Best BBQ in North Carolina
 

I'm planning to go to NC for vacation next summer. I was there before but never had the chance to try the NC's barbeque. If you were to pick one place what would it be? I was browsing frommers.com for some recommendations but they don't have anything about it. What a shame.
Thanks.

I posted a similar question a while back. Gretchen gave some insight. Apparently there are many differences in NC BBQ--eastern or western NC, tomato, vinegar, or mustard based, ribs or pulled, etc. We've visited NC twice and searched for great BBQ both times, but still looking. Try roadfood.com. They have a lot on BBQ on their forum.

What towns are you going to in NC? While I'm a big Eastern NC barbecue fan, I enjoy the Western NC barbecue as well. I'd try both if you can get them in the same town.

Bubba's on the Outer Banks but I would not make a special trip for it. I'm not convinced that "NCs barbeque" if there really is one is any different than Virginia's or South Carolina's.

Hi!

I grew up with and love the Eastern NC style. (That's the vinegar-based.) Here are a few places...

Lexington Barbecue in Lexington, NC close to High Point.

Flip's Barbecue in Wilmington, NC.

Smithfield's Chicken and Barbecue. (Not as good as the others - it's a chain - but it will do in a pinch.)

The REAL way to get the absolute best NC BBQ is to wangle an invitation to the all-purpose party - wedding, church social, good ole' boy get together - the Pig Pickin'.

Barring that, if you should be in NC on a weekend and be driving along a state route and see a sign for a church or volunteer fire dept. BBQ, STOP!

Seriously though, most small Mom n Pop BBQ joints in eastern NC have pretty good 'que.

As sides, get cole slaw, hush puppies and a big sweet tea with enough sugar to make your teeth hurt. Heaven!

Speedy's in Lexington, NC. Better yet come during the Lexington Barbeque Festival in Sept and try several.

BIG difference between NC and SC BBQ--SC sauce is mustard based.
The home of Eastern NC BBQ is Goldsboro. Two very famous places there--Scott's and Wilber's. The former is black owned, has been in business since the 20's and is one place that segregation was not practiced. Nice piece of history.

Bubba's, as mentioned above, is a good place. Allen and Son's in Chapel Hill is another. There are also good restaurants in Raleigh, Durham, and other locations. I would base it on where you are planning to travel. I have only eaten at a couple that I thought were bad. As someone else said, you can find similar barbecue in Virginia too. I ate at a wonderful place in Petersburg once.

Lexington BBQ in Lexington gets my vote.

I would vehemently disagree that SC and VA barbecue is the same as NC barbecue - given that I couldn't find decent vinegar-based barbecue in the whole state of VA.

Western NC (and Lexington) barbecue is red and sweet - a lot more like Memphis barbecue - definitely tasty, but not Eastern NC barbecue.

Eastern NC barbecue is vinegar-based with a touch of spices or hot sauce.

Try both. While not my favorite, Bullock's in Durham is good and popular and not too out of the way. Be careful, it's packed on Saturdays!

So here's a great website I found on the subject, with some restaurant recommendations. http://www.hkentcraig.com/BBQ.html

If I went out for BBQ today, I would drive from Raleigh over to Allen & Son in Chapel Hill. I think Smithfield BBQ is delicious, also, even though it is a chain. I think there's lots of good BBQ to be found in N.C., sometimes in little out-of-the-way places, but if I had to choose just one, I'd go Eastern-style at Allen & Son. (And everything else they serve is delicious, too! The Cherry Cobbler........ to die for!)

A month or so ago the food editor of The Charlotte Observer had a travel story on NC and SC bbq. She visited many places throughout the states and ranked Allen & Son north of CH the best. I'm sure you can find the article on Charlotte Observer website. However, she didn't visit A&M bbq in Mebane.

Also a writer named D.G. Martin has written about BBQ for "Our State" magazine and Jim Garnder(?) of our PBS station has done a bbq tour and book (often a pledge break special).

Bullock's in Durham is always crowded. I haven't been to the Hog Heaven in Durham but I've heard good things about it. Not a big fan of the Q-shack in Durham, I have trouble a CIA graduate cooking bbq (it just doesn't seem right to me). Totally agree with Diana about local volunteer rescue squad fund raiser bbq.

GenXer, I love BBQ, especially the Memphis "stuff."

I'm sure you are not going to run around the entire state of NC looking for BBQ. Where are you going? This might help in narrowing down a specific area you are looking. ((b))

My fave-o-rite place for BBQ in NC is right across the state line in northeast Georgia, Clayton. (Go Dawgs) called OINKERS. Mmmmmmmm good! And now the ditty o'the day:

(Sung TO THE WHEELS ON THE BUS)

The tail of the pig curls round and round
Round and round, round and round
The tail of the pig curls round and round
All through the mud!

The mouth of the pig goes oink oink oink
Oink oink oink, oink oink oink
The mouth of the pig goes oink oink oink
All through the mud!

The nose of the pig goes root root root
Root root root, root root root
The nose of the pig goes root root root
All through the mud!

The hooves of the pig go run run run
Run run run, run run run
The hooves of the pig go run run run
All through the mud!

The ears of the pig go twitch twitch twitch
Twitch twitch twitch, twitch twitch twitch
The ears of the pig go twitch twitch twitch
All through the mud

Most NC BBQ and all of the SC BBQ I've ever had has been vinegar. I've had mustard at some places in SC but I've never had tomato based in either state.

Was that necessary, lapdog? :-d Now that silly song is playing in my head........... :-)

It is obvious you haven't had REAL North Carolina BBQ! ;;)

And the guy at the table goes yum, yum, yum
Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum, yum,
And the guy at the table goes yum, yum, yum
All through the meal

Well, actually I have bonniebroad, but it were many belt sizes ago somewhere near Ft. Bragg, NC. I was stationed there and went to a BBQ nearby, was mmmmm good, bbq, mmmmm good. Probably gone by now. I do remember a great seafood place, Little Whale-somewhere in the boonies. Probably gone too.

AND you need to know that the sauce is never put on the meat until you do it at the table. And if making a sandwich, the slaw goes ON the sandwich. Eastern slaw maybe be red and spicy. Western is creamy white mayo.
And GoTravel, if you've never had any tomato based BBQ sauce you've stayed east. And the mustard based SC BBQ is Maurice's sauce from Columbia but very much a SC tradition. The other BBQ you had is just NC BBQ gone south.
For an interesting book on Southern BBQ and cooking get John T. Edge's book. Lists BBQ and restaurants all across the South.

Thank you very much for your replies. Actually, I'm planning a state wide trip, anywhere the best BBQ takes me to.