I was passing through the area and decided that I wanted to find a place for lunch that was not typical fast food - so I decided this would be a good place to try. We ordered two meals - a pulled pork plate with hush puppies, onion rings, and okra, as well as a pulled chicken sandwich with a side of fries. Overall the food was very good, not as much of a smoke ring on the meat as you might see at many BBQ places, but still flavorful. The chicken was a bit dry, but fortunately there's plenty of BBQ sauce on the table. Overall it's a really nice place with solid food and quick service. Clearly this place is popular with the locals. The inside was nice and clean. I would certainly consider stopping here again when I'm in the area. read more

See all

Anyone who has to make a trip along I-85 through north central NC and south central VA is familiar with the town of South Hill. It's basically a mid-way point between Durham and Richmond or Virginia Beach, and is right up near the state line, so it kind of makes a natural stopping point. You also know that the options for actually stopping and eating there, are pretty limited outside of fast food. So I was encouraged to find a roadside BBQ shack with more than 4 stars on Yelp about 5 miles off the highway. The place looks the part, an old gas station converted into a BBQ hideaway. Upon pulling in and parking, my hopes were high. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience. The service at the counter was friendly and helpful, definitely a high point. I ordered a brisket sandwich combo, for which I chose collard greens as the side (on recommendation), and a tea. It also came with a condiment cup of coleslaw for the sandwich, on request. All told, about 15 bucks. A few minutes later my order was up, and I had a seat on one of the counter stools. Unwrapping the sandwich, I was already a bit unenthused. Standard economy hamburger bun, bit of meat poking out one side. Removing the top bun revealed one solitary slice of brisket about a half inch thick, cut in half, a small portion based on all my life BBQ experiences. Pulling off a piece, the meat had a very pot-roast like texture, not characteristic of recently smoked brisket. In all fairness, unless you are rapidly selling brisket, it is a difficult meat to maintain quality on. I dumped my coleslaw ontop and sauced it up, which helped, I liked the sauce... but the sandwich was a definite disappointment. The collard greens, though cooked properly, were very salty. I was hoping for a little bit of sweetness or vinegar, but just salt. I added some of their vinegar style sauce hoping to help it, but just didn't make much dent. Maybe ordering brisket was the wrong thing to do and pork is more their speed, or a plate is the better route, with a different side for sure... but I don't see myself trying again. The search for decent stop-over food continues. read more

See all

We stole away for one night of camping to watch the meteor showers Saturday night and decided to grab some dinner so we didn't have to get a campfire going. This place got good reviews so we have it a shot. Between is we had pulled pork, brisket, Mac n cheese, slaw, onion rings and pecan and key lime pies. The food was good - I prefer more smoke on my 'Q but the meat was tender and well smoked. The onion rings would have been amazing had I eaten them right away but even soggy they were delicious. Oh, and the hush puppies were excellent as was the pie. But our favorite thing? The service. It was so good. I would go back and eat there again even if the food wasn't good because the people were just delightful. Go eat good food and be delighted! And make sure you order the PEE-can pie! read more

Risin' Smoke Barbecue - BBQ and fixings! So much food! - Barbeque Near Me - South Hill, Virginia

A friend and I went there on Mar 7, 2025, for lunch. I got the pulled pork BBQ, and he had the brisket BBQ. Mine was very good and he also said his was as well. Yep, I'll definitely go back, just sad that they're 50 miles away from home. read more

Risin' Smoke Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - South Hill, Virginia

See all

Food is amazing Service is great and the food is the best bbq ever The ribs were seasoned to perfection and the side dishes are amazing read more

If you like bbq this is some of the best. Pork, chicken, beef. Jeff is a world class chef. Broad menu. Well prepared sides. Fantastic deserts. Comfortable dining area and friendly service. read more

Absolutely fantastic BBQ. This is an old gas station converted into a BBQ place, and it's clean but simple - but you're really not here for the ambiance or the service, you're here for the meat, and the meat is delicious. Easily the best brisket I've had in years, no question there, and it was helped along by some awesome sauces. The pulled pork was fantastic as well. The sides (I chose collard greens and fried okra) were great, very home-y. If I lived anywhere nearby, I'd go here all the time. read more

