We stopped here for lunch while driving through Asheville. We ordered a brisket plate with baked beans and coleslaw. Amazing BBQ food! As it was a Thursday, our granddaughters pork sandwich meal with Mac n Cheese was FREE! What a terrific restaurant, it was truly some of the best BBQ I've ever had!! I'd give more stars, if possible. If you're anywhere near Asheville, NC - you have to stop here - I know we will for sure. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Us three BBQ fanatics drove 45 minutes out of Asheville to go to a BBQ joint in Waynesville only to find out, it was a 90 minute wait for a table. So, we jumped back in the car and drove 45 minutes back to Asheville and went to The Bear's Smokehouse BBQ. It's not that we settled for The Bear, it's just exactly what we wanted for dinner tonight. We pretty much had no wait (it was 5 times the size of Waynesville) and we got BBQ: Ribs Brisket Chicken Wings Coleslaw Potato Salad Baked Beans Six kinds of BBQ sauce Beers And a ton of napkins Every thing was very good and the price for this extravaganza was not bank busting. We had a blast eating, drinking and watching the "Going On's" for a Saturday night in Asheville, North Carolina. We all enjoyed this evening! read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Welcome to The Bear - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Bear's Smokehouse Barbecue To explain what you are viewing, this is an order of brisket and ribs with a side of mashed sweet potatoes and baked beans. to me, the brisket was dry and needed sauce. After I left the restaurant, I realized they hadn't put my sauce in the bag. The ribs were undercooked, making the meat tough and chewy. The plus side to this meal was the sides. The mashed sweet potatoes were creamy and blended with all the right spices. Pie without the crust. The baked beans had a smoky taste, which I enjoyed. For Asheville BBQ, you've got to do better. The food is already cooked and you just pick from the display what you want. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

My favorite bbq is brisket so I paid the premium for a brisket platter. Worst brisket I've ever had. So, so dry even the sauce couldn't save it. Daughter's ribs were dry too and you know it's bad when a rib is dry. Y'all are holding meat in warmers too long and maybe saving it for days. So bad. Beans were a pasty mess. Fries, cornbread, & broccoli salad were tolerable but nothing special. So much better food in Asheville. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Lunch - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Not made too clearly what's vegan-friendly online and not, but here's everything I know for sure for fellow vegans: - All sauces and rubs are vegan friendly - the impossible meatloaf is vegan friendly - the potato bun does not have dairy (you're safe to order the sandwiches version of the impossible meatloaf) Unfortunately, no info is known about the sides (but please feel free to add to this post to note which ones are [more than likely you'll have cross contamination, but still good to know what's made vegan-friendly]) read more

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I found this stop a little disappointing. It started with circling the area looking for parking. It took a while before we finally found a spot. The restaurant had indoor seating, along with a large outdoor area with plenty of tables. We headed inside, got into a relatively short line, and tried to figure out the ordering process, which was a little confusing at first. We eventually figured it out. One thing on the menu caught my attention: "Moink balls," which were described as bacon-wrapped meatballs. When I asked the server what kind of meat was in them, he told me they were out of Moink balls. I said okay, but asked if he could still tell me what kind of meat was in the meatball. He seemed very annoyed by the question, said "meat," when I pressed him, he said that he didn't know. We ended up ordering pulled pork, ribs, roasted corn, and mac and cheese. The food itself was good, and I especially liked the corn. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite get past the way that server responded to what seemed like a simple and reasonable question. read more

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What an amazing place. We were on the hunt for baby back ribs and came across Bear"s smokehouse. You ordered inside. They have several areas to sit and eat. We chose the outside patio area. First we ordered a rack of baby backs for $40 with two sides. Ribs cooked to perfection. Broccoli salad the best I've ever had. Sweet potato mash also super flavorful. Lastly, we ordered six smoked wings with sweet chili sauce. Wings were delicious, sauce could use a little more sweetness, more on the spicy side. Great place to hang out, huge bar area, several fire pits and great food. read more

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Service was great. Food was insanely good. In a cute spot too. We will be back next time we're passing through asheville.

