"One of the most celebrated barbecue spots in Los Angeles, Heritage, from pitmaster Daniel Castillo, has a true Texas-style barbecue vibe with massive outdoor pits, plentiful outdoor seating, and Austin-style lines of smoked meat-loving fans to boot. Brisket is king here, surrounded by a deliciously dark bark on American black Angus beef. Making some concessions to California tastes, Castillo and company smoke up tri-tip for a more approachable cost. The smoked Duroc pork ribs come with a maple glaze — another dish that West Coast palates might prefer. Don’t sleep on the sausages and smoked turkey, either. Castillo recently opened an upscale diner called Le Hut Dinette in Santa Ana, solidifying the chef as a bona fide mover-and-shaker in the Orange County restaurant scene." - Matthew Kang