Fantastic BBQ! Wish I had a place like this where I live. The Brisket is juicy and flavourful! Delicious sides and hushpuppies. The pulled pork is also juicy and tender. You can't go wrong with the sweet or vinegar BBQ sauces either. My only regret is that I couldn't eat more. read more

Risin' Smoke Barbecue - Barbeque Near Me - South Hill, Virginia

Stopped in here tonight on the way home from Asheville. Husband had the ribs, coleslaw and onion rings. Other than the coleslaw, everything was really good. The ribs had a nice rub and were very tender. I had the pulled pork plate with potato salad and collards. You could also get rolls or hush puppies. I found the meat to be a little dry but it was still very tasty. The collards were delicious and I appreciated that the potatoes were cooked till soft in the potato salad. But the best part of this meal? The chocolate meringue pie! Holy smokes was it good. Best chocolate meringue pie I have EVER eaten. If you're ever in the area, and you like bbq or pie, you owe to yourself to stop in for some good eats!!!! read more

Came here for lunch as we were leaving the lake. Lady behind the counter was super friendly, and knew her menu. We ordered the large brisket platter and pulled pork platter. My husband states the brisket, was tender with the right amount of smoke. I found the pulled pork to be wet, and mealy. Are sides of okra, greens, were hot and flavorful. I also found the iced tea not very strong at all. We will return, but I will try something other than the pork. There was a lady coming in with fresh organic milk, which seemed to be a hit with the customers. read more

Healthy helping for the price you pay definitely works for me not to mention how great the food is and the fact that you also receive nothing but the best attention in the world Luuv it I had the Brisket Platter every time I come here Keep up the great work read more

Great food. The sliced beef brisket is our favorite. We are from Texas so this is a huge find for us! Cute atmosphere. Lots of homemade desserts although I've been too full to try them. Very reasonable prices. This is where we go when we want to treat ourselves! read more

See all

Very friendly local staff. Excellent bbq, sides and of course pie. Indoor and outdoor seating. Very affordable. read more

The wife and stopped in and had the 3 meat plate, with a side of greens and Mac-n-Cheese. You can really smell the smoke & flavor, even before its in your mouth. We normally get BBQ and smoked meats when we travel and this was by far our favorite. The brisket was insanely juicy and flavorful. The Ribs were great but more importantly, they were made right. Falling off the bone without being over cooked nor dry. Being a stickler for perfection, I would give the meal a 9 out of 10. The order takers were VERY nice and suggested the BBQ sauces based on our likes. The habanero BBQ sauce was just right. Not to hot that you need to worry about the amount on the meat yet not weak so that you would look past the flavor. Heck, when leaving, we had moment to talk with one of the cooks who was extreamly nice and willing to tell us about how the meat was prepared. If you have a moment to stop, do your belly a favor eat here. read more

I know it isn't a normal choice but I got the Texas Philly this afternoon and am still thinking about it. it was SO good. they have a great atmosphere, the service is top notch and so positive! we visited from North Carolina and I will drive an hour and half to have that sandwich and service again. going to make sure to grab a slice of pie next time. also the beans are amazing. thanks for a great experience! read more

Found this place on yelp on my way from Charlotte North Carolina to Virginia beach Virginia. This place is located in the building at a gas station not far from the intersection of Route 85 and Route 58 towards the beach. I went to the counter and mention to the girl that I had not been there and she was very helpful assisting me with what to order. I made the decision not to decide; three meat combo fried pork chop, smoked beef brisket, smoked turkey, onion rings, baked beans, hush puppies and because I mentioned Yelp, a complementary cup of banana pudding. This meal was way too much to eat in one sitting which is an a bad thing. Well I was there I did eat all of the fried pork chop and all of the onion rings which were served with a tasty spicy sauce. I'll also ate one of the 2 hush puppies and a portion of both the smoked turkey and smoked beef brisket. It was an outstanding meal in a welcoming atmosphere. Perfect for a break during my rainy Tuesday drive. 5 stars for the trifecta- food, atmosphere and service. I look forward to stopping by this place on my next trip to Virginia Beach. read more

See all

I have eaten here twice on the way to visit my son in a southern college. Yum! The brisket is tender and delicious. The greenbeans were the perfect level of spiciness. The macaroni and cheese is so good. Cheesy but not greasy. Everything is good. I wasn't going to get dessert but decided to try the chocolate peanut butter cheesecake. Oh my goodness! Next visit, I decided to get some chocolate pie and just "taste" it. Wow, so good! I am looking forward to my next visit. read more

