Union Barbecue

My 5 favorite barbecue bites in 2025 so far

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Monk: It’s been a lighter year, barbecue-wise for me but I have managed to hit several big hitters across the southeast (including four restaurants on the Texas Monthly United States of Texas Barbecue list from Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina). I’m looking at it as trying a few worthwhile places instead of a bunch of mediocre ones, and hopefully in the second half of the year I’ll get to a few more places to round out my list by the end of 2025.

In chronological order, here are the best things I have eaten from the first half of the year:

Smoked half chicken from Union Barbecue (review from 2024)

Last year, the carnitas from Union Barbecue was one of my favorite bites of the year (not to mention the brisket and the out-of-this-world Big Deborah oatmeal cream pie). On a subsequent stop in January I tried the smoked half chicken topped with white sauce, salsa macha, and cilantro for a change of pace and found it to be a nice, lighter alternative to the heavier meats.

Pork from Shotgun Willie’s (review)

Shotgun Willie’s outside Nashville did a lot of good things fairly well – brisket, sausage, Brunswick stew – but their pork shoulder dusted with pork rub was my pick of the platter.

Smoked brisket burger from Dampf Good BBQ (review)

While there was a lot to like at Dampf Good BBQ earlier this year, the smoked brisket burger took the cake over the brisket, ribs, and sausage. So much so that I forgot to take photos of it until I had taken a few bites of the delicious burger made from smoked brisket trimmings and topped with cheese, pickles, and mayo on a potato bun. It was a special on that day, but be on the look out if you are checking them out in Cary.

Beef cheek from Owens & Hull (review)

I live by a simple rule: if I see beef cheeks on the menu, I’m going to buy it. Maybe I’ve been lucky but the two places I’ve tried – Palmira Barbecue in Charleston and Owens & Hull in Smyrna – have put out some seriously tasty renditions that are must orders at their respective restaurants.

Chopped pork with crispy skins from City Limits Barbeque (review)

Robbie Robinson mixes in pork belly with his whole pork shoulders and then chops in some crispy skin to finish it off. It’s going to take a lot to knock this sandwich from the West Columbia restaurant off its perch as my favorite bite of barbecue in 2025. Honorable mentions to the barbecue hash and the sweet jalapeno pimento cheese.

The 11 Best Barbecue Bites I ate in 2024

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Monk: The back half of the year saw a little less barbecue than normal for me, but nonetheless I still had some great bites in 2024. In no particular order, here are the 11 best things I ate this year:

Beef Cheek from Palmira Barbecue in Charleston (review)

I’m not the only fan of Palmira Barbecue, as Daniel Vaughn named them the best Texas barbecue outside of Texas. But I got to check them out a few weeks after opening their West Ashley restaurant in January of this year, and left impressed.

Sweet and savory kolaches at Jon G’s Barbecue in Peachland

My love for Jon G’s is well documented, but I really love the kolaches they now serve for breakfast at their restaurant in Peachland while you wait.

Barbecue Hash over Carolina Gold Rice from City Limits BBQ at the Carolina BBQ Festival (recap)

I have been meaning to get to City Limits Q for years, and in 2025 I will remedy that at the earliest. I did at least get a taste at this past spring’s Carolina BBQ Festival.

Smoked Burger from Southern Smoke at the Carolina BBQ Festival (recap)

A smoked burger served by Matthew Register and the rest of the Register family? Well you can hardly beat that.

Beef tenderloin over campfire in Deep Gap, NC

More of the “live fire cooking” variety versus traditional barbecue, but the beef tenderloin cooked over a campfire while camping with the youngest Monkette and a bunch of neighborhood dads was definitely one of the highlights of my year.

Beef Fat Caramel Wings from Lawrence Barbecue at the Jon G’s Jubilee (recap)

These wings were the best things I ate this year, hands down.

Whole Hog from Elliott Moss at the Jon G’s Jubilee (recap)

The brewery and smokehouse is still under construction in Florence, SC, but I got to have Elliott Moss’ whole hog not once but twice this year. This was a pleasant surprise.

Carnitas from Union Barbecue (review)

Union Barbecue is my new favorite Charlotte barbecue joint, and I will be their biggest cheerleader in 2025. HEY EVERYBODY, COME WITH ME TO UNION BARBECUE’S NEXT POP-UP, WHEREVER THAT MAY BE.

