Go.See.Do - Winter 2022

The Capistrano Dispatch December 23, 2022–January 12, 2023

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thecapistranodispatch.com

The Capistrano Dispatch December 23, 2022–January 12, 2023

Page 10

thecapistranodispatch.com

Go.See.Do

Welcome to Go.See.Do

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hile the weather outside has many of us bundling up on the couch, sharing warm blankets with loved ones, there’s still so much happening around our stretch of Southern California’s coastline.

With the holiday season comes festive cheer, so strap on some thermal socks and a snuggly sweater—ugly Christmas variety or otherwise—and let’s discover all the fun and exciting things Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano have to offer in this year’s Winter Go.See.Do. What better way to stay warm and toasty than with a pile-high burger? Here, we settle which of the sports bars and taverns in our three towns has the best burger. Not to spoil anything, but let’s just say that when you bite into what we ranked as the top burger, you’ll want to do it over again.

And if those burger spots don’t satiate your meat craving, we highlight the best places to find barbecue in South Orange County.

In these pages, you’ll also take a journey with us back to the past, as we check out some of the must-see local historical sites, particularly around San Juan Capistrano, where its streets are rich with California’s Spanish and Native American heritage.

And we continue to stick around San Juan for a look at its revitalized downtown corridor, where several new and hopping restaurants have popped up, making the town a fun destination area for foodies.

Lastly, it just wouldn’t be wintertime without any festive light displays for residents and visitors alike to enjoy this holiday season. We go on a tour around the three cities in search of some of the best decorated homes, neighborhoods and hangouts.

Back in the Spirit

BY COLLIN BREAUX

A traditionally built replica of a 1770s privateer schooner used during the American Revolution, the Spirit of Dana Point is a notable landmark for the coastal town. The historic boat returned this year to its spot in Dana Point Harbor following extensive renovation. “It was Dennis Holland’s dream to build an accurate replica from the period when America fought for independence,” the Ocean Institute said. “Armed with talent, determination, little money and plans he purchased from the Smithsonian Institution, he laid the keel in his Orange County yard on May 2, 1970,” the Ocean Institute continued.

“Thirteen years later, this fast privateer was launched and continues to sail the ocean. Everywhere you look on board is the craftsmanship and pride of early America.” Spirit of Dana Point used to be known as Pilgrim of Newport. It serves a variety of purposes, including being used for at-sea maritime and living history programs.

Photo: Courtesy of the Ocean Institute

The Capistrano Dispatch December 23, 2022–January 12, 2023

Photo: Breeana Greenberg

Look No Further than South Orange County for Holiday Cheer—and Lights

BY BREEANA GREENBERG

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hose looking to get into the yuletide spirit can find a variety of holiday decorations and light displays across South Orange County, from San Juan Capistrano’s “Crazy Christmas House” to the Dana Point Harbor, to San Clemente’s Talega neighborhood.

Neighborhoods throughout the three towns have gone all-out in decorating homes with vibrant light displays—some encouraged by a holiday home decorating contest.

Driving through the three South Orange County towns, residents and visitors alike can find plenty of spots to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit.

DANA POINT The Dana Point Harbor Partners spreads holiday cheer each year with a light display consisting of more than 700,000 LED lights that illuminate the harbor through Dec. 31.

Each night starting in mid-November, the light display offers residents and visitors of all ages a chance to enjoy themed exhibits, including a giant lighted whale sculpture, “Candy Cane Lane,” a “Merry Kiss Me” arch, Surfin’ Santa, lighted trees and more.

Walking along Del Prado Avenue, visitors and residents can enjoy the lighted palm trees in Dana Point’s Town Center, where the city has gone above and beyond, adding new lights and decorations to the Lantern District this year.

Dana Point also has two Christmas tree displays in town, one at La Plaza Park on Pacific Coast Highway and another at Pines Park, in Capistrano Beach. The two trees will be lit each night through early January.

Many residents of Dana Point are also participating in the annual “Candy Cane Lanes” holiday home decorating contest. Driving through residential streets, one can enjoy elaborately decorated homes, with homes along Calle Fortuna especially decked out.

