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 1/11/23; removed Arcadia Q due to closure
Tier 1
- Lexington Barbecue
- Bar-B-Q Center
- Speedy’s Barbecue
- Backcountry Barbeque
Tier 2 - Speedy Lohr’s Barbecue
- Smokey Joe’s Barbecue
- Tarheel Q
- Cook’s Barbecue
Tier 3 - Stamey’s Barbecue of Tyro
- Kerley’s Barbecue
- Lexington Style Trimmings
- Randy’s Restaurant
Closed: Smiley’s Lexington Barbecue 2020 | 2012 (February 2022), Rick’s Smokehouse (April 2022), Arcadia Q (2022)
Closed Without Trying: Blazin’ BBQ and Kickin’ Chicken closed in October 2020 after only 4 months open
Any restaurants I’m missing? Let me know at barbecuebros@gmail.com