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Top Barbecue restaurants in Charlotte, United States

Top Rated Barbecue restaurants in Charlotte

Top Reviewed Barbecue restaurants in Charlotte

Reviews

Vincent Lau
at 2024 Sep 11
Vincent Lau
at 2024 Sep 11
I've lived in Texas and KC, so I really wanted to try Carolina barbeque when I had the chance. Noble Smoke's brisket and fries were so good I ordered more to try what else they had.

Staff are very friendly and their service is fast.

The atmosphere is really neat. I wish I could try all the different food here.
Daniel Pino
at 2024 Jul 24
Daniel Pino
at 2024 Jul 24
Noble Smoke
@ Optimist Hall

Food/drink
*Brisket sandwich - good; meat tender
*Mac ‘n’ cheese - elbow macaroni; came out as amorphous piece of food
Matt A.
at 2024 Jun 09
Matt A.
at 2024 Jun 09
We had barbecue and sides catered for a birthday party and everything was amazing. The food was outstanding and perfectly cooked, and the servers were very thoughtful and attentive. We will definitely use Noble Smoke again!
Matthew Tessnear
at 2024 Jun 02
Matthew Tessnear
at 2024 Jun 02
Noble Smoke in Optimist Hall was great. Fast and courteous service. Self-serve drink station. Excellent smoky pork on a soft bun. Creamy, sweet white slaw. Thanksgiving-level macaroni and cheese. Super sweet tea. Great vibes in the Adirondack chairs outside on the turf. All-around excellent experience.
Chanelle Cobbs
at 2024 Jun 02
Chanelle Cobbs
at 2024 Jun 02
We got a pulled pork sandwich and the brisket sandwich with mac and cheese. The pulled pork was very good I just feel like it's a lil to salty.. the brisket was pretty good. The mac is very good. Would recommend.. the smokehouse(of its not right name it'll be close enough to it lol) sauce has some bite to it just how I like it.
Dexter Johnson
at 2024 Mar 15
Dexter Johnson
at 2024 Mar 15
Today(March 15), I order Brisket $15. Honest opinion it was not Memphis/Texas Style for which I'm accustomed too.

Dry, dry, dry.....not moist. Not savory. I don't know maybe I'm expecting too much. 😢

For those of us that know Brisket there's a certain period when it's not cooked properly where it can become "Roast" that's what it came close too......again maybe I'm expecting too much.

For $15 I got 2.....two small pieces for $15 😔

Coming from Memphis/Texas style of BBQ, I'm quite quite disappointed....

The fries I ordered was awesome.

Overall 3 out of 10. They have pork, turkey, and wings but I'm honestly not wanting too give that amount of money again for that again.

Lastly the Sweet Tea tasted like it had sat there and been forgotten about. A twangy type taste. Again 😔....maybe I'm expecting too much

