My Top 25 (as of National BBQ Day 2025)

It seems about every time I rate and rank a BBQ sandwich I get asked for a definitive list of my top barbecue joints, so here it is.

And as previously stated, I am not a paid professional barbecue expert, nor do I pretend to be anything other than a lover of what we North Carolinians lovingly call 'cue (slow and low cooked pork over any kind of heat source, be it gas, electric, or God's gift to prehistoric cavemen - wood.

The rankings are based solely on barbecue sandwiches of which there must be three things to define the proper sandwich (IMHO): chopped/pulled/minced pork + slaw + bread. I may mention sides like Brunswick stew or hushpuppies or banana pudding, but nothing else matters except the almighty sandwich itself. Rankings can change and overall ratings can be affected by (good or bad) based on most recent experience.

This list does not include any restaurant that has permanently closed and as of this writing, all of the Top 25 joints below are currently open for business and serving some highly rated and gastronomically appreciated barbecue sandwiches.

So without any further ado...

25 BBQ King - Lincolnton

24 Switzerland Cafe - Little Switzerland*

23 Bum's Restaurant - Ayden*

22 Bullock's Bar B Cue - Durham

21 Marty's BBQ - Wilson

20 Sam Jones - Winterville

19 Lawrence BBQ - RTP

18 Ole Time Barbecue - Raleigh

17 College Barbecue - Salisbury

16 12 Bones - Asheville

15 Backyard BBQ Pit - Durham

14 Stamey's - Greensboro*

13 Grady's BBQ - Dudley*

12 Haywood Smokehouse - Franklinton

11 The Redneck BBQ Lab - McGee's Crossroads

10 Prime Barbecue - Knightdale

9 Hubba Hubba Smokehouse - Flat Rock*

8 Morris Barbeque - Hookerton

7 Smokehouse at Steve’s - Graham

6 Stephenson's - Willow Springs*

5 Lexington BBQ - Lexington*

4 Old Colony Smokehouse - Edenton

3 B's Barbecue - Greenville*

2 Skylight Inn BBQ - Ayden*

And my top NC BBQ joint...

Southern Smoke - Garland

*NC Historic Barbecue Trail