Also known as “The Charlotte Big Board.” This is the reason we initially started the blog, to find the best barbecue joint in Charlotte as well as the surrounding area. For the purposes of this list, we have kept it to joints located in Charlotte and its surrounding “ring cities” (i.e. Huntersville, Mooresville, Mint Hill, Matthews, Monroe, Waxhaw, Pineville, Gastonia, Belmont, etc) as well as the SC cities right across the border such as Ft. Mill, Rock Hill, and Lake Wylie. Click on each restaurant to read the review.
Lexington Rankings here
Austin Rankings here
Western NC Rankings here
Last updated 11/29/23: added Firehawk Brewpub, Seoul Food Meat Co,
Tier 1
- Jon G’s Barbecue: 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017
- Noble Smoke: 2022 | 2019
- Firehawk Brewpub new!
- Sweet Lew’s BBQ: 2023 | 2018
- Midwood Smokehouse: 2020 (Park Road) | 2015 (Ballantyne) | 2014 | 2012
- The Smoke Pit: 2020 (Gastonia) | 2016 | 2015
- Farmhouse BBQ
- Big Tiny’s BBQ (Mooresville)
- Smoke Show BBQ
- City Barbeque
- Seoul Food Meat Co: 2023 (Mill District) | 2017 (Southend)
- Kyle Fletcher’s Barbecue & Catering
- The Improper Pig: 2017| 2014
- Killer Q
- Bar-B-Q King
- 521 BBQ and Grill: Tega Cay | Indian Land
- Gibson’s Family BBQ (formerly Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen)
- Mac’s Speed Shop: Steele Creek | South Blvd
- Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q (Concord)
- The Q Shack
- Smoke & Go Bar-B-Que (food truck)
- South Main Street BBQ (Waxhaw)
- OooWee BBQ: 2018| 2013
- Kid Cashew
- R&R Bar-B-Que (Concord) 2019 | 2014
- Lancaster’s BBQ: Huntersville | Mooresville
- Rock Store Bar-B-Q: Stallings | Mint Hill
- Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que: food truck | 2015 | 2013
- McKoy’s Smokehouse and Saloon
- Brooks’ Sandwich House
- Cook Out
- Bubba’s Barbecue: 2023: 2013
- Ranucci’s Big Butt BBQ
- Rocky Top BBQ Co
- The Dixie Pig (Rock Hill)
- Dan Good Que (food truck)
- Bobbee-O’s BBQ: 2016 | 2012
- R.O.’s Bar-B-Que
Closed: Midwood Smokeshack (December 2017), Smoke Modern Barbeque (Huntersville) (May 2017), Elwood’s Barbecue & Burger Bar (September 2015), Old Hickory House (April 2015), Carolina Ribs on the Run (Mooresville) (July 2014), Farmer’s BBQ (unknown), JJR’s BBQ Shack (August 2018), City Smoke (March 2019), Treehouse Whiskey and Fork (March 2019), Q2U (Lake Wylie) (2018), Peace -N- Hominy Q Shack (Belmont) (February 2020), Art’s BBQ & Deli (December 2019), Queen City Q Concord | 2016 | 2012 (June 2020), Bill Spoon’s Barbecue: 2017 | 2015 | 2012 (September 2020), Fort Mill BBQ Company (Fort Mill) (August 2018), Sauceman’s: 2015 | 2013, Buddy’s Bar-B-Que (Belmont) (February 2022), Roddey’s BBQ (Rock Hill) (2023)
Still to review: Bodrick’s BBQ, Glenn’s Again (Kannapolis), Slow Smokin’ BBQ (food truck), Smokey J’s BBQ (food truck), Randy’s BBQ (Troutman), RayNathan’s BBQ (Gastonia), Wicker BBQ
Previous Big Boards: September 2019, March 2017, December 2015, January 2015, May 2014, December 2013, July 2013