Highlander Bbq

While in NC I decided I needed some Carolina BBQ. Heard decent things about Holy Smokes so decided…read moreto give it a try on a Monday night. Got there about 6:00pm because they close at 7pm! We were the only ones in the restaurant besides the staff. Ordering is Fast Casual style. They have the usual suspects: Chopped Pork, Brisket, Pulled Pork & Sausages in sandwiches or plates with 2 sides. I got the 2 meat plate ($21) with sliced chunks of Brisket which was very good & the chopped pork which was also good. Wifey got the brisket as well and our 3rd wheel had the brisket burnt ends which she loved. My sides of Mac & cheese was excellent & the coleslaw was fine. Seating is both available indoors at picnic tables or outside as well. Overall a very pleasant experience and worth trying if you're in the area.

Wow! Such a beautiful view and very delicious food. They have a gift shop area and they sell fudge…read more Some of the stuff is Wizard of Oz because the Land of Oz attraction is close by. You order your food at the counter and choose your own seating. They have a ton of options but we had to go with the patio view which was stunning. Definitely gotta try the sauces! We even took a bottle home which they sell near where you place your order. The staff was very friendly and kind. I will 100% be back next time we visit. We really enjoyed our time!

Brisket Sandwich with Mac and Cheese.

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Smokin Pig BBQ

4.8(43 reviews)

42.1 mi

This is still my favorite local bbq place! So good and generous portions!…read more I ordered their 1/4 portion pork nachos which was plenty of food!

Wow the food was amazing!!!! We started of with the pork nachos and they were some of the best i…read morehave had ! We also did the ribs - fantastic rub by itself that it didn't even need the side sauces. We did their sausage and tenderloin and they were both good also. Finished it off with a banana pudding which was a perfect balance of flavor and not overly sweet. The staff was super friendly and helpful. They had a nice covered seating area and nice views I am from Miami and can't wait to try it again when i am back in the area. Only got to take a picture of the nachos.

Pork nachos

Yum

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1/4 pork nachos! Still huge!

Rollin Smoke BBQ

4.4(14 reviews)

18.1 mi

This location is closed. It would be nice if business would update their site or hours before the…read morelong hungry drive.

Honored to be the first to give a review on Rolln Smoke BBQ. As I often do when I'm traveling to…read morenew places, I look to YELP for HELP. And I found this bbq restaurant with NO REVIEWS. So, I gave it a shot & was glad I did. The building was kind of rundown, but the food was great. I had their pulled bbq plate w 2 sides (fresh-cut fries & homemade potato salad). Not a fan of the fries, but the potato salad was DELICIOUS. The bbq had great smoke flavor & was more than I could eat. Overall ... thoroughly enjoyed my visit & would definitely come back for more. I even spoke with the owner who was very sweet.

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Howard Station

4.3(82 reviews)

21.3 mi

My wife and I made the trek to do a day trip to watch all the beautiful colors this time of year…read moreone sees throughout the blue ridge mountains . To the important part , Howard Station is a must stop whether you are a local or from out of town . As soon as you enter you will be warmly greeted and given seating options . We chose to sit at the bar and were given excellent service . From how quickly we were given our drinks to the turn around on ordering and receiving our food , it was exceptional !!! I chose to try the maple bacon wings . Guys , I could eat a bucket of these !! They come out golden brown , lightly crisped on the outside and super tender smoked chicken meat on the inside . The dry rub - maple complement each other immensely well, you get salty , you get sweet, you get maple syrup smells , it's an A+ experience in addition to the warm safe ambiance . Treat yourself to Howard Station, it's a must try!

The meat was incredibly dry & tough on both the shredded chicken and pork sandwiches…read more The sauces were not impressive - not thick enough (thin liquid) and without a lot of flavor. The sides were also unremarkable - the fried okra was a little burned and soggy and the coleslaw was not crispy. The menu had limited choices. It's too bad that this NC town has only one good BBQ restaurant

$26 Platter (it's literally a small basket)

Chicken sliders and funkyfries

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Sliders and fries with side of slaw.

Phil's Dream Pit

4.5(246 reviews)

30.4 mi

Great food and they give more back to our community than most. The owner and team are caring…read moreprofessionals. Thanks for all you do !!!!!!

When we feel a need for some BBQ, we have some choices around the Tri-Cities to choose from, but we…read morecome back to Phil's again and again. The people are so welcoming and friendly and the food is always delicious (I love the brisket both on a sandwich or sliced on the plate). Definitely recommend if you're looking for some good BBQ!

Regular Pulled Pork Sandwich

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Patio

Southern Craft

4.3(580 reviews)

17.8 mi

Had a great evening at Southern Craft. Food and service were amazing! Thank you to Caleb for the…read morehospitality!

