6 best BBQ restaurants in Raleigh
North Carolina is known for its barbecue, and these six Raleigh-area restaurants are some of the best.
The origins of barbecue date back to the 1700s in North Carolina. The Tar Heel State is known for its two styles of barbecue – Eastern (a vinegar-based sauce) and Western (topped with a sauce that contains ketchup or tomatoes).
Note: We've updated this list to include a reader favorite. Scroll to the bottom to see a bonus seventh restaurant!
The Best BBQ Restaurants in the Raleigh area
The BBQ Lab
This restaurant is the sister-location of the award-winning Redneck BBQ Lab in Johnston County. The Benson location opened in 2017 and is a multiple WRAL Voters' Choice Award winner for best barbecue.
The Raleigh location opened late 2022 in the North Hills shopping district. It features the restaurant's famous burnt ends, plus a special late night menu.
Location: 4120-135 Main at North Hills St, Raleigh, NC 27609
Clyde Cooper's Barbecue
Clyde Cooper's, which has been in business since 1938, serves up Carolina-style BBQ at an old-fashioned counter. It was also the center of a viral moment when a customer called 911 because of "pink meat."
Location: 327 S Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601
The Pit
The Pit has amazing whole-hog, pit-cooked barbecue, but it's also known for its sides and desserts served in a laid-back, upscale setting. We recommend saving room for the famous banana pudding for dessert.
Location: 328 W. Davie St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Midwood Smokehouse
If you’re looking for your next barbeque fix, look no further. Midwood Smokehouse Head Chef Mark Rodriguez uses a lot of different barbecuing techniques with a mix of Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina-style barbecue offerings. The outdoor patio is perfect if you’re wanting to enjoy a delicious meal on a beautiful spring day.
Location: 409 W Johnson St, Raleigh, NC 27603
Longleaf Swine
This popular barbecue restaurant started as a food truck, doing regular pop-up service at Foundation in Raleigh. They have grown and opened a brick-and-mortar location in the old Oakwood Cafe space in downtown Raleigh. They are known for their whole hog pulled pork, 18-hour smoked brisket and Brunswick stew. We love sitting on their outdoor patio eating a pulled pork sandwich (slaw on top!) served on a bun from nearby bakery Union Special.
Location: 300 East Edenton St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Sam Jones BBQ
Famed pitmaster Sam Jones opened his first Raleigh restaurant in 2021. The fourth-generation pitmaster and James Beard semifinalist, opened his flagship restaurant, Sam Jones BBQ, in 2015 near Greenville near his family's legendary Skylight Inn in Ayden. His Raleigh restaurant has the same great barbecue as his first location.
Location: 502 W Lenoir St., Raleigh, NC 27601
Bonus pick: Ole Time Barbecue
After we posted this list, we heard from many readers that we missed one of the best barbecue joints in the Oak City. They were right! Ole Time Barbecue has been serving up Eastern-style NC barbecue since 1993. Their menu is filled with the staples - barbecue pork sandwiches, banana pudding and hush puppies. You can get barbecue by the pound, half or whole fried or barbecue chickens and St. Louis style ribs.
Location: 6309 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27606
