Left Coast Brewing Distillery Smokehouse - Irvine

Cool vibe, not cool ordering as you have to stand in line to order and return to the line for refills on drinks. Food was so so for me (but it might depend on what you order! I got the Smokehouse Salad—was fairly weak in my opinion and the chicken was cold, hard, and very dry. They were kind enough to remake it with pork, which was very saucy and I had to tan the salad up to the counter to get help. I think for the prices and tip expectations, there should be more service provided. Parking is free in a large lot, however it’s shared with many other businesses and can be very difficult to find a spot during busy times. Idk if I’d return other than if there’s a group event at this place.

We stopped by this brewery to kill a bit of time and grab a quick snack—not expecting much, just something casual. With so many microbreweries popping up, we were curious to see what this one had to offer. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt relaxed and welcoming. What really stood out was the food menu—way more than typical bar snacks. Their BBQ caught our eye, and we’re already planning to come back just to try it. I’m not much of a beer drinker, so my wife sampled a flight of their craft brews while I went with their house-made seltzer. To our surprise, everything we tried was genuinely delicious. The staff was friendly and upbeat, even during a bit of a rush. They handled the crowd efficiently, and the positive energy never dipped. One thing I found especially interesting was that they distill their own hard liquor on-site, so cocktails are also an option—a nice bonus. Plus, they’re dog-friendly, which earns extra points in our book. This place has a laid-back vibe, great drinks, and solid food. Whether you’re a beer lover or not, it’s a spot worth checking out—and we’ll definitely be back.

While this place is technically a "brewery", the vibe is more like Chuck E Cheese, minus the fun games. Seriously. There were LOTS of kids running around (we discovered later that there was a kids' softball group there), and the overhead lights were cranked up to "high"; the 3 menus we used were completely sticky (they are laminated and available when guests walk in), and the tables that weren't occupied were not cleared (nor did they get cleared while we waited; this didn't seem to bother the groups of young teenagers, however, who sat down there to visit). We ended up on the patio, which has a fire pit. As others have mentioned, guests order at the counter and the food is delivered to the table. There is a decent selection of beer; soft drinks are self-serve. The menu has a variety of options, including "bar food" (onion rings, soft pretzels, etc.), salads and sandwiches. We ordered two salads: the Chopped Kale was quite good, with several toppings and excellent dressing; the Smokehouse was fresh, but the grilled meat gave the salad a weird, slightly burned taste. We like kids and we like going to restaurants that cater to families. If you're looking for a neighborhood place where the local kids' soccer teams can hang out after a match, then Left Coast Brewing Company is a good option. If you're looking for a typical brewery with a more adult vibe, this definitely is not it. .

Love the atmosphere and attention the bartender gave to me!! Irene hooked it up!! & their whiskey is phenomenal! Met the brewer briefly and his vibes are very cool.

First time to this location and we were impressed. Luckily we got there just before the crowds. Beers were solid and the food exceeded expectations. Definitely coming back.

Left Coast is one of the few breweries in Irvine—and easily the best! They offer a great variety of alcoholic beverages, including beer, seltzers, and cocktails. Their food is a step above typical bar fare, with generous portions at reasonable prices. One thing I always order without fail is their cornbread—at just $3.99, it’s an absolute steal! I’ve never had a bad experience here. Plus, they’re dog-friendly, and I love seeing all the pups hanging out. Be sure to check out their Instagram for fun events! On our last visit, they had magicians going table to table performing tricks, which made for such a fun night. Can’t wait to come back!

Used to be one of my Favorite places ! Got brisket and brussel sprouts and French fries. Fries were very good. Brisket ok but very fatty (not well trimmed). Brussel sprouts were really bad. Sauces and sprouts tasted old and not good. Beer was even worse. Little foam, poor flavor. Everything just tasted not fresh. Won’t go back unfortunately.

The food here is really good! It's a bit on the pricey side, but it *is* more of an upscale bbq place, so you be the judge if it feels worth it. The pretzel bites are fantastic-- so good I almost forgot to take a photo until I was done! The Mac and cheese with brisket was good but I'm not sure it felt worth an extra $7 to add the brisket. I'll try something else next time I got the Hard Seltzer Strawberry Lemonade and it was pretty refreshing on a hot day! My partner had the Asylum but he felt it was a bit too hot for a triple that day. We'll have to come back when it's not like 100 degrees outside to give it another shot.

