Rancho to Go BBQ in Orange

[Porthos]

Great stuff. In addition to the brisket for the dish of the month, snagged some of the pastrami which was a special of the day. That pastrami is outstanding.

All the meats were good by themselves and even better with the sauce. I'm typically a dry rub kind of guy but the smoked meats and this sweet BBQ sauce went very nicely.

-Brisket. Moist. Well trimmed. Thick slabs delicious by itself and with sauce.
-Pastrami. Knockout good. 1-lb disappeared in no time. Nothing needed.
-Chicken. Even the breast was moist and flavorful.
-Smoked sausage. An entire log of sausage. Fatty, delicious, flavorful. Leftovers good the next day with soft tomato scramble.
-Pulled pork. Like silk. Very flavorful. Also delicious by itself and outstanding with sauce
-Ribs. Tender, smoked, and also nice with a touch of that sauce.

I'm still thinking about that pastrami...

[Porthos]

Stopped back today for the tri tip (Harris Ranch) and the baby back ribs.

Both excellent. Tri tip had good black pepper flavor but not overwhelming the natural sweetness of the beef. The ribs were fall off the bone tender and succulent. Even better than the first time.

[js76wisco]

Is there any connection between Rancho To Go and Rancho A Go Go? I know one is a truck while the former has a brick and morter.

Also on the website Rancho To Go is only open on Thursday to Saturday. Is there another place to try their BBQ not on those days?

[Servorg]

"Is there any connection between Rancho To Go and Rancho A Go Go? I know one is a truck while the former has a brick and morter. "

That was covered in this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8771...

[js76wisco]

ooops. thanks.

[BrewNChow]

Haven't had any good luck with BBQ down here in OC. TS, is this the best place you've tried? Is going here worth it or should I make the extra 30-odd min drive to Compton?

Also, does anyone in this region do a packer brisket and not just the flat?

[Porthos]

The brisket is more smoked than the kind with the crust/bark.

The pastrami is killer.

You may still have to make the drive to Compton though depending on what you're craving.

[ocshooter]

Have you tried Burell's in Santa Ana. I am more the plate kind of guy, I just want a meal, not a whole slab, but Burell's does larger orders as well.

[oldusedcop]

Of course, you're going to tell us where thyi is.

[Servorg]

I originally mentioned it in this thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8724... and included a link to their web site.

[nosh]

False advertising -- should be in Rancho Park near me and not all the way down in Orange.

How many did this feed for how $$$?

[Porthos]

$75. Probably feeds 10. I got it for 2. Been eating BBQ for 3 days now and still have the rack of ribs to go...

[kevin]

wow.

where's it at ?

I still like Tusla Rib Co. Yes, it is crap BBQ, (correction: par-boiled beef with cue sauce) but that was back in the day before Orange had these newbies.

[kevin]

You liking this one better or smoqued near the circle.

sides any good here ?

[Porthos]

Didn't try the sides at Rancho to Go. Unless you count the chicken as a side...

[kevin]

Very funny.

My hat is off to you for your style of eating bordering on the trenchermen.

[kevin]

That pastrami does sound great.

And I just noticed that she serve beef ribs too.

Sounds interesting.

[Porthos]

Picture of the pulled pork:

[kevin]

Is it at all related to this joint:

http://www.ranchoagogo.com/Menu.html

In case you happen to know.

[TonyC]

Per truck operator (and common sense, and reading comprehension), Rancho A Go Go is related to Rancho to Go BBQ. Per my tongue, the truck's food is blech.

Tasteless pulled pork, zilch smoke. Brisket was a bit better, but I didn't know to ask for it sliced, and it came out chopped. Neither had much bark but both were well trimmed, nearly tender, with brisket being juicier. Both needed the rather sweet sauce (texture/taste says commercial, and it was served out of a industrial-sized pump bottle) just to go down. Couldn't eat more than a couple of ounces of each before giving up. No pastrami nor ribs available.

Then again, this is just the truck, and for $8, they served up just about pound of 'cue. Apparently, and unsurprisingly, the restaurant is far better?

[Porthos]

Haven't had the truck.

The brisket didn't have much of a bark but as you can see from my photos it was juicy even 1 hour after takeout.

Ordered 2 lbs of the pastrami, some of the angus beef ribs, pulled pork, tri tip, and tri tip chile for Thanksgiving eve dinner.

[kevin]

So this is the place : ?

I'll hit it up this weekend.

How are there beef ribs ? And can you eat it there ? The website seems to be a little funky.

[Porthos]

They ran out of beef ribs.

There is a small counter with 3 stools. They would probably let you eat there. But it is primarily a to go operation.

[kevin]

Sweet. Three stools is all I need.