Southern California people. Where to buy charcoal?


 
B

Bryan Marriott

TVWBB Member
It's irritating living in So Cal at times. Almost the day summer ended stores stopped caring the lage bags of K competition charcoal. They tell me it is seasonal. I said we don't have seasons here, what are you talking about? I have been to the beach on Christmas day enjoying 75 degree weather in the past! Anyways if anyone knows a good place to find it please let me know.

Thank you
 
I've seen it at Stater Bros year-round. Although I see you live in Irvine and I don't think Irvine has too many Stater Bros stores. See us poor folks who live in Corona have a Stater Bros right down the street...HAHAHAHA!!! Just messin with ya. But I would give Stater Bros a try. Also, there is a Barbecues Galore in the Irvine Marketplace off Jamboree near Irvine Blvd - try there. Thats where I get my wood chunks from.
 
I said the same thing, we don't have seasons here. I learned to stock up on my favorite brands of charcoal in the summer months. Lowes and Home Depot are good places to get the bigger bags of charcoal and they have it out all year long in my area.
 
Thanks. And we do have a Stater Bros. somehwere around here. LOL BBQ Galore is right down the street from me but they only have lump charcoal and they are very big pieces. And Corona? OUCH! The thing I know about Corona is nomatter what time I go to Vegas or come back from Vegas, all traffic stops on the 91 near Corona!! I have cursed Corona more times than I can count because of that traffic! LOL

I will try Orchards. Costco had it but it disapeared when summber ended. Funny I went there last week and it was probably 85 degrees out and I asked the guy where the charcoal was and he said they stopped selling it because of winter and people don't BBQ as much in the cold.
 
Originally posted by Bryan Marriott:
It's irritating living in So Cal at times. Almost the day summer ended stores stopped caring the lage bags of K competition charcoal. They tell me it is seasonal. I said we don't have seasons here, what are you talking about? I have been to the beach on Christmas day enjoying 75 degree weather in the past! Anyways if anyone knows a good place to find it please let me know.

You have to visit http://www.calchar.com/cart/ they are located in commerce california of the 5 freeway. They are only open from 8-3pm, but they sale the best lump and ALL the wood you'll ever need. They distribute to stores and restaurants but they are open to the public. I always get hickory and apple wood in 12cu in2 bags and for lump I get their 40lb($24) bag of Nature glo(royal oak) oak and hickory charcoal, for briquette I get their 40lb($15) bag of Chef's choice all 100% natural wood charcoal. These briquettes are awesoe and twice the size of the K brand.

Thank you
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You have to visit http://www.calchar.com/cart/ they are located in commerce california of the 5 freeway. They are only open from 8-3pm, but they sale the best lump and ALL the wood you'll ever need. They distribute to stores and restaurants but they are open to the public. I always get hickory and apple wood in 12cu in2 bags and for lump I get their 40lb($24) bag of Nature glo(royal oak) oak and hickory charcoal, for briquette I get their 40lb($15) bag of Chef's choice all 100% natural wood charcoal. These briquettes are awesoe and twice the size of the K brand.
 
You could also try The Woodshed in Orange. At one time I thought the owner told me he was going to start carrying charcoal. I'd call first before you head-up though; the owners name is Mike. Guys got some great smoking wood. I'm a huge fan of his Oak red wine cask pieces. Killer smell, great with tri-tips or any beef for that matter.
 
To get to calchar its kinda tricky but if you have a GPS its no problem. When you get there, park your vehicle in their yard and walk inside the office. There you tell the guy in the desk what you want, pay and you will get a ticked you just take outside and give to any guy. They will load you up since these 40lb bags are quite heavy.

If you like the competition K, try their Chef's Best all natural wood briquette. Its guaranteed to be better than any K briquette. But get the 40lb bag, because they also have 20lb. The 40lb bag has the larger briquette. They are HUGE, twice the size of the k briquette. I am told those are used by restaurants only for smokers. The bag is label "not for retail sale". They last long, burn bright infrared orange longer than K brand. The K tends to ash up quite quickly.

And the good thing about this briquette its that it last for a LONG time and when it ashes up, temp goes down, but just a few shakes and there it goes again to glowing orange. This is good for grilling.

For smoking you cant go wrong with this one. You will get longer burn time than the K and with a better pleasant smell. ALL 100% US made.
 
Lucky for me my fiancé works right by commerce casino which shouldn't be too far from calchar. Save me a 30 mile drive!

How big are the wood chunks? Are they logs I need to cut down or are they fist size that I can throw into the smoker?
 
its really close to Commerce Casino. If your fiance knows where dennys is in commerce, tell her just to keep driving down that same street that runs along the 5 freeway and make a left on eastern. It is a business at the end of the street in a residential street.

They only sell wood in 12cubic inch bags, log size. You have to cut them. Its work, but I enjoy doing it, makes barbecuing more enjoyable. I use my sawzall to cut or an ax. Its way cheaper than if you buy at bbq galore. Thess guys actually bag the bbq galore mesquite with their own mesquite. They also sell logs for bbq galore, but for much cheaper. You'll see.

I highly recommend you get a 40lb bag of nature glo lump charcoal. Good stuff, you can check a review at naked whiz of this charcoal. Its US made from Us hickory and oak. The smell from this charcoal is the best, not to mention that it does not ash up as much as others, burn bright orange all through out the cooking and leaves minimal ash.

Another thing you should consider is buying their parafin and saw dust fire starters. They are cheap, one box of 600 squares will lat you for a long time. Since you only need about two or three to start a chimney. I know you have a performer, but when you run out of propane, these come in really handy and although the box is $60, it is cheaper per peace than if you buy the weber starter cubes or similar product.
 
I may have to buy an axe. I don't have many tools these days. Less tools I have the less work I have to do around the house.

Funny but I hardly use the gas on my performer. I actually use a chimney and put paper under it then place it over the flame on the performer to light the paper. Lol. Really got the performer because of the table it has connected to it.
 
I stop using newspaper, since I grill at least once a week, neighbors complaint about the smell of burned paper. I you get an axe, get a heavy one, because I started with a hand ax to split them in two or three peaces. but a heavy axe splits them with one swing.
 
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