The service here is usually friendly and helpful but can be a little slow sometimes. We were impressed by the variety of beer options. They also distill their own spirits (gin, agave, whiskey, vodka, rum) and have some decent cocktail curations. I do not drink beer as much as cocktails so this place was a good compromise for my partner and I to both find things we like on the menu. I liked their spicy marg and basil gin cocktails. The staff behind the bar had good recommendations and so if you're unsure of what you want or want to try something new, they're helpful. They also offer guilty pleasure food, great for munching. The mac and cheese (Mac daddy) was great and we added tri tip (kind of dry). Loaded fries/onion rings were ok (the cheese on top was just a Kraft cheese slice, which didn't really melt). They did have a lot of good BBQ sauce made in-house. We liked the space. They had an enclosed, walled area for a quieter atmosphere along with a general area with a lot of seating. They even had an outdoor patio (facing the parking lot), which didn't have a view or anything but is amazing to be outside especially for the summer. I think it could be a good place for working remotely too.

Left Coast is one of the few breweries in Irvine--and easily the best! They offer a great variety of alcoholic beverages, including beer, seltzers, and cocktails. Their food is a step above typical bar fare, with generous portions at reasonable prices. One thing I always order without fail is their cornbread--at just $3.99, it's an absolute steal! I've never had a bad experience here. Plus, they're dog-friendly, and I love seeing all the pups hanging out. Be sure to check out their Instagram for fun events! On our last visit, they had magicians going table to table performing tricks, which made for such a fun night. Can't wait to come back!

The place has a great vibe. We didn't try the beer, which is admittedly a bit unfair. We did try the food. After checking out the menu, we were pretty excited. We ordered the brisket burnt ends, the brat, the brisket mac and cheese, brisket chili, and the fried chicken salad. The brisket burnt ends were good, but that is where it stopped. The staff were friendly and helpful. Nice place to hang out, but I wouldn't go hungry...

This is the place to get happy hour in South OC if beer is your thing. They have an awesome selection of all kinds of beer. They also have a solid snack and burger menu. The service is great. They are very helpful while you pick out your beer and they have staff waking around to clear used tables for new parties. Half outside half inside, this place is perfect for casual drinking after work with a few buddies!

Perfect spot post Irvine great park! We play volleyball over there and wanted a place to grab drinks and food after. This was about 8 minutes away, very spacious, and had a menu for all. Service was great and quick. Definitely will be back

Long story short - my visit here was a 3.5 star experience. As Yelp doesn't support half-star ratings, I rounded down because I found their payment/ordering practices to be both unpleasant and a waste of my time. Short story a bit longer: You order your food at the counter from menus which are both wall mounted and available to hold in your hand. Once your order is placed, they give you a metal number-holder, and your food will be brought to the table you select when it's ready. The food quality was equal to that of typical bar/pub food, with a few things either better or worse than that., i.e., the the onion rings had WAY too much batter and they were undercooked, while the burgers were leaner than average (a good thing) nicely seasoned, with the cheese perfectly melted and a fresh, tasty bun to bring it all together :-) When I placed my order initially, the woman at the counter asked me if I wanted to leave the tab open or pay now and close it up. As we were expected a couple of friends to join us, I opted to leave the tab open so I could add more food when the rest of our party arrived. I did that thing; when the meal was done I went back to the counter and saw that there was now a line out-the-door for placing orders. I didn't think I'd need to worry about that, as I simply wanted to pay my tab, but when I asked if I could just pay and leave, I was told I'd need to go to the end of the line and wait... I decided to round my review down, as the extra fifteen minutes I spent closing out the tab was a total waste of time for me, though it did give the server an opportunity to possibly receive a tip when I totaled up my bill :-(

Visited this fantastic brewery - not only a great spot for beer enthusiasts but also super welcoming for families and dog lovers. The atmosphere was lively yet relaxed, perfect for unwinding.. They have a spacious outdoor area to enjoy our Southern CA weather. The beer selection was impressive, offering a diverse range of styles to suit every palate. I particularly enjoyed their American Stout, which was flavorful and well-balanced. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, eager to recommend beers based on preferences. Super dog friendly, offering free dog treats for our four legged friends. Looking forward to my next visit!