Unfortunately I will not be back 🥺😔
Aneuris D. Álvarez
at 2023 Sep 01
Aneuris D. Álvarez
at 2023 Sep 01
Amazing place with such a wonderful and great service. The food quality is excellent and Alexandra took care of us with top-tier hospitality service. We felt more than satisfied with the service and the food. Keep up the good work and promote Alexandra, she is awesome.
Wings were good but too much sauce. We also enjoyed the pork egg rolls. Smoked pork ribs were just ok.
Staff was nice.
Peter West
at 2023 Aug 22
Peter West
at 2023 Aug 22
All I can say is you must eat here. If you're close enough to see the review, you're close enough to make it in your car and get over to this restaurant. I had the rack of ribs and the cornbread both absolutely amazing. The places very cozy and the staff are amazing. I will be coming here again.
Amanda Davis
at 2023 Aug 21
Amanda Davis
at 2023 Aug 21
I had food delivered via DoorDash. It arrived quickly and was hot when it arrived. The good part stopped there. I got a combination plate with pulled pork, turkey, sausage and brisket. All four meats were very dry and if I had my eyes closed, I wouldn't have been able to tell the turkey, pulled pork and brisket apart. The Mac and cheese was disappointing. It tasted like cheese dropped into macaroni. No creaminess, no comfort feel. The corn pudding and beans were ok. The cornbread was just a pile of crumbs in the bag. For the money I spent, I definitely expected better quality. I won't make the mistake of ordering from here again.
James Nguyen
at 2023 Aug 20
James Nguyen
at 2023 Aug 20
Massive beef rib was 39 and it was massive and tender, but a bit too salty. Also, it wasn't as juicy as I thought it would be. Overall, still ok, just not worth the price. Stick with the regular brisket and you'll be happier.
Erica Stubbs
at 2023 Aug 16
Erica Stubbs
at 2023 Aug 16
Oh my gosh!!! I love this place!! The burnt ends were the best!! Also the pecan cobbler is amazing!!! Try the broccoli casserole too. Great spot for a quick bite. Awesome atmosphere! Don’t forget to check out the restrooms! 😉
Love the unique atmosphere..... Food and drinks was great...the skins are to die for...the dino rib was not only a sight to see but very flavorful and tender.... I ordered about seven different items🤣 soo much food...would go back in in the CLT area
Sherer
at 2023 Aug 13
Sherer
at 2023 Aug 13
First time there. Service was quick and friendly. The pimento and cheese was sharp. Didn’t overly enjoy the bread that came with it but was just a personal preference. Everything is a La cart. The sides are large enough for two people to easily share. I got the 1/4 turkey, hush puppies, green beans and corn. And my husband got the brisket and sausage. We had enough to take home for dinner. Drew was our waiter and very knowledgeable and friendly. It was a bit cold so maybe bring a sweater but would definitely eat there again.
E. Home
at 2023 Aug 08
E. Home
at 2023 Aug 08
The food was absolutely amazing! The cornbread was delicious.. best-selling! The pig out combo was awesome, for dessert, enjoy the pecan cobbler...so good! The service was outstanding. Ellen was nice and provided excellent recommendations. A place must visit if you are in Charlotte, NC
I’m not really into Korean food, but the good thing is there’s a great barbecue section which will satisfy everyone. They just add their own Korean inspired sauce, which wasn’t too different to Carolina bbq sauce. The brisket was amazing. As we’re the Kimchi Beef fries. Serving sizes are large, so share. Enjoy.
Gina Scaramellla
at 2023 Aug 02
Gina Scaramellla
at 2023 Aug 02
I wish I could give this place more stars! I am depressed knowing that this place exists in North Carolina and not in my home state, Arizona. Everything from the food to the service was exceptional. My favorite part of the experience was how attentive the manager was. He brought us our check and when he found out it was my birthday. Soon, he gave me some free banana bread pudding. I legitimately cried tears of joy while trying it. By far the best barbecue experience I've ever had in my life and I don't think it will ever be topped.
Linda Sherman
at 2023 Aug 01
Linda Sherman
at 2023 Aug 01
We both got the sliced brisket. I got two orders of the red slaw. He got the mac and cheese. Everything is a la carte. There are no combo meal options. The brisket was tender for the most part. The red slaw had a serious kick to it. The mac and cheese was just okay. The cashier was polite and professional but not friendly. The food is what will bring us back.
Larryelle Phillips
at 2023 Jul 31
Larryelle Phillips
at 2023 Jul 31
I'll be back! Great brisket sandwich-- I added the lettuce and tomato; I just wish I'd gotten more meat. Greens and the Mac and cheese did not disappoint! Great recommendations from David the bartender who also provided great service! Thanks so much and I look forward to coming back!
Don Hudson
at 2023 Jul 26
Don Hudson
at 2023 Jul 26
Had the burnt ends - amazing. Ordered the small... if I ordered the large I would have eaten it all. My wife had vinegar BBQ chicken.. she added regular BBQ sauce to it for more flavor. Our son had a brisket sandwich. He loved it. Sweet potato fries were great.
We love this place. If we're ever down this way (about 30 miles from home) we always go out of our way to make a stop. Parking has however gotten worse but the food is just a awesome as ever. I highly recommend it. The wings and tofu are staples, the tacos are heaping with flavor, and be sure to get the baked Ramen Mac & Cheese.
Brian Frey
at 2023 Jul 21
Brian Frey
at 2023 Jul 21
Food was good. Not a ton of smoke flavor in the smoked meatballs, but the sauce more than makes up for it. Burnt ends are really good. Service was great
Marco Ramming
at 2023 Jul 17
Marco Ramming
at 2023 Jul 17
Naja, es gibt zwar keine gravierenden Kritikpunkte, aber das BBQ war geschmacklich eher unterdurchschnittlich. Da hätte ich für die saftigen Preise mehr erwartet. Die Küche war schnell, aber es handelt sich auch um einen offenen Fast Food Laden ohne Bedienung. Das Ambiente entspricht der restlichen Optimist Hall. Ich denke mit anderen Restaurants der Hall ist man besser beraten.
DANKERLUNA
at 2023 Jul 16
DANKERLUNA
at 2023 Jul 16
This is my go to ribs place when I visit Charlotte. The crispy ribs are a MUST! I'm never disappointed by the food here. The ribs are cooked well and not too overly seasoned. The space is located in a great spot, so you can choose to eat either indoors or outdoors. I usually eat here at least 2-3 times when I'm here. Try them out! You won't be disappointed.
E Y
at 2023 Jul 16
E Y
at 2023 Jul 16
Our recent visit to this establishment marked our first return since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We noted that the service model has shifted to a more self-sufficient approach, with customers placing orders at the counter and refilling their own beverages. Staff members are responsible for delivering food to the table. The cuisine remains exceptional, with standout dishes including the crispy pork belly and beef ribs. Other menu items may appeal to more adventurous palates. Parking can be challenging, and it may be necessary to seek street parking further from the restaurant. Despite this minor inconvenience, we will certainly return for the outstanding food.
Nice setup and atmosphere. Friendly and helpful staff, in front and patio area. Validating the parking was nice.