Took 90yr old ma to lunch here based on a recommendation…read more Loved the old repurposed building. Loved the interior- old, warm, aged. Clean and smelled great. If I was a building this would be me. Waitress was wonderful. Friendly and patient. Able to answer a few questions. Salad was good. I had the tot- nachos with pulled pork. Very good. Ma had a pulled pork sammich. She liked it. I ordered some sorta burnt ends with onions and taters as a to-go for home as the lil missus had to work. That was a mistake. I snuck a preview bite out of the to go box... man was it good. Made me regret the tot nacho pork plate. Anywho- it was a good experience. I'll go back. You should as well.

2 meat BBQ Combo. Pork belly and turkey

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Outside

Ridgewood Barbecue

4.1(319 reviews)

19.8 mi

One of the best BBQ restaurants in the South. Absolutely delicious, unfussy, and consistent. I've…read morebeen coming here since I was little, and 40 years later, the meat, beans, and sauce are the same superb quality. I get the pork sandwich (it's better than the beef, trust), fries, Mrs. Profitt's beans, and unsweet tea. It's a heavy, albeit perfect, meal.

Today we went back to many people's favorite local BBQ place & it was very good. I had the pork BBQ…read moresandwich with beans & my lovely wife had pork BBQ plate with fries & coleslaw. All the food was very tasty & the beans & coleslaw would compete anywhere. It was some of the best BBQ we've eaten lately. The service was fine & the prices were fair. Parking isn't good around lunchtime but other than that, everything here is worth the try!

Sign

Thick BBQ Sandwich!

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Sign

JDs Smokehouse

4.7(339 reviews)

43.5 mi

JD's is always consistent... quality, taste, & service always at the highest level. This BBQ…read morerestaurant is the best in Burke county.

We order take out. Service is fast and food is always delicious! I rarely need to wait longer than…read morea few minutes even when they are busy.

Inside

Pulled Pork with sweet potatoes and fries

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The interior

The Pedalin Pig - Banner Elk

3.6(550 reviews)

13.9 mi

While hiking the area, we drove by The Pedalin Pig a couple of times. Each time, the car filled…read morewith the glorious smell of smoked meat. Consequently, we had to stop for dinner. We each ordered the Pick 2 Meat Platter. I had the Ribs, Brisket, Mac-n-Cheese, and Fries. The meat was exactly what I was craving. The ribs were fall-off-the-bone perfect! Nice fire-smoked flavor. The Brisket was done perfectly! He had the Brisket & Sausage. Of course I tried the sausage; great flavor and a perfect blend of spices! The service here is exceptional! Mia took GREAT CARE of us! She let us relax in a corner booth. She boxed up our Oreo Cheesecake Parfait to go (that was an amazing late night snack at our resort). She was quick when we let her know we were ready for our bill. Mia really added to the experience! We are looking forward to our next visit! This is one of those restaurants that I would make a special trip to the area just to eat here! MOST SINCERELY, Dayla

My visit to the Pig's Invershiel location was for dinner, but business wasn't overwhelming for them…read moreand so I was quickly given a seat. Ordering and food arrival were quick as well. The waiter frequently mumbled though, and on multiple occasions I had to ask him to repeat himself as I had no idea what he said. Most of the seating is rustic benches, which fits the image but isn't exactly a comfortable arrangement. I also found myself bothered by the flickering light bulb in the track lighting above my seat. Minor issues, but still part of the experience. My order consisted of the pulled pork tray, macaroni & cheese and baked beans. I assumed there's would be some sort of bread included, perhaps hushpuppies, Texas toast or even cornbread...but that's not the case. The pork was pretty moist but didn't have much smoke flavor. The "Western" style sauce is far too sweet for my package so I asked for their Piedmont option, expecting a Lexington-style concoction. What I got was more reminiscent of ketchup mixed with vinegar, lots of sugar and some coarse ground black pepper. Sending a theme here? Avoid the typical sauce options unless you really like sugar. The beans were also oversaturated with sweetness. But the mac & cheese was nice, as they'd included some little chunks of cooked peppers into the mix for a bit of extra flavor. Is the food okay here? Sure, in terms of it being edible. And I'm sure there may be potential patrons who want their barbecue sauce syrupy sweet and who don't have their expectations based on a wealth of solid barbecue experiences. 2.75 stars in my book.

Sweet Potato Fries Pedalin Piggy

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Bar

Carolina Barbeque

3.5(99 reviews)

10.9 mi

BBQ had good flavor, just a little dry? They're fried pickle strips were to die for. The best I've…read moreever had. Sides and hush puppies outstanding. Green beans so good I took an extra order home. Overall, I'm going back for sure.