Always great food and drinks however the service is lacking depending on who helps you. The petite brunette woman who worked there on 12/16/24 during closing shift is so rude and ruined the overall experience. My group of 5+ said the same thing when I asked them. I asked to see the differences between the cup sizes and she gave me a dirty look like I'm stupid then pointed behind her. After she asked if I wanted to open a tab, I said yes and gave my ID but she just stood there staring at me. I didn't know she needed my card too, would've been nice if she asked for it respectfully instead of glaring then eventually blurting out "CARD???" She obviously hates her job or taking out personal issues on others. As a result I tipped $0 and minus 2 stars for the service.

One of the smaller breweries in the area with indoor and outdoor seating. There was a private room as well! There are TVs inside (sports channels) and lots to choose from on the menu! Food was delicious! I tried the fried chicken sandwich and it did not disappoint. Mondays are 50% margaritas. Trivia in Wednesdays and Aloha Fridays (discount when you where a Hawaiian Shirt). Parking can be a little tough when it's busy since there are so many eateries in this plaza. Staff is friendly!

Less than stellar, unfortunately. I tried heir Hazy IPA a their Blood Orange IPA and both were on the bitter side. I'm an IPA lover, I enjoy a good hoppy brew a neither of these were good in my opinion. I also ordered the Burnt ends and French fries. While I did appreciate that the fries were fresh cut, they were overly seasoned so much that I had to dust the salt off to make them edible. The burnt ends were sadly extremely overcooked to the point that they tasted and felt like a dry sponge. The staff was very friendly but also not really available on a not too but night. 4/10, I won't be returning

Came for Wednesday night trivia and had such a fun time! The trivia was through Geeks Who Drink and it was performed through individual groups' phones. They do not enforce "cheating", so I would keep that in mind if you take trivia very seriously and don't want to come to a place like that. The menu is pretty extensive and food is fairly priced. I ordered the Mac Grom which was mac n cheese with breadcrumbs, which was pretty tasty. I did notice that the food was pretty oily across the board, from the mac to the chicken poppers. My favorite food item were the fries, which were seasoned perfectly and were crispy! I would definitely come back for trivia night here! Everyone had such a fun time and the atmosphere was definitely lively. The parking lot was pretty full for a Wednesday night so I recommend carpooling. Also, the whole place was packed, and someone in my group came 1 hour early to snag us a table.

This is the closest brewery to where I live, and the one I want to go to the least. From the terrible parking lot, to the mediocre beer and food, this place is just not good. I truly wish it were better, because I would probably be here often if it was.

The drinks are great, the food still leaves quite a bit to be desired. We got the cornbread, mac and cheese, and some loaded fries. Everything was just meh, sadly. The drinks were your standard Left Coast items. All in all, it's a cool place to hang out, I just wish they had better food.

Left Coast is a local brewery that also doubles as a smoke house. They have plenty of IPA options but I stuck with lagers and tried some of their house made seltzers. I was a fan of the In the Weeds Lager and both their Strawberry lemonade and Havana seltzers. The food was also great as I got a chicken club and an order of onion rings. The food tasted fresh and honestly this could be considered a BBQ place with how good the food is. It is also a nice atmosphere to meet up with friends and grab a couple of drinks. I will definitely be returning!

The atmosphere of the restaurant is very nice and sitting outside was very pleasant! The food was not tasty. The onion rings batter didn't taste right and needed salt and some seasoning and were over fried ! There were only 6 pieces! At $1/piece The brisket burnt ends were not eatable! Totally burnt and all fat! Smoked brisket sandwich was ok but very fatty. Signing the credit card receipt recommended 20% tip but there is no service at all, yet we paid a big tip! So I paid almost $50 for a not so delicious lunch! I won't return!

A great spot to get some food, great service, and great rotating beers (they have hard liquor too!) I come by do work after hours with their wifi sand got to know them well Great melting pot of staff and regulars! Stop by if you're in San Clemente, Irvine, and soon to be Ontario! Dog and kid friendly (not a playground tho) Plenty of events to partake in with groups or solo like trivia, comedy, painting, Dungeons and Dragons Nights!