The Dana Point Youth Board will judge participating homes in three categories: best overall, most creative and best use of theme for the chance to win gift cards to local businesses. Winners of the contest will be announced after Jan. 6.

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SAN CLEMENTE Walking through the festive Downtown San Clemente in the evening, visitors and residents alike can enjoy shopping among the twinkling lights along Avenida Del Mar and El Camino Real.

San Clemente has two Christmas tree displays in town, one at the community center and one at the Outlets at San Clemente. At the Outlets at San Clemente, visitors can take photos with Santa through Christmas Eve, or enjoy a flurry of snow while shopping each weekend evening.

In San Clemente, houses along Calle Heraldo are illuminated with dazzling light displays. One house, in particular, is decked out with Santa on his sled pulled by reindeers, flying over the front lawn.

Notably, houses in the Talega neighborhood have also gotten into the holiday spirit with sparkling lights and displays. Many Talega residents participate in the annual “Talega Light Up the Night” holiday decoration contest, where winning houses are recognized for their elaborate displays.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO In San Juan Capistrano, a house on Calle del Campo that its owners have dubbed “Crazy Christmas House” is decorated to the max with lit-up snowmen, teddy bears, Christmas trees, presents and more. To give back to the community, the “Crazy Christmas House’’ is also collecting gifts for families at Camp Pendleton.

Throughout the holiday season, the City of San Juan Capistrano is also displaying a Christmas tree decorated in multi-colored lights at the Historic Town Center Park. After viewing the giant tree, residents and visitors can look to San Juan’s Historic Los Rios Street District for yuletide cheer, with holiday lights spread throughout the downtown corridor.

On select evenings through Dec. 30 at the San Juan Capistrano Mission, visitors can enjoy a Christmas light display at the historic site, along with performances by carolers and photos with Santa.

The annual holiday program features festive lights, music and audio tours, a nativity scene and nightly tree lightings. thecapistranodispatch.com

Go.See.Do

Bar Burger Brawl TEXT AND PHOTOS BY ZACH CAVANAGH

Burgers and the beach. Southern California is a bit of a mecca for hamburgers, as the birthplace of In-N-Out and McDonald’s, in addition to everyone’s favorite local spots, including A’s and Biggies. That burger culture has spread, as many build on to make their burgers bigger, better and loaded up with higher-quality ingredients and massive amounts of toppings. In some places, those burgers get too elite, too pricey and overly pretentious.

Here, we’ve eschewed that high society burger, and in looking for something a step above your typical drive-through burger, the team here at Picket Fence Media went for the best bar burger in South Orange County. A better and heftier burger that won’t stray from its roots in a local hangout.

Here’s where we went and what we found:

Mulligan’s

1401 Calle Valle, San Clemente, mulligansbarsanclemente.com

Straight to the top, Mulligan’s was the best of the bar burgers we sampled.

Thick and stacked high, but not too high to be inedible, the burgers at Mulligan’s are simply quality. Starting with the constant across all the burgers, the patty is fresh, hand-formed angus cooked over an open flame. All that shines through in the burger’s construction and preparation. The bun is also a standout. It looks and feels artisanal without being out of place in the local sports bar setting. It’s able to support the taller and loaded up combinations without becoming soggy or breaking under the weight.

It’s soft on top and toasted for a golden crunch wrapped around the juicy patty. It’s a perfect combo. There are multiple named burgers to try, as well as a burger of the month, but what also helps Mulligan’s to the top is the variety in the named burgers and the options in the build-your-own-burger category.

Burgers start at $12, and worth every penny. There are also top-notch fries that bring a little seasoning, and options for tater tots.

The Point Restaurant & Bar

Hennessey’s Tavern

34085 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, thepointrestaurantandbar.com

On the strength and taste of its patty alone, The Point Restaurant & Bar was a contender. Probably the best seasoned beef patty we had. Well-formed, wellcooked, well-presented.The bun was also extremely good. It was practically a dinner roll with its feel and fluffiness.