Always love my time at Bears. Some of my fave brisket in NC and honestly the best service of most places I've been too! Their space is massive and perfect for large parties or events and they are FAST with the food which is hard to come by. Overall a fave in Asheville read more

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We finally made it to Bear's Smokehouse BBQ while on vacation, and WOW!!!! It's no shock that they were named one of USA Today's top restaurants in the country for 2026. It was everything we hoped for and more. We came in partly to grab some smoked chicken for our picky pup (she adores smoked chicken), and ended up going all-in. We ordered the beef rib special for $45, and worth every cent!! When it arrived, the juice was literally flowing. Perfect smoke ring, deep flavor, and that rich, tender beef you dream about with good BBQ. We also got a half chicken with two sides (for the dog) and a plate with two sides (for us). Sides were on point: Mashed sweet potatoes - savory and sweet with a hint of nutmeg. Collard greens with pepperoncinis were a surprise and were tangy without being spicy, delicious. Mac & cheese was creamy, cheesy, classic BBQ comfort - always a must with BBQ. BBQ beans were smoky and rich, great with the sauce. Everything was flavorful and balanced, no one note BBQ here. The space was great too!! You can order inside, sit inside or out, and they've got a separate bar area if you want drinks with your meal. If you're in Asheville and love BBQ, you have to stop here. Best smoked beef rib I've ever had. read more

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Recommend the burnt ends and pulled pork The sides are ok. I got mashed sweet potatoes, corn, coleslaw and broccoli salad. I like the coleslaw and broccoli salad the most, as they balance out the grease of the meat nicely read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Service and ambiance was successful. I got a combo tray with four buffalo wings, brisket, fries and BBQ beans, with Carolina Gold BBQ sauce. The fries had a slight crisp to them, were well-salted, and the Carolina Gold sauce added to the flavor. The beans were tender and sweet, and the chunks of meat in there were enjoyable. The brisket could have been a little more tender, but the fat allowed it to melt in my mouth. The wings were moist and the buffalo sauce provided a little kick. Overall, this is a quick BBQ joint at its best. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Two Meat Combo: Buffalo Wings, Brisket, Fries and BBQ Beans Carolina Gold BBQ - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I stopped by Bear's Smokehouse with a big group of about 20 while visiting downtown Asheville. We needed somewhere that could seat everyone quickly, and this spot worked out great for that! You order and pay at the counter, then grab a seat -- there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Parking can be a little tricky since there's no dedicated lot, but the staff were really friendly and helpful once we got there. I split the 3-meat combo (brisket, ribs, and burnt ends) with a couple of friends to try a bit of everything. The meats were pretty standard, a little on the salty side, but the burnt ends were our favorite. We also got tater tots and mac & cheese as our sides, which were fine but nothing special. Overall, it's a solid spot if you're with a big group and want something quick and easy, but I'd probably try a different BBQ place next time I'm in Asheville. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - 3 Meats Combo - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Bears smokehouse BBQ is Delicious, glad our group found this spot after our Sunday service!

Decent food with exception to the Brisket which was literally half fat. I like fat but paying 16$ for a pound half of which was fat is a bit steep. The pulled pork was very good. Large selection of BBQ sauces and drinks. Most Staff were OK not real friendly but they could at least smile. The lady behind the register was very sweet and enjoyable to chat with. read more

From the welcome, suggestions, Offer to taste different meats, hands down amazing! They suggested the briquet gravy! Oh my goodness, it was absolutely delicious! Customer service, speed of service and delicious food! You can't get better than that! read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Smoked turkey, Mac n cheese, baked beans and cornbread - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Me and my family went to the one on sweeten creek road and it was a maze trying to find it the brisket didn't have no flavor to it. The Mac and cheese was dry, the corn bread was dry we got bottle drinks they wasn't cold they were hot we won't be going back read more

Excellent barbecue! Stopped in while on a business trip and will definitely return on my next trip. The brisket was outstanding with perfect bark and extremely tender and juicy. The pulled pork had a good smoke and paired well with a variety of sauces they offer (I had to opt for the Carolina style). Perhaps the most unique surprise was the collards greens! The addition of banana peppers in the recipe added an amazing kick of extra flavor.... Cannot recommend this enough! Would love to come back during warmer weather and enjoy the outdoor space. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Great outdoor space for dining and fun. - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Went in on a Wednesday, seemed to be training day. The meat slicer didn't know how many slices of brisket I was supposed to get. Let me preface this with the fact that I have worked at Rudy's BBQ :) so it's worth a nickel instead of 2¢. The brisket sandwich with a side of potato salad and an order of the Moink Balls is what I went with. I had to pay extra for the pickles,onion and peppers. I didn't want a plane brisket sandwich for 12$. The fried chicken sandwich come with a slaw for the same price... The moink balls are dry. The beef needs more moisture in it to survive the smoking. The brisket was amazing! No issues there. Just don't understand why someone would charge for the pickles onions and peppers... The courtyard hangout area is large and can handle any party size. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Brisket sandwich and Moink Balls - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Fantastic - turkey = must do, chicken = must do, mixed brisket & pork = fantastic & pulled pork Sides Mac n cheese Collard greens Broccoli salad All great! With vinegar Also mustard sauce & sriracha were very nice! Service great & friendly! Was packed inside so could go with a bit more room But ambiance is nice Plenty room outside & at bar but when 92F a bit tough to be out there Would give 4.5-4.75 if could read more

