Despite the fact that it probably shaves a few days off my life with every visit, I cannot stay away from Bad To The Bone BBQ in San Juan Capistrano. Without a doubt, it’s a long-awaited answer to the prayers of south Orange County barbecue lovers.
Up until a couple of years ago when Bad To The Bone opened, you would be hard-pressed to find true Southern BBQ anywhere in the O.C. Anything you could find was either mass-produced by a mall food court, or an over-priced specialty item on some other restaurant’s menu.
At Bad To The Bone, you can get a nice fat plate of mixed meats (beef, chicken, pork, or ribs) with a couple of sides, for under $10. Even better, their sauce is the real deal. None of this mass-produced stuff you get on the McDonald’s McRib sandwich. Bad To The Bone makes everything fresh, right there.
If you manage to drag along some folks who are afraid to roll up their sleeves and ditch their pride, Bad To The Bone has some equally delicious, but significantly less messy options. For those who still want some of the BBQ fun, without the “napkin tucked into the shirt” commitment, they have a Tri-Tip Steak Sandwich that is to die for. Their Blackened Steak Salad is also reasonably incredible.
The crew at Bad To The Bone has recently expanded their dining room to easily twice the size, with a small bar perfect for grabbing a cold beer while you wait for your order. Even though they always seem to be half full, I’ve never had to wait to get my barbecue fix.
If you’re considering a party or event, you’ll really want to give Bad To The Bone a look-see. They can cater anything from a small tray of ribs for 5-10 people, to a full-cookout trailer that can feed hundreds. As always, their prices are amazingly competitive.
Bad To The Bone is tucked into the large shopping center on the right hand side of Ortega Highway, just east of the 5 freeway. They accept cash, credit cards, and really shameless BBQ lovers.
Bad to the Bone
[where: 31738 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675]
949-218-0227
www.badtothebone-bbq.com
