North Carolina BBQ: A guide from NC-born musician/singer/songwriter Kevin Daniel

Backyard BBQ
A short drive from Raleigh lies another BBQ spot which you might miss if you happened to blink. The unremarkable building housing Backyard BBQ Pi plays home to fat stacks of hickory and oak wood. When cooking its whole hogs, the pit fills the restaurant with smells of what’s to come, which is amazing vinegar-based ‘cue. The Durham-based pit also boasts famous smoked chicken and a host of sides like collard greens and black-eyed peas.

Durham; 919.544.9911; http://sweetribs.com

The Pig
The Pig specializes in using local, pasture-raised, antibiotic and hormone-free hogs, a difference found in every bite. Whole pigs are cooked over open fire to create everything from classic chopped pork, to house-made hot dogs, to even Vietnamese pork cheek. The pig is so good here, you can even buy its wares in the local grocery stores and butcher shops.

Chapel Hill; 919.942.1133; http://thepigrestaurant.com

Stamey’s
Since 1930, Stamey’s has been changing the game in North Carolina. Traditionally a state home to vinegar-based sauce, this join makes Lexington-style ‘cue. The sauce is tomato-based and thick, and slapped all over the hog during the cooking process. Stamey’s uses enclosed brick pits and tons of hardwood to moderate the heat of its fires. The drippings from the 15-pound pork shoulder hit the wood coals and then sizzle back up to the meat, a process which repeats itself time and time again during the cooking.

Greensboro; 336.288.9275; http://stameys.com

Buxton Hall
Nestled on a street in bustling Asheville, Buxton Hall is a destination. It’s huge, with multiple smokers inside the restaurant venting sweet hog smells directly outside. Not only does the pit cook its pigs whole hog over wood logs, they hang oysters and ribs over the fire as well, creating a trio of smoked goodness. Come for the pig, stay for everything else on the menu.

Asheville; 828.232.7216; http://buxtonhall.com

Woodlands BBQ
Stuck to a mountainside in picturesque Blowing Rock is a family-owned eatery with live music almost every night. It also happens to have some of the best BBQ in western NC. It’s famous for its BBQ and pork ribs, but don’t ignore the award-winning chili on the menu. Woodlands has been around since 1977, cooking up pork and hosting local musicians for over 40 years. If you ever find yourself in North Carolina high country, you’ll want to save some time Appalachian staple.

Blowing Rock; 828.295.3651; http://woodlandsbbq.com

Maria Spanadoris an experienced online writer with a passion for general entertainment stories. As a Greek mom, Maria brings her unique perspective to her writing, infusing her work with warmth and humor. She has been writing online for over 20 years, starting her career at thecelebritycafe.com. Since then, Maria has honed her skills as a writer, developing a talent for crafting engaging and informative content that keeps her readers coming back for more. Whether she's covering the latest celebrity gossip or writing about her own experiences as a mom, Maria's writing is always relatable and engaging.

One Comment on “North Carolina BBQ: A guide from NC-born musician/singer/songwriter Kevin Daniel”

  1. Thanks so much for reading my guide! Check out my music below:

    Thekevindaniel.com
    Facebook.com/thekevindaniel
    YouTube.com/Kevindanielmusic
    Soundcloud.com/thekevindaniel

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