The brisket was delicious! I ordered the beef brisket poutine fries. It had a few fried cheese curds. The dish was delicious. All my favorite things on one huge serving. It is a huge serving. The crust less chocolate, bourbon pecan pie is also worth trying. I'm not a huge pie lover, but this was delicious. They have plenty of bbq sauces to try with your food. The dining area has many tables in doors and out. There is a bar at the end of the outdoor dining area. There is an area to cage your dog while you order and dine. Staff is really patient while you look at the menu before you order. It also wasn't busy. The food was ready pretty quickly. I would definitely go back to order a beef rib over the weekend. read more

Pulled chicken was a little dry and needed more flavor but has potential. I think if I liked sauce and added it, it would've been better. Mac and cheese was thick but good. Loved the cornbread, had great flavor and fluffy texture. Ribs had good flavor, sweet sticky sauce, however they were a little dry. Definitely needed the BBQ sauce. But I would get them again. read more

Definite mixed reviews for this place! My husband RAVED about this place from previous trips, so I may have had my bar set a little too high. The good: burnt ends (absolutely perfect!), collared greens (flavorful and peppery!), the pepper bbq sauce. The mid: bear balls (pulled pork and cornbread fritter). These were what I was most excited about! Unfortunately, ours were super doughy and not cooked through. The outside was delicious with the cheese and bacon though! The chocolate pecan pie was so-so, definitely not the smooth texture you find in the gooeyness of a traditional pecan pie. The turkey was fine. Lacked flavor, but when paired with the sauces it was okay. The bad: the wings... oh my what a disappointment. I'm a sucker for a good smoked wing. These were not it. The sauce (sweet chili) was just poured on at the end and took away from the wing. Maybe user error and they would have tasted better without! The Mac and cheese was flavorless, but I loved the use of the cavatappi noodles. It was a one bite and done for me. Service was super friendly and helpful! The ambience was fun and inviting. read more

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We had been drinking all day and needed a good meal....this spot was highly rated. We walked up and the outdoor space was awesome. Yard games for everyone. The line was pretty long, we waited for probably 20+ minutes or so. We did eat late but they had....nothing. Literally 90% of their meats were sold out. Which, is understandable I get the BBQ world and how it works, but there was no signage/communication so we got to the counter and they told us we could basically get pulled chicken, sausage, or moink balls. And that was it. They did have burnt ends cooking but they wouldn't sell them to us, we had to get back in line, and even then they couldn't guarantee we would make it back through in time. If we knew our options were slim we probably would have gone elsewhere but at that point we had waited so long and were starving. The food that we did have was great, don't get me wrong. And the prices did feel fair. But we wished there was more transparency on what they actually had available so we could have planned. We definitely left disappointed. read more

We thought we would try this place because we have passed by many times but never stopped in. As soon as I walked in to order i felt like I was a bother. The sides were slammed down and the young lady behind the glass never cracked a smile, even after I thanked her. The gentleman that gave us our fries was very nice and said your welcome after I thanked him. He was the Only person who smiled the entire time. Maybe they were All having a bad day and that happens. Food was good. Chicken was pretty good and tender with good flavor. Greens and Mac was okay. Fries were hot. Outside Space was cool and easy place to eat with your pup! read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - 2 Meat plate - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

By far the best baked beans in Asheville. The bourbon pecan pie was extremely delicious.

