North Carolina takes barbecue seriously, with traditions dating back generations and recipes guarded like family treasures. From the vinegar-based sauces of the east to the tomato-tinged offerings in the west, the state serves up some of America’s most distinctive barbecue flavors. These all-you-can-eat buffets showcase the best of Carolina’s smoking techniques, drawing locals who return week after week for their fix of tender, slow-cooked meat and homestyle sides.
1. Fuller’s Old Fashion BBQ: Fayetteville’s No-Frills Feast
Military families from nearby Fort Bragg have made Fuller’s a local institution for decades. This unpretentious cinder-block building houses barbecue magic – whole hogs cooked Eastern-style over oak and hickory, chopped fresh throughout the day.
The buffet line stretches with comfort food classics: fall-apart tender ribs, crispy fried chicken, and at least fifteen vegetable sides. Collard greens simmered with ham hocks and sweet potato casserole topped with pecans highlight the authentic Southern approach.
Save room for their legendary banana pudding, layered with vanilla wafers and topped with a cloud of meringue that locals swear is worth the trip alone.
2. Ralph’s Barbecue: A Weldon Tradition Since 1952
Smoke wafts through the air as you approach this Eastern NC institution that’s been feeding hungry patrons for over seven decades. The chopped pork practically melts in your mouth, carrying that signature vinegar tang that defines the region’s barbecue style.
Regulars fill their plates with crispy fried chicken and homemade sides like collard greens and mac and cheese. Save room for dessert – their banana pudding has converted even sworn chocolate lovers.
The wood-paneled walls hold decades of memories, with some families now bringing their fourth generation to experience Ralph’s legendary hospitality.
3. Casey’s Buffet: Wilmington’s Soul Food Heaven
Hidden in an unassuming strip mall, Casey’s Buffet surprises first-timers with its extraordinary spread of Eastern North Carolina barbecue. The moment you walk in, the aroma of slow-smoked pork mingles with sweet cornbread and savory collards.
Locals line up for the fall-off-the-bone ribs and golden-brown fried chicken. The impressive selection of sides – from candied yams to Brunswick stew – often steals the spotlight from the meat.
Family recipes shine in their dessert section, where banana pudding sits alongside sweet potato pie and peach cobbler, completing a true Southern feast.
4. Kings Restaurant: Kinston’s Barbecue Palace
A pink pig sign welcomes you to this Kinston landmark where Eastern-style barbecue reigns supreme. Three generations of pitmasters have perfected their craft here, smoking whole hogs over hickory and oak before chopping the meat to tender perfection.
The buffet line stretches with Southern favorites – crispy fried chicken, succulent ribs, and a rainbow of vegetable sides harvested from nearby farms. Don’t miss their famous corn sticks, a unique alternative to hushpuppies that regulars crave.
Weekends bring crowds of locals and road-trippers who’ve read about Kings in countless barbecue pilgrimage guides.
5. Brickhouse Grill & Catering: Concord’s Comfort Food Mecca
Housed in a renovated historic building in downtown Concord, Brickhouse Grill marries rustic charm with mouthwatering barbecue. The buffet changes daily but always features their signature pulled pork, smoked low and slow until it reaches fork-tender perfection.
Fridays bring seafood additions like fried catfish and shrimp alongside the barbecue staples. The mac and cheese – creamy with a crispy top – has developed its own fan club among regulars who claim it’s the best in the county.
Exposed brick walls and reclaimed wood tables create a cozy atmosphere where families gather weekly for their barbecue fix.
6. Robbins Nest: Selma’s Down-Home Treasure
Grandma’s kitchen comes to mind when you step into this unassuming eatery just off I-95. The cafeteria-style buffet showcases slow-cooked pork shoulder with that distinctive Eastern Carolina vinegar sauce that makes taste buds sing.
Old-school charm permeates everything from the checkered tablecloths to the sweet tea served in mason jars. Vegetable sides rotate seasonally, with summer bringing fresh butter beans and stewed okra straight from local gardens.
A chalkboard dessert menu tempts with homemade cobblers and pies that sell out daily. Come early on Sundays when post-church crowds form lines out the door!
7. Low and Slow Smokehouse: Smithfield’s Airport-View Dining
Watching small planes take off and land adds unexpected entertainment to your meal at this unique smokehouse overlooking Johnston Regional Airport. The name says it all – meats here are cooked low and slow, resulting in brisket that’s tender enough to cut with a plastic fork.
The weekend buffet draws barbecue enthusiasts from across the region who load plates with pulled pork, St. Louis ribs, and smoked chicken. Children press their noses against windows between bites, hoping to spot aircraft activity.
Pitmaster Jimmy cultivates his own special rubs, creating flavor profiles you won’t find elsewhere in the state.
8. Carolina Smoke Barbeque Grill: Morganton’s Smokehouse Marvel
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Carolina Smoke brings together the best of barbecue traditions with unexpected twists. Their copper still decor pays homage to the region’s moonshining history while wood-fired smokers work magic on prime cuts of meat.
The buffet features both pulled pork and Texas-style brisket alongside mountain trout – a nod to local fishing traditions. Adventurous eaters love their smoked jalapeño mac and cheese, which adds a welcome kick to the usual side dish lineup.
Weekend evenings feature live bluegrass music, creating the perfect soundtrack for enjoying their famous bourbon peach cobbler.
9. The Pit Authentic Barbecue: Raleigh’s Special Event Showcase
While The Pit primarily serves à la carte, their private event buffets have achieved legendary status among Raleigh locals. Housed in a restored 1930s meatpacking warehouse in downtown, the restaurant elevates barbecue to an art form.
Corporate gatherings and wedding rehearsals feature their whole-hog barbecue, pit-cooked for 12 hours over oak and hickory. The buffet spreads include both Eastern and Western Carolina styles, satisfying purists from both traditions.
Their cornbread with honey butter and Brussels sprouts with bacon jam show how traditional barbecue can embrace modern culinary touches without losing its soul.
10. The Original Carolina Barbecue: Garner’s Family-Style Gem
Red-checkered tablecloths and mason jar lighting create instant nostalgia at this Garner establishment where barbecue is served family-style with endless refills. Unlike traditional buffets, servers bring heaping platters directly to your table – chopped pork, fried chicken, and all the fixings.
The pork shoulder smokes for 14 hours before being hand-pulled and dressed with their signature vinegar pepper sauce. Hushpuppies arrive hot from the fryer, crispy outside and fluffy inside, perfect for sopping up extra sauce.
Three generations of the Johnson family work here, ensuring recipes remain unchanged since they opened their doors in 1977.
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