The Most Delicious North Carolina Road Trip Takes You To 9 Hole-In-The-Wall BBQ Restaurants
So you love barbecue? You’re not alone! But how much do you love it? That’s the question! Enough to embark on a day-long road trip to discover hidden gem hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints across the state? Come along with us from Saluda all the way to the Outer Banks to pay a visit to some of the best BBQ restaurants in North Carolina!
For an interactive experience, we’ve partnered with our friends over at Roadtrippers so you can better plan your trip. Check out the map below!
Green River Barbeque, 131 US-176, Saluda, NC 28773, USA
There's a large smoked selection at Green River including pork, chicken, turkey, brisket, baby back ribs, and even trout. Green River has been getting taste buds in the Saluda area all charged up for BBQ since 1984. Learn more about it here.
Ray's Country Smokehouse-Grill, 219 S Broad St, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA
While Ray's serves up all sorts of American favorites (burgers, sandwiches, and more) their BBQ is off the chain and cooked to perfection, whole hog and in-house. Learn more here.
Jon G's Barbecue, 116 Glenn Falls St, Peachland, NC 28133, USA
There's a reason this small town BBQ joint always has a line out the door on Saturday mornings: It's the only day they're open and they usually sell out by noon! We can say the wait is worth it to get a taste of the best Texas-style BBQ served in North Carolina. Get here early, or prepare to mozy right along to the next hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint on this road trip. Learn more here.
Stubbs and Sons BBQ, 2440 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Sanford, NC 27332, USA
Authentic Eastern North Carolina BBQ is piled high on the plate at Stubbs & Son. Their Carthage location fits the bill for a perfect hole-in-the-wall dining experience. Be sure to pair your meat with some handmade cole slaw and some hand cut fries! Learn more here.
Grady's Barbecue, 3096 Arrington Bridge Rd, Dudley, NC 28333, USA
This little roadside kitchen serves up everything from burgers to wings to hamburger steaks (yum!), but it's their Eastern North Carolina BBQ that steals the show. Come see what makes this tiny spot so very popular! Learn more here.
B's Barbecue, 751 State Rd 1204, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
No BBQ road trip through Eastern North Carolina would be complete without a stop at B's. With 42 years of slow cooking whole hogs, B's has the best barbecue in all of North Carolina. Get here early, because they sell out consistently! Learn more here.
Bunn's Barbecue, 127 N King St, Windsor, NC 27983, USA
Eastern NC BBQ at its finest is found at Bunn's in the small town of Windsor. From the charming locale (inside an old gas station) to the tasty cornbread and the cole slaw that's soaked in vinegar, the added extras here are what makes this spot so wonderful — well, those and their slow-cooked BBQ! Come see for yourself! Learn more here.
Currituck BBQ Company, 4467 Caratoke Hwy, Barco, NC 27917, USA
If burnt end briskets aren't a taste you've acquired yet, then not to worry. The extensive menu at this roadside BBQ joint includes everything from pulled pork, chicken, and pulled beef brisket to ribs, rotisserie chicken, burgers, and even chicken livers. There's something for everyone here! Learn more here.
Sooey's BBQ & Rib Shack, 3919 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC 27959, USA
Pulled pork (Eastern style), slow-smoked ribs, Southern fried chicken, and beef brisket are what keeps people coming back time and again to this Outer Banks staple that's been around for nearly 20 years. Find it in Corolla, Duck Head, and this Nags Head location. Learn more here.
This just may be our tastiest road trip yet! Do you love barbecue enough to make a weekend of sampling all of these great hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints? How many of these have you already discovered? At least B’s, right?
What do you think are the best BBQ restaurants in North Carolina? Tell us all about them!
Address: Green River Barbeque, 131 US-176, Saluda, NC 28773, USA
Address: Ray's Country Smokehouse-Grill, 219 S Broad St, Gastonia, NC 28052, USA
Address: Jon G's Barbecue, 116 Glenn Falls St, Peachland, NC 28133, USA
Address: Stubbs and Sons BBQ, 2440 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Sanford, NC 27332, USA
Address: Grady's Barbecue, 3096 Arrington Bridge Rd, Dudley, NC 28333, USA
Address: B's Barbecue, 751 State Rd 1204, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
Address: Bunn's Barbecue, 127 N King St, Windsor, NC 27983, USA
Address: Currituck BBQ Company, 4467 Caratoke Hwy, Barco, NC 27917, USA
Address: Sooey's BBQ & Rib Shack, 3919 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC 27959, USA
