North Carolina takes its barbecue seriously, and for good reason. From the vinegar-based eastern style to the tomato-kissed western variety, the state has perfected the art of slow-smoked pork over generations. These legendary joints have earned their reputations one smoky plate at a time, creating lines that stretch around the block and waits that test your patience—but trust us, that first bite makes every minute worthwhile.
Skylight Inn BBQ (Ayden, NC)
Since 1947, this whole-hog legend has been serving up some of the most authentic eastern Carolina barbecue you’ll ever taste. The Pete Jones family built something special here, and locals know it—lines start forming well before the doors open.
What makes Skylight Inn unforgettable is that perfectly balanced vinegary bite paired with smoky, tender pork that falls apart at the slightest touch. They don’t mess around with fancy sides or complicated menus. It’s all about the pig, cooked low and slow over wood coals.
Once you take that first forkful, the wait completely disappears from your memory. The tangy sauce and melt-in-your-mouth meat create a flavor explosion that keeps people coming back for decades, generation after generation.
Lexington Barbecue (Lexington, NC)
Everybody calls it “Monk’s,” and this place practically wrote the book on Lexington-style barbecue. Wayne Monk opened these doors in 1962, introducing chopped pork shoulder with that signature red sauce that balances sweet and tangy notes perfectly…