50 Best BBQ Joints in the South – What’s Missing?

Southern Living BBQ Editor Robert F. Moss revealed his list of best BBQ joints in the South with City Limits Barbecue ranked at No. 1.

Days later, Texas Monthly BBQ editor Daniel Vaughn launched a counter volley. Keep Texas out of your South.

Before we get to “BBQ Snob” declarations, this Chigger has a few list additions. I don’t travel all over the South eating barbecue full-time, but based on my own on-site visits in the past 2 years (not including festivals), here are a few gems overlooked in both lists:

Apple City Barbecue, Taylorsville, NC

Adam Dula and his team produce barbecue that I’d rank higher than some of Moss’ Carolina selections (and sentimental favorites?). Apple City Barbecue’s menu ranges from traditional Carolina pulled pork, burnt ends and smoked-then-fried (STF) wings to Texas-inspired brisket and jalapeno lime sauce. All of it is good. The brisket is high on my list of favorites, but I’m also a sucker for a slider trio – pork, brisket chicken. Pick your own sauce. Brisket doesn’t need it, just a splash for the pork. Sweet potatoes, baked beans and both slaws, but especially the red. All of it is good and wood-fired. Locals in the Hickory Metro know about Apple City, and the word is steadily spreading.

Fork Grove Barbecue, Saddlers Creek, SC

How’d both Moss and Vaughn miss Dylan Cooke’s meat show? Fork Grove Barbecue’s standard menu is superb, while specials really are … special. My personal favorites are the brisket (super bark!) and bacon burnt ends, but the creative sausage factory at Fork Grove Bar-B-Q is second to none. I visited Fork Grove before my side prohibition on macaroni and cheese, and theirs is really good. Still, I wish I’d moved on to beans sooner. I skipped dessert because the sweet potato crunch is a sufficient stand-in. People like Dylan Cooke aren’t in South Carolina smoking to get the attention of barbecue nerds, but the food they are producing deserves it.

Sweet Lew’s Barbecue, Charlotte, NC

Sweet Lew’s meats are hard to beat. (Sweet Lew’s joke, not mine). I’m partial to the wings, pork and brisket, but pitmaster Lewis Donald is a sausage-master (my joke, not his). I love boiled peanuts, which you won’t find in most places. Sweet Lew’s Barbecue has ‘em + Brunswick stew, BBQ hash, and other sides that merit Southern recognition. Beyond that, Sweet Lew’s conversion of a service station into a barbecue business in a blossoming neighborhood, as well as his devotion to launching the Carolina BBQ Festival … that’s the stuff of Best BBQ Joint people.

Black Powder Smokehouse, Jamestown, NC

Choosing 50 restaurants across the South isn’t easy – I get it. You can’t include everybody. Add one – gotta remove one. [Spoiler alert: Daniel Vaughn wants to exclude 17 best BBQ joints in Texas]. That leaves room to add Black Powder Smokehouse, which seems to fly under the radar in the barbecue listicles. Smithfield Cup N.C. Team Captain Pitmaster Keith Henning is consistently among the top chefs in N.C. Restaurant and Leisure Association competition (real cheffy stuff), and the quality of his food shows up at Black Powder. The Jamestown location is another cool converted service station with a beautiful interior space. Two words: Cheerwine Chicken. And Pie.

Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, Leeds, AL

Rusty helped pioneer craft barbecue in the Birmingham Metro. In a land of chopped pork, ribs and chicken, he’s doing something different. Brisket, yes, but also a counter service environment, a diversity of sauces, and DESSERT! Rusty’s Bar-B-Q ranks on dessert alone. Not to discount the meat or sides, however. It’s always perfectly smoked and full of flavor. (Inside knowledge: cheeseburgers.) Rusty’s is located inside an old Jack’s fast food restaurant, and it features a wood-fired pit at the center of the building. Bonus points for a location decorated with memorabilia from local sports, including nearby Barber Motorsports Park. 

