San Juan Capistrano’s award-winning craft barbecue restaurant Heritage Barbecue is expanding south to Oceanside with its new location, Heritage Barbecue & Beer Co., opening Sunday, Jan. 15.
The restaurant, which opened during the pandemic after a series of successful pop-ups, quickly became known for 12-14-hour smoked meats that combine Texas- and California-style cooking. Soon after opening, the restaurant appeared on the Michelin’s California Guide as a Bib Gourmand restaurant which recognizes good food at an affordable price.
While the San Juan Capistrano location does not have interior dining space, the Oceanside location will be in a nearly 10,000-square foot space with a full bar and a speakeasy to follow.
Co-owner, pitmaster and Chef Daniel Castillo and his wife, co-owner Brenda, recently moved their family to Oceanside, prompting the decision to open their new concept there.
“We didn’t want to create just another Heritage Barbecue, we wanted to set this new venture apart and really create a craft barbecue brew pub type of destination,” said Castillo in a statement. “This will be more of a true restaurant experience with a full bar and of course, craft beers that we will be making in-house to specifically complement our uniquely SoCal-style of craft barbecue.”
Joining the team is award-winning local brewmaster Mike Aubuchon of Pizza Port Carlsbad fame. The restaurant will have 20 taps with a fresh line up of all-new craft beers — including a Mexican lager, Japanese lager, Czech Pilsner, and a West Coast style IPA. Chef de Cuisine Eric Linares will be moving from the San Juan Capistrano location down to Oceanside to head the new kitchen.
Unlike San Juan Capistrano, the Oceanside restaurant won’t be serving meat by the pound. The new menu will feature barbacoa tacos (smoked beef cheeks on house-made tortillas), pastrami torta (cured in-house with a salted crust) served on a bread from local bakery Hokkiado Baking Co., and shared plates.
The new craft cocktails stay true to Heritage’s roots with a “The Main Attraction” bourbon made with brisket juice (fat separated out) for flavoring.
Initial service hours will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
VISIT: Heritage Barbecue & Beer Co., 2002 S. Coast Highway, Oceanside; www.heritagecraftbbq.com
Staff writer Laylan Connelly contributed to this story.