I'm bummed. We bought the beer passports that we'd seen advertised on Instagram so we brought the fam here for lunch. Waited 40 minutes for food while people around us got served that arrived AFTER us. 3/4 people in our party got served while my 13 year old waited for her order. Her food was haphazardly thrown together after we complained. Didn't even have the ingredients promised on menu. Would have loved to have stayed and hang and order more drinks but service was HORRIBLE!

The beer is good & the service is great! I have been coming here pretty much weekly for over two years and having nothing but good things to say! Everyone here, especially Margot, Matt and Erin provide great service. They go out of their way to remember people's names and orders to make everyone feel super welcome and it makes a big difference! My favorite things on the menu are the blonde marvel and the chicken club on a bun instead of sourdough, also their ranch is so good it's drinkable and the fries are great when they are fresh! Highly recommend trivia with Dex on Wednesdays! LYSM Left Coast!!

We loved this family friendly brewery. Came on a Sunday right at opening and were served food and drinks right away while we enjoyed some football socializing. Kid & dog friendly spot with open air patio.

Great beers and casual dining spot. The place is an industrial park but fairly cozy inside. The menu has a variety of sandwich options and with bbq meats. Chill spots for families or big friends group.

This review is for the chicken popper plate. I am so sad, what a way to ruin chicken. It's 95% dark, oily breading with NO flavor. And the chicken (when you forage for an hour), is a small kernel. You think there may be hope in this small kernel, but NO. UNSEASONED CHICKEN. I had to dunk this in ranch to make it edible. And even then, I am eating it in silence, with pure dread. Anyways, this place has decent burgers and pretty good Mac cheese. Kind people at the bar. Just do NOT get the chicken popper plate. I'll see it in my nightmares.

Great place for a beer and some good food. I stopped by to kill time and sat at the bar and got an order of fries and some beer. Get the BBQ ranch sauce with your fries it's good! And I loved the Taddy Cat Porter.

Tagging along breweries so the hubs can indulge on some IPAs while I order the entire appetizer menu. We've Door Dashed from this place but have never actually eaten here until recently. Quite the impressive menu for a brewery. Pretzel bites with mustard & beer cheese. Brisket burnt ends (yum!). Fried pickles (I love that it is not heavily coated in breading). Brussel sprouts (sort of a weird combo tossing it in mustard & topping it off with parmesan but it was okay). Tri tip Mac Mommy was an absolute winner. Fried chicken salad (more of a slaw than a salad, tons of red pepper, definitely has a kick. Not for those sensitive to spicy, needs more dressing in my opinion). Tons of picnic table style seating and a nice tiny patio. Order your food & drinks at the counter, take a number to your table & they bring you the food. Food came in a timely manner. Friendly and efficient staff. Decent sized bar. TV's with live sports coverage. Overall a great time & some happy bellies.

Definitely worth it for the beers and cocktails. Favorites include the Vista Hermosa and the Gin based Holiday cocktail. Trying the Mac Daddy Mac and Cheese with pulled pork this go around.

I like the ambiance. The staffs are nice and friendly! It's good place to hang with friends! Didn't get the chance to try their food as the kitchen is under-staffed.

We went for happy hour and they were packed on a Tuesday. The hard part was seemingly limited seating and they take your order and drinks at the front and long line. They did their best to get through everyone but it was a bit of a wait. However it had a good energy for happy hour. The food was ok. We got onion rings, the salad and loaded fries. Nothing super great but bar food. Good drinks beer and cocktails. I got the Margarita and it was solid.

I rarely put in reviews. I am surprised this location is open in Irvine. Likely because of the proximity to many local companies and the beer is actually good. I have experienced some of the worst customer service here. I'd like to blame that to being understaffed and the fact this is one of the few brewery locations in Irvine.

First time coming to this location and it was very good. They have a wide selection of bbw and sliders and various beers to taste. Their smokehouse salad was delicious and I really liked their fried pickles and smoked brisket. Very juicy and tender. I also tried their sodas which are pretty cool. They have flavors like pineapple, cherry, orange hibiscus, root beer, vanilla cream soda, and lemon acai. All quite tasty. Staff is friendly and fast wit your order. I like it here and will be back soon as they also have 3 arcade machines to play. Lots of parking and this brewery is located across from Starbucks.