However, it’s also the bun that gave the burger its demerit in our rankings. There’s too much bun. Even on the burgers that had the full spread of toppings, each of us was left with extra bread on the plate by the end. The meat-to-bread ratio was way off, especially for the one of us who preferred their burger plain. On that plain burger, the bun almost completely enveloped the patty. The other markdown is lack of options. There are just two beef patty burgers on the menu—the standard The Point Burger and the California Burger with bacon, avocado and blue cheese— and a blackened ahi burger. The Point is certainly a good burger and grilled up to a great result. However, just those few demerits took it out of the running for the top. Additional point for The Point: their tater tots are a fabulous side.

The Capistrano Dispatch December 23, 2022–January 12, 2023

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19 Sports Bar & Grill

34111 La Plaza, Dana Point; 31761 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, hennesseystavern.com

32120 San Juan Creek Road, San Juan Capistrano, sanjuanhillsgolf.com/sports-bar

When looking for the definition of a “bar burger,” it’s the standard of Hennessey’s Tavern burger that will come up. The burger at Hennessey’s is good. Not great, not bad, but simple, boilerplate good, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Hennessey’s actually has two distinctions of burgers: gourmet burgers and favorite burgers. The gourmet burgers are made with dry-aged ground beef, and they do have a standout with the Dublin Burger, which features Irish cheddar—which makes all the difference—and applewood smoked bacon. There’s also a monthly featured gourmet burger. The favorite burgers have multiple combinations, including a standard burger, fried eggs and even a pretzel bun. Again, all pretty down-the-middle. Not going to rock your world, but still good.

The 19 Sports Bar & Grill is a great sports bar and food spot on its own, not just a respite for weary golfers after a round at San Juan Hills Golf Club.

There is fantastic food up and down the menu. (Don’t sleep on that pulled pork sandwich.) When it came to the burgers, though, it was a slight disappointment compared to the quality of everything else on the menu. The burgers offer Wagyu patties, whether you order the signature 19th Hole Smashed Burger or you build your own burger. A big positive is the variety of options, whether you grab a breakfast burger after an early round or come later to create your own wild combination. However, it was the preparation that lacked. The burgers were a bit overdone and grayed out.

The potato bun on the 19th Hole Smashed Burger was underwhelming.

The fries felt like out of a grocery store bag. Maybe it was a bad day, because, again, the rest of the menu has never disappointed, and there are the foundations of a great burger.

thecapistranodispatch.com

Go.See.Do

LOCAL EXPERT PROVIDES ADVICE FOR

South County Sportfishing

The fleet at Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching is ready to hit the waters.

Photo: Courtesy of Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

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or South Orange County residents, proximity to the endless Pacific Ocean is what attracts many to the area and keeps people around for decades.

There are numerous activities such as swimming and surfing that can provide aquatic thrills, but the sport of fishing is another timeless local tradition that has room to fit all kinds of interests.

South Orange County is a notable spot along the West Coast for both professional and amateur fishing.

Stephanie Hogan, co-owner of the legendary full-service tackle shop Hogan’s Bait & Tackle in Dana Point, gave her sage knowledge about the sport.

Hogan grew up doing freshwater fishing near the San Fernando Valley and transitioned to saltwater fishing after moving to the area in 1987. She runs the tackle store with her family.

“It just depends on the type of fishing,” Hogan said of her favorite spots to fish. “If I’m surf fishing, I enjoy scouting out the different beaches and finding their unique qualities that they have.”

Surf fishing requires minimal equipment, such as a rod, reel, and basic tackle, and entails going to a beach, normally at low tide, to learn what its topography is. Often surf fishing can provide a variety of fish to catch.

Hogan added that she enjoys calico bass fishing when out on a boat, but those excursions rely on what species are currently biting at the time.

Fishing novices can start off with basic

The Capistrano Dispatch December 23, 2022–January 12, 2023

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rods, reels, and tackle, according to Hogan.

“They can start with doing just bait, which would (include) hooks, sinkers, and the bait,” she said. “(You) need a couple of tools, and, really, you can get fishing with that.”

Hogan’s offers equipment at both ends of the price spectrum, ranging from $36 combos to setups that can cost in the hundreds of dollars.

“It really depends on what the customer is looking to do,” said Hogan. “We like to talk with them and get a little background information to better suit their needs.”

