I'm only in Irvine 1-2 days/week for work, but will drive as far as Mission Viejo or Costa Mesa to try new restaurants.
I think BB.Q Chicken in Northpark is really great. Their lunch portion is very generous and I love their sauces. My only note is everything is tamed down spiceyness. If you order something with a litlte spice you taste nothing. If you order something spicy it's mild spicy. But, still really good. I'm not craving mouth on fire hotness so it works for me now that I know to order their spicey stuff.
they do use white meat but I didn't find it too dry especially with the sauces. If I was just eating it crispy fried it might not be as good as chicken thighs though.Don't they use white meat that gets kinda dry?