Last month in our Favorite Things series, we explored the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. This month, with most restaurants fully reopened, we’re taking a little tour across the state in search of some good ol’ Southern barbecue.
So hop on the backcountry roads and head towards one of these BBQ hot spots for some Southern comfort cooking and sweet tea!
The Best Southern Barbecue in North Carolina
It doesn’t get any more Southern than good ol’ North Carolina bar-b-q! Barbecue is especially near and dear to our hearts here at Elite Builders Group because Michelle’s granddaddy used to raise pigs on his farm, and every fall, he would cook a whole hog on the grill. So she knows a thing or two about good BBQ!
While these NC favorite spots aren’t Granddaddy’s famous pig roasts (complete with legendary vinegar sauce), they are some pretty darn good places to pick up some barbeque!
Wilbur’s BBQ – Goldsboro
Hands down our #1 favorite spot is Wilbur’s. This Eastern NC barbecue destination has been serving up fresh and smoky flavors since 1962, and its secret to success is its open pit and old-fashioned approach to cooking. The classic Wilbur’s whole-hog barbeque is slow-cooked all night, but it’s hardly the only favorite of this old-time establishment.
Wilbur’s closed briefly earlier this year, but it has reopened with the same much-loved flavors… plus a few more new additions, like BBQ Turkey, pork ribs, and link sausage. They’ve also added Southern pies to the menu—including banana pudding, pecan pie, and buttermilk pie.
Parker’s – Wilson
Parker’s has been serving up authentic Southern BBQ since the late 1940s, so it’s no wonder they’ve got flavor down to an art. Since then, they’ve opened several locations in Greenville, and it’s become a regional landmark in Eastern North Carolina. Weekly, the three Greenville restaurants prepare over 20,000 pounds of barbecue; there are employees cooking 24 hours a day, seven days a week!
The extensive Parker’s menu includes slow-roasted whole-hog barbecue dinners with signature barbeque sauce, chicken served fried, grilled, or barbecued, combination platters, seafood, and of course, traditional Southern sides, like creamy mac and cheese, crispy hush puppies, corn sticks, fried okra, French fries… and much, much more.
Moe’s Original BBQ – Asheville
Heading a little farther west, we come to Moe’s Original, another amazing spot for true Southern BBQ. Minutes from Downtown Asheville, Moe’s is surrounded by an atmosphere of small-town fun and entertainment. But its Alabama-style BBQ is the true selling point—that and the absolutely amazing macaroni and cheese.
Try a slow-smoked pulled pork sandwich or perhaps some Southern-fried catfish. Share a platter of smoked chicken wings or St. Louis-style spare ribs. And don’t forget your side of mac n’ cheese, cornbread, or banana pudding!
Southport Smoke House – Southport
If you are ever in the Southport area, you’ve got to get to Southport Smoke House! With real wood-smoked barbecue, great homemade sides, and a laid-back family environment, this hotspot is the perfect blend of flavor and friendly fun. The smokehouse serves all meat with a dry rub to allow eaters to fully experience the tender juiciness of a 12-hour smoked roast. But if you do prefer your meat with a little sauce, they have a whole table full of different kinds—from the East Coast to South Texas!
Indulge in some mouth-watering beef brisket or perhaps a pulled pork sandwich. Share some wings with the table, and add on some sides. And when dinner’s over, don’t forget dessert! We recommend the banana pudding.
That’s all for now! We hope we’ve enticed you to go out and treat yourself to some good, local eats. There’s nothing like good Southern cooking!
If you need us or would like to chat with us about anything at all, never hesitate to reach out.
Until next time… happy eating!
Elite Builders Group Blog 
One thought on “August Favorite Things”