The term "barbecue" in North Carolina is nearly synonymous with pork, and it's a big part of the state's history. There are two distinct types of barbecue that have developed over hundreds of years in North Carolina: Eastern and Western. The styles differ in the cut of pork, how that pork is prepared and the type of sauce poured on top. The Lexington or Piedmont style uses only the pork shoulder, slow-cooked and pulled, and a barbecue sauce that includes ketchup, vinegar, pepper and a variety of spices. The Eastern style uses a whole hog cooked low and slow, chopped and topped with a vinegar and pepper based sauce with no ketchup to be found.
The top 10 winners in the category Best BBQ in North Carolina are as follows:
- Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Shelby
- Willie Brooks BBQ - Waynesville
- Midwood Smokehouse - Charlotte
- Stamey's Barbecue - Greensboro
- Southern Smoke BBQ - Garland
- City Barbeque and Catering - Multiple Locations
- The Pit - Durham
- MeMa's Chick'n & Ribs - Burgaw
- Haywood Smokehouse - Waynesville & Dillsboro
- Buxton Hall Barbecue - Asheville
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning restaurants!
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The Experts
Jason Frye
Jason Frye is a travel and food writer and the... Read More
Jason Frye is a travel and food writer and the author of Moon North Carolina, Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip and Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He writes for Dallas Morning News, Cruise Critic, Coastal Living and DK Travel, among others. Follow his adventures on Instagram.
Jason Frye
Jason Frye is a travel and food writer and the author of Moon North Carolina, Moon Blue Ridge Parkway Road Trip and Moon Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He writes for Dallas Morning News, Cruise Critic, Coastal Living and DK Travel, among others. Follow his adventures on Instagram.
Charles McCool
Charles McCool loves to find hidden gems, off the... Read More
Charles McCool loves to find hidden gems, off the beaten path places, and amazing local food and beverages. He runs McCoolTravel.com, which was recognized as the #2 online travel brand for audience engagement. He has taught people how to be happier travelers for over 25 years and is a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Join the McCool Travel family at Facebook, Flipboard, Instagram and Twitter.
Charles McCool
Charles McCool loves to find hidden gems, off the beaten path places, and amazing local food and beverages. He runs McCoolTravel.com, which was recognized as the #2 online travel brand for audience engagement. He has taught people how to be happier travelers for over 25 years and is a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW). Join the McCool Travel family at Facebook, Flipboard, Instagram and Twitter.
Renata Parker
Renata Parker is the destinations and dining out... Read More
Renata Parker is the destinations and dining out feature writer and photographer for TALK magazine, a luxury lifestyle magazine published in Greenville, South Carolina, #yeahTHATgreenville. With over 250+ published features, she has traveled to and covered a number of restaurants, resorts, spas, and travel destinations worldwide. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Renata Parker
Renata Parker is the destinations and dining out feature writer and photographer for TALK magazine, a luxury lifestyle magazine published in Greenville, South Carolina, #yeahTHATgreenville. With over 250+ published features, she has traveled to and covered a number of restaurants, resorts, spas, and travel destinations worldwide. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Lynn and Cele Seldon
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is... Read More
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is Seldon Ink and have spent more than 25 years covering all aspects of culinary and travel writing. With a keen focus on the Southeast and a particular love of the Carolinas, they have written dozens of magazine and newspaper articles about the area and have become self-professed experts along the way. Their work has appeared in Southern Living, Taste of the South, The Local Palate, Cruise Travel, South Carolina Living, South Carolina Magazine, TrailBlazer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, various in-flight publications and many AAA magazines. They are also the authors of 100 Things To Do In Charleston Before You Die from Reedy Press. Follow along on their adventures at www.seldonink.com or @seldonink.
Lynn and Cele Seldon
Lynn and Cele Seldon make up the team that is Seldon Ink and have spent more than 25 years covering all aspects of culinary and travel writing. With a keen focus on the Southeast and a particular love of the Carolinas, they have written dozens of magazine and newspaper articles about the area and have become self-professed experts along the way. Their work has appeared in Southern Living, Taste of the South, The Local Palate, Cruise Travel, South Carolina Living, South Carolina Magazine, TrailBlazer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Charlotte Observer, various in-flight publications and many AAA magazines. They are also the authors of 100 Things To Do In Charleston Before You Die from Reedy Press. Follow along on their adventures at www.seldonink.com or @seldonink.
Michael J. Solender
Michael J. Solender travels the road less taken... Read More
Michael J. Solender travels the road less taken sharing wondrous cultural, culinary, and historical discoveries with his readers. Solender's travel writing is featured at Ocean Home Magazine, Southern Living, Carolina Bride, Carolina Mountain Life, Connect Magazine, Travel Connect, the Charlotte Observer, the Raleigh News & Observer, SouthPark Magazine, Lake Norman Magazine, and others. Solender's up close and personal essays explore the personalities, back stories, and character behind destinations revealing intimate snapshots of life often missed by visitors on heavily scheduled agendas. Solender is an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Read more from him at michaeljwrites.com.
Michael J. Solender
Michael J. Solender travels the road less taken sharing wondrous cultural, culinary, and historical discoveries with his readers. Solender's travel writing is featured at Ocean Home Magazine, Southern Living, Carolina Bride, Carolina Mountain Life, Connect Magazine, Travel Connect, the Charlotte Observer, the Raleigh News & Observer, SouthPark Magazine, Lake Norman Magazine, and others. Solender's up close and personal essays explore the personalities, back stories, and character behind destinations revealing intimate snapshots of life often missed by visitors on heavily scheduled agendas. Solender is an active member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Read more from him at michaeljwrites.com.
Kristy Tolley
Kristy Tolley is the editor of GO Magazine and... Read More
Kristy Tolley is the editor of GO Magazine and Traveler, AAA Carolinas’ member and travel publications. Previously, she was a freelance travel writer and copywriter for businesses in the travel and hospitality industries for over 18 years. She never passes up an opportunity to visit new destinations anywhere in the world, but road trips throughout North Carolina and South Carolina have been the source of some of her fondest adventures. Follow her shenanigans on Instagram and Twitter.
Kristy Tolley
Kristy Tolley is the editor of GO Magazine and Traveler, AAA Carolinas’ member and travel publications. Previously, she was a freelance travel writer and copywriter for businesses in the travel and hospitality industries for over 18 years. She never passes up an opportunity to visit new destinations anywhere in the world, but road trips throughout North Carolina and South Carolina have been the source of some of her fondest adventures. Follow her shenanigans on Instagram and Twitter.
