Johnny Ray&#x27;s Smokehouse

A local favorite Carolina BBQ place. It is vinegar-based bbq with Cole slaw and hash puppies. The…read moreplace was packed with patrons when we came in for lunch. Both my friends ordered hot dogs. The hot dog served with chili and Cole slaw piled on top. A unique combination.

I hate that Leave a Tip is gone. I just wanted to say you can order half french fries and half…read morehushpuppies with your meal. Good stuff. Great service.

Chopped Beef Plate (small)

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I enjoyed the food so much that I forgot until I was almost done to take a photo.

Thelma Lou’s Barbeque & Grill

5.0(23 reviews)

13.4 mi

We flew in just for the bbq. Arrived right after they opened and the dining area was already pretty…read morefull. We sat ourselves and our server was quick to get our lemonade order. We got the pulled pork sandwich and tots. Everything came quickly. Tots were golden fried, perfectly crispy. Pulled pork was topped with a cabbage slaw inside a toasted bun. All very good. Served hot and fresh. Server was very busy but took the time to be friendly and welcoming. Nice homey place to eat. Will definitely return. We're not from the area, we flew in for bbq. They're located at the end of the Shelby Co Regional Airport runway. You have to walk down to a gate, thru or around a small cemetery and across a two-lane rd. Well worth it.

Great BBQ! Number one great service people! Number two they have white slaw! Great view of airport…read more Might catch a show - planes landing.

Front entrance of restaurant

Pork & Burger

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Menu

JDs Smokehouse

4.7(339 reviews)

22.0 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

Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge

4.1(289 reviews)

11.1 mi

The food and service is always phenomenal at Bridges. Everyone always speaks when you go in, and…read morethe waitresses always have a smiling face. You get a lot of food for your money.

This was my first time visiting Red Bridges Barbecue and I was happy with the food, prices, service…read moreand ambiance. Their food was really good and portions were good size. The prices were reasonable. We sat at a table, which was in between the booths, which made getting around our chairs a little tight. The service was excellent with our waitress checking on us often. The ambiance is nice as it does look like it's been around for a while, which it has. The restaurant gets busy, which is a testament to it's quality of food, service, and prices.

Jumbo Plate

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A little bit of everything!

Daddy Joe's Beach House BBQ and Grill

4.1(276 reviews)

25.0 mi

If you are passing through Gaffney or just looking for a mini vacation, Daddy Joe's Beach House BBQ…read moreand Grill is a must visit. The food is top-tier Southern comfort. The fried pickles were incredible - full dill spears perfectly crispy and a great way to start our meal. The homemade onion rings with honey mustard dipping sauce were the best. The ribs were tender and authentic slow smoked flavor you only get here. What really set this place apart was the vibe. Warm spring like night on the patio with live acoustic music. Atmosphere was beachy!!! Waitstaff was friendly and made you feel like family. Sweet tea was overflowing!!!

Had lunch recently while in the area. This place is very popular with the locals and gets busy…read morequick. We got here about an hour after it opened and it was already busy. Rustic interior with wooden benches and tables, across several seating areas and an outside patio. We were greeted walking in and seated in the same moments, our server was kind and attentive. We started with an appetizer, their Jalapeno Cheddar Hush Puppies. A nice serving of golden brown pups and a dipping sauce. Great flavor and just a hint of spicy heat. A good start. After giving the menu a good read, I opted for the Calabash Shrimp and Flounder. Its another solid choice if you're there for the seafood. A nice meal with golden fried shrimp, a couple flounder filets with hush puppies, slaw and potato salad, cocktail and tartar sauce. This is good comfort food cooking and it works. I enjoyed my meal very much. 4 Stars good food, fair prices and kind staff 01277

Take out counter

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Gaffney, S.C.

Boulevard Barbeque

4.0(78 reviews)

23.8 mi

Came here for lunch on a Wednesday afternoon. We had no wait, and found the service to be fast and…read morefriendly. This was my first time having bbq in NC and living in central Texas for a few years now I had thought I was a staunchly beef over pork person for bbq, but boulevard is making me rethink things a bit! Some of the best ribs I've ever had, falls off the bone with no effort what so ever. Incredibly rush and delicious flavor. The chopped bbq was also really good, especially with their white or gold sauces. Their portion sizes are incredibly large. My beans and hush puppies mostly went untouched. The potato salad was solid, but let's be honest, you're here for the meats and you won't be disappointed

WOW is all I can say. I cannot believe it has taken me 2 years of being in Morganton to try this…read moreplace. I got the two meat combo with the jumbo drumsticks and BBQ. The jumbo drumsticks were hands down the best chicken I have ever had in my life. Smoked to perfection, tender, and the sweet glaze was so good. Not a bad thing to say about anything. The hush puppies were to die for as well. Prices were very reasonable especially for the amount of food you get. Adding this to my top favorite places in Morganton and absolutely cannot wait to go back!

