Where to Find Charlotte's Best Barbecue

Barbecue is more than a noun — it'southward a manner of life. Whether you prefer whole pig or pork shoulder, burnt ends or brisket or maybe some smoked wings with a few racks of ribs in betwixt, this comprehensive list of Charlotte-area barbecue joints is sure to fire up your craving for stellar local 'cue.

past Charlie Leonard

Bar-B-Q King - Photography past Eric Gaddy

Bar-B-Q King

Neighborhood: W Charlotte

A Westward Charlotte treasure since 1959, Bar-B-Q Male monarch however serves charcoal-broil sandwiches curbside. Want that accurate park-and-swallow experience? Don't leave until you've demolished an order of their famous Bar-B-Q fried chicken, which comes dunked in barbecue sauce. This drool-worthy dish even fabricated a national TV cameo when Guy Fieri and the crew from Nutrient Network's "Diners, Bulldoze-Ins and Dives" came to town.
Claim to Fame: Bar-B-Q fried chicken

Big Tiny's BBQ

Area: Mooresville

When they moved to Mooresville, owners John and Elizabeth Maddox brought their Texas roots and love for barbecue with them. After 25 years in racing, John decided information technology was time to hang upward his helmet and put on his frock to become a pitmaster specializing in mesquite-fashion smoked meats. The couple opened Big Tiny's (named later on their late dog, Tiny) in downtown Mooresville in 2016, serving up what'south been dubbed "dog gone good BBQ."
Claim to fame: Chopped brisket sandwich

Blue Bar & Smokehouse

Area: Fort Mill, S.C.

This local, fast-coincidental barbecue articulation in Fort Mill, South Carolina, is all nearly the smoke: smoked wings (with eight sauces to choose from), smoked brisket, smoked pork, smoked chicken and more. Joining the Charlotte area charcoal-broil lineup in belatedly 2020, Blue Bar & Smokehouse serves upwards fresh charcoal-broil, a full bar, alive music and Southern hospitality.
Claim to fame: Brisket burger

Bobbee O's BBQ

Neighborhood: Due north Charlotte

Originally from Rowland, North Carolina, Bob Roberts always loved helping his mom in the kitchen. His dearest of cooking carried on through machismo, at which point he started perfecting his charcoal-broil and bootleg sauce techniques. While you tin't go incorrect with any of the choices at Bobbee O's BBQ, the pulled pork is the almost pop because it truly puts the spotlight on the sauce. The focus is plumbing fixtures; the spot's slogan is, "It's all in the sauce!"
Claim to fame: The sauce

The Improper Hog

Neighborhood: South Charlotte and Fort Mill, S.C.

Leave your regional charcoal-broil debates at the door and get a barbecue explorer at The Improper Hog, where fusion charcoal-broil is celebrated. The menu combines classic Carolina-mode pork and St. Louis-style ribs with new influences, similar Pork Rolls (aka Southern-style egg rolls), Grub Bao Sliders with charcoal-broil meat, Asian slaw and Hoisin sauce, and even the vegetarian No Grunter sandwich, fabricated with a hickory forest grilled portobello mushroom.
Claim to fame: Vegetarian options

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

Expanse: Steele Creek, Concord and Indian Land, Due south.C.

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q started smoking pork in 1985 when father-son duo Jim and Nick Pihakis reclaimed an one-time pizza parlor in Birmingham, Alabama. Today, at that place are nearly 40 Jim 'N Nick'south Bar-B-Q locations across seven states. At each, the local owners, cooks and pitmasters are taught the Pihakis' recipes, techniques and flavors of Southern barbecue. The carte du jour focuses on a multifariousness of low-and-slow smoked meats, including classic pulled pork and craven, beef brisket, turkey chest, pork hot links and baby dorsum ribs.
Claim to fame: Pulled pork and chicken (and the popular cheese biscuits)

Kyle Fletcher'south BBQ & Catering

Area: Gastonia

Nestled on the side of Wilkinson Boulevard in Gastonia, Kyle Fletcher'south BBQ & Catering serves juicy western N Carolina-mode pork and other favorites like fried balogna sandwiches and crispy onion rings. Kyle Fletcher's regularly wins Best of Gaston awards and, if you're a North Carolina Tar Heels basketball fan, y'all'll love their interior decked out in memorabilia.
Merits to fame: Western North Carolina-style pork and a side of onion rings

Mac's Speed Shop

Neighborhood: South End, Steele Creek, Matthews and Cornelius

Named later a human being who used to work in the old manual shop now home to the Southward Boulevard location, Mac'south Speed Store serves smoky pulled pork, dry-rubbed beef brisket and a carte du jour full of distinctive Southern fare. Pair your pulled pork with a side of cold arts and crafts beer: the homegrown concatenation boasts more sixty beers on tap and fifty-fifty sponsors a beer order.
Merits to fame: Dry-rubbed beefiness brisket

McKoy's Smokehouse & Saloon

Neighborhood: LoSo

McKoy's Smokehouse & Saloon is a true family operation, correct down to its name. The moniker pays homage to McKoy Register, father of co-owner Namon Register and granddaddy of co-owners Ryan and Jim Register. The spot serves up award-winning St. Louis-manner ribs, smokehouse wings and other charcoal-broil mainstays with a side of service that makes guests feel like they're dining in McKoy's dwelling.
Claim to fame: St. Louis-style ribs

