Where Are the Top BBQ Restaurants in North Carolina? Raleigh, Myrtle Beach Picks
Home Blog Spots Where Are the Top BBQ Restaurants...

Where Are the Top BBQ Restaurants in North Carolina? Raleigh, Myrtle Beach Picks

📅 January 10, 2022 ⏱ 7 min read 👤 BBQz.NET Team

Where Are the Top BBQ Restaurants in North Carolina?

Where Are the Top BBQ Restaurants in North Carolina? To enjoy the most from your North Carolina vacation, you should make a plan ahead and are planning to visit at least some of the best 10 BBQ restaurants in the state.

There are plenty of great spots to experience the best of what North Carolina has to offer, and you should pick the one you like best to come back time and time.
BBQ is difficult for Americans and, more importantly, for foreign visitors to our shores.

When we speak of BBQ, we mean slow-cooked, slow-smoked meat often smoked in a pit, seasoned with sauces or rubs or other spices. The place you reside within the US may differ in the definitions. However, the people living within Eastern North Carolina, locals are well aware of the significance BBQ is to them.

In towns such as Edenton, Ayden, or Kinston, North Carolina, BBQ is a whole hog that’s slow-cooked and delicious in a huge pit for an extended period to impart that wonderful smokey flavor to the meat.

In Virginia, it’s standard practice to add the thick sauce made from ketchup to the pork or chicken; however, this is not how it’s prepared within Eastern North Carolina. In reality, it could be considered a crime of some sort.

It’s focused on keeping the flavor of the meat using vinegar, maybe salt, some hot sauce, and pepper, and that’s all it can be. It’s served with a few side dishes and as the center of a meal, or in sandwiches. It might be simple, but as I learned when I was driving along on the North Carolina BBQ Trail, that’s the beauty of barbecue.

top 10 bbq restaurants in north carolina|top 10 bbq restaurants in north carolina

In order to get the best out of your North Carolina vacation you should plan your trip early and make sure that you plan on visiting at least a few of the top 10 BBQ restaurants in the state. There are many great places to take in the best that North Carolina has to offer, so you can select the best one to come back to time again.

 

When it comes to the top ten BBQ restaurants in North Carolina, there are so many great places to visit, and so many choices.

You will be surprised that the city of Raleigh itself has a number of great places to eat, and it is easy to spend a great amount of time at one of the many different restaurants in the area. Whether you choose to stay in Raleigh, or head out to take a tour of the many BBQ restaurants in the surrounding areas, you will enjoy all the fine restaurants that are available in North Carolina. From South Carolina BBQ to Texas style BBQ, you will have a great variety to sample and enjoy while you travel to the North Carolina cities.

#1 Chop Shop BBQ & Grill

210 E Six Forks Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609

chopshopbbqgrill.com

 

#2 Dampf Good BBQ

1129 Corporation Pkwy STE 199, Raleigh, NC 27610

Menudampfgoodbbq.com

Phone: (847) 387-7469

#3 Smiths Smokehouse and Smoothies LLC

1129 Corporation Pkwy, Raleigh, NC 27610

Menusmokehousesmoothies.com
Phone: (919) 746-3905

The city of Raleigh is known for a number of different things, including a number of BBQ restaurants. You will be able to find BBQ joints right in the heart of the city where you can grab a few beers and catch up with old friends while enjoying a meal. If you prefer to have a sit down meal, there are a number of excellent places around the area to visit that serve food and drinks. If you are more adventurous, you may want to try some of the barbecue at local country clubs and country club hotels as you enjoy your meal. The country club restaurants offer a variety of great foods, including ribs and brisket.

#4 Red Hot & Blue

6615 Falls of Neuse Rd, Raleigh, NC 27615

Phone: (919) 846-7427

The BBQ joints that are located in the surrounding areas are just as good if not better than the ones that are located in the city of Raleigh. They offer a wider variety of recipes, which means you may find a great recipe that you love when you are in Winston-Salem, or you may find something different in the mountains. The variety of meals offered by the area’s BBQ joints will definitely allow you to find something that you enjoy the most. Whether you prefer pork, beef, turkey or some of the other meats, the BBQ restaurants in the area will offer you a variety of foods to choose from.

If you love BBQ, you may be familiar with the great restaurants that are located in Myrtle Beach. If you haven’t been to the area, you may have never heard of the great places to eat in the area, but you will soon learn that the restaurants in this area serve fantastic food. When you get a chance to go to see one of the many great BBQ restaurants in North Carolina, you will be glad that you did.

#5 Carolina Roadhouse

4617 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Menu: http://places.singleplatform.com/caroline-roadhouse/menu

Phone: (843) 497-9911

While you are dining at one of the many restaurants in the area, you may even consider sampling some of the best BBQ in the country. This type of food will leave you craving more of it. You will be able to get the same taste that you had when you were younger and you will also be able to savor the flavors and textures that these restaurants have to offer. If you visit North Carolina, you will not regret your decision in the least.

#6 Little Richard’s Bar-B-Que

6470 Stadium Dr, Clemmons, NC 27012

Menu: https://www.littlerichardsbarbeque.com/menus

Phone: (336) 766-0401

One of the best things about these types of restaurants is that they often offer live music during the dinner hours. The live music is perfect for enjoying the barbecue that is provided on a daily basis. You will enjoy being able to enjoy the live music from top to bottom, and you will have the chance to listen to great country music.

#7 The Blue Note Grill

709 Washington St, Durham, NC 27701

Phone: (919) 401-1979

Whether you plan to take a trip to Raleigh or you are visiting a larger city in the area, this is a great place to take your friends and family. Take some time to see if you like the food in Winston-Salem and if you like the atmosphere in Myrtle Beach, you may want to come to Raleigh to check out some of the great restaurants available.

Don’t forget about Lexington Barbecue

#8 Sophie’s Cork & Ale

23 W 2nd Ave, Lexington, NC 27292

Phone: (336) 300-7338

Or Connelly Springs

#9 JD’s Smokehouse

500 Malcolm Blvd, Connelly Springs, NC 28612

Phone: (828) 522-1227

#10 Randy’s Bar B Que

103 N Main St, Troutman, NC 28166

Phone: (704) 528-2300
Noted: It’s hard to go wrong with BBQ, but you can’t just slap it on the grill and call it a day. Just like any food preparation or cooking technique, there are many variations of BBQ that vary across regions in this country. That said, if you’re traveling outside the US (or maybe even inside our borders), be sure to do some research before taking an American friend out for what they may think is “just” another meal at your favorite restaurant!
Do you have a better choice you’d  like to add? Leave a comment below on your favorite BBQ restaurant in North Carolina.
🔥
Written By
BBQz.NET Team
The BBQz.NET team are passionate BBQ enthusiasts with years of hands-on grilling and smoking experience. We test gear, develop recipes, and share everything we learn so you can cook better BBQ.
Home Blog Products Z Grills Affiliate Policy About Us Contact Privacy Policy

© 2026 BBQz.NET — Your Ultimate BBQ & Grilling Resource. | Privacy Policy | BBQz.NET is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn commissions on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.