To get better over time, interested parties should visit fishing stores such as Hogan’s to talk to experts, as well as checking out online resources. When already out on location, such as at the San Clemente Municipal Pier, she advised speaking with local fishermen.

“They love sharing their secrets (and) their tips,” she said. “A lot of those guys are out there every day, and they really like to share knowledge and tell their fish stories.”

For those interested in going fishing on a boat, Hogan recommended visiting the Dana Wharf, which offers various trip lengths from a half-day to overnight.

Dana Wharf also provides an After School Fishing Camp in the spring that teaches children new lessons weekly, and hands-on Kids Fishing Clinics that take place dockside.

Through December, one child can fish for free with the purchase of two full-price adult tickets for either a half- or three-quarter-day trip.

More information can be found at danawharf.com. thecapistranodispatch.com

Go.See.Do Owner Jasmin Gonzalez, who grew up in the Polynesian culture, wanted to give the community a taste of Hawaiian food. Menu items include the easy breezy (two eggs with a choice of various sides, including bacon and hash browns), avocado toast, breakfast burrito and drip coffee.

The Rooftop Kitchen + Bar

31781 CAMINO CAPISTRANO, ROOFTOPOC.COM

Downtown San Juan Capistrano offers a variety of scenic sights, restaurants, shops and activities.

Photo: Collin Breaux

San Juan Capistrano A Destination Area for Foodies

BY COLLIN BREAUX

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eople visiting Downtown San Juan Capistrano don’t face a shortage of options when it comes to eating out.

The area—once regarded by locals as a dead spot devoid of activity or places to check out—has seen a plethora of new restaurants open, including this year alone.

Each eatery listed here is a local non-chain operation and offers something different, adding to San Juan’s growing vibrancy and cultural flavor.

Bloom Restaurant + Bar 31760 OLD MISSION ROAD, BLOOMSANJUANCAPISTRANO.ORG

An ideal high-end dinner spot for a date night, or while out with friends, Bloom Restaurant + Bar is conveniently located across from Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Owner Russ Bendel said the name was chosen to reflect the agricultural history of San Juan Capistrano, but it also matches the dishes on the menu, which incorporate fresh veggies and food.

To get started, you can try the herb-roasted

The Historic Side of South Orange County

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

History can be found in countless places, and the growth of Orange County since its establishment in 1889 provides numerous opportunities for interested buffs to learn further about their backyard.

To begin, Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, once an Ole Hanson home, was added to the National Register of Historic Places and registered as a historical resource in December 1991.

giant marrow bones that come with melted garlic capers and rustic bread. Main event items include a New York strip steak with mashed potatoes, blue lake beans and maitake mushrooms. Vegetarians shouldn’t feel left out, though, because veggie dishes and salads are also available.

Patrons are also welcome to pair their dinner with one of the numerous craft cocktails that Bloom offers, such as the Ortega (tequila, Aperol, mint and other ingredients) or the Mr. Jimmy Peacock (gin, grapefruit, lime, elderflower and mint).

Bloom’s interior design features a minimalistic, mostly black setup, though the glamorous lighting won’t make for a dim experience.

Billing itself as modern American “comfort food” cuisine, The Rooftop is steps away from Breezy and above Selma’s Pizzeria. Living up to its name, the restaurant and bar offers a bird’s-eye view of Swallow’s Inn and the rest of Camino Capistrano and Old Mission Road.

Restaurateurs Archie Hami and Marc Resnick opened their venture to the community on Swallows Day 2022 and are gearing up for next year’s parade.

Menu items include oysters, shrimp cocktail, shishito peppers, ribeye filet, burgers and a grilled vegetable panini.

“We want something that’s a little different—a little bit of San Juan Capistrano. We wanted a very cabin, woody feel,” Hami said shortly after the restaurant opened. “We wanted something more of the American comfort cuisine, with a modern twist to it.”

FKN Bread

31760 CAMINO CAPISTRANO, SUITE B, FKNBREAD.COM

If you’re more in the mood for breakfast or brunch, hop on over to Breezy—across the street from Bloom. The island-themed eatery—which features pancakes, acai bowls and other delectable treats—recently opened in the former Ramen Shack locale.

Also located in the Camino Capistrano corridor is FKN Bread, which serves—you guessed it—fresh-baked bread and sandwiches.