We came for the bear balls (Mac and cheese and bacon inside a corn bread ball) and we were not disappointed, outdoor games were a bonus! read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Outdoor area - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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We took an unexpected detour into Asheville. We asked about good BBQ in the area and Bear's was recommended. Man, was this a great stop! The smoked turkey was delicious and the pulled pork absolutely melts in your mouth! They had a really cool outdoor set up with a huge tv and corn hole. What a great stop this was! read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Pulled Pork - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I was very underwhelmed by this BBQ spot. The meat was a little dry, the mac n cheese was runny, and the cornbread was crumbly/dry. That being said, the outdoor area is very cute! It is a great place to socialize in big groups. However, while we were there there were large families who let their kids run around. It might be more of a family joint rather than a place to meet friends read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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I would avoid this place on concert nights at AVL Yards. It was a disaster inside with food and trash everywhere thanks to customers that did not bus their own tables. All the BBQ sauces were empty but I found a nice employee who filled a few for us. Someone spilled their entire drink an inch from us and another person hit the tray on cafeteria style order area and everything fell to the ground. I liked the siracha sauce on the bar. We shared the 3 meat plate with kielbasa, chopped pork, & turkey & 2 sides. The turkey was the best meat in my opinion. The kielbasa was dry and the pork did not have any flavor without adding sauce. The Mac & cheese did not have much flavor. The best thing was the baked beans side. Delicious! read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - 3 Meat Meal - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Came back in late 2025 after my last experience a while ago and the higher standards have returned. Flavor and fully developed ribs. Cornbread taste and density were on point. read more

Is this actually what NC considers good BBQ? The atmosphere and set up of this place is excellent. Lots of outdoor seating, dog parking, family friendly, games, a sweet bar...but the BBQ itself? Pretty lackluster. Nothing about this place was memorable, remarkable, and the fact that there was no Carolina sauce for the pulled pork was shocking. If you only have a few days in Asheville, go someplace else. This just isn't it. read more

I went to Bears the July 4th weekend. The highlight for me was the sides, as well as the beef rib. The flavor and seasoning was delicious, however it was not the freshest meat. With that being said it was very good, but for the price, I would have preferred fresh meat instead of the dryer selection I got. read more

The spot is cute and has an open area for corn hole and outdoor seating. You order at a counter and seat yourself. We opted to sit inside due to how hot it was outside. The food and sauces are outstanding. I would go back for the ribs and baked beans alone. Still thinking about this meal. read more

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Ambiance is great for family and dates, and it's the only reason for the four stars. The food is meh, very dry. The chicken was desert dry. The ribs were also shockingly dry. The pulled pork was dry. The burnt ends were good, the only thing on the menu worth coming back for. read more

We enjoyed our ribs and sides from Bear's on Coxe. It's not as good as the original Twelve Bones (now closed due to the Helene flood in 2024) but still the BBQ here is tasty. read more

If you are in asheville you must stop here for lunch or dinner!!! The BBQ is so good - we had brisket and ribs. Also huge fan of the mac & cheese and beans - probably can't go wrong with anything you get. There is so much seating - inside, outside, or both! Fire pits, TVs, full bar with lots of draft beers, I could stay here all day... read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Great food, fair prices and great atmosphere with kids to move and play. The service was promoted and accurate. I will say that I think we could have more fans, a few more spots with stronger A/C. Maybe some misters outside. read more

The guy that I first dealt with, the one that serves up the meat, probably shouldn't be working in the service industry. He'd probably be better in a work from home job where he doesn't have to deal with customers. What a turn off. The guy that rang me up was so much better and made me feel better. Three of the barbecue sauce pumps in the dining room weren't working well (dirty?) and one splattered me with sauce that got all over my shirt. Dammit! Burnt Ends were great. Brisket ok. Pork was a big disappointment. Cole slaw ok. Collard greens pretty darn bland. No bread included. Thanks for having Athletic Beer, both Blonde and IPA, and for having an NA Hop Water. Neat looking place. Large portions. Gosh, guy at front of line just sets the tone. Not a good representative for your business. I wouldn't go back. read more

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Ordered a family meal through UberEats totaling $124, including brisket for a family of four, pulled pork for a family of four, mac and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread. The cornbread was completely missing, and the portions of both meats were far smaller than what was advertised as "family size" -- realistically enough for about two people, not four. The sides we received were fine, but the main components of the order were not. When contacted, the restaurant acknowledged items may have been missed but stated they do not issue refunds for missing items. UberEats support ultimately capped the refund at $2, which did not come close to addressing the missing food. Food quality aside, this was disappointing from a portion and fulfillment standpoint, especially given the price and the expectations set by the menu description. read more