Best BBQ? This spot was voted No. 1 in Charlotte — again. Why folks love it
Saucy ribs, tender brisket and your favorite fixings: all makings of the perfect barbecue plate.
Charlotte’s own Midwood Smokehouse is all too familiar and was recently crowned the best barbecue joint in the city, as voted by Charlotte Observer readers.
The restaurant, known for its “authentic wood-smoked meats,” won Gold BBQ in the newspaper’s 2025 Charlotte’s Best Awards, according to results released in October. It also earned the recognition in 2024 and 2022.
Noble Smoke snagged Silver BBQ in the citywide poll, which ran from July 7-July 25. Mac’s Speed Shop wasn’t far behind, earning a Bronze BBQ recognition, results show.
For Charlotte’s Best, readers are invited to nominate their favorite businesses across various categories including restaurants, real estate, shopping and more. This year, nominations were collected between June 9 and June 20, with 22 local barbecue joints earning a spot on the 2025 ballot.
Readers can cast one ballot per day in any category, and repeat voting is encouraged as locals “explore and find new businesses,” Neil Potter, chief operations officer for Nerus Strategies told CharlotteFive. The digital marketing firm oversees the annual contest.
In all, Charlotte’s Best collected more than 412,000 reader votes, “a 36% increase year-over-year,” Potter said.
Here’s what to know about the city’s hottest barbecue spots:
Midwood Smokehouse
Location: 12410 Johnston Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 16710 Birkdale Commons Pkwy, Huntersville, NC 28078
Location: 540 Brandywine Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 1401 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28208
Location: 409 W. Johnson St., Raleigh, NC 27603
Midwood Smokehouse serves up Texas brisket and Kansas City-style burnt ends alongside classic Carolina barbecue, The Raleigh News & Observer previously reported. It first opened in 2011 and has since grown to six locations across North Carolina.
“We’re known for our hickory wood-smoked barbecue, influenced by cooking styles from all the major barbecue capitals,” pitmaster Matt Barry, a North Carolina native and N.C. State University alumnus, said in a 2023 news release.
In June, Midwood Smokehouse was also named the best barbecue restaurant for delivery by DoorDash.
Noble Smoke
Location: 2216 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208
Location: 1115 N Brevard St Stall #12, Charlotte, NC 28206
At Noble Smoke, barbecue enthusiasts can chow on a variety of hickory-smoked meats such as Sliced Creekstone Farms Brisket and smoked turkey breast — each available by the 1/4 pound, half pound or 1 pound, CharlotteFive previously reported.
Sides include collard greens, mac and cheese, potato salad, red slaw and more.
“As Charlotte’s only 24/7 smokehouse, guests will enjoy high quality barbecue fresh off from our eight custom-built smokers and barbecue pits,” Zack Renner, executive chef at the restaurant’s Optimist Hall location, said in a news release.
Mac’s Speed Shop
Location: 2511 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Location: 2414 Sandy Porter Rd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Location: 142 E John St, Matthews, NC 28105
Location: 8021 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027
Location: 19601 Liverpool Pkwy, Cornelius, NC 28031
At Mac’s Speed Shop, customers will find cold beer, live music and of course, delicious barbecue.
Built out of an old motor shop, the restaurant is known for its hickory-smoked pulled pork, beef brisket and burnt ends, CharlotteFive previously reported. The eatery’s concept was born from a desire for a spot that combined the hobbies of founders Hall Johnston and Wynn Davis.
“We just wanted a place where we could meet up with friends, gather, ride our motorcycles, maybe have a cold beer, and listen to some live music,” Johnston told CharlotteFive.
The barbecue joint celebrated 20 years in South End in June.