Lexington Rankings

Monk: Lexington, NC is the barbecue capital of North Carolina (don’t @ me, eastern North Carolinians) with a legit claim as barbecue capital of the world. In a town of just under 19,000 resident, there have at times been upwards of 19 or 20 barbecue restaurants, giving it an impressive ratio of 1 barbecue restaurant per 1,000 residents (though a few have since closed since those heights).

But outside of Lexington Barbecue and Bar-B-Q Center and a select few, how good are the others? That’s what I set out to find so I could definitively answer that question for myself. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Lexington Big Board.

Charlotte Rankings here
Austin Rankings here
Western NC Rankings here

Updated 10/29; added Lexington Style Trimmings and new review for Smiley’s Lexington Barbecue

Tier 1

  1. Lexington Barbecue
  2. Bar-B-Q Center
  3. Smiley’s Lexington Barbecue 2020 new| 2012
  4. Rick’s Smokehouse
  5. Speedy’s Barbecue
  6. Backcountry Barbeque

Tier 2

  1. Speedy Lohr’s Barbecue
  2. Smokey Joe’s Barbecue
  3. Tarheel Q
  4. Cook’s Barbecue
  5. Arcadia Q

Tier 3

  1. Stamey’s Barbecue of Tyro
  2. Kerley’s Barbecue
  3. Lexington Style Trimmings new
  4. Randy’s Restaurant

Still to try

  • Blazin’ BBQ and Kickin’ Chicken

Any restaurants I’m missing? Let me know at barbecuebros@gmail.com