I'm not a big barbecue fan, but I love this place. I got a 2 piece chicken dinner and it was…read moredelicious. I didn't order macaroni and cheese with my meal, but I heard someone talking about it and I had to try it. It's homemade and it's the best. It doesn't need salt& pepper it's delicious as is

Things to do in Roan Mountain

BBQ pork, chicken, baked beans, man and cheese with hush puppies

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April A.

11 years ago

I love Highlander BBQ! It's the prefect little BBQ place! It is family owned/ran by the sweetest couple that always make you feel like family. My children really enjoy the decorations and history on the walls! We drive 30 minutes just to eat there every couple weeks. I nearly always get the pulled pork with slaw & fries. The pulled pork is perfect with a mixture of spicy vinegar & sweet bbq sauce. I also love that it is very affordable. Great people, prices & food! read more

Lora F.

12 years ago

We like it. its very good and they are very accommodating. My son love's the desserts.

Highlander Bbq - bbq - Updated August 2026

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Red Pig Bar-B-Q

3.1

(81 reviews)

This town has so many BBQ restaurants and I enjoy eating at about everyone of them. This place is…read moreone of the best in town. The staff were great and courteous. The food was all great and delicious. The restraunt was busy and kind of loud but it wasn't anything no different than any other place. I highly recommend trying this place out if you can. It's reasonably priced and you won't regret it!

We went Last December and it was pretty good. good for group…read more However, we went this last weekend. it was horrible. they change the menu without price $$ on it. Order chicken bbq sandwich is worst of all bbq because it is no favor. Sauce was watery and no favor. We can tell that potato salad is coming from food store preparing box. they aren't serve blackberry tea anymore. My husband tried to order rib and they aren't have anymore. Mac cheese was bit overcooking. my daugther order grilled cheese and it isn't good. i can do it better at my home. What happen??? seem old employees are not there anymore. We won't come again. Restroom isn't handicapp friendly.

Banjo BBQ

5.0

(3 reviews)

10/10 - The BBQ tacos were amazing and the side were all great! The owners were super nice and you…read morecould tell we're passionate about their food. Must try!

We ate the loaded spuds at Banjo Bbq tonight at the Appalachian Sun Brewery!…read more It was SO good!! The owner was so kind and we loved the cheerwine bbq sauce. We highlight recommend eating with them if you find them in the area!! Excellent food, service, and price!

The Firehouse

4.3

(192 reviews)

Excellent food. Highly recommend the Alabama Chicken Sandwich and the German Chocolate Brownie. The…read morestaff were very warm and the entire atmosphere is great.

Pros: Very clean, family-friendly atmosphere, reasonably priced, great friendly service, and fun…read moreaesthetic. Cons: No beer to pair with the BBQ, and while the food was good, it wasn't great. Overall, Firehouse was a fun spot for a family lunch. The experience, atmosphere, service, and value were all positives, but I was a bit underwhelmed by the brisket in particular. That said, the food was still good and I'd recommend a visit.

Project BBQ

4.7

(89 reviews)

The best BBQ in Johnson City!…read more The location is what you'd expect from a traditional BBQ joint - nice big tables/booths. Some TV's for sports etc. The food though is what is beyond amazing - the pulled pork and the brisket are my go-to's. Their sides are also fantastic - collard greens are literally to die for, the cornbread pudding is delectable, and they have the best vinegar cole slaw I've ever had. Make sure to get the banana pudding if they're not already sold out!

There is nothing that is bad on the menu , there are things that are better than others . Like the…read moresmash burger with jalapeño's and smoked queso is insanely good . Brisket burgers are bangers too . Chicken breast are very tender , juicy and full flavor . Pizza did I mention they have pizza , yes pizza and it's not to bad . I could list literally everything from the menu after several experiences it would be a book . I have literally had everything on the menu over the last 2 months while in the area . If I didn't have to worry about my weight and had the money I could eat here everyday without issue 4.5/5 stars

The Pedalin' Pig-Boone

3.7

(301 reviews)

We had lunch there today. Very fast friendly service…read more The food was outstanding as always. The smell of fresh pit cooked bbq as you walk in gets you ready. They now have Alabama white bbq sauce and it is good.

We decided to go to The Pedalin Pig on a whim, after spotting it across the road from BobaBing! So…read moreglad we did because not only was the place packed with people, the bbq was absolutely delicious. We got the Two Meat Platter with Prime Brisket and St. Louis Ribs, which the cashier said were their specialties- so tender, fall-off-the-bone, smoky. For sides, we got hushpuppies and fried okra, which were again perfect- crispy and savory goodness. It came with their apple butter and bbq sauce, both were chef's kiss. Ambiance and service were good. There's a parking lot upfront. 10/10 would recommend!

