When it comes to barbecue, North Carolina is all in! I remember first moving to the state back in 2005, ordering my first plate of barbecue and wondering what they served me. I sat there staring at a finely chopped pile of pork on my plate, scratching my head. I took a couple of bites and thought to myself, “a bit weird, but not bad!?” From whole hog to pork shoulder, smoked pork gets tantalizing soft and delicious, making for a classic Southern meal. And it doesn’t get much better for barbecue than trying it in North Carolina!
Twenty years late and you can call myself a big fan of NC barbecue and seek it out when possible! There’s something basic and delicious when it’s done right and done well. Add in some killer sides and you’ve got yourself a satisfying, down-home meal. Here are some great options in the state to try out!
Grady’s BBQ – 3096 Arrington Bridge Rd, Dudley, NC
When you think of barbecue shacks, a place like Grady’s comes to mind. Basic, low-slung white clapboard building. Weather-worn signage, a sign with press-on letters and a soot-smudged smokehouse to the side. And yeah, you can smell it as soon as you step out of your car! Grady’s fits the bill to a T and serves up some wonderfully soft, finely chopped que, butter beans, and more. Grady’s is a quintessential barbecue shack for NC.
Lexington Barbecue – 100 Smokehouse Ln, Lexington, NC
If you’re looking for Western NC barbecue, you have to go to Lexington, NC and its namesake restaurant: Lexington Barbecue. Another classic joint, it offers Western NC barbeque in different forms: chopped, sliced, coarse chopped, along with its reddish cole slaw. I enjoyed my visit along with some cherry cobbler to complete my meal!
Parker’s Barbecue – 2514 US-301, Wilson, NC
If you’re looking for a classic Eastern NC barbecue experience, look no further! Parker’s Barbecue offers the food and ambiance that takes you back! Think Formica tables, a wood-paneled dining room, and waitstaff wearing paper hats. And yes, dive into that plate of soft barbecue, fried chicken, Brunswick stew, and corn sticks, and you’ll be in seventh heaven!
Sam Jones Barbeque – 502 W Lenoir St, Raleigh, NC
Part of the Jones barbecue family, Sam Jones in Raleigh does a great job bringing classic Eastern NC que to the Oak City! Sam Jones does an awesome job with their meats from barbeque, smoked chicken, and pork ribs. But where it really shines are their sides: baked beans, collards, and more. Enjoy your tray of smoked meat inside or at a picnic table out front, dee-lish!
Stamey’s Barbeque – 2206 W Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC
Next up on the barbecue list is the classic Stamey’s Barbeque! This barbecue joint is a bit deceptive. Housed in a low-slung 70’s style ranch, I didn’t know what to expect. Inside there’s plenty of space, including a long lunch counter with diner stools and a large, open dining room. Enjoyed their que, which had a medium chop, along with the reddish slaw. Hush puppies were quite good, along with the price and portion size!
Southern Smoke – 29 E Warren St, Garland, NC
If you blink, you’ll likely miss downtown Garland! Located on Route 701, it’s a sleepy little hamlet with a couple of traffic lights and thankfully, Southern Smoke. Tucked away in a little brick building is some excellent pork barbeque, glazed ribs, along with their mac n cheese, wonderful! Hours are super limited at Southern Smoke (Thursdays and Fridays, 11 to 3pm) but I managed a visit on the way down to Wilmington. Worth a quick detour if the timing is right!
Now admittedly, there is an “official” North Carolina Barbecue Trail, but I don’t think that information online has been updated in years. So I’ll just do my own version of it, refreshed for 2026. I’ve still got my eye on B’s Barbecue (Greenville) and Hursey’s along with Allen & Son in Pittsboro. I’ll be updating this post as time passes because who can say no to some delicious, smoky pork and cornbread? Not me, don’t miss these classic que joints in North Carolina!
A Squad of Dambo Trolls Arrive at Dix Park in Raleigh