Smoke Queen Barbecue

Smoke Queen Barbecue

12941 9th St, Garden Grove, CA 92840, United States

+1 714-583-8251

Barbecue restaurant, American restaurant, Asian fusion restaurant, Caterer, Family restaurant, Southern restaurant (US)
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About This Place

Smoke Queen Barbecue in Garden Grove, CA, is a standout destination where Southern barbecue tradition skillfully intersects with Asian-inspired flavors to deliver an unforgettable dining experience. This restaurant’s unique blend of American barbecue and Asian fusion is reflected in their carefully curated menu, featuring everything from USDA prime all-natural brisket slow smoked for 10–12 hours over 100% white oak, to their signature Char Siu pork belly glazed with a savory-sweet Chinese 8-spice BBQ sauce. Each bite offers a perfect harmony of smoky richness and exotic spices that entice your palate in the most delightful way.

Their menu is a treasure trove for barbecue enthusiasts and adventurous eaters alike. Favorites like the “Brisket 1/2 lb” offer a luscious balance of lean and fatty cuts, melting with smoky tenderness and intense flavor. The Pork Belly Siu Yuk appears in dual textures—one crispy, one more traditional—each bite bursting with authentic Cantonese influence married expertly with deep barbecue smoke. The “Dino Ribs” and “Tallow Fries” add a playful yet indulgent angle to your meal, with the fries rendered crispy in 100% pure beef tallow, adding an exceptional depth of flavor you won’t find elsewhere. Sides such as the creamy Mac and Cheese, Sesame Slaw, and their signature Dirty Rice offer vibrant, complementary textures and tastes that round out the experience.

For those seeking a complete, satisfying meal, the Bento Boxes are a perfect choice—offering one, two, or three meats paired with classic sides like Granny’s Potato Salad and sweet, buttery Cornbread. Available midweek, these meals come crafted with care, designed for convenience without sacrificing quality.

Beyond the food, Smoke Queen Barbecue cultivates a warm, welcoming atmosphere ideal for families and groups. Customers rave about the kid-friendly environment, complete with a playful space for children to enjoy, allowing everyone to relax and savor their meal in comfort. The attentive, friendly staff elevate the experience, as several diners have noted the genuine hospitality from management and servers alike, receiving each guest with warmth and expertise.

Customer testimonials highlight the undeniable passion behind every dish—Kyle Ribas praises the brisket and crispy pork belly as “bomb,” while Brooke and Ben were wooed by the juicy, well-seasoned meats and standout sides. Jonathan Hernandez emphasizes the spacious, family-friendly layout that makes Smoke Queen more than just a meal—it’s a place to create lasting memories. Matthew Nguyen’s experience with the Canto Bowl showcases the perfect fusion of western and Asian barbecue styles, made even better by house-made sauces that bring each bite to vibrant life. Ankh Mery RA’s heartfelt review captures the essence of Smoke Queen perfectly: an experience marked by exceptional quality, generosity of spirit, and bold, comforting flavors that leave a lasting impression.

Whether you’re craving the deep, smoky savor of Southern barbecue or intrigued by creative Asian fusion twists, Smoke Queen Barbecue delivers with confidence and care. It’s a spot where every plate tells a story of craftsmanship, tradition, and innovation—an essential stop for anyone who loves food that’s as memorable as it is mouthwatering.

From the business
Identifies as Asian-owned Identifies as women-owned
Service options
Outdoor seating Kerbside pickup Delivery On-site services Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Fast service Serves local specialty
Popular for
Lunch Dinner Solo dining
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Comfort food Happy-hour drinks Quick bite Small plates Wine
Dining options
Lunch Dinner Catering Dessert Seating Table service
Amenities
Toilet
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy Trendy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups Locals Tourists
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking
Pets
Dogs allowed outside

Opening Hours

  • Monday
    Closed
  • Tuesday
    Closed
  • Wednesday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Thursday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Friday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Saturday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Sunday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Map & Directions

Visitor Reviews

  • Kyle Ribas
    1 month ago

    Great Fusion Barbecue spot. This place was well worth the wait. We got a BBQ platter for two that did not disappoint. It was a lot of food. We got the ribs, brisket, pork belly 2 ways, dirty rice, tallow fries and some other sides. Everything was bomb, I recommend the crispy pork belly and brisket which were my favorites. They also have a fun play area for families and large groups. Great place that stand out from the traditional BBQ places

  • Brooke and Ben
    2 month ago

    Really impressed with Smoke Queen BBQ. The food has a lot of flavor and you can taste the care that goes into everything. We ordered a mix of meats, the beef rib, pork belly (siu yuk), sausage, and chicken, and all of them came out juicy and perfectly cooked. The sides were a standout too. The sesame slaw was refreshing, the mac and cheese was super creamy, and the cornbread had a nice sweetness to it. The beef noodle soup was one of the highlights of the whole meal. Great spot, quick service, and everything tasted freshly made.