We went to the Risin Smoke Barbecue and I couldn't finish the food. I want to know what German shepherd approved the anything they sell; he had to be a hungry dog!! I'm going to give the cold ribs 1 star for being a rib. The brisket was cut incorrectly and tastes like overcooked roasted beef maybe I should call it mystery meat. My pulled pork was so dry and zero flavor, including water. We had extra dry barbecue chicken. Yuk!!!! Don't waste your time or money. We spent about $60 on junk. I can't believe they have a 4.5 star rating. Who is eating this stuff. read more

Just ate at this place disguised as a BBQ joint. The name "Risin Smoke" suggests the meats are smoked but that is the farthest from the truth. In fact there was no smoke to be found anywhere near this place. The meats are bland, vegetables overcooked, and glad I decided not to try dessert because there was mold on the Sweet Potato pie. How did they get 4 stars? I'd have to strongly consider 1 star at the most. read more

A little off I-85 but worth it if looking for something besides the regular fast food options. Staff was so nice and food came out quickly. Pork sandwiches were yummy and their vinegar sauce has a sweet side to it. The chocolate cheesecake was nice yum sweet treat! read more

It's pretty flipping good. My son had bbq, macaroni and cheese, and fries with peach cobbler. All really good. I had bbq, potato salad, collards and chess pie. The peach cobbler was wonderful, made with real peaches! I didn't care for the potato salad. It was meh but everything else compensated even the small side of Cole slaw. read more

Risin' Smoke Barbecue - Peach Cobbler - Barbeque Near Me - South Hill, Virginia

Food was good. Had the lunch special and the helping was enough to have for lunch the following day. That's always a plus, if the food is good. Staff are friendly and helpful. read more

Best BBQ in town! Everyone who comes to visit us always wants to go here!

I was in town two days for work. I ate there twice. Nice portions. Good price. I had brisket, pulled pork and some ribs. Plus they have some good cheesecake there. I will definitely stop next time I'm close by. read more

A hole in the wall with great food. Great great food, Ribs and collards and Mac and cheese, Brisket, cat fish all good.

Stopped here after camping at North Bend Park. Capped off the trip with an awesome BBQ lunch on a Tuesday. We got 1 lb of pork ribs and sliced brisket and we were not disappointed! The brisket was so moist and the ribs were falling off the bone. The fried okra was interesting. They cut them into small pieces, bread, and fried them. I thought the onion rings were so fresh and crispy. We also tried the chocolate meringue and blackberry cheesecake pie and those were delicious. Unfortunately we were too full to finish our meal, and gladly had extra ribs, okra, and the rest of our pies to eat for later. read more

See all

We just DIDN'T find the barbeque to be very good. My pork seemed like chicken & the beef was just okay. In their defense, western barbecue is different & we just prefer it ! read more

Some of the best BBQ I've had out side of Texas. They have a great variety of food. Dine in or take out.

Food was amazing!!! Their sweet sauce is delicious and works well with the pulled pork sandwich. The Mac n cheese was the best I've ever had. The workers were nice and the food came out quickly. The tables were kept clean, they hand plenty of seating, aswell as tinted windows. I highly recommend going here! read more

We were driving through South Hill, found this business on Yelp. Every thing was wonderful! We could tell it was all home made. Highly recommend! When they ask if you want the onion ring sauce --the answer is YES! read more

This place is well worth the short trip off I-85! The barbecue was delicious and the sides were great. The deserts look DIVINE. I was too full to sample any. read more

Highlights: our lunch featured the onion rings and fried chicken sandwich. Adding the third star due to the lack of viable food options nearby. Also, recommend the hush puppies (did not try the alternate option, rolls). Take it or leave it: the immense sloppy joe style sandwich would be appreciated by people who enjoy that type of fare. Lowlights: rundown, dirty and neglected restaurant. For a barbeque place, the ribs were disappointing (small and soggy). read more

Easy to miss if you aren't looking for it. Friendly people and good food. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a quick BBQ fix. read more

If you're looking for fancy keep going but if you're looking for great food in a clean spot you've found it. We had the pulled pork and brisket combos both awesome. The sides we had were collards and green beans both were delicious. It's in an old store building but still has charm. We can't wait to go back. read more

Excellent rub on the ribs. Didn't even need the delicious bbq sauce. Also everyone was very nice and friendly.