Golden Rule Bar-B-Q, Irondale, AL

OK, this is my own sentimental favorite. In Alabama, Big Bob Gibson’s, Dreamland, Archibald’s … a few others get deserved publicity for longevity and tradition. Under those guidelines, Golden Rule qualifies for the conversation. The “oldest BBQ joint in the South,” Golden Rule boasts the “original barbecue sandwich.” Beyond that, the story of the brand is cool – especially Brian Kemp’s rejuvenation (and Guinness World Record). That’s probably backstory beyond criteria for Southern Living and Texas Monthly, but Golden Rule’s food holds up to criticism, too. The pork barbecue sandwish and sauce + pickle is true to the restaurant’s roots. Kemp evolves the menu to include emerging trends (brisket), but Golden Rule’s pork-rib-chicken trinity rivals what you’ll find at others in the Top 50.

Texas Monthly BBQ Editor’s Best Joint Addendum

Back to Vaughn … he encourages Southern Living to forego the “behemoth” Lone Star state altogether. It is just too large for one person to cover adequately, he contends. Fair. Vaughn relies on a team of correspondents to supplement his rankings. 

Remove Texas, that makes room for 17 other best BBQ joint alternatives, Vaughn suggests. Five of Vaughn’s picks are in North Carolina:

• Barbecue Center, Lexington
• Jon G’s, Peachland
• Lawrence Barbecue, Cary
• Old Colony Smokehouse, Edenton
• Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge, Shelby

No love for South Carolina’s best BBQ joints Vaughn’s additions, but he includes LSBS podcast friends County Smoak in Lynchburg, VA

These opinions & reports appeared originally in The Low & Slow Barbecue Show weekly newsletter, The Lowdown. Keep reading for more Carolina BBQ news and events shared on Sept. 30, 2025. Subscribe to The Lowdown here to receive news, links and updates in your email on Tuesday mornings.

Carolina BBQ Ranker Round Up

B’s BBQ (Greenville)and Skylight BBQ (Ayden) are among The Takeout’s list of 13 Hole-in-the-Wall BBQ Restaurants across the U.S. you need to visit at least once. 

Midwood Smokehouse is Charlotte’s best BBQ restaurant in Slacker’s BBQ ranker for 50 major cities. Seol Grille is the choice for Raleigh. Lewis Barbecue gets the nod for Charleston.

The Smithfield Cup is Sunday

The Smithfield Cup puts North Carolina against South Carolina for a pitmaster showdown that lets the people decide a winner.

Cape Fear Distillery in Elizabethton hosts the festival that includes live music, vintage cars, kids zone and other vendors. Ticket holders enjoy samples and sides from each team. Get tickets here.

Team North Carolina

• Keith Henning, Black Powder Smokehouse, Jamestown/Asheboro
• Jeff Grace, Oink n Moo by Two Brothers, Raleigh
• Walt Munroe, Cruzer’s Restaurant, Whiteville

Team South Carolina

• Unity BBQ, Bennettsville
• John Haney, Alveron BBQ Company, Summerville
• Marvin Ross, Peculiar Pig Eats, Charleston

Where’s your Favorite Carolina-style BBQ joint?

USA Today wants reader votes for favorite Carolina-style BBQ joint. Among the 20 nominations: 18 locations in the Carolinas.

Voting is open until noon Oct. 20. The top 10 will be announced Oct. 29.

North Carolina BBQ Joint Nominations

• B’s Barbecue, Greenville, NC
• Grady’s, Dudley, NC
• Lexington Barbecue, Lexington, NC
• The Pig, Chapel Hill, NC
• Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge, Shelby, NC
• Sam Jones BBQ, Winterville, NC
• Skylight Inn, Ayden, NC
• Stamey’s Barbecue, Greensboro, NC

South Carolina BBQ Joint Nominations

• Brown’s Bar-B-Q, Kingstree, SC
• Dukes Barbecue, Walterboro, SC
• Farm Boys BBQ, Chapin, SC
• Francis Campbell Quick Stop, Rembert, SC
• Little Pig’s Barbecue, Columbia, SC
• McCabe’s BBQ, Manning, SC
• Midway BBQ, Buffalo, SC
• One Hot Mama’s BBQ, Hilton Head, SC
• Scott’s Bar-B-Q, Hemingway, SC
• The Smokin Pig, Pendleton, SC

Carolina Brothers BBQ in Ashburn, VA, and Doug’s North Carolina BBQ in Atlanta round out the list.

