Burrell’s BBQ (Review #2) - Santa Ana

August 23, 2008 · Filed Under OC Food Reviews

Burrell's BBQ Inside

Ah beautiful Santa Ana, California, the sun, the breeze, the Burrell’s BBQ?!?! Barbeque isn’t normally the first type of food that anyone thinks of in Santa Ana, it’s not normally the first food on the mind when you speak about California, but that doesn’t mean Californians can’t do BBQ. Tucked away deep inside Santa Ana is Burrell’s BBQ. Hidden inside a neighborhood, and disguised as a house, Burrell’s is quite unassuming, except for the 3 or 4 catering vans, the smokers in the driveway and the cuts of wood on the side. After playing nearly 2 hours of racquetball I wanted to reward myself for getting back into the swing of exercise with the reward of completely healthy all American BBQ. Ok maybe the healthy part is a stretch, but I think most Americans agree that BBQ is right up there with apple pie.

I arrived right at opening; in fact I even helped the lady running the counter put out one of the rugs. After she had everything situated I asked her what was good today, and she laughed and said everything. I went on to tell her I had the tri-tip my previous visit and that I liked baby back ribs, she said the baby backs are good and juicy, which sold me.

Burrell's BBQ Lunch Plate

Being that I’m a food connoisseur and that I have to appease my adoring fans (actually I think only the voices in my head really read my reviews) I decided to not only get a lunch plate of baby back ribs ($8.95), with macaroni and cheese and a slice of cornbread, but I also toughed it out and got a side of collard greens ($2.00). The lunch plate consisted of ½ rack of ribs that were deliciously smoked and then smothered with a sweet sugary BBQ sauce. This is where Mr. Burrell and I will agree to disagree. I’m much more of a fan of the slightly sweet with a good amount of spice BBQ sauce, while Mr. Burrell coming from the Carolina’s appears to prefer a couple more cups of sugar then what I’m used to. It’s not to say that the sauce is bad, it’s just in BBQ there are so many differences of philosophies as to what’s the best.

Burrells BBQ Juicy

I think next time I’ll get something without the sauce and just appreciate good smoked meat. But for someone who really likes SWEET BBQ sauce it’s not bad. Another thing there was a pool of watery liquid that formed under the ribs, I’m unsure if that was from the sauce or just condensation. On to the sides! The macaroni and cheese was just as good as it was my last visit months ago, elbow macaroni puffed up and surrounded by gobs of cheese, my favorite part was the slight dried crunch that the top of the dish gets because of it being baked. The cornbread was ok, I love cornbread, but it was a bit dry unfortunately. Lastly the collard greens… Being born and raised in Orange County my whole life the only collards I knew were the ones on my shirts, and the only greens we ate were of the canned or frozen green bean varieties. I really want to like collard greens, in fact I think for the most part I do, they really are a southern specialty and I want to keep trying different recipes till I find one I really like, Burrell’s were ok, but not the best I’ve had.

Burrells BBQ Pit

So there you have it, Burrell’s BBQ in Santa Ana, a Santa Ana mainstay for nearly thirty years. Order yourself some food, have a picnic, and enjoy some fresh air.

Rating:

Burrell’s BBQ
305 N Hesperian Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
(714) 547-7441

: Burrells BBQ Inside

: Burrells BBQ Inside

: Burrells BBQ Inside

: Burrells BBQ Baby Back Ribs

: Burrells BBQ Macaroni and Cheese

: Burrells BBQ Collard Greens

: Burrells BBQ Cornbread

: Burrells BBQ Lunch Plate

: Burrells BBQ Baby Back Ribs

: Burrells BBQ Juicy

: Burrells BBQ Picnic Area

: Burrells BBQ Pit

: Burrells BBQ Pit

: Burrells BBQ Pit

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Thank you for visiting Eat in OC : DanGarion is a training professional who was born and raised in Orange County. He and his wife enjoy checking out new restaurants which led to creating Eat in OC.

Tags: American, BBQ, Santa Ana

Comments

3 Responses to “Burrell’s BBQ (Review #2) - Santa Ana”

http://elmomonster.blogspot.com/ (2 comments) on August 26th, 2008 10:24 am, Reply To

My impression is just like yours. Kind of a soggy mess…I like my ribs caramelized and slightly burnt. I can’t say it’s bad, but I prefer my new favorite, Blake’s Place!
DanGarion (31 comments) on August 26th, 2008 11:11 am, Reply To

@http://elmomonster.blogspot.com/: Exactly Blake’s Place is the best in OC and honestly has been for a long time when it comes to smoked ribs. If you are looking just for the cooked variety Tulsa Rib Company, in Orange is great as well.
Captain (1 comments) on October 10th, 2008 12:06 pm, Reply To

I’m not much for ribs. I’m a hot links kind of guy, and Burrell’s does hot links right. A mess of links, some mac and cheese, cornbread and the homemade banana pudding to top it off…. I’m a happy eater.

I’ve been a Burrell’s customer for at least 25 years. Love the place.