Now for the food. The philly egg rolls were not fully cooked and was nothing but meat and cheese. Why mustard sauce accompaniment?
Wings were gigantic! Soy garlic was mostly soy flavored, maybe add some minced garlic. The crunch was on point though. The sweet and mild was HEAVY on the siracha. YUCK! Siracha and sweet was a no buena for me. The best thing we ordered was the brisket bulgogi taco. It was borderline salty but compared to the other food, we dealt with it.
Overall, the experience was subpar and I wound up at Captain D’s for a piece of fish because I was still hungry after that $40 disappointment. I don’t think I will be back but I appreciate the effort.
I wish you some improvement and success.
Larryelle Phillips
at 2023 Jun 25
Larryelle Phillips
at 2023 Jun 25
Really enjoyed the food. Pick two sampler--Ribs were a lil tougher than I like; but the brisket and cucumber salad were great! Ummmm that peach cobbler---get yall some!!! It's good!!
Shanice QC
at 2023 Jun 22
Shanice QC
at 2023 Jun 22
First time visiting this place. I actually liked it. The kitchen was visible and clean. I loved that they had a lot of sauces. That's a plus. The food was quickly ready as soon as I filled my drink and sat down.
Yalllllllll this food was so good I didn’t even get to take a picture before we started crushing it! We ordered soy pork spare ribs, fat brisket bulgogi taco, soy garlic wings, and kimchi fries. Every single thing we ordered was hot, full of flavor, crispy, and just absolutely amazing! We will definitely be back to eat and for karaoke. We also plan to go to the newer location.

Update: We visited again and had an even better experience, which I didn’t think was possibly. We rented the karaoke room which is a MUST DO! Our server was amazing, I’m disappointed I can’t remember his name but he had dreads.
Douglas Figueroa
at 2023 Jun 14
Douglas Figueroa
at 2023 Jun 14
A no frills Carolina BBQ spot. Great tasting food and complements well with the sauces. Perfectly made drink by the bartender. The smoker turkey was delicious. And don't forget to get the heath banana pudding, you won't regret it. The best banana pudding hands down!
This may be the best BBQ I've had in Charlotte. Pricing is reasonable. The brisket was great! This was my first tasting of Corn Pudding and .... its amazing! The beans have plenty of brisket in them, the greens are delicious with plenty of pork meat in them and the cornbread was good! The staff was friendly, fast service, clean dining room and clean restrooms. Parking is convenient. We ordered a family pack to go and received plenty of condiments. We found a new favorite here at City Barbecue!
Made a special trip from Augusta, GA just for this place. Some of the best BBQ I've ever had. Would eat here all the time if I lived in the area. The burnt ends are incredible. Bacon-wrapped Jalapeños are spot on. The hush puppies are brilliant. The spicy BBQ sauce makes everything that much better. And of course local brews for days! Can't go wrong! The pickles are fantastic as well!
Alex
at 2023 Jun 11
Alex
at 2023 Jun 11
This was the most confusing restaurant I’ve ever been to. It’s a seat-yourself, order at the bar place. The front counter says to find a seat and then you can order online to pick up food from the pick up area (but then it will be in to go boxes). You have to talk to the bartender if you want to order food or drinks, then you get a buzzer when it’s ready to grab.

The menu is extremely nondescript, just a list of the items with no idea what they are - and the prices were all completely wrong. Some things were listed for a little above what they actually were and some were listed for a little under what they came out to be.