Carolina BBQ Business Bites

Longleaf Swine is planning a second Raleigh location in the old Sawmill Tap Room space. Longleaf Swine’s co-owner told The News & Observer he plans to renovate the building completely.

Bear Walrus, a barbecue and seafood restaurant is now open in Rock Hill, SC.

The CHEEF is investing in brick-and-mortar in Pisgah Forest, NC. The food truck pops up regularly at locations in Rosman and Brevard.

Jim ‘N Nick’s plans its fourth South Carolina franchise in Spartanburg.

Upcoming Carolina Barbecue Events

BBQ Food Trucks

Wednesday, Oct. 1

• Jon G’s: Middle James Brewing Company, Waxhaw, 5 p.m. until sold out. 

Thursday, Oct. 2

• Gents’ Bounty BBQ: Goldsboro Brew Works, Goldsboro, 5- 9 p.m.
• Smoked Pickle Barbecue: 920 Ebeneezer Road, Knoxville, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Unity BBQ: Rose’s, Mullins, SC, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3

• CJ’s Pit Smoked Ribs: Schwarzbar Ale House, Conover, 5 – 8 p.m.
• Master Blend Family Farms: Downtown Kenansville Square, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• Union Barbecue: Rosie’s Wine Garden, Charlotte, 5 p.m.
• Unity BBQ: Cheraw High School Football Game, Cheraw, SC, 7 p.m. – until  

Saturday, Oct. 4

• Big Byrd’s Smokehouse: The Hum, Hickory, 6:30 p.m.
• CJ’s Pit Smoked Ribs: Jacob’s Dairy Bar, Newton, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Smoked Pickle Barbecue: 920 Ebeneezer Road, Knoxville, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Union Barbecue: Birdsong, Charlotte, 12 p.m.
• Unity BBQ: Cotton Festival, Clio, SC, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

BBQ Fundraisers

Southern Soul Barbecue’s Firebox BBQ on the Block: Saturday, Oct. 4, St. Simons Island, GA. Proceeds benefit the Firebox Initiative.

Hopemill’s WNC BBQ Competition and Benefit Concert: Oct. 11, 2-8 p.m., downtown Catawba, NC. Proceeds benefit Hurricane Helene relief efforts

Scouting America Troop 17 Barbecue Dinner: Oct. 11, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Riceville Fire Department and Community Center in Asheville. Pit-smoked barbecue plates are $12 with proceeds supporting Scouts’ placement of U.S. flags on veteran graves on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Veterans Day.

BBQ Festivals

Spruce Pine BBQ & Bluegrass Festival: Oct. 4, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Spruce Pine. $5 admission; 12 and younger free. Funds area non-profits and educational opportunities.

The Smithfield Cup: Oct. 5, 12 – 4 p.m., Cape Fear Distillery, Elizabethton. 

Squealin’ on the Square: Oct. 17-18, Laurens, SC. People’s Choice Award, live music, vendors in historic downtown Laurens. 

Hogs and Hens Festival: Oct. 17-19, Abbeville, SC. Southern BBQ Network competition barbecue, live music, vendors, kid zone and vendors. 

The Pig Pickin’: Oct. 19, 12-4 p.m., Mac’s Speed Shop, Charlotte. Pitmaster tastings, official Carolina Panthers Watch Party and more. 

Lexington Barbecue Festival: Oct. 25, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., downtown Lexington.

Southern BBQ Network Competitions

Bessemer City Brew and Que: Oct. 3, Bessemer City, NC, 6-10 p.m.

Smoke on the Waccamaw: Oct. 10-11, Conway, SC. 

Hogs and Hens Festival: Oct. 17-19, Abbeville, SC.

SAL American Legion BBQ Cook-off: Oct. 24-25, Charleston, SC. 

Have a BBQ event or food truck you want to promote? Email details to [email protected].