There’s a moment when you bite into perfect barbecue that time stops, angels sing, and you wonder why you’ve wasted your life eating anything else.
That moment happens daily at Heritage Barbecue in San Juan Capistrano, where smoke signals from custom-built offset smokers beckon hungry pilgrims from across Southern California.
This isn’t just another California interpretation of barbecue – it’s the real deal, a Texas-style smokehouse that would make a Lone Star native weep with joy while simultaneously questioning their life choices about leaving Texas.
Let me tell you why this unassuming spot has locals forming lines that would make a theme park executive jealous, and why you might want to consider setting your alarm clock accordingly…