The bakery is the brainchild of husbandand-wife team Dave and Bree VandenBerg. As Bree explains, the eye-catching name comes from the first initials of their three children: Finn, Kane and Nash: FKN. Menu items include turkey and tuna sandwiches and varieties of toast (which can come with avocado or peanut butter, depending on the option).

The couple started baking bread for family and friends during the COVID-19 pandemic, because they had newfound free time on their hands, and decided to turn it into a business.

Among items FKN Bread has offered in the past include an olive oil cake with green frosting and cookies.

The expansive Spanish Colonial Revival home was restored and now acts as an exhibition center for architecture, gardening, and arts and culture events.

In San Juan Capistrano, the Joel Rathbone Congdon House, built in the 1870s, sits on a roughly 29-acre property and houses The Ecology Center. The center aims to change the trajectory of how society eats food by demonstrating its organic farm and promoting healthy, responsible eating.

Elsewhere in San Juan Capistrano lie several other areas with a background to the city’s history with ranching and the famous Mission San Juan Capistrano, the latter of which was added to the state’s historic register in 1935.

Founded in 1776, the “Birthplace of

Orange County,” according to the Mission website, was the seventh of 21 established across the state to spread Christianity to the Indigenous population already present. It now hosts tours, exhibits and events as part of its namesake city’s downtown.

Further east down Ortega Highway lies Cabin 18 at the Greystone Villa, in Cleveland National Forest.

The structure, built by Franklin Phillips around 1930, was added to the national register in March 2002. The National Park Service’s description of the rustic and craftsman-style house included that it was “impressive and unusual.”

“The original structure is built entirely of river rock and mortar. It has the appearance of a miniature castle and is the only one of its

Breezy Restaurant and Lounge 31761 CAMINO CAPISTRANO, SUITE 4, EXPERIENCEBREEZY.COM

The Capistrano Dispatch December 23, 2022–January 12, 2023

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A Tour Down Los Rios Street

BY COLLIN BREAUX

Around the corner from the heart of Downtown San Juan Capistrano is Los Rios Street—a charming neighborhood and one of California’s oldest residential streets. Exemplifying the historic and quaint charm that San Juan is known for, Los Rios Street has several restaurants and shops that make for an ideal time whether you’re vacationing with family or merely taking a stroll.

RAMOS HOUSE CAFÉ 31752 Los Rios Street, ramoshouse.com Ramos House Café is a popular spot with the brunch crowd. With its idyllic atmosphere and rich menu items, the small eatery offers cinnamon apple beignets, a spicy crab cake salad, smoked bacon scramble with apple-fried potatoes and more. The food is as eye-catching as it is tasty.

TEA HOUSE ON LOS RIOS 31731 Los Rios Street, theteahouseonlosrios.com The Tea House offers a variety of options for their namesake beverage with loose-leaf servings. Visitors can also get light foods including sandwiches and holiday desserts. The Tea House and the building property itself have been family-owned for generations.

LAS CATRINAS 31742 Los Rios Street After you’re done eating and want to shop around for knickknacks, stop in at the boutique shop Las Catrinas. The shop offers a variety of jewelry, home decorations and other assorted items.

ZOOMARS AT RIVER STREET RANCH 31791 Los Rios Street, riverstreetranch.com Bring the kids to check out farm animals. Families can see goats, sheep, pigs and other assorted cute creatures.

kind in Orange County.”

Additional local relics of years past include Hotel San Clemente, now an apartment building along Avenida Del Mar, and a building at the top of Del Mar that reads “Historic City Hall.”

Constructed by early San Clemente resident Oscar Easley, the white structure facing across El Camino Real toward the office never served as the City Hall, but it did host the city clerk’s office, as well as numerous businesses over the years.

The Dana Point historical landmark on Santa Clara Avenue, the Goldschmidt House, and the Ole Hanson Beach Club are other places to stop and get a glimpse of yesteryear.

thecapistranodispatch.com

Go.See.Do And if you’re looking to take some meat home for a family feast, Drift also sells racks of its baby back ribs and its brisket or pulled pork by the pound.

