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.

You're going to run around NC looking for the best BBQ? You're a trooper!!

I've had my best BBQ during Memphis in May. ((a)) ((b))

Budman, I am so envious of you going to Memphis in May....I grew up in West Tennessee and have always wanted to go home during that event, but have never had the opportunity.
The DH is from North Carolina and I am from near Memphis...and we both agree on one thing...both places have great, similar BBQ...Oops, we agree on 2 things.the BBQ in North Georgia and East Tennessee sucks. We live right on the GA/TN border and have to go home to get good BBQ.

For western north carolina barbecue, try Mr. Barbecue in Winston Salem (on Peters Creek "Pork"way. For eastern, I'm partial to Jacksons in Wilmington. (Flips in Wilmington was my favorite ten years ago, now the food is off and on there.) I also like Smithfield as chains go and their restaurants are usually located right off the interstates, which makes them easy to find.

Here are my rules for finding a good barbecue joint.

1. No chain restaurants. All of these are tourist traps and faux barbecue. If one owner has more than two restaurants, don't go there.

2. There must be at least one stuffed animal inside the restaurant, preferably one that was killed AND stuffed by the owner.

3. There must be a man's name or a city's name in the restaurant's name.

4. There must be a smoker outside the restaurant and it should be smoking at all times. If the smoker is not going constantly, the restaurant is either unpopular or they are mixing non-smoked BBQ with the small amount they smoke.

5. When you look at the restaurant for the first time, you should have to pause for a second or two before going in and wonder if its sanitary.

6. The waitresses must all be: (i) extremely young girls in tight fitting clothes or (ii) old hags who have worked there for 30+ years. Oddly, I've never been to a good BBQ joint where there were some from each category.

7. If you tell the waitress you want a "chopped plate and tea," the order will be taken with no further explanation and will arrive correct with the tea already sweetened.

8. The BBQ sandwich automatically comes with slaw unless you tell them to leave it off.

9. The smoking and non-smoking tables will be no more than three feet apart with no dividers.

10. If, god forbid, you order a hamburger, it will come with mayonnaise on it.

11. Finally, for true bonus points, the brunswick stew on the menu will have squirrel meat in it.

12. Only white bread served in these joints.

my 'rules' of bbq restaurants:

1. The worse the parking lot, the better the food. bonus points for gravel lots. Stay away from restaurants neat, well marked spots. They have way to much time to work on the lot instead of cooking.

2. Unusual looking additions to the buliding that probably weren't approved by the county's building department.

3. A pig in the sign with human characteristics (wearing a toque and apron, holding bbq tools, etc.)

Gretchen: red and spicy slaw in Eastern NC? Where?

As one who's only had Western style less than half a dozen times, and a WHOLE bunch of Eastern NC barbecue (as I'm from there), I can honestly say that I've NEVER seen red (or spicy) slaw in Eastern NC. Are you talking about Brunswick stew, or is there some wild slaw floating around that I've never seen before? ;)

I love that red and spicy slaw.

BTW, Maurice's Piggy Park, does he have locations other than Columbia and Charleston?

In my opinion, the best bbq, hands down, in the Triangle area (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) is the Barbeque Joint on Weaver Dairy Road in Chapel Hill. It's awesome, cooked on the premises. Eastern-NC style.

A very eclectic menu overall, with CIA graduate chef! Was recently featured on $40/Day with Rachel Ray on the Food Channel.

It's just down the road from Allen & Son's, but I think it's MUCH better.

[The "red" slaw is what we call bbq slaw, usually served in the eastern part of the state. Incredibly tasty, and easy to make; I can post a recipe if anyone's interested. Catsup makes it red.]

OK here is my response. Out of them all, the Eastern NC is the best. Bullocks in Durham is a great experience, especially if you can eat Family Style. If you head east, and go through Goldsboro, eat at Wilburs or Scotts. Kinston has some good places. If you can find it in a grocery store, buys some Scott's BBQ sauce to take with you. Yes, in a pinch, Smithfields (a small chain) does OK. But remember, most of these BBQ places are not fancy.....checkerboard table cloths, school cafeteria plates, plastic glasses.............and sometimes a staight-talking southern waitress. In Raleigh, there is BBQ-Lodge or Murry's BBQ (I think) and a new entrant, which is a little different than the average old southern BQ place is Q-SHACK. There is one on Hillsbourgh St. and another one opening up in the new North Hills. But, if you must eat BBQ, especialy eastern, you have to go to "PIG PICKIN". I have taken friends from Asia to one and they are amazed............

Well, thanks to this thread, I had to stop at Smithfield's on my way home.

Now did I get the "regular" platter because I am watching my weight?

Nooo-oooo.

I got the large platter and drove the two miles home at top speed, fed the dog and cats so they would not bother me, and opened my styrofoam container to feast on:

Six good-sized hushpuppies, a big scoop of cole slaw, a big scoop of potato salad, and a huge moouthwatering portion of some good ole' down east style 'que washed down with a giant sweet tea.

Ahhh... (Patting my tummy.) :)

Diana, you're killin' me here! I am GREEN! :-(

Really good descriptions of barbecue joints. Yes, Diana, I too have barbecue on my mind for the upcoming weekend after reading this thread. I work just up the road for one, but it is the worst I have ever experienced. There is a place in my hometown with those young girls in tight clothes - too funny.

bonnie and Dan,

You will HAVE to get some now to quell your 'que hankerin'. It was about to drive ME crazy.

I actually got on Smithfiled's website and picked out what I wanted off the menu and seriously consider a pint to go, with a side of Brunswick stew, an order of hushpuppies and a gallon of sweet tea. (I'm glad I got calmed down before I got there.)

The best thing about it is that we can get good barbecue ANY time. It's great to live somewhere that we never get tired of our regional specialty and can find good 'que close to home.

Of course, I really love some of the things I can't get here too - like ackee, callaloo, conch and ceviche from the Caribbean; Philly cheesesteak; NY pizza; etc.

But really, half the fun of eating things specific to a place is eating them THERE! :)

Diana, I always joke that I moved back South to live among the BBQ joints........ but I'm only half-kidding! :p

Not sure if it is mentioned above( and for those that are not as cultured in cooking pork)-------BBQ is a noun !!!! Not a verb !!!!

BBQ could be used as an adjective, verb, or noun, but who cares? ((b))