My friend and I ran into this place while on the search. It turned out to be a solid decision. The food was so good! i had the chicken sandwich with fries and shared the mac mommy with my friend. The chicken was thick enough and had coleslaw and plenty of flavor. The macaroni was perfectly cooked and perfectly cheesy. My Michigander friend had the Detroit hot dog and we split the pretzel bites. The mustard was correctly spiced and the cheese sauce was delicious. He enjoyed his entree; I believe it brought him so much comfort that an OC restaurant could come through like it would at home. We didn't try any beer, but if I make it all the way out there again, I'm gonna try the space joose. I liked the Galaga starfighter. Definitely want people to know its a fun place to grab an amazing bite and drink at.

I called to get details on tonight's events and the machine said we cannot take a call. So I came here with my party of 10 for my birthday and little did we know there was a private event and we could not drink sit eat or be inside. Terrible communication from this place as there was nothing stating a private event was in progress. I Ubered here too and now I have nothing to do to celebrate my 40th birthday. Thanks left coast

The beer is good. But the food is pretty bad. Salad like a denny's. Bratwurst tasted rubbery. Chicken sandwich looked like it had been double fried and recooked. The meat and breaded were like particle board dry and crumbly. All the veggies and cheese had been wilted and seemed like it was leftover and then reheated. Food needs serious help.

Should be 3.5stars but Yelp does have that option. I've been coming here for a few months now. The beer is excellent with a wide range of choices! The food is quite good as well. They have a new payment system that is much better than the old system of opening a tab by leaving a credit card; however, it would be nice to see an itemized bill rather than just a lump sum total before paying. Most of the servers are excellent and friendly but a couple are very indifferent to customers and seem annoyed that a customer is taking them away from their socializing. The reason for my lower rating is the atmosphere...mainly the live music and DJ nights. I enjoy music and especially live music, but this place is too small to have music amped up as loud as it is. My friends and I (and I assume most people) come here to converse and socialize. The music is way too loud to even hear somebody from across the table. Judging by the amount of people escaping to the back room and the empty tables in front of the performers, I'm not the only one with this opinion.

We've come here quite a few times it's a great place to stop after work have a beer relax. Tonight I came by with my wife ordered the chicken sandwich, (which was very tough) Couple beers and a salad we left tab open. I asked the guy behind the bar, in the red shirt, for ketchup and another beer. He cut me off in the middle of my sentence and said I would have to wait in the line. Which was clear out the door, if this policy is not a good one. I told him to close out the tab. We ate our food and had a second beer at Buffalo wild wings where they're friendly.

The vibe was great on the Friday night we visited! They had a DJ playing so the place was packed. We were still able to find a table to enjoy some snacks and drinks and play a card game. The bar line was long, but the beer and seltzer I was able to try were good. We ordered the brussles sprouts, mini corn dogs, and brisket burnt ends. Portions were a little small but we were still able to share. Brussels sprouts weren't very good, but the corn dogs and burnt ends were tasty.

Solid. I came here during the World Series to watch the final few outs of one of the games and had a quick beer. Some bars are such a pain in the butt to park and get into while this one is really set up like a local Starbucks to pop in and out maybe get some work done and some food. In fact it's next door to a very busy Starbucks. I noticed a lot of people getting togo orders of food and sitting at the bar and having a beer and waiting. I sat there for about 45 minutes and watched the last two innings, and had a very good beer. Unfortunately, I didn't try any of their food but met a couple of the friendly bartenders and a couple of the patrons waiting for their food. I love the idea that you could just pop in And grab amazing local beer and a quick bite without the usual hassles. We are moving to San Clemente next year and I will definitely be visiting their location down there the OG as well.

I came here not only for lunch but to see the L.A Galaxy play. The brewery was full by the time I got there and they could perhaps have a television outside. Since there was many people getting my food took a while but it was delicious nonetheless. I got the slider combo and the turkey chili. Both items were great! Great brewery to host such events. They should implement more staff to help out during such events.

Brisket sandwich was so dry I couldn't chew it. I left half on the table. The fry's were greasy. I had lunch today 10/28/24. My friend had onion rings that dripped with oil.

Beers were awesome! Price was super reasonable! Nice vibe to the place. Children and dog friendly! Mac daddy was delicious. Tri tip wasn't impressive at all for me but was still good. Sliders were ok. I would definitely come back for the beers! Parking was easy since it's in a small shopping complex. They also have a patio area which is great! Can't wait to come back!

Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Drinks 10/10 Absolutely loved hosting a bike night here. Thank you to the staff who went above and beyond to make it happen! Great service! Everything was perfect! Will be back again!

It goes without saying that the beer is the star here, many choices to whet your appetite. But i was surprised to see cocktails offered, but that is because they distill their own alcohol. The food is great! I had the best Rueben sandwich on this side of Las Vegas. I could actually taste the smoke, absolutely fantastic!

I didn't know they had a brewery in Irvine, but decided to check it out with a couple of friends in a week night. It was actually pretty "popping" and lively atmosphere. You basically seat yourself at a table and order drinks/food at the counter. The staff will deliver everything to you. They had a huge selection of beers on tap, although, their hazy IPA was out at the time. They have week night specials so be on the lookout for those. I came on a taco special night. Great deals! I highly recommend.

This is an excellent brewery with various beer types as well as great food. Place was crowded due to being the weekend but service was fast. Ordered some food and of course some cerveza. The Hefe is excellent so highly recommend it. I tried the tri-tip sandwich and the brisket. Both were delicious especially with the hot BBQ sauce that they have on table. The restrooms were clean and didn't stink, unlike Splatty who reeks of mierda. Only thing I disliked was that they were out of cans. I really wanted to take some crowlers home but couldn't because of this. They do offer 4 packs of beers to go. However, not the one I was looking for.

Solid beers and appetizers! I appreciate their venturing into the land of BBQ. Service was quick and efficient. Food delivered in a timely manner. Ambiance was spacious and fit the typical vibe of a brewery

If I'm coming out from Chino twice a week to Left Coast Brewery, that means they are doing something right. My favorite is the Fried Chicken. I tried it once and I keep ordering the same thing. It's full of flavor and haven't tried anything else because I am hooked! I do want to mention they should give more fries. The portions on fries do need a little upgrade. I've been out there 4 times and encountered friendly staff and good customer service. This place is perfect ( not too big or not too small) in size. The turnaround time in ordering my Food is good. What I enjoy about this place to hangout with my friends. Just add more fries to my order.

Left Coast is one of my favorite places in the area. I like to go for lunch as it's not quite as busy; service is usually quick at lunch - it can get hectic in the evenings. Food is delicious. The barbecue sliders are great; you can mix and match - I prefer the pulled pork and brisket. The brisket burger is also great. They have a nice beer selection, many of which are brewed onsite. Left Coast is at the end of a shopping center and parking can be difficult at times. They have a large open dining room and patio, but it can get full, partially at night.

I stumbled upon this beer heaven called Left Coast Brewery around the corner from my house, and it was like finding the pot of gold at the end of a beer rainbow. The prices are surprisingly reasonable, so I didn't have to sell my firstborn to enjoy a pint or two. Speaking of help, the staff here knows their shit. They guided me through the sea of taps with knowledge and enthusiasm, making me feel like a beer connoisseur rather than a lost soul desperately seeking a cold one. Kudos to them. I ordered their Blonde beer, and It was like sipping on sunshine. Their brisket sandwich it was a flavor explosion. The meat was so tender and smoky, I felt like I was in barbecue heaven. The only downside? I could have used a little more meat on that bad boy. I mean, who doesn't want an extra mouthful of juicy goodness, right? Left Coast Brewery is a place where beer dreams brew.

Went here for the first time with some friends. Place was a little under decorated and the seats and benches were very uncomfortable. For a brewery there were a lot of infants and kids that were crying and screaming. Choices of beers were good and the food wasn't bad.

Good food and beer but the supervisor, a middle aged heavy-set white guy, yelled at my party for moving some tables so my group of 20 people could sit at a long combined table in the back room. Instead we ended up sitting at 4 individual tables with big gaps between them and sitting in chairs with food in our laps. By contrast, the rest of the staff was quite pleasant.

Im the anti-gatekeeping gatekeeper. For the past 7 years ive been on/off coming to leftCoast. Never dropped a review until i tried the honey mini corndogs and an old fashioned. The mini corndogs are a perfect snack to accompany any drink. Honey drizzle with decent breading and a thick juicy sausage within. The old fashioned as usual as you would expect. 10/10 will order again.