Beale’s alive with BBQ and music

By John M. Borack/Orange County Tribune

After visiting Smoke Queen Barbecue for our last installment of Chow Lines, I got a hankering for some more BBQ deliciousness, so I made my way down to Beale’s Texas BBQ in Huntington Beach.

Located on Pacific Coast Highway near the border of Sunset Beach and Seal Beach, Beale’s offers up a slew of tasty barbecue dishes. As a bonus, there is also waterfront dining with a picturesque view of the marina at Peter’s Landing.

“I’m just a guy that loves to cook and bring people together,” owner/pitmaster Brett Beale has said. Beale is a Santa Ana native and with the recent demise of Hambone’s Barbecue, Beale’s is the only Black-owned restaurant in Huntington Beach, he believes.

In addition to the barbecue—the menu includes slowly smoked meats such as St. Louis ribs, brisket, tri-tip, Louisiana hotlinks and more—Beale’s also features live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings (classic rock, blues, etc.), as well as live reggae every Sunday afternoon (when they also serve brunch). The vibe is casual and relaxed, and the servers and bartenders are friendly and attentive.

I have sampled several of the dishes during my visits, but my favorite, hands down, is the pulled chicken sandwich. The chicken is tender and juicy with just the right amount ofBBQ sauce added to give it a little zing. It’s piled high and sits atop just the right amount  of tangy cole slaw — not the mayonnaise-laden variety, thank goodness. It’s all nestled in a buttery bun and is far less messy than one would expect.

The tri-tip is tender and smoky and is also nicely complemented by the BBQ sauce; try it as part of the BBQ Twice-Baked Potato for a unique flavor combination. As far as the side dishes I’ve sampled, the mac and cheese is peppery and satisfying, and the collard greens come out piping hot. Make sure to save some room (if possible) for dessert: the peach cobbler is amazing.

You can find Beale’s Texas BBQ inside Peter’s Landing, just down the way from Trader Joe’s; the address is 16400 Pacific Coast Hwy., Unit 130, Huntington Beach, 92649. The phone number is (562) 588-3070 and you can look them up on the Web at http://www.bealestexasbbq.com.