Country's Best BBQ

Self ^ | 8/7/2004 | Self

[Hootch]

In honor of places that we know we could eat without being interupted by Kerry... Please post your favorite BBQ joint, where it is and what your favorite thing is at that place...

[annyokie]

I posted below, it is really "Clay's". Sorry. It's been about 15 years since I lived there.

[Constitution Day]

I don't normally agree with Dennis Rogers, but most of his picks here are right on.

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http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1485453p-7636619c.html
(7/31/04)

Top picks for best tastin' pig

By DENNIS ROGERS, Staff Writer

The polls are closed. The votes have been counted. The joint you would take a visitor who wanted to sample the best of Eastern North Carolina barbecue is ...
We'll get to that in a minute. For those who came in late, Raleigh's Joy Kennedy asked for a barbecue recommendation. Seems the general manager of the fancy New York eatery where her daughter works is taking a Southern jaunt next month. Having heard about our succulent barbecue, he wondered where he should go.

I turned it over to the swine-dining readers of this column. You did not disappoint, but you had some surprises.

Your 266 votes went to 85 barbecue joints. Some well-established piggy behemoths didn't do all that well. I'd never heard of a couple of the smaller places, although I will be eating at them real soon. And a tiny Franklin County joint kicked some serious pig fanny.

Remember, this is not scientific. You voted, and I tallied the results. If your favorite place didn't make it, don't cuss me.

Number 12: Bullock's in Durham. Been there forever, and the sauce is really nice. There is a long line at lunch every day.

Number 11: Holden's BBQ in Youngsville. The big surprise. This little joint has some seriously devoted fans.

Number 10: Murray's BBQ on Old Poole Road in Raleigh. The sanitation rating is B, a framed picture of Richard Petty fell off the wall and broke the day I was there, but folks swear by the wood-cooked pig.

Number 9: The Skylight Inn, Ayden. Pete Jones' legendary place for pork purists who don't need a side of charm or knotty pine decor with their meat.

Number 8: Smithfield Chicken and BBQ, any location. I'm not the only one who thinks this chain does a fine job.

Number 7: Lexington Number One, Lexington. Considered the best in a great city for barbecue. No, it isn't Eastern-style, but it is truly fine eating.

Number 6: Mitchell's BBQ, Wilson. The hottest new name in serious barbecue circles, Ed Mitchell has both pig and a place to be proud of. And he is.

Number 5: Allen & Sons' BBQ, at the railroad tracks on N.C. 86 between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. Oh my, but it is a good place to eat.

Number 4: Parkers BBQ, Wilson. Thought by many to be the Mother Church of Eastern North Carolina barbecue, it still serves my favorite corn sticks, slaw and Brunswick stew.

Number 3: Stephenson's BBQ, N.C. 50 south of Garner. Nothing short of wonderful. A Triangle swine shrine.

Number 2: B's, Greenville. Anybody who doesn't search out this place ain't serious about pig. My idea of perfection.

Number 1: Wilber's BBQ, Goldsboro. It doesn't get any better than this beloved Eastern North Carolina landmark. It's big and busy, but they still manage to cook with real wood. The competition should take a hint.

Best of the rest: Ralph's BBQ, Weldon; White Swan, Smithfield; Ole Time BBQ, Cary; Bills' BBQ, Wilson; Bum's BBQ, Ayden; Cooper's BBQ, downtown Raleigh; Ken's Grill, LaGrange; Short Sugar's, Reidsville; Danny's BBQ, Cary.

Best quote, from Tom and Shirley Ditt: "Short Sugar's is so good that even on the way to a funeral home, we stopped to have a tray in honor of the departed."

[stainlessbanner]

I guess my favorite BBQ place is right behind my truck! LOL!

What's better than taking your favorite Q recipe, your favorite slaw, beans, and downhome tea wherever you go. A few lawn chairs and good company is all you need.

jmc813 - add to the list (if you haven't already).

CD - will get pictures soon!

[nomorelurker]

Reading this thread on Monday morning I am shocked to see it took 324 posts for Kreutz's to come up. Best BBQ in the world. Southside in Elgin has moved up to #2 IMHO. Strange but true I am not a Cooper's fan.

[Budge]

Let's face it, the "BBQ feude" between Texas and the rest of the U.S. is between beef and pork (I'll ignore chicken, venison, bear and other tasty critters and their various parts), but I have to say the Salt Lick, is, without a doubt, the best in Texas! I used to eat there often.

Now in Little Rock I'll admit that I haven't tried ALL the BBQ places, far from it, but the other places there will have to go a LONG way to beat the Whole Hog Cafe for pork. (We took Jim, Chris and Sheila there when they visited in early June.)

In Memphis I'll have to go with that French sounding place that starts with an "R", y'all know the place. ;o)

Dry rub pork ribs are the best!

The rest of the country I won't comment on because I never tasted any really good BBQ in other states. < /bg>

[wardaddy]

BTTT for Maurice!

[wardaddy]

They have a branch here in Nashville but no "no guns" signs ...they even have hunting arms as decor.

odd....their stuff is a bit sweet but ok.

[Aquamarine]

Calhoun's in Gatlinburg has excellent BBQ pork ribs and yummy side dishes too.

[HanneyBean]

Tommy's BBQ
Thomasville, NC

...Tarheels know a thing or two about 'Q.

[Euro-American Scum]

I searched under Clay's too. No listing. Is there a main drag in La Jolla that this place is on? The town's not that big, so it shouldn't be that hard to find.

I must admit, if you've got to have barbeque, La Jolla is a great place to do it in.

[CobraJet]

Bozo's Barbeque, Highway 70, Mason, TN. In business since about 1923.

[petitfour]

Why, Dreamland has the best BBQ ribs in the world. The Dreamland in Tuscaloosa, AL, on Jug Factor Rd, that is. I have not had the privilege to sample ribs in many of the places that have been mentioned on this thread. However, I have heard Keith Jackson of ABC Sports state time and again that Dreamland is the best! Mmmmmmm-mmmmmmmm.

[AppyPappy]

Add Hog Heaven in Little Washington and Stamey's in Greensboro.

[Constitution Day]

I've been to Stamey's, years ago.
I have heard of Hog Heaven, but never been there. Thanks for the recommendation.

[annyokie]

Clay was a very old man, so perhaps the place is no longer there. He was located on the frontage road on the oceanside of the highway. It isn't/wasn't in La Jolla proper. I'm not being any help here, sorry. If you drive out like you are on the way to Swami's beach, where the Khrishna Temple is, he was in a big yellow adobe building. It'd be a shame if it's no longer there.

As a consolation prize, the College Diner on El Cajon Blvd near UCSD is a great cheap place for lumberjack breakfasts and great cheeseburgers.

[CobraJet]

Another good spot is Chubby's Barbeque on I 55 at the Hayti, MO exit.

[IamConservative]

Anyone happen to have a recipe for "Rudy's BBQ Sause?"

You can buy the "Sause" - as they spell it - on-line, but I always like to make mine. This stuff is the best (if you like it spicey.)

[stainlessbanner]

Piggy Park bttt

[Proud_texan]

Yeah, Kreutz's is one of the standards and it's amazing considering the volume they do. I was at their new place for the first time, humm, over a year ago and I was concerned that it would have changed but nope, it was great, even with 10 tour buses in the parking lot. I don't know how they do it.

Thanks for bringing up Southside, haven't been there in a while and it had slipped my memory but I had always thought it was very good; time to pay another visit (just to make sure ;->).

[annyokie]

Cripes! Make that near San Diego State. I better get off this thread before I make any more mistakes. :(