City: Orange County, CA

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (562) 493-4500

Description: With a slogan that reads, “Where the fork meets the pork,” it’s hard to go wrong at this seaside barbecue eatery. Beachwood takes a low and slow approach with their meats, which are slowly smoked, dry rubbed, and thoughtfully flavored, allowing the taste of the meat to stand on its own without a thick coating of sauce. The menu is a bit of a surprise and offers so much more than baby backs. For example, there are fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs, and BBQ fondue for two featuring grilled sausage, meatballs, hush puppies, assorted breads, and veggies accompanied by a spicy beer cheese sauce. More traditional offerings include short ribs, brisket, and pulled pork. There are also salads, seafood, and meatloaf made with wild boar plus plenty of side dishes to select. As for barbecue sauce, it’s sitting right there on the table for diners to apply as they see fit.