  • Jonathan Hernandez
    3 month ago

    I've always wanted to try this spot and I can say I was missing out this whole time!!! We got a good amount of different orders and all of our choices were perfect. Aside from the amazing food I was surprised of the environment this place holds. They also have a little matcha spit in the back. I would say kid friendly is up there! A lot of space to play around after a great meal. I will recommend this place for families or just a one on one spot.

  • Matthew Nguyen
    3 month ago

    Food was delicious and the staff was super friendly. I had the Canto Bowl, which comes with siu yuk (crispy pork belly), a more western-style pork belly, and coconut rice. All the items were delicious, and the house bbq sauces complimented the food very well. Would definitely recommend to a friend and return in the future! Just make sure to get there early, parking around Smoke Queen can be pretty packed.

  • Ankh Mery RA
    3 month ago

    An experience everyone should have. I don’t know where to begin. We were greeted and helped by the general manager. He was kind…warm and hospitable. The food was amazing. The meats were quality…delicious….falling off the bone tender and seasoned to perfection. The Cole slaw was beautiful and tasty… tallow fries yummy. Can we talk about the potato salad. Never in my life would I think raisins go in potato salad but they do when the Smoke Queen does it with pine nuts on top OH MY!!! We ordered our food and walked out into the eating area that just had this vibe. Lots of nice areas to sit.. places for children to play… a coffee shop…The Smoke Queen had an amazing vision of phenomenal food…family..happy children and overall great vibrations and she manifested it. We love this place and will definitely be back. And how can I not mention the Smoke Queen herself. I kept saying I hope we get to meet her and on the way out we were able to meet her. The Smoke Queen was super sweet…humble and gracious.

  • Brandon Decker
    3 month ago

    Okay let's start with thumbs up! I will be eating here again the next time I'm in the area. Unfortunately I am in South County so I think they better open a spot down there too! When I asked if they were Fusion they said they avoided the term because not all of their dishes especially their methodology for smoking is traditional American style smoking. But the fusion aspects are integrated throughout the side dishes. Such as the coleslaw that had a, I'm guessing, Thai Taste to it, which was not my favorite until I added the pickled onions and then it became as delicious a coleslaw as I have ever had. Their are two barbecue sauces were delicious one traditional American Hickory the other had a peanut Asian flavor to it that was also delicious. My brisket and ribs were also good but not my favorite that I sampled. I am biased against chicharron and the pork belly was very chicharron like so that is I think on me only, otherwise most people would like it. But the sample bite I had of the Char Sui made me almost cry that I had not ordered that in the first place. The udon that I saw on other people's tables actually made me want to order udon, which is very not me TBH. And I will absolutely be trying the Panang the next time I come in because it looks awesome and is a particular favorite dish of mine. My only critique and it is a major and minor at the same time is that my meats did not come out satisfactorily hot. It definitely was not room temperature nor cool enough for me to really make an issue of it but it was a mild annoyance throughout my meal. I really like their neighborhood outdoor feel especially with the outside sinks for washing your hands a feature every barbecue joint should take note of. They've been there for just about 2 years at the time of my posting and I am sure they will be there for many many more years to come. Congratulations to barbecue Queen for putting together a very worthwhile venture.

  • SANDRA M
    4 month ago

    OMG! So good! Great atmosphere, small family feeling. Great happy hour deals. Either way worth the money! So very tasty. I had the pork belly bowl. Highly recommend if you like pork belly as much as I do. The rice was fantastic w the sauce. I’m gluten free so highly recommend if you are looking for a tasty GF dish.

  • Michael B
    4 month ago

    Food was good. Got both types of pork belly. Both were moist, flavorfull and with perfect fat rendering. The crispy belly was perfectly crispy. The potato salad was creamy and had a different flavor than anything ive had. The sesame slaw was crunchy amd delightful. I tried my frend's point cut brisket. It was tender with a good pull and perfect fat rendering. I also tried my friend's st louis rib and sausage. The rib was tender, moist, had good flavor and a good bite. The sausage was tasty too. Id definitely go back. Too bad its so far from glendale.

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