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Texas BBQ chain bringing fast-casual eateries to California & O.C.
August 12th, 2008, 5:45 am · 19 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Dickey’s Barbecue, whose owners claim to offer better ribs than Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ, is planning a major West Coast invasion. (10/2008: Read my review of Dickey’s)
The 91-unit Texas chain, founded in 1941, is launching a series of fast-casual barbecue eateries in California. Some units will also have drive-through lanes, including a few planned in Orange County.
The first Dickey’s in California opened in Fremont last month. The second will open in Irvine the first week in September, possibly Sept. 2. (See address below) 
“We expect to build a ton of restaurants in Southern California,” said Jerrel Denton, a Dickey’s executive overseeing the chain’s national expansion.
I have never heard of Dickey’s, so I asked Denton what Orange County residents should order: “Our brisket is to die for,” he said. (click on above photos to enlarge)
But, are you better than Lucille’s, whose hickory smoked ribs are considered among the best in the region?
His answer: “I know (Lucille’s) is real popular. I think our meats are juicier and more flavorful.”
Better than Lucille’s. Wow.
Let the barbecue wars begin.
Here’s the Dickey’s lowdown:
Food: Dickey’s is known for its slow-cooked meats: hickory smoked brisket, pulled pork, ribs, polish sausage, smoked turkey and smoked chicken.
Average price: $8.50 per person.
Size: The new fast-casual units range from 2,200 square feet -to 2,500 square feet. Some units will have drive-through service.
History: The Dickey family (above photo) founded the first barbecue restaurant in Dallas in 1941. Besides ribs, they served two drinks: milk and beer. The chain grew in Texas, under one single mission: “Serve barbecue so good people will crave it. And don’t make ‘em wait too long to get it.” The chain is still family-owned, and is now focusing on building fast-casual units up and down the East and West Coast. A total of 77 are planned across the U.S.
Other Orange County units: Besides the Irvine eatery, Dickey’s plans to open three units in Huntington Beach (watch out Smokin’ Mo’s) and two in Anaheim. For details on those locations and others planned in California and the U.S., go to the Dickey’s website.
Irvine address: 15435 Jeffrey Road (no drive-through) Phone: (949) 679-0050
Related rib stories:
Top BBQ eats in O.C. & Luke Walton opens fast-casual rib joint in Tustin
P.S. I’d like to give a shout out to reader “Bob” of Irvine who emailed me the tip on Dickey’s. Thanks, Bob. Send tips to nluna@ocregister.com
What’s new in fast food? I’ll keep you posted with the latest menu changes. Check out my New on the Menu section.
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I personally think that the Beach Pit BBQ serves the best barbeque in Orange County.
Lucille’s is great, but ouch their prices are high! If Dickey’s can really pull off the $8.50 per person average for a meal that will certainly be a huge plus. Bring on the rib tips!
Rudy’s of North Texas is better.
Great, another place that is soo unhealthy.
Looks intriguing, but the comparison to Lucille’s, which is more of a sit-down restaurant, doesn’t seem appropriate. There are very few fast-casual BBQ places, as Dickey’’s seems more comparable to local eateries like Beach Pit BBQ or Ribs on the Run. Their menu is much smaller than Lucille’s, which offers pork spare ribs, baby backs, beef ribs, and even braised short ribs. Dickey’s offers only pork ribs, not indicating whether they are spare ribs or baby backs.
Looking at their website, Dickey’s selections of meats are:
beef brisket, Polish sausage, pulled pork, sweet pork ribs, turkey breast, and chicken breast.
Since I love BBQ, I’ll try it once for sure. It’ll have to be impressive in the quality of the food, because the variety and selection seems rather limited.
Lucilles and the Beach Pit are the McDonalds of BBQ. Only in Orange County could these mediocre establishments be considered “great” BBQ. Both chains use mediocre meat and sauces and are definitely on the bland side. The Beach Pit in Tustin is especially offensive to anyone who loves BBQ.
Texas Roadhouse is the only BBQ place worth going to.
I doubt it will be as good as Blake’s Place or Tulsa Rib Company. Both great places, Blake’s for smoked and Tulsa for unsmoked.
None of the places you people talk of have any comparison to The Rib Trader in San Clemente.
I have eaten at Dickey’s in Texas and as I remember it was good, not great. The price point though gives it a leg up over Lucilles or my personal favorate Newport Rib Company for lunch
I am an OC native that now lives in Austin, TX. Dickey’s is alright, even good but the best is Smokey Mo’s or Rudy’s for “fast food” BBQ.
Lucille’s was some of the worst BBQ I have had. The brisket was like it had been soaking in water for 3 hours and the ribs were just drenched in BBQ sauce and totally charred on the outside. The best BBQ I have had in OC is Bad to the Bone in San Juan Capistrano. Nothing comes near it.
That Irvine location, the shopping center, had a barbecue place about 10 years ago and it didn’t last very long, less than a year I think, even though it wasn’t bad or too pricey. I wonder whether that’s going to be a good location for them.
Just had a look at their website — what’s with places like this? Why can’t they put a drive-through in south Orange County? Drive-throughs are a blessing for those of us who like to eat “out” but don’t like to have to get out of our cars (for a myriad of reasons).
Mike Huggins…great memory. That place on Jeffrey was a Kansas City BBQ joint which had one of the best BBQ Chicken Sandwiches I ever had. They had a small shop (next to where Thai Spice is now). They then moved to the larger location where the Dance academy used to be it. It was a poor location given the surrounding area and the typical Irvine resident chain mentality. The owner was very nice though and I was sad it didn’t work out for him. His que was certainly better then the Beach Pit or Lucille’s.
Went to the Irvine location and it is actually pretty good. I like the pulled pork, nothing like I was hearing on the posts from before-it was tender, juicy, and not fatty… definitly going back to try brisket.
Thanks Taylor for sharing…I happen to go to Dickey’s the other night. I have to say: I think I might have caught them on a bad day..I haven’t written up my post yet, but will soon. So, stay tuned.
As an O.C.er who lived in Austin TX. for 5 years I welcome Dickie’s back here. They had a couple of stores in So. Cal over the past 10 years (since I moved back from TX) One on Torrance and one in Nothr San Diego Cty if I remember correctly.
While Dickies is not the best BBQ in TX (Tx. Rib Kings in Austin and Bill’s BBQ in Kerville, have better ribs and Brisket Respectively) it is pretty good.
It will be better than Lucilles, that much I can say.
Memphis BBQ in Lake Forest/Foothill Ranch was pretty good. Too bad it’s gone. I guess So. Cal doesn’t like real BBQ.
As a “Q” fanatic who has tried all the OC BBQ joints mentioned here as well as others that were not, I second the mention of Bad to the Bone in San Juan Capistrano. Not as cheap as some, not as pricey as others, but the best I have had without making a road trip to Texas, Memphis, Kansas City etc.