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The Smoke Pit

4.0(276 reviews)

23.4 mi

We sat in the bar area and our server was Brittany. Wowee,…read morewhat a great time. Food, service, and everything else was great. I got the brisket, pulled pork, rib combo. The Brisket was INCREDIBLY GOOD. We hope to see her again soon. What a sweetheart. I usually put a little sauce on everything, but not tonight. That meat didn't need a thing. It was perfect just the way it came. Good on ya, Smoke Pit !!! PLUS, I LOVE the sit down format you have now. The counter ordering is ok, but food this good deserves a little more class...

Another great meal at the Smoke Pit. The service was great as always and the food was great. The…read moreburnt ends are cooked and sauced well and the corn is excellent. The red slaw never disappoints. The restaurant is always clean. They do a great job with the food and service.

Bar area

They got some seriously good #Brisket Super Spud out here.

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Sauce Choices

Big E Original BBQ Company

5.0(1 review)

15.8 mi

The Big E BBQ plate offers a generous amount of smoky, juicy pork, a soft bun, fresh and…read morewell-drained hand-cut fries, sweet and crunchy coleslaw and a canned soda or bottled water, all for $10. The fries are incredibly fresh. The pork is stellar, just what I like, with a side of sweet barbecue sauce for pouring or dipping. There's enough pork for two sandwiches OR for one sandwich and some extra on the side, just the way I like! Sandwiches are also available for $6 and fries for $3. Big E isn't always available at this site on a regular schedule at this point, but you should get a taste when it's there. Big E also offers catering as well as ribs on occasion by pre-order for $25. In a town with no brick-and-mortar BBQ restaurant, Big E is much needed. Friendly and fast service, too. I was told I'd have to wait a bit for fresh fries. Less than 5 minutes later I was back in the car with my food. Cards accepted. Lot available for parking near a Mountain Rest Cemetery entrance. Follow Big E on Facebook for info on when barbecue will be available!

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Circle B BBQ

3.9(8 reviews)

21.4 mi

Amazing pulled pork and fries. Super friendly staff. Go early because they tend to have people buy…read morethem out of some items that are prepared daily. I love the interior, it is decorated a bit like an old school garage/restaurant.

3 people in whole place and i got the wrong order i ordered pulled pork white slaw hush puppies and…read moregot fried okra instead of slaw on my to go order pulled pork no award winner hush puppies not from north carolina slaw i dont even know how bad it would have been not worth the drive

Bbq sundae

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Pulled pork sandwich

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Daniel W.

228

42

81

2 years ago

Johnny Ray's Smokehouse exceeded my expectations! The portions were incredibly generous, ensuring you get great value for your meal. The wait staff was not only attentive but also exceptionally charismatic and kind, adding to the warm and welcoming atmosphere. The food was outstanding, with every dish bursting with flavor. The dry rub wings were a highlight for me--they were shockingly tender and seasoned to perfection. If you're looking for top-notch BBQ with great service, this is the spot to visit! read more

Jake D.

0

2

0

3 years ago

I recently dined at Johnny Ray's Smokehouse in Lawndale, North Carolina, and it was a delightful experience. The chicken sandwich exceeded expectations, perfectly seasoned and cooked. The service was excellent, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that perfectly captured the small-town southern vibes. Kudos to the owner for not only serving fantastic food but also for attentively listening to customer feedback, making it an even more enjoyable dining spot. read more

Rain K.

0

1

0

5 months ago

Wonderful restaurant, the food never fails to disappoint! Very homey vibe as a local and raised southerner. The service is always so incredible! Especially from my host Irelyn. She's so kindhearted and patient, she was able to handle the struggle of losing wifi in the restaurant with such ease, it was impressive! read more

Joey D.

0

3

4

5 months ago

First time in North Carolina and this is why i'm coming back! Burger had me wanting a nap half way through it was so filling. Ribs were the best around. 9.1/10 read more

Abby B.

0

1

0

1 month ago

Every time we come here we have a great experience. The food is always great and we always LOVE to get Nicole as our server. She is so kind and attentive. read more

Sherry W.

0

1

0

6 months ago

The food is always good. Service is fast and the atmosphere is great! The smell coming from the kitchen will have your mouth watering and belly growling! read more

Julie B.

0

2

0

5 months ago

We absolutely will be back, Lunch specials are a good value. Food was great and staff friendly and efficient.

Zachary P.

0

1

0

1 month ago

Nicole is Awesome! Best Ribs on earth! Real cold beer! Great atmosphere! read more

Johnny Ray's Smokehouse - bbq - Updated August 2026

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I hate that Leave a Tip is gone. I just wanted to say you can order half french fries and half…read morehushpuppies with your meal. Good stuff. Great service.

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The food and service is always phenomenal at Bridges. Everyone always speaks when you go in, and…read morethe waitresses always have a smiling face. You get a lot of food for your money.

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We went there today for breakfast. After serving our drinks the waitress forgot about us. We…read morefinally had to ask a waiter who was walking by to help us. After bringing the food, no one came by to ask us if we needed anything else or to refill our drinks or bring the check. I had to ask for a to go box. We had to go to the cashier and he had to go get the ticket from the waitress. The bad service ruined the atmosphere for our meal.The food was okay, but because of the way we were treated we will not be returning.

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