We're past the halfway point of 100 Favorite Dishes countdown! Every day until the publication of our fantabulous Best Of Issue, we'll list our favorite meals this year in descending order. Enjoy, pass it on, and tune in daily!
An amiga who works at Cal State Fullerton hipped me to Big B's Barbecue around this time last year. When I first found the plaza by the north side of the campus, I thought, “This place?” The sports pub next to Big B's was bustling, but the restaurant itself wasn't much more than picnic bench outside and two rows of seating inside. But then I opened the door and the smells coming from the grill gave me the feels!
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My chica and I promptly placed our orders and the cooks grilled up a slab of ribs and pulled pork sliders. The latter is served as a trio. The tender shredded meat is stuffed between fluffy mini-buns tantalizing taste buds from top to bottom. Big B's serves up the dish with extra barbecue sauce on the side. Be decadent and slather the sliders with the tangy confection.
We later learned Big B's Barbecue and Brian's Sports Bar are connected. Folks can order up food and chow down while watching a ball game on big screen televisions. The way the Angels have been playing lately calls for comfort food anyhow!
The List:
23. Beef Panaeng at Essential Thai Cuisine
24. Muhammara at Aleppo's Kitchen
25. Chicken 65 at Annapoorna
26. Protein-Style Lobster Roll at Slapfish
27. Nem Nuong Cuon at Brodard Restaurant
28. Coffee Eclair at La Petite Sourie
29. Mango Tango Joe Latti at Joe's Italian Ice
30. Chicken Wasabi Yakitori at Kappo Honda
31. Carrot Cake at Alta Coffee
32. Egg Tart at 85 Degrees Cafe Bakery
33. Fried Torn Baked Potatoes at Wagyu Chuck
34. Green Onion Pancake Beef Roll at 101 Noodle Express
35. Green Tea Snow at Snow Station
36. Plato's Salad Bowl At Falasophy
37. The Benedict Omelette at Egg Cracker
38. Fig N Burrata Tart at Driftwood Kitchen
39. Lemon Steam Cake at SideDoor
40. Frog Legs at Cafe Beau Soleil
41. Banh Khoai at Huong Vy
42. Bibimbap at Morangak
43. Salade Niçoise at Bistro Papillote
44. Poke at Bear Flag Fish Company
45. Tijuana-Style Carne Asada Tacos at Tío Flaco's
46. NM Style Enchiladas at Panxa Cocina
47. Pan-Fried Crispy Noodles With Shredded Pork at Phoenix Food Boutique
48. The Happy Hour Menu at TAPS
49. Pork Cutlet Curry at Cafe Hiro
50. Piadina at Piadina
51. Consomé de Barbacoa at El Torito Nuevo
52. Black Goat Casserole at Mirak
53. Wagon Wheel at French's Cupcake Bakery
54. Molletes at Taco Maria
55. That Awesome Hot Sauce at Akropolis
56. The Hermanator at Peter's Gourmade Grill
57. Bolsa Bao at Baos Hog
58. Full Moon Roll at Full Moon Sushi
59. Fried Chicken at Plaza Inn
60. Tonkotsu Spicy Ramen at Ramen Yamadaya
61. Three-Meat Combo at Robert Earl's BBQ
62. AYCE Sushi at Sake 2 Me
63. Yaki Dog at Burntzilla
64. Fruit Sorbet at the Playground
66. Dulce de Leche Walnut Shrimp Taco at Dos Chinos
65. Buñuelo Waffle at Waffles Inc
67. Cajun Seafood Pasta at The Big Catch
68. Belgian Fries at Wursthaus
69. Scoops x Contra Ice Cream Float at Scoops Ice Cream Santa Ana
70. Buttermilk Panna Cotta at Lola Gaspar
71. Hummus at Mick's Karma Bar
72. Savory Baked Goat Cheese Bread Pudding at Eat Chow
73. Sicilian Style Pepperoni Pizza at Perry's Pizza N Italian Restaurant
74. Kabocha Honey Nuts at Kabuki
75. Smashed Potatoes at Standing O
76. Dim Sum at Seafood Cove #2
77. Loco Moco at Bread Crumb Ohana Cafe
78. Bratwurst at Barley Forge
79. Beef Noodle Soup at (Wafting Fragrance) Noodle House
80. Taco de Nopal at Urban Cactus
81. Fried Chicken at Crazy Chi-Mac
82. Mole Tots at Amor y Tacos
83. Khao Soi at S.T. Noodle Bar
84. Chili Cone Queso at Cozy Cone Motel
85. Crispy Smelt at Big Catch Seafood
86. Teriyaki Chicken Plate at California Plate
87. Combo Plate at MasalaCraft
88. Cornbread Waffle N Chicken at Mrs. Bea's
89. Everything at Crispy Town
90. Kurobuta Pork Belly Bánh Mì at Mendocino Farms
91. Tostilocos at Tortas y Biónicos “Nice”
92. Milanesa at Delicias Peruanas
93. Super Nachos at Kelly's Korner Tavern
94. Tortas at Sliced and Diced Eatery
95. Seasonal Dumplings at Coconut Rabbit
96. Burrito de Birria de Res from Burritos La Palma
97. Bò Kho at Song Long Restaurant
98. Pancake Sandwich at Willowick Golf Course
99. Tahdig at Tanor Fresh Mediterranean Grill
100. Quatro Formaggi Panini at Old Vine Cafe
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Gabriel San Román is from Anacrime. He’s a journalist, subversive historian and the tallest Mexican in OC. He also once stood falsely accused of writing articles on Turkish politics in exchange for free food from DönerG’s!