The 64 Best North Carolina Barbecue Restaurants

Monk: Drew Jackson has done a great job covering barbecue the past few years for the News & Observer, and earlier this month came out with the 2023 edition of his list of the 64 best barbecue restaurants in the state.

Here are the links to the various stories around barbecue from early October, but be warned that they are behind a paywall once you hit a certain number of articles:

Description: Mention barbecue in North Carolina and the conversation quickly becomes divided on its definition and all depends on location, location, location. There’s a west and east BBQ divide. Drew Jackson with the News and Observer explains.

How The Shed Is Making Award-Winning BBQ in Southern Mississippi

Monk: The Shed has always been a family operation, originally built on a “shoestring budget without the shoestrings” approach by siblings Brooke Lewis and Brad Orrison. But they’ll be the first ones to tell you, as they’ve grown the business in the past 23 years to a destination joint on over 30 acres that includes a full-time saucery business, they could not do it without their killer staff.

If you’re not familiar with The Shed, they put a Mississippi spin on barbecue which means brown sugar in the rubs and smoking over pecan wood. And it also means smoking pork butts with a rub of just minced garlic, , which this North Carolina guy can confirm is unique. Whatever it is, they must be doing something right as they’ve won countless awards including two Memphis in May World Grand Championships.

Description: Siblings Brad Orrison and Brooke Lewis run The Shed BBQ & Blues Joint as well as The Saucery in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, where they specialize in crafting high-quality Southern-style barbecue. With the help of their team, they make ribs, brisket, and more for the restaurant and ship their sauces across the country.

What’s The Difference Between Western and Eastern North Carolina BBQ?

Monk: Quick (and I mean super quick) primer on NC barbecue styles from North Carolina Pork Council CEO Roy Lee Lindsey.

Description: North Carolina Pork Council CEO Roy Lee Lindsey explains the difference between Western and Eastern North Carolina BBQ… which is your preference?