Midwood Smokehouse - Photography by Cody Hughes

Midwood Smokehouse

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood, Montford, Huntersville and Ballantyne

Restaurateur Frank Scibelli toured barbecue joints throughout Texas, picking up invaluable tips before debuting his popular concept, Midwood Smokehouse, in Charlotte. The cooks on Midwood's culinary team each attend a professional brisket school where they acquire the tricks of the trade (including how to burn hickory logs 24 hours a 24-hour interval) to wearisome-smoke the restaurant'southward Texas-way brisket and burnt ends.
Claim to fame: Brisket and burnt ends

Noble Smoke - Photography past Kate Magee

Noble Smoke

Neighborhood: Wesley Heights, Optimist Park

Noble Smoke is the dream come to life of longtime restaurateur Jim Noble. Noble owns pop Charlotte locales Rooster's and The King's Kitchen, only this Southern barbecue joint has been part of his long-term plans for more than 25 years. Housed in a former truck maintenance facility on Freedom Drive and with a food stall at Optimist Hall, Noble Smoke pays tribute to the pitmaster legends that inspired Noble and his dearest of smoked meat.
Claim to fame: Chopped Cheshire pork with western or eastern slaw

The Q Shack

Neighborhood: South Charlotte

If y'all're on the mission for pork in a pinch, look no further than The Q Shack, a fast-coincidental become-to in the Promenade on Providence shopping center. The chain, tucked into an upscale strip mall, will satisfy your 'cue cravings with its popular hickory-smoked pulled pork sandwich or chile-rubbed beef brisket.
Claim to fame: Hickory-smoked pulled pork

R&R Bar-B-Que

Area: Agree

Bob Critz and Rob Emore share more than than just a name; they also share a dearest for true eastern North Carolina-style vinegar-based barbecue. With a shared initial and a restaurant located adjacent to railroad tracks, R&R Bar-B-Que opened in 1998 and has been serving up eastern-way 'cue with all the fixins ever since.
Claim to fame: Eastern-Carolina style, vinegar-based barbecue

Ray'southward Land Smokehouse-Grill

Area: Gastonia

Charcoal-broil is king at Ray'southward Land Smokehouse-Grill, a Gastonia mainstay for smoky goodness. Serving quondam-school smoked barbecue and traditional sides, the restaurant boasts plenty of pig to pair with its tasty, homemade vinegar-based sauce. Not in the mood for pork but want the charcoal-broil experience? Social club one of Ray's most praised dishes: a hearty plate of beef brisket and zesty tater salad.
Claim to fame: A bootleg vinegar-based sauce

RayNathan'south

Expanse: Gastonia

Like being greeted with warm hospitality and the smell of smoked meats equally you walk in the door? Y'all'll instantly feel at home when you terminate past RayNathan'southward in Gastonia. Owned by friends Stephen Carroll and Thomas Blanding, who originally met working in restaurants as teens, RayNathan'south is their dream of more than 20 years come to life. With a focus on hardwood-smoked meats, scratch-made sides and an former-schoolhouse Delta blues vibe, this must-endeavour barbecue destination is all about its people, pork and popular banana pudding.
Merits to fame: Stephen'south brisket sandwich

R.O.'southward Bar-B-Cue

Area: Gastonia

A Gastonia institution for 75 years, R.O.'due south Bar-B-Cue was the brainchild of R.O. and Pearl Black in the 1940s and became famous for its charcoal-broil sandwiches, sauce and slaw. Pearl came upwardly with the secret slaw recipe that's yet used today and sold wholesale through R.O.'s Distributing Visitor. You'll also notice two R.O.'south mobile units around the area serving all the favorites including pork sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches, burgers and more than. The old-fashioned restaurant offers drive-in, dine-in and curbside service, and so you lot can get your 'cue fix the mode you prefer.
Claim to fame: Slaw sandwich

The Smoke Pit

Expanse: Concord, Monroe, Gastonia and Salisbury

Serving Texas-style barbecue in North Carolina, The Smoke Pit's four Charlotte-expanse locations serve up flavorful meat slow-cooked for 18 hours over local hickory woods. Massive portions, flavorful meats and creative, scratch-made sides — think deviled egg white potato salad and smoked pork barbecue beans — have garnered the diner a loyal following.
Claim to fame: Deviled egg potato salad

Sweet Lew's BBQ

Neighborhood: Belmont

This 450-foursquare-foot service-station-turned-smoke-shack in the Belmont neighborhood is churning out accurate Carolina barbecue slow-smoked over a blend of hickory, pecan and peach woods. The concept from owners Lewis Donald and Laura Furman Grice transports guests back to the small Southern barbecue joints that you'd happen upon on an sometime country road. The menu is simple: meats, sides, drinks and desserts, plus combo platters and meat by the pound until the meat runs out.
Merits to fame: xv-hour beef brisket

Charlie Leonard is a Charlotte-surface area native with an in-depth noesis of all things culture. Every bit an App Country grad, he loves outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, and golfing. Yous can as well catch him reading a expert volume, watching the best Tv and movies, or watching his beloved Panthers, Hornets, Hurricanes, and App State Mountaineers dominate their contest.