LA’s Own Hiatus Urban Barbecue Expands to Orange County Next Year

Good news for Mid-City locals who have been raving about Hiatus Urban Barbecue for years: your La Brea favorite is expanding. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean just across town or into a bigger space nearby — they’re headed to Irvine.

The new location is already in the works at the busy University Center directly across from campus. It’s expected to be a much larger iteration of the concept than the strip mall original, tackling roughly 1,400 square feet with an almost 800 square foot patio to boot. The plan is to make the new Irvine outlet a true flagship, with an eye towards using that location as a model for future expansion builds.

It’s a smart move for Hiatus owner Andrew Morrison, as the fast casual farmers market barbecue concept is sure to be a hit with price-conscious students and those on the go. Essentially, the smoked meats (including brisket, chicken, and pulled pork) are offered up in a variety of ways, from salads and french roll sandwiches to wraps and full plates. There’s even a burrito option stuffed with beans, slaw, meat, and tortilla chips. The current full menu is below.

The first location of Hiatus Urban Barbecue kept a sort of meat-and-three foundation, with customers able to customize their plates endlessly, and often on the cheap. That proved a workable model for many in the area, particularly those who felt left behind after Mondo Taco (the space’s previous tenant) decamped for Santa Monica. Expect the UC Irvine-adjacent location to arrive in January of next year.