In the parking lot of a gas station. Does that give you pause? It shouldn't. This place is legit! I had an awesome beef brisket sandwich and onion rings. I tried the BBQ sauce on a corner of my bun and it was OK but when I tried it on the brisket it really came alive. Excellent complement to the meat. We got the rolls with our food and instantly regretted not getting hush puppies instead. So we bought some hush puppies. While they were good the rolls were really soft and actually better. Kids got the hit dogs and crinkle cut fries. No complaints from them! Mac and cheese was decent too. Place was PACKED at lunch where there was no parking. That should tell you that you made the right choice. read more

Risin' Smoke Barbecue - Hush puppies - Barbeque Near Me - South Hill, Virginia

We are guilty of driving by this place several times in the last year and never stopping. Unfortunately, our food experiences in South Hill have been more than disappointing. Meanwhile, they've done a good job at providing fair BBQ here and a place for both locals and out-of-towners to stop. And, you'll find a tremendous amount of value coupled with sizable portions and some of the nicest folks you'll ever meet. If you're BBQ lover and are hungry it's worth a stop. The store boast a tremendous amount of culture and is littered with older signs and lots of cute paraphernalia. Keep in mind we are rating this compared to more than 350 BBQ places in America. If you are giving it a rating based on everything in this town it's clearly a five. However, compared to the better BBQ places in Virginia and beyond it is average. For example, if you're from Richmond and you've been do Mission BBQ, Buzz and Ned's or even saucy's the barbecue here is nowhere near as good. We tried two combos between us so we could sample as many meats as we could. Some of them were very good and most of them were about average. For starters, I would say the turkey was one of the better meats although there was a ton of fat on it. I'm well aware that brisket needs to have fat on it because fat adds flavor, however there was so much fat on the portion they gave us we had trouble finding the meat itself. When we were able to find the meat it was very good, but there was very little of it. The sliced pork had little to no flavor. The ribs were average. All of the meat we sampled are average which is fine. There's not much to complain about, but nothing that's going to make us stop as we pass through again. I hope you like vinegar-based sauce because that's what they have here. One is straight apple cider vinegar, another one has a little bit of sweetness to it and another one has a tiny bit of flavor to it and lots of vinegar. If you're a vinegar person you'll love this place, at least they're sauce. We were a little confused about the sides. The young girl at the counter told us everything is made from scratch which was not the case. We ordered the french fries thinking they were hand cut on site as well as the okra and both were frozen, which an employee confirm later. On the other hand, you will be impressed with their green beans. They actually cut them on site and they taste wonderful. The potato salad was very good and clearly made on site. In fact they told us that the owner cans her own pickles to make it. What was most impressive to us was the desserts. And if you have a sweet tooth you really need to stop thru here and grab a slice of pie or some banana pudding before you keep driving. Also it's pretty impressive that they're able to keep so many different kinds of pie on hand at all times. We ordered three pieces of pie even after eating our meals just so we could try them. The brown sugar and sweet potato pie are very good and two pies that you don't often see in many places so come on in here and try those for sure. The chocolate chip cheesecake is something you should order as well. read more

See all

We ended up here one weekend after asking the concierge at our hotel where we could get a great meal. They discouraged us from going somewhere, urging us instead to try Risin' Smoke. It's quite quaint -- in a former convenience store/gas station, so it really has that country restaurant feel. Decorated with nostalgia food advertisements, I felt like I stepped back in time. The counter staff was kind and helpful in telling us what the most popular items were. Sadly, I wasn't impressed with the food. I had the pulled chicken. While it was tender, it just wasn't anything to write home about, nothing special. It was served only room temperature, and it didn't have much flavor at all. We ended our meal sharing a slice of Peanut Butter Pie, which turned out to be a great pick and the meal's only redeeming factor, hence the 3-star rating. Get your meal elsewhere, but stop here for dessert if you have the time. read more

Pulled pork sandwich is what pulled pork at other places aspire to, but don't even resemble.

Ok Ribs. Really good hush puppies. Fast service with a bit of attitude on a few occasions. The sides are small portions but are good. Really good cheesecakes but they have cut the normal slices into half now and are still charging 6 dollars a slice for a tiny slice. I'd say it's fair but not worth the drive off 85 anymore. read more