NC is home to one of the top cities in the US for ‘BBQ enthusiasts’, says Yelp

If you’re a big fan of barbecue, one of the best places to get a taste of it is in North Carolina, according to Yelp.

Ahead of National Barbecue Day on May 16, Yelp revealed the top 10 cities for the best “smoked meats, signature sauces, and standout sides” across the country, including Bull City.

“Durham is a popular barbecue destination that offers a bridge between North Carolina traditions. The city is known for whole-hog barbecue with vinegar-based sauces, a cornerstone of Eastern North Carolina BBQ, as well as pit-cooked pulled pork with a tomato-vinegar sauce, which is more common in the western part of the state,” Yelp’s report states.

“Yelp users praise the pitmasters at spots like Backyard BBQ Pit for plates loaded with flavorful and hearty dishes. Durham also has a growing Texas-style brisket scene, with restaurants like Lawrence Barbecue bringing slow-smoked beef to the area.”

With a long list of barbecue restaurants, food trucks, pit master festivals and even a BBQ Hall of Fame, it should come as no surprise that a North Carolina city was identified as one of the top spots for the sweet and smoky cuisine.

To compile the rankings of spots that “offer something for every BBQ enthusiast,” Yelp’s report says a blended metric based on consumer interest in barbecue, total business count, and average business rating was used, with a limit of two cities per state.

Top barbecue restaurants in Durham, Raleigh

If you’re looking for a personal recommendation, here’s which Durham restaurants made The News & Observer’s food writer and local dining enthusiast Drew Jackson’s list of the 20 best barbecue joints in the Triangle:

1. Prime Barbecue in Knightdale

2. Sam Jones BBQ in Raleigh

3. Stephenson’s Bar-B-Q in Willow Spring

4. Lawrence Barbecue in Durham/Research Triangle Park

5. Dampf Good BBQ in Cary

6. Longleaf Swine in Raleigh

7. Picnic in Durham

8. Mike D’s BBQ in Durham (temporarily closed)

9. The Pig in Chapel Hill

10. Chop Shop BBQ in Raleigh

11. Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue in Raleigh

12. Redneck BBQ Lab at McGee’s Crossroads

13. Evelyn’s Tex-Mex BBQ in Durham

14. The Pit in Raleigh

15. Backyard BBQ Pit in Durham

16. Midwood Smokehouse in Raleigh

17. Ole Time Barbecue in Raleigh

18. Smith’s Smokehouse and Smoothies in Wake Forest (now closed)

19. Bullock’s Bar-B-Que in Durham

20. Maverick’s Smokehouse in Durham

You can find Yelp’s full report of the top barbecue cities across the country online at yelp.com.

This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 5:20 PM with the headline "NC is home to one of the top cities in the US for ‘BBQ enthusiasts’, says Yelp."

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription