Sugar-dusted waffle fries were not what I expected to remember most from a quick barbecue stop off a busy North Carolina highway. Yet one plain-looking smokehouse, with a parking lot and a counter and not much else, sent me home thinking about those fries and a rack of tender ribs for days.
That surprise is what this list is all about, from the mountains to the coast. Pack an appetite, because these five spots make the drive part of the reward.
1. THE SMOKE PIT
Sugar on fries sounds like a dare, but the sweet potato waffle fries at this Concord favorite get a sprinkle that turns them into something close to dessert. Regular sweet potato fries are on the menu too, so you can pick your level of sweet.
Either way, they play beautifully against a plate of smoky ribs.
Ribs come two ways here: dry rub or brushed with barbecue sauce. Brisket and pulled pork round out the lineup, and portions lean huge, the kind that make a to-go box almost mandatory.
Sides like white slaw and deviled egg potato salad give the plate a Southern backyard feel.
The setting is country-style and casual, with counter service and seating that works for families, groups, or a solo lunch break. Kids get their own menu, and dogs are welcome on the outdoor seating.
Hours run Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM, with Sundays closed.
Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so a weekday visit is the easy move. Plan around $20 to $30 per person, and save room for the banana pudding.
2. Fat Buddies Ribs & Barbecue
Cinnamon butter on sweet potato tots is the little detail that makes Waynesville worth the curvy drive. Fat Buddies serves those tots alongside sweet potato waffle fries and regular sweet potato fries, and the fries are made in-house.
Up here in the western mountains, the Half Rack Rib Platter is the order to beat. Ribs arrive sauced just right, tender and sticky, with pulled pork and brisket waiting for anyone who wants to share.
Fried okra and a creamy white mac and cheese are the sides locals tend to circle back to.
The room feels relaxed and cozy, a welcome stop after leaf-peeping along the Blue Ridge Parkway this fall. Service is quick and friendly, and prices sit around $10 to $20 per person, which is a gift on a road trip budget.
Open Monday from 10 AM and Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM, closing at 9 PM, with Sundays off.
3. Midwood Smokehouse
Roadhouse energy meets lakeside convenience at the Huntersville outpost of this Charlotte-born barbecue name. Sitting in Birkdale Commons near Lake Norman, it makes an easy stop after a summer afternoon on the water.
The half rack of ribs carries balanced smoke, present without overpowering the meat. Pair it with sweet potato fries and creamy mac and cheese, then add a cornbread skillet if the table is hungry.
Pork burnt ends and bacon wrapped jalapenos are tempting extras.
What sets Midwood apart is flexibility. Reservations are accepted, curbside pickup and outdoor seating are available, and the menu even reaches beyond pork with smoked wings and a smoked salmon salad.
Doors open at 11 AM daily, staying open until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Sunday afternoons get packed, so weekday lunches are calmer, and budget roughly $20 to $30 per person.
4. MeMa’s Chick’n’ & Ribs
Homemade doughnuts at a rib joint? That is just one of the charming surprises waiting on Market Street in Wilmington.
The place feels like a grandmother’s kitchen that happens to own a smoker.
Ribs here are big, juicy, and packed with smoke, the sort that make you forget about napkins. Sweet potato fries ride shotgun beautifully, and honey butter cornbread, fried okra, and fried green beans keep the Southern spirit strong.
Coastal touches like flounder and fried catfish plates nod to the nearby beaches.
The dining room is cute, clean, and often quiet, with friendly staff and a family-friendly mood. Kids can try the mac and cheese waffle bowl, and there is even a full vegan menu.
Plan around the schedule: closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday through Saturday 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday noon to 7 PM. It makes a sweet detour on the way to Wrightsville Beach.
5. Huli Sue’s BBQ and Grill
Follow your nose. Near Asheville’s neo-Gothic Grove Arcade, a sweet and spicy barbecue scent drifts down Page Avenue and leads straight to covered patios at Huli Sue’s.
Texas-style barbecue gets a Hawaiian twist here, which is why you will spot loco moco and huli chicken bowls next to brisket plates. The ribs are huge and fall off the bone, and a crispy version stands out as unlike anything else downtown.
Sweet potato fries hold their own beside it all, and several sauces arrive with each meal so you can experiment.
The sampler platter is the smart play for first-timers, with ribs, sausage, cornbread, beans, and mac and cheese. Finish with coconut cake or sip a Virgin Mai Tai.
Hours run noon to 8 PM, closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and reservations are accepted. Parking downtown can be tricky, so grab a garage spot and stroll the shops first.