THE RIBJOINT ROADHOUSE 34294 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY, DANA POINT, RIBJOINTDANAPOINT.COM

If You Love Barbecue, South County Has Got You Covered

Those looking for Memphis-style barbecue around here should head on over to the Rib Joint in Dana Point. This family-owned-and-operated roadhouse along PCH, near Doheny State Park, has been serving up ribs and other barbecued meats since the early ’80s.

If you’re in the mood for ribs, you won’t be disappointed, as you can try racks of baby back ribs, pork spare ribs or beef ribs.

If you’ve got a family with an appetite, check out the Rib Joint’s options for Feasts—plenty of meats and sides to go around.

And no barbecue place would complete without helpings of tasty sides including corn on the cob, beans, cornbread or a baked potato.

BY SHAWN RAYMUNDO

HAPA J’S

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Bonanz

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e may be more than a thousand miles from Texas, but that doesn’t mean we’re devoid of some high-quality smoked meats.

In fact, South County has a handful of notable barbecue spots to fill your tummies with everything from brisket to pulled pork, and cornbread to bread pudding.

Let’s see what our three towns have to offer:

BAD TO THE BONE BBQ 31738 RANCHO VIEJO ROAD, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, BADTOTHEBONE-BBQ.COM

Bad to the Bone BBQ has long been a staple for delicious and tantalizing smoked meats in San Juan Capistrano.

For hungry families, it’s a great place to gather for digging and pigging out on platters of ribs, pulled pork, chicken and plenty more.

Bad to the Bone boasts quite the extensive menu for those dining in, taking out or in need of catering for events and parties.

Whether you’re looking for two- to threemeat combos, racks of ribs or some burgers and sandwiches, there’s no shortage of barbecue options at Bad to the Bone.

DRIFT DISTILLERY 940 CALLE AMANECER, SUITE K, SAN CLEMENTE, DRIFTDISTILLERY.COM

What better way to pair a glass of single barrel wheat whiskey than with a helping of some baby back ribs or brisket.

Tucked away in the Rancho San Clemente Business Park, Drift isn’t only where you can find some locally distilled spirits such as whiskey, gin and rum; it’s also a hidden gem when it comes to barbecue around these here parts.

The menu is quite focused, as guests can choose between plates of ribs, pulled pork and brisket. But there are also brisket, pulled pork and bacon chicken sandwiches, a Cuban sandwich, and, of course, sides of beer-baked beans, cheesy potatoes, or mac & cheese, among other items.

The Capistrano Dispatch December 23, 2022–January 12, 2023

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2016 SOUTH EL CAMINO REAL, SAN CLEMENTE, HAPAJS.COM

While not your traditional Midwestern barbecue spot, Hapa J’s gets a special mention here for its offering of Hawaiian barbecue favorites.

You can’t go wrong the grilled kalbi short ribs or the Kalua-style pork,

HERITAGE BARBECUE 31721 CAMINO CAPISTRANO, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, HERITAGECRAFTBBQ.COM

Saving the best for last, we’ve got Heritage Barbecue in Downtown San Juan Capistrano.

Since opening just a couple of short years ago, Heritage has made quite the name for itself—and deservedly so.

It has earned much attention and acclaim from publications and food reviewers (including Michelin Guide’s prestigious Bib Gourmand), as well as from South County residents. All the good things you’ve heard about this barbecue stand just across from the historic Mission San Juan are true.

After visiting Heritage a few times, the word I stress to everyone is “patience.” Trust me when I say that your patience wading through the long line—which oftentimes forms in the morning, hours before opening—will be rewarded with delicious and savory meats.

If you’ve got the time on a Saturday or Sunday morning, grab a friend, stake a spot in line, and let your appetite grow as you continue to take in the mouth-watering aroma emanating from the smoke pits. Your taste buds will thank you for waiting.

Heritage has its mainstay and popular menu items such as its brisket, pulled pork, tri-tip and, of course, beef ribs. There are delectable sides too, including mac & cheese, potato salad and Texas chili.

But be sure to follow Heritage on Instagram @heritagebarbecue, as it periodically announces some specialty items and posts daily specials like sandwiches and burgers—my favorite: the Pastrami Torta. thecapistranodispatch.com