Everyone Travels To North Carolina For BBQ
North Carolina is famous for its mouthwatering barbecue that draws food lovers from all over the country. The state has two main BBQ styles – Eastern with whole hog and vinegar sauce, and Western (Lexington-style) focusing on pork shoulders with a tomato-tinged sauce.
I’ve rounded up the absolute must-visit BBQ joints that showcase why North Carolina remains a top destination for barbecue enthusiasts.
1. Skylight Inn BBQ in Ayden
You haven’t truly experienced North Carolina barbecue until you’ve tasted the whole-hog goodness at Skylight Inn. Since 1947, this legendary joint has been cooking pigs the old-fashioned way – over wood coals for hours.
The crispy skin gets chopped right in with the tender meat, creating a texture that’s absolutely divine. Their cornbread is equally famous, cooked in pans with the drippings from the meat.
2. Lexington Barbecue
Known locally as “The Honey Monk,” this iconic establishment represents the pinnacle of Western North Carolina barbecue. Their specialty is pork shoulders smoked over oak and hickory until falling-apart tender.
What makes their barbecue special is the perfect balance of smoke, meat, and their signature red sauce. The slightly sweet, tangy sauce has just enough tomato to complement the pork without overwhelming it.
3. Grady’s BBQ in Dudley
Family-owned since 1986, Grady’s offers a true taste of Eastern-style whole-hog cooking that’s becoming increasingly rare. The pitmaster still burns oak and hickory wood down to coals for smoking their pigs.
Their vinegar-pepper sauce cuts through the rich pork perfectly. What really sets Grady’s apart are the incredible sides made from scratch – collard greens, black-eyed peas, and sweet potato pie that taste just like grandma’s cooking.
4. B’s Barbecue in Greenville
Hidden away on a country road, B’s has no phone, no website, and operates until they sell out – which happens almost every day. The intoxicating aroma of hickory smoke guides you to this tiny spot where locals line up before opening.
Their Eastern-style chopped BBQ comes with a peppery vinegar sauce that packs serious flavor. Don’t miss their legendary cornbread sticks – crispy outside, tender inside, and the perfect companion to their succulent pork.
5. Buxton Hall in Asheville
Chef Elliott Moss brings Eastern-style whole-hog BBQ to Asheville with a chef’s attention to detail. The pigs cook for 18 hours over live coals in custom-built pits you can actually see from the dining room.
Their vinegar sauce has the perfect balance of tang and heat. Beyond the outstanding barbecue, Buxton Hall offers incredible sides like crispy catfish, buttermilk fried chicken skins, and banana pudding pie that elevates the entire experience.
6. Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge in Shelby
Since 1946, the Bridges family has been serving their legendary pork shoulders cooked over hickory wood for 10 hours. The meat gets dipped in their special sauce before serving – creating a flavor that’s been perfected over generations.
Red Bridges offers the quintessential Lexington-style experience with red slaw (made with their BBQ sauce instead of mayo) and freshly made hush puppies. The restaurant’s vintage decor transports you to a simpler time in barbecue history.
7. Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville
Sam Jones comes from barbecue royalty as the grandson of Pete Jones who founded the legendary Skylight Inn. His restaurant modernizes Eastern NC whole-hog tradition while maintaining its soul.
The pork gets seasoned with a simple vinegar-pepper sauce that lets the natural flavors shine. What makes this place special is how Sam balances tradition with innovation – offering perfect barbecue alongside craft beers in a contemporary setting that welcomes everyone.
8. Backyard BBQ Pit in Durham
This hidden gem offers some of the best traditional pit-cooked barbecue in the Triangle area. The small, no-frills joint serves Eastern-style whole hog BBQ smoked over oak and hickory wood.
Their tangy vinegar sauce has just the right kick of spice. The sides deserve equal attention – especially their mac and cheese, which is creamy perfection, and their collard greens cooked with smoked turkey. The sweet potato pie makes for an essential finish.
9. Wilber’s Barbecue in Goldsboro
Recently rescued from closing after 57 years in business, Wilber’s represents authentic Eastern NC barbecue at its finest. The whole hogs still cook slowly over oak coals in traditional brick pits behind the restaurant.
Their vinegar-pepper sauce recipe remains unchanged for decades. What makes a trip to Wilber’s special is the history – the walls covered with photos of famous visitors and the knowledge that you’re tasting barbecue made exactly as it was generations ago.
10. 12 Bones Smokehouse in Asheville
Breaking from strict NC tradition, 12 Bones has become famous for their innovative approach to barbecue – especially their incredible ribs. Their brown sugar and spice-rubbed ribs have attracted everyone from locals to presidents.
Beyond ribs, their pulled pork showcases the best of Western NC style. What makes 12 Bones unique is their creativity with sides like jalapeño cheese grits and corn pudding. Their rotating selection of house-made sauces lets you customize your meal exactly how you like it.