Smokin Pig BBQ

4.3

(6 reviews)

I have driven by this little BBQ trailer for years and timing just never was right to stop until…read moretoday. Wow have I missed out. Had the thigh-leg quarter with beans and slaw and literally moaned through most the meal! No hipster food truck here. Prices were dare i say amazing for what you get (fed 2 with drink and sides for $15). Chicken was so tender and you can definitely taste the hickory smoke. Both regular and spicy sauces were solid but glad they were on the side as chicken didn't need it at all. Definitely will be back soon.

Entire meal brisket with beans drink and slaw for $10.00. Her menu starts with sides good portion…read morefor $1.00 then lowest meat menu item is $4.00 which is two pieces of chicken. Then her bbq sandwiches is lower than the meal and bbq meal $7.00 which comes with drink and chips. I love her bbq. The brisket was so tender and the rub amazing. It's cheaper than the brisket. Entire meal for like $7.00 be worth the visit. Thumbs up and please come visit her. So yummy bbq.

Pickin Pig Carolina Barbeque Parlor

3.5

(6 reviews)

No masks worn by employees. Store dirty. It is hard to believe there are people handling food this…read moreway in July 2020. Unable to eat there due to health concerns. It's a shame.. I really wanted to try the place. I had to go to McDonald's across the street.

Very much enjoyed a nice lunch with a friend on the patio. Let's talk about the good and the bad…read more The BBQ was moist and tasted good. The portion was plentiful for a small plate. I even had a small bit leftover. We both liked the beans, my friend felt they were a bit heavy on the bell pepper. My friend enjoyed the Mac n cheese. She said that it looks like it comes from a box but does not taste that way. Additionally, we got the hush puppies with our plates. They were very good but I think I would have preferred a roll. The sauces were excellent. I really wanted to ask if they sold them but I didn't see it bottled anywhere so I didn't ask. But you cannot go wrong with either choice. The place is very unassuming. Simple checkered table cloths on the inside with plenty of seating. You give your order at the counter but they bring you the food. The outside metal chairs and tables are in good condition and sit well. They have new umbrellas on the metal tables. They also have long pic nic tables or larger parties. Additionally, it looks like they serve beer and have a selection on tap. Now the bad... Well not even really bad. The place was good. However, the cole slaw didn't have much flavor and I thought it weird that when I paid the receipt asked for a tip. Well, other than bringing me my food, there was no other service. We even cleared our table, so what did I just leave a tip for? Taking my order or giving me my order? ‍ So, hear me out people of Yelp, eat here or Highlander BBQ on Roan Mountain. Skip the fanciness of Southern Craft and come get you a good meal.

Snack Wagon

5.0

(4 reviews)

I didn't eat. But they are a local favorite for several years. I like how the women came out and…read morehanded the food to my friend!!! Here ya go Cable!!! Is that Robin? Everyone loves this place!!!

We stopped by on a whim. The shack offers a nice variety of American cuisine. My wife and I split a…read morecheeseburger and cheese steak with the bacon and cheese fries. My son had the cheesesteak with cheese sticks. The food was really good and reasonably priced. The owner was very nice and friendly. If you want a quick, no frills, meal on the road....eat at the Snack Shack. My only complaint is that the bacon and cheese fries had no bacon in them. That was disappointing but not the end of the world. We took the food home so we didn't notice the lack of bacon until it was too late.

Americano Steak House

4.0

(95 reviews)

Another amazing dinner at Americano! This visit was for my sister's birthday during our girls trip…read moreto the cabin. I made reservations ahead of time. They now have a full bar which they didn't have when I wrote my last review. What a nice touch. The owner was nice enough to make my sisters a pitcher of sangria to enjoy. He mixed up some delicious expresso martinis for my friend and I. We ordered the firecracker shrimp and the Brussel sprouts. Both were fantastic!! I ordered the Sirloin with a caesar salad and potatoes. My friend ordered the overmountain chicken and she said it was fantastic. I honestly can't remember what my sisters ordered b/c we just chatted and laughed the whole dinner. I loved my steak and it was cooked perfectly. The caesar was also really good and I'm a caesar snob since my husband makes his own dressing...this matched up to his perfectly...so delicious!! Our server was extremely nice, prompt and really appeared happy to work here. The owner was as always the nicest and attentive person on the floor and he is just so kind. I love that everyone who works here really are top notch. From the second you walk in the door you feel like you've arrived at their family home for a wonderful meal. We all left very full and so happy. I can't wait to return.

For the second time in the last month we have had a terrible experience at this restaurant. It took…read more30 minutes before our order was taken and 50 minutes later before our food came. The steaks were overcooked, the chicken was dry and the Brussels were dry. We even waited 25 minutes for our desserts to come. Clearly something has happened over the last few years as it is not like it used to be. We are not big drinkers but to let your liquor license lapse seems like very poor management. We gave it a second chance since our last bad experience and this was the last time. I really hate it because we need good places in this area but for the prices they charge this is nowhere near worth it.

City Drive-In

4.6

(38 reviews)