They do give wet naps and food gloves which was nice, but the food didn’t really have much excitement. I would recommend the owner redesign a lot of how the restaurant functions.
Anoop Daniel
at 2023 Jun 07
Anoop Daniel
at 2023 Jun 07
Good vibes in the outdoor patio, it was a bit busy for a Tuesday night. The fried broccoli was amazing, light and crispy - went well with the sauces. The brisket and the ribs were good, but on the drier side and not as juicy as I'd hoped but they tasted great with the sauces. The soccatash was surprisingly excellent and the beers were refreshing. The hand pie was lemon meringue which was satisfying and not overly sweet but fluffy and light.
Cameron Clark
at 2023 Jun 02
Cameron Clark
at 2023 Jun 02
DELICIOUS! JUICY! TENDER! All the good words to describe perfect barbecue. I ordered from here off Doordash and I am glad I did. The sampler has everything you need to hit that barbecue craving. The takeout containers they use don't have holes so it keeps the steam in and keeps the meats PERFECT! Green beans and baked beans hit the spot too. Toast is well toasted and fluffy. I'll be ordering from here more often! The sausage has that nice snap to it when you bite into it. The juices explode and you can feel the bits of delicious inside! Chopped brisket just melts in your mouth. That container really helps keep everything juicy and fresh. Even the sliced turkey was kinda thick cut but was still juicy and melts in your mouth! 7 stars!
Richard Mancine
at 2023 May 29
Richard Mancine
at 2023 May 29
What a great spot. First, the idea to turn a garage into a BBQ joint is just visionary. The service was outstanding (ask for Lauren). She was knowledgeable about everything on the menu and the beer menu.

The brisket had the deep smoke ring. The pulled pork had a great smokey flavor with the bite of pepper from the rub. This location is also built for volume. Don't be afraid to stop by if busy.

All of their sauces are tomato based, even the vinegar sauce. If you have a tomato allergy, just be cautious.

Oh, and the on-site brewery is awesome with a huge selection of beers.
Isaiah Fleming
at 2023 May 27
Isaiah Fleming
at 2023 May 27
City Barbeque is a nice spot to grab some tasty BBQ and sides. I tried the More Cowbell, a beef brisket sandwich with provolone cheese, sauteed peppers n onions, & crispy fried onions on soft and buttery Texas toast. Excellent choice! The sides (baked beans, potato salad, and Mac n chz) were all delicious and nice size portions. The banana pudding (not pictured) for dessert stole the show! Probably the best banana pudding I've had, and that's saying a lot! It was so sweet and creamy, with a toasted nilla wafer crumble and caramel sauce. Overall meal 10/10! 👌🏽
Katrina G
at 2023 May 22
Katrina G
at 2023 May 22
One of the better BBQ restaurants in the area! Service was friendly and helpful. Outdoor seating was comfortable with music in the background. The succotash side was a perfect pair to the meats. I would get it every time! Pork was delicious as was the smoked turkey which was very tender and juicy, NOT dry. Husband loved the brisket above all else. The smoked trout appetizer was good but I'd skip it next time to enjoy more of the main BBQ.
Pretty interesting concept. It is not your traditional Korean restaurant and the menu is adapted to the American taste with a diverse fusion of different culinary dishes using Korean dishes. We tried the chicken kimchi fries, the deviled eggs and a couple different tacos. Food was amazing .
They have a good bar with multiple beers available and plenty of room to seat .
I’ve been to Midwood Smokehouse in Plaza Midwood many times. There’s always pretty great service. I really do love this place because it’s local. We have also gotten catering from them a few times as well. I do end up going on Sunday and Mondays and I feel like the food quality has gone down a little. I’m not sure if it’s a different staff on those days, but we will still go back. We really love the burnt ends and the ribs. Sadly, they didn’t have the beef ribs yesterday (Sunday) either. We also ordered a salad, but they forgot about it but we ended up getting it afterwards. Our server Ellen was lovely. She was very bubbly, personable and accommodating. Like I said, we will definitely go back. Will try to go on a different day next time!
Brian Long
at 2022 Sep 24
Brian Long
at 2022 Sep 24
Stopped by to get lunch, The guy that is at the register was rude no help for a first timer at City Barbecue. The place was easy to find and is surrounded by many other options for lunch. All the food selections are alicart so everything is purchased separately Good way to make money but makes getting a plate with all the fixings costly. I got the Chipotle bbq sandwich and baked beans and Mac and Cheese. The sandwich was on Texas toast and it was delicious to say the least. The beans were good but had a gritty texture to them. The Mac and cheese was really good. I would say if you like BBQ this is one place you should stop by and try. They have many locations here in Charlotte! If you go tell them Brian Sent ya! The Review Guru!