Vanilla wafers gone soft in custard can steal the spotlight from a plate of hickory-smoked pork, and that surprise happens more often than you might think in North Carolina. Some of the best desserts in the state come from barbecue counters, gas station kitchens, and roadside smokehouses that look like nothing special from the parking lot.
The pork brings you in, but the banana pudding is what you end up talking about on the drive home. Grab a fork and an appetite, because these seven spots prove the sweet ending can be the real reason for the trip.
1. Picnic, Durham, NC
Chocolate chess pie with a drizzle of salted caramel, served next to a scoop of banana pudding, might be the most delicious double feature in Durham. Picnic has a way of making dessert feel like a celebration rather than an afterthought.
The main event here is locally sourced whole-hog barbecue in the eastern North Carolina style, with a little western tang sneaking into the mix. Order the NC Whole Hog Barbecue Sandwich, then add pimento mac and cheese, fried green tomatoes, or pickle fries.
The Pig Whistle barbecue sauce is worth a taste on its own.
Still, the from-scratch banana pudding is the quiet star. It is creamy, homestyle, and built the old-fashioned way, which makes it a natural partner for smoky pork.
The hip-rustic dining room feels cozy, and there is outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. Picnic is open daily except Tuesday, from 11 AM to 8 PM, and most meals land between $10 and $20 per person.
Weekday mornings and early afternoons tend to be calmer, so a midweek lunch is a smart move.
2. Chop Shop BBQ & Grill, Raleigh, NC
Filling up the tank and filling up on barbecue at the same stop sounds like a Raleigh road-trip dream. Chop Shop BBQ & Grill runs out of a gas station on East Six Forks Road, and it is one of the city’s best surprises.
Everything leans eastern-style. The slow-cooked pulled pork comes out moist and smoky, the hush puppies are golden, and sides like baked beans, coleslaw, mac and cheese, and potato salad are piled on generously.
Pork skins and even a hot dog are on the menu for anyone craving a quick bite.
Made-in-house food is the point here, and the homemade banana pudding proves it. Fresh-cut fruit salad shows up too, along with plenty of down-home Southern hospitality from a friendly crew.
Plan carefully, since hours are short. The doors open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM, with Sundays and Mondays closed.
There is even a drive-through for pudding emergencies.
3. Midwood Smokehouse, Charlotte, NC
Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood has plenty of personality, and its namesake smokehouse fits right in. Midwood Smokehouse feels like a roadhouse, with a lively room and a menu that roams across regional barbecue styles.
Carolina Pork holds down the local tradition, while brisket burnt ends, smoked chicken wings, ribs, and a sizzling cornbread skillet show off the pitmasters’ range. Bacon-wrapped jalapenos and a famous queso make strong cases as starters.
Save room, though. The homemade banana pudding is a must-try here, and pecan cobbler sits on the dessert list as a worthy rival.
Splitting both is a perfectly reasonable plan.
Expect to spend $20 to $30 per person. Midwood stays open seven days a week, with later hours on Friday and Saturday nights, and it accepts reservations, which helps on busy weekends.
Parking can be tricky near Central Avenue, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
4. Pik N Pig, Carthage, NC
Few lunch spots let you watch a small plane taxi past your table. At Pik N Pig, pilots really do fly in for barbecue, because the restaurant sits right beside a little airport in the Sandhills near Carthage.
Grab a patio seat and enjoy the show. The hickory-smoked menu covers both eastern and western North Carolina styles, so the pulled pork sandwich, brisket plate, and sampler platter all have fans.
Fried pickles are a crunchy must, and the barbecue sauce earns plenty of praise. Curious eaters can try the BBQ Sundae, a layered barbecue creation served in a cup.
Dessert lovers should look for the homemade banana pudding. Better yet, the Bulk Banana Pudding lets you carry a big container home for later.
Hours are limited to Thursday through Sunday, 11 AM to 4 PM. Weekend afternoons get busy, so a Thursday visit is calmer.
A spring drive through the Sandhills, with longleaf pines along the way, makes the trip even sweeter.
5. Ole Time Barbecue, Raleigh, NC
Hand-chopped pork that tastes great even without sauce is a bold promise. Ole Time Barbecue on Hillsborough Street keeps that promise with family-run, eastern North Carolina barbecue that locals treat like a weekly habit.
Meat-and-three plates rule the menu. Pair the Hand Chopped BBQ Pork Plate with mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, or potato salad, and you have a classic Carolina meal.
Burgers and BLT sandwiches cover anyone who wants something different.
Then comes the homemade banana pudding, which many call the best part of the meal. Peach and apple cobblers round out the dessert lineup.
Plan on takeout or curbside pickup, since there is no dine-in seating. The kitchen opens at 10 AM Monday through Saturday and closes at 8 PM, and it stays closed on Sundays.
Tailgate platters to go make it a favorite before a big game.
6. Sam Jones BBQ, Winterville, NC
Generations of barbecue know-how live inside this Pitt County dining room. Sam Jones BBQ is a family-owned joint where wood-fired cooking and old recipes still guide the kitchen.
Order the chopped barbecue by the half pound and you will taste why eastern North Carolina takes its pork so seriously. Brisket plates, the 1947 Burger, and pork skins with pimento cheese keep things interesting, and the smokehouse potato makes a hearty side.
The sweet tea is excellent too.
Here is a fun bit of local lore: the banana pudding is often called Mama’s Banana Pudding, a nod to the family recipes behind it. Every side and dessert is homemade, so it pairs naturally with a pulled pork sandwich.
Sam Jones is open every day, from 11 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday and until 8:30 PM on Sunday. There is a drive-through as well as a laid-back dining room perfect for families.
7. Haywood Smokehouse, Dillsboro, NC
After a morning of chasing waterfalls in the western North Carolina mountains, hunger hits hard. Haywood Smokehouse in tiny Dillsboro is the reward waiting at the end of the trail.
Brisket is the signature, tender enough to melt away. Ribs, hickory smoked sausage, and pulled pork round out the smoky lineup, with baked beans, Brunswick stew, and potato salad on the side.
A selection of sauces lets you play around with every bite.
Now the famous part. The banana pudding arrives in a big serving loaded with sliced bananas and vanilla wafers, and it is a true must-try.
Seasonal cobbler and a brownie sundae tempt anyone still hungry.
The smokehouse is open Wednesday through Saturday, closing at 8 PM midweek and 9 PM on weekends. Autumn is a perfect time to visit, when the Blue Ridge glows with color.