Best of Charlotte Barbecue

The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Charlotte (November 2024)

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Monk: For this year’s edition of the Charlotte top 5, the biggest change was probably the closing of Firehawk Brewpub in Mount Holly in August. In its closing, not only did Charlotte lose another brewery but also a rarity in a wood-fired barbecue joint. I can’t help but wonder if the business model of a brand new brewery plus the labor needed for a wood-fired barbecue place was a bit more than the ownership could handle. I love the idea, and hate that it couldn’t happen.

I was also set to include Resident Culture on the list after finally checking them out this summer, but they abruptly ended their barbecue program just a few months after bringing Edmar Simoes on to lead it. He now continues to work with live fire, albeit in a different fashion, at Flour Shop in Charlotte.

In terms of additions to the list, the trend would be a more pronounced Tex-Mex or Mexican influence in both Fumar and Union Barbecue. Also – these days Midwood Smokehouse’s menu is reflecting more of a Tex-Mex influence as well.

Before we dive into this year’s edition, here’s the list from a year ago for reference.

The 5 Best Barbecue Joints in Charlotte – December 2023

Now, onto this year’s list…

5. Fumar

Fumar arose from Brandon Belfer’s previous barbecue pop-up Smoke Show but showcases the Tex-Mex flavors that Belfer grew up around in San Antonio. That means barbacoa, tacos, and tortas (for which he will soon be baking his own rolls). Definitely don’t sleep on the Frito Pie though. Food truck instagram.com/fumar_clt

4. Midwood Smokehouse

Midwood Smokehouse years ago become the ever-reliable above-average chain barbecue in Charlotte, and has continued to evolve the menu towards Tex-Mex after Miguel Vidal of Valentina’s Tex-Mex Barbecue in Austin consulted with them back in 2020; he even has his own queso on the menu named simply enough “Miguel’s Queso.” But the proteins are still there. Multiple locations midwoodsmokehouse.com

3. Sweet Lew’s BBQ

In addition to continuing to evolve Sweet Lew’s BBQ with specials like turkey legs, creative house made sausages, wings in addition to the staple menu, Lewis Donald is also leading the Carolina BBQ Festival, which is quickly becoming a can’t miss festival each spring in Charlotte. 923 Belmont Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 sweetlewsbbq.com

2. Union Barbecue

Since last year, Union Barbecue has become the clear #2 for me, and between it and Jon G’s there is a clear tier between them and the rest. This is yet another example of Mexican-inspired barbecue with a rotating menu that tends to include barbacoa, al pastor sausage, carnitas, and brisket but also some of the best and most creative barbecue sides I’ve had in a long time; I tried the smoky sweet potato with fixins and a golden beet salad on my visit. Food truck instagram.com/union.barbecue

1. Jon G’s Barbecue

Jon G’s Barbecue remains top of the list, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. In addition to their must-experience Barbecue Saturdays, I would urge folks to consider going to the next edition of the Jon G’s Jubilee where I had some of the best bites all year from them but also friends of Jon G’s like Elliott Moss, Lawrence Barbecue, and N. Sea Oyster Co. For more, check out the post below. 116 Glenn Falls St, Peachland, NC 28133 jongsbarbecue.com

A Thousand Words: The Second Annual Jon G’s Jubilee

The Ultimate Charlotte Barbecue Plate (2021)

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Monk: A lot (and I mean, a lot) has changed since the last time I did a “Best of Charlotte” series in 2016. Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen and Queen City Q, both winners in several categories, are both no longer in business. Neither are Sauceman’s or Bill Spoon’s, who in 2016 placed in ribs and pork respectively.

The Smoke Pit had the best brisket at the time and since then Jon G’s, Sweet Lew’s, and Noble Smoke have all opened their doors with wood-smoked brisket that each edges out the offerings from The Smoke Pit.

Midwood Smokehouse didn’t top any one category in 2016 but still had a strong showing by being in the top three in each of the five categories: pork, brisket, ribs, sausage, and other. Thankfully, they are still around and are well represented on this list.

Now, onto our picks for the “Ultimate Charlotte Barbecue Plate.”

Pork – Noble Smoke

Jim Noble and team are carrying on the 100+ years-old legacy of Lexington-style barbecue at Noble Smoke in west Charlotte. Simply rubbed with salt and pepper and smoked directly over wood coals in their custom brick masonry pit (named “John”) whose design was borrowed with permission from family friends the Monk family of Lexington Barbecue, upon tasting the pork transports you an hour or so north up I-85.

Honorable Mention: Sweet Lew’s BBQ

Brisket – Jon G’s Barbecue

The meat that put Jon G’s on the map. Of their many spectacular smoked meats, the brisket is the one must order every time you go. Do it and you won’t be disappointed. Trust me.

