We talk about it often- North Carolina BBQ. You probably have a favorite- Eastern or Western style. But regardless of which you prefer the state takes great pride in our smoked pork and other meats. So when Southern Living Magazine releases its yearly top 50 Barbecue Joints, we’ve come to expect a certain amount of representation. This year, that means 8 local institutions. Yes 8 North Carolina BBQ restaurants were included on Southern Living’s Top 50 Barbecue Joints for 2023.
Eastern vs. Western North Carolina BBQ
Your preference for Eastern or Western will probably influence whether you think their top choice in NC is THE best BBQ restaurant in the state. If you’re new here eastern-style NC BBQ features a vinegar base which makes it lighter, and uses pepper giving it a little spice. On the other end of the state, Western-style or “Lexington” style is made with a sweeter sauce. The sauce is usually made with butter, sugar, and ketchup.
So how exactly where these BBQ joints ranked? Southern Living’s Contributing BBQ Editor Robert Moss, traveled across the South trying as many restaurants as possible. So each of the top 50 restaurants is personally tested and approved by a certified expert. He took into consideration factors such as overall experience, setting, food presentation, sauces, and regional authenticity. Some recognized restaurants are repeats from previous years (if you’re good you’re good!). However, there are also some new additions to the rankings.
It may come as a surprise that North Carolina’s 8 restaurants on the list aren’t the most. That honor goes to Texas who had 14 spots included on this list. I guess everything is bigger in Texas (and they probably have more to choose from!) So take a look below at each of the North Carolina restaurants recognized as the best of the best. Interested in the full list? You can find that here. Thanks to Southern Living for sharing this information with us!
