditional bbq sauce was…. Traditional. Gochuchang bbq sauce was finger licking good! I’ll go back on a Sunday because that’s when the beef rib will be available.

[SheilaAnn]

Pitmaster wouldn’t let me me get up close to the rigs. Plus, I had on my birks. He did state they use white oak for everything.



I think the place is pretty new as it was spotless!

[cruiseplanner1]

First thing I noticed also is how clean it looks. Not like an average pit. A lot of equipment there, they must do a huge business.

[LA Pork Butt]

That looks like a pretty large BBQ operation.

[SheilaAnn]

Compared to my last few meat-ups, this place is tiny!!! That said, though, it’s also a part of an outdoor food hall type of set-up, so there is other seating as opposed to stand alone bbq restaurants. Ok…. It’s a little bigger than Barbs. Regarding size, I am speaking of Terry Black, Louie Meuller, etc.

[barelfly]

Fun visit! And fries….hahah! That’s what I would order too

[cruiseplanner1]

I noticed the crinkle cut fries also, my favorites

[ocaztec]

The owner/chef is Winnie Yee-Lakhan - Smoke Queen, and she used to do pop-up bbq in LA (Smorgasburg (Los Angeles). I haven't been to her place in Garden Grove, but her stuff in LA was great - the Char-Siu, Brisket, Dirty Rice and Spicy Cucumbers were a hit

[SheilaAnn]

I’ll go again and do the beef rib, char siu a la carte and spicy cucumbers.

[ocaztec]

SheilaAnn - maybe give Harper BBQ in Costa Mesa a run. He began by making pits for places like Heritage in San Juan and Harp BBQ in KC. Recently opened his own place. https://www.harperbarbecue.com/home

[Uncle Bob]

You had me at tallow fries..........

[Smoked Transistors]

Winnie Yee-Lakhan is super tight with Harry Soo. She is one determined business owner for sure.

[SheilaAnn]

We would have had a chance to chat, but she was busy with “influencers” (say it in your best valley girl voice)

[SheilaAnn]

So we went back today for BFs birthday lunch. I wanted to get a beef rib, but at $40 or $55 I couldn’t justify it. Bill was about $130 out the door. 4+4 and two teas.

Brisket (very tender), brisket burnt ends (unique flavor profile, think the lime zest spice from Barbs, not tender and cold), pulled pork (standard), spares (juicy and tender). Shells and cheese (cold), slaw with Asian influenced dressing, tasty), spicy cucumbers (under the slaw), trough of tallow fries (hot and crispy). Side sauces same as before. Needless to say, we will eat 2x more from this haul.

[Uncle Bob]

I haven't priced BBQ joint beef ribs lately but 3-4 years ago they were typically $45 around here. Currently a cryo pack of two three bone racks runs around $120-140 so with overhead ground in $50ish sounds realistic..........still a shocker though.

[theroc]

I think we paid about $65 for a beef rib at Terry Black’s in Lockhart during the San Marcos Meat-up. It was a massive rib, though, and sublime.

[LA Pork Butt]

A number of years ago the beef rib at Louie Mueller’s was $75. You paid for the bone.