Honorable Mention: Noble Smoke

Ribs – The Smoke Pit

This one was a surprise from a recent trip that Speedy and I took to the Gastonia location of the local mini-chain of restaurants in late 2020. On that visit, Speedy noted that the dry rub ribs had the perfect bite with just the right amount of spice. I couldn’t agree more and it was the standout meat of that meal.

Honorable Mention: Jon G’s

Sausage – Cheerwine Hot Link from Jon G’s

A truly unique sausage made in-house at Jon G’s, with Salisbury, NC-based Cheerwine taking the place of the water used in the sausage-making process. The end result isn’t overly sweet or “Cheerwine-y” but it does impart a slight sweetness to counteract the heat of the jalapeno.

Honorable Mention: Sweet Lew’s BBQ

Beef Rib – Midwood Smokehouse

The beef rib is a weekend special at Midwood Smokehouse and upon my last visit is available every week for a cut-rate price of $32, well below what you would pay if it were charged by the pound.

Honorable Mention: Jon G’s BBQ (not available all weekends)

Side – Hash and rice from Sweet Lew’s BBQ

Hash and rice isn’t something you find in Charlotte, much less North Carolina, as its almost strictly a South Carolina barbecue dish. Sweet Lew’s differs from what you would find at True BBQ in West Columbia or Sweatman’s in Holly Hill in that instead of the off parts of the pig it uses pork as well as brisket, but I just love that they now offer it fulltime on their menu whereas it used to be a Wednesday special only.

Honorable Mentions: Pork skins from Sweet Lew’s BBQ, Smoked Meatballs from Midwood Smokehouse, Smoked wings from Noble Smoke

Best of Charlotte Barbecue: All of Our Posts

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If you recall, earlier this year between February and May we had a series of posts detailing the best of Charlotte barbecue in regards to specific meats or dishes. While we’ve had the Charlotte Big Board for a couple of years now, the purpose of these posts was to review individual dishes as opposed to overall restaurant experience.

For easy reference, I have compiled the winners of each category in one post. Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen had 3 meats that were best in their category, which helps explain their perch atop the Charlotte Big Board. I still feel very good about the brisket from The Smoke Pit but might reconsider the ribs from Queen City Q in any future revisions to this list, as I have not had a great experience the past few times I’ve gone. One other thing that struck me while composing this post, while Midwood Smokehouse did not win any singular category it was in the top 3 in each of the 5 categories. That would help explain why they are ranked #2 on the Big Board.

Click here to find all of our posts in the Best of Charlotte Barbecue series. What did we miss? Leave any suggestions or comments below.

Best Pork: Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen

Best Brisket: The Smoke Pit

Brisket from The Smoke Pit

Brisket from The Smoke Pit

Best Ribs: Queen City Q

Ribs from Queen City Q

Ribs from Queen City Q

Best Sausage: Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen

Sausage from Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen

Other: Brunswick Stew from Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen

Pork, brisket, ribs, wings, brunswick stew

Pork, brisket, ribs, wings, brunswick stew from Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen

Best of Charlotte Barbecue: Other

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Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen
Pork, brisket, ribs, wings, brunswick stew
Midwood Smokehouse
Burnt ends from Midwood Smokehouse
Ten Park Lanes
Que jar

We initially started this blog in order to find the best barbecue restaurant in Charlotte. While we feel pretty comfortable with our current rankings on the big board having visited 40+ restaurants, what more logical next step than to explore the best meats and dishes in the greater Charlotte area? Click here to find the other posts.

We’ve previously posted our lists for pork, brisket, ribs, and sausage but now it’s time for the rest. These are dishes that are not necessarily widely available in restaurants in the Charlotte area, so we wouldn’t have a lot of competition for each.

The Brunswick Stew from Boone’s is not only the dish that led to his food truck, but it also earned the number 1 best brunswick stew in Johnny Fugitt’s book The  100 Best Barbecue Restaurants in America. I believe that Midwood Smokehouse is one of only maybe two or three restaurants in Charlotte that serves burnt ends, but we feel it’s a pretty darn good representation. And finally, if you aren’t familiar with a “que jar” or “barbecue sundae” its a mason jar or sundae cup filled with pulled pork at the bottom and some combination of baked beans, mac and cheese, and cole slaw layered on top. And it is glorious.

  1. Brunswick Stew from Boone’s Bar-B-Que Kitchen
  2. Burnt Ends from Midwood Smokehouse (Original location; Ballantyne location)
  3. Que Jar from Ten Park Lanes

What do you think? Have we missed the mark? Leave your comments below.