Texas Trinity at Matt’s BBQ in Portland, OR (review)

Really enjoyed the Texas Trinity from Matt’s BBQ in Portland after a morning hike at Wahkeena Falls. Matt’s BBQ was also named to Daniel Vaughn’s top 50 Texas barbecue joints outside of Texas list.

Frito Pie from Fumar (review)

I look forward to checking out more from Fumar in the new year. This Frito pie will be a must order just about every time from now on, though.

Whole hog from Live Fire Feasts

For our neighborhood pool here in Charlotte, I hosted a whole hog party in October catered by Craig Morrow and the fantastic crew at Live Fire Feasts out of Rock Hill, SC. Highly recommend checking them out if you like delicious food cooked over live fire in the Charlotte metro area.

Honorable mention: Whole hog from Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ at Chief’s, Beef Rib Croissant from Jon G’s Barbecue at the Jon G’s Jubilee

What was your favorite barbecue bites this year?

Barbecue Bros Wrapped 2024

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Monk: Thank you for your continued reading of Barbecue Bros. While we may have slowed down in the back half of the year, we are still committed to posting in 2025. And before I forget, Happy New Year from the Barbecue Bros!

With that out of the way, here’s our 2024 by the numbers:

16 reviews posted: 1 joint with all 3 Bros, 3 Speedy solo, 12 Monk solo (link)

10 features posted (link)

6 states visited: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Oregon, Colorado, Texas

4 book club reviews (link)

2 new or updated best of lists posted: Charleston in February, Charlotte in November

2 barbecue festivals attended: Carolina BBQ Festival in April, Jon G’s Jubilee in June

1 five-hog review in 2024: Pecan Lodge in Dallas, which Speedy visited in January

Here are some of our favorite posts from the year:

Festival Recaps

Just a couple of barbecue festivals this year with both of them being local. The second annual Jon G’s Jubilee was held with some great friends like N. Sea Oyster Co. and Lawrence Barbecue and a surprise last minute announcement of Elliott Moss cooking whole hog. Keep an eye out for next year’s edition.

The Best Bites at last month’s Second Annual Jon G’s Jubilee

Lewis Donald keeps expanding the Carolina BBQ Festival and this year, it was part of the larger Charlotte Shouts festival in downtown Charlotte. With the demonstrated talent he is able to bring in every year, I think this is one for every serious barbecue fan within driving distance to watch out for . Early bird tickets for 2025 are now on sale.

Favorite Bites from last month’s Carolina BBQ Festival

Original Content

We posted our first best of list for Charleston:

The Best Barbecue Joints in Charleston – February 2024

Did you check out our latest list of the best barbecue in Charlotte?

The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Charlotte (November 2024)

Much of this original content first appeared in The Smoke Sheet, a weekly barbecue publication to which I regularly contribute and to which I think you should subscribe to. Because if you don’t step up now, then who knows it could be too late. I was really proud of this article that rounded up just some of the many relief activities in western NC from the barbecue community.

How the BBQ Community Rallied Around Western NC in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene

On a lighter note, Charlotte’s got a few different barbecue styles because we are “a city of newcomers aned we have other people’s barbecue.”

Charlotte’s Got a Lot (of Barbecue Styles)

This was written in the summer but still applies since the latest version of each show is still on streaming.

Which Summer Barbecue Show Should You Watch?

Reviews

And finally, a selection of some of my favorite reviews we posted this year. In no particular order:

Union Barbecue in Charlotte

Union Barbecue has Burst onto the Charlotte Barbecue Scene with New School Barbecue and Mexican Flavors

Pecan Lodge in Dallas

Pecan Lodge in Dallas continues to be a must-visit

Terry Black’s in Dallas

Terry Black’s Barbecue Delivers on Brisket and Turkey

Palmira Barbecue in Charleston

Charleston’s Palmira Barbecue has made the smooth transition to restaurant

Matt’s BBQ in Portland

Matt’s BBQ is an example of legit Texas barbecue in Portland

Post Oak Barbecue in Denver

Post Oak Barbecue delivers above average barbecue in Denver

Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ at Chief’s in Nashville

Can a Nashville honky-tonk have true ‘cue?

Old Hampton Store in Linville, NC

You’ll Find True ‘Cue at Old Hampton Store

The Original Ridgewood Barbecue in Bluff City, TN

The Original Ridgewood Barbecue is a Wholly Unique Barbecue Experience

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