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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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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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

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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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

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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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

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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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

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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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

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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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

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

They know how to do BBQ. It was very tasty. My one comment the Mac and Cheese was awful. It was cooked pasta with a runny cheese sauce. Real Mac & cheese is baked not tossed in a bowl. 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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This place was great! I loved the ambiance with people having such a good time by the fire pits and some other people playing games. The food was so yummy and their prices were very reasonable. read more

I'm from Texas so grading BBQ through a tougher lense here! This place was very cool with great outdoor seating and a cool food vs bar split on the indoor spaces. Pretty solid menu options including vegetarian options which I thought was cool for a BBQ place. The brisket was okay - a bit dry. Potato salad and broccoli salad were great! Everyone else in our party enjoyed their meals. read more

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

Amazing Barbecue! Very generous portions. I had brisket with sides and my wife had pulled pork. Next time we are in Asheville we will certainly eat at Bear's again. read more

Amazing BBQ and the quantities are insane. You definitely won't leave hungry. The staff is super upbeat and friendly. The outdoor area is really nice. A great place to just hang out with friends. read more

As others have said, get the burned ends if available. OMG. That is NOT good eating. It's fabulous eating.

I really love the food here and am super happy at how much they've expanded at this location (the huge outdoor space for families, kids, and dogs, as well as the bar area) since we came here 2 years ago. We came late on a Friday night, so they were out of most of their meats, which is to be expected, but it was frustrating waiting in such a long line without being told that until you finally got up to the counter to order your food. My husband and I both ordered the nachos and got the only meat they had left, turkey, but they both came out looking completely different. It was like they were slopping stuff onto trays trying to get rid of whatever they could so they could tell people they were all out of food. My husband's nachos had so many jalepenos just dumped on the side and a ton of salsa thrown on top. Mine had a tiny amount of salsa on the side and a normal amount of jalepenos scattered over top. The food was good, but it was just a weird experience. Outside customers are expected to clean up after themselves by throwing trash away and stacking up their trays at the different trash stations, but many did not. This left a lot of tables covered in trash that were not getting cleared off, which attracts flies, makes the outdoor seating look junky, and leaves groups either having to clean it up themselves or finding somewhere else to sit. Several areas that had sauces, forks, and napkins were not refilled either. If they had more staff, then all of these issues could have been avoided. read more

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Had brisket plate and bear balls (pause). The lady had a garden salad because of course that's what you get when you try something new. Service and food was great. Good vibe to watch the Olympics. Bartender liked beer. I like beer. Would come again read more

Super fun bbq joint with an amazing vibe on their large patio, bar, seating and game areas! First, why it didn't get a 5 star, which it honestly should. We came here with our kids who aren't big fans of bbq (yet lol). We saw they had some kid friendly items including nachos. We ordered these for the kids. What came out were some generic store bought chips with generic store bought salsa thrown on top. Probably something you'd expect to get from a gas station. Ok, now for the goodies. Everything else on their menu was amazing. From the moink balls, to the brisket and everything in between. Unfortunately I didn't get food pictures so I am unable to depict with pics this round. Hands down some of the best bbq meats we've had in a long time. Having outdoor games for adults and kids alike makes it for a super fun experience. Add in that they are a very pet friendly place for your furry friends. We will be back! read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Covered patio area. Pet and kid friendly. - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Ok so we tried a new place. Ordered a 2 meat combo. The brisket was tender and tasty. Not overly seasoned. The ribs had a good flavor. They used baby back ribs which don't have as much meat as spare ribs. The potato salads had a very distinct dill taste so I traded it out for some cornbread. Unfortunately, it was dry and overly sweet. The greens were tender and had an authentic taste. The wings were smoked properly. Nothing exciting here, just regular decent food. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Ribs, chicken wings, BBQ baked beans, collards - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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I know this is a local favorite, but I am not completely sold on it. Pros: 1. Service is fast. Order to the right as you come in the door. 2. The pulled pork and the sauces were killer. Cons: 1. The burnt ends were really burnt pork belly. Decent flavor, but way too much fat .. yes .. I know it is pork belly. BTW. Burnt ends are the ends of a smoked brisket .. period! 2. The sides were okay .. we tried the Mac and cheese as well as the baked beans. 3. There is not a lot of space inside, so it better be good weather. For $70 for two 2 meat plates, an appetizer, and two waters ... I expected better. read more

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

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Really good BBQ near Asheville Yards! I suggest going to this BBQ joint right before a concert. It's right down the street from Asheville Yards and has a really great outside area. Grab some BBQ and a beer, sit back, and relax. The meat was tender and the broccoli salad still had a crunch despite all the salad dressing on it. The only disappointment was my dried out cornbread. But this is the place to go in Asheville for some BBQ and great outdoor space. Also, this is perfect for big groups, because you get in line first to order and then find a seat to eat. Quick and easy with a group. read more

Bear's Smokehouse BBQ - Chopped pork, cornbread, and broccoli salad - Food Trucks Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Delicious BBQ in downtown Asheville. We remember coming when it was just the food truck. They have plenty of servers that help get the food to you quickly! Fun indoor:outdoor space is kid/pet friendly, too! read more

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