Another spot I grew up coming to. We love to get the bbq slaw and keep it at the house for hotdogs or burgers. It's even delicious as a dip. My go to is a hot dog all the way with slaw and a cherry lemon sundrop. You can get curb service and you just pull up and honk your horn. You can also go in and order and then sit down if that's more your vibe. Check out the food truck if you aren't close enough to their location ! read more

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I just visited R.O.'s BBQ in Gastonia, North Carolina, a beloved local institution with a rich history spanning over seven decades. This family-owned establishment, founded by R.O. and Pearl Black in 1946, has been serving up delicious barbecue and sides to the community for generations, making it an integral part of Gastonia's culinary landscape. In the early days, Pearl Black created the now-famous barbecue slaw recipe in her own kitchen, using a hand grater to prepare the ingredients. To this day, the same recipe has been passed down through the family, ensuring customers can still enjoy the same authentic taste that has made R.O.'s BBQ a local favorite. After R.O. and Pearl retired, their son Loyde took over the business with his sister Ruth. Together, they continued to grow the restaurant and maintain its reputation for exceptional barbecue and friendly service. Today, the third generation of the Black family carries on the traditions and recipes that have made it a favorite go-to destination for their unique style of barbecue deliciousness. I had my first R.O.'s BBQ sandwich when my family moved here in the 60s. I remember the night my dad came back with a bag full of those sandwiches, and it was love at first bite. Although I've tried BBQ all over Texas, Kansas City, St. Louis, and even lived in Memphis for over 20 years, R.O.'s unique style remains one of my absolute favorites. Instead of smoke, char, or BBQ sauce, it's more like a fine pork tenderloin cooked to perfection with a genius BBQ slaw on a panini-like pressed bun. Over the years, R.O.'s has expanded its offerings beyond BBQ sandwiches, with popular menu items such as hamburgers, the pimento burger with their homemade pimento cheese, BLT, roast pork, chicken and club sandwich, hot dogs, and a variety of sides like baked beans, hush puppies, and onion rings. The atmosphere inside R.O.'s BBQ is clean and comfortable, reflecting its long history with walls adorned with photos and memorabilia that showcase the restaurant's past. This creates a sense of nostalgia and connection to the community it serves. For as long as I can remember, most people come here for the outside experience, enjoying the iconic curb service reminiscent of a bygone era. Customers enjoy their meals in the comfort of their vehicles, with friendly and efficient carhops ensuring a delightful and convenient experience. As a former "curb boy" here, I can attest to the enduring charm and character of this unique dining experience. One more recent addition to the menu, which began as a trend during my time as a curb boy, is the "Cherry Lemon Sun Drop" - a delightful mix of the regionally favorite sodas Cheerwine and Sun Drop. Today, they've added lemons and cherries to the mix, creating a drink that is simply irresistible. You can also take home their unique and delicious coleslaw and pimento cheese by the pint or quart - I made sure to stock up on my latest visit. Bottom line: R.O.'s BBQ in Gastonia, NC, is more than just a restaurant - it's a testament to the power of family, tradition, and a commitment to culinary excellence. With a history spanning over 75 years, it continues to serve up delicious barbecue and sides that keep customers coming back for more. The dining experience is truly one-of-a-kind and highly recommended!!!! Hours: Tues-Sat 11AM-8PM Closed Sun-Mon https://rosbbq.com/ https://www.facebook.com/R.O.sBarbecue/ read more

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I just had food truck it is always good as well. I love one in gas house "Gastonia" NC for out town crowd n Welcome! ROs has been in business many years , lots childhood memories w family church friends loved ones and Sone amazing staff- even better food from the slaw , burgers, onion rings , BBQ hotdogs etc . Good folks , Good food . Thanks for the years of hard work , dedication to community and Good Eating! Friendly and well priced. Thankyou read more

Should have read the reviews before we went. I'm so glad that I wasn't hungry...we only ordered one meal between the two of us but it was still $17 of a waste. Pork and no ribs or brisket. We got the pork sandwich and it literally was a mess. I took one bite and was done. we didn't even finish half of the sandwich between the two of us. We filled up on the fries. The sodas were ridiculous too as the cup was filled up with so much ice we barely even got a drink. The establishment was falling apart and not clean it all. We actually thought about walking out of there and after eating the food we wish we had. read more

Ro's Barbeque Distributing Company - All ice - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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Yelp says I have to have at least 85 characters in my review to simply tell people to AVOID THIS PLACE! I ate there for years. But I can't tell you why. It's been a local favorite and some times local favorites and more about memories and simple habit. At best I tolerated the place. At worst I hated myself for eating there. What saved me from ever eating there again was a person behind the counter "packing heat" and the stupid novelty pro gun signs that decorate the walls. It's time to let this old local favorite pass away. read more

Chicken was a little too deep fried. The fried was good and crunchy with cheese on the side. read more

Ro's Barbeque Distributing Company - Chicken wings with French fries. - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

We're checking out local BBQ places and decided to give this place a try in hopes of some good hole-in-the-wall ribs. Guess what? No ribs! Actually, nothing on the menu that spoke BBQ at all except if you maybe wanted BBQ sauce added on your burger. Which my husband ordered. I ordered a BLT with a side of coleslaw. Everything is a la carte, and I thought maybe adding some coleslaw might make me feel more like I was in a BBQ joint. The food wasn't too great. My BLT was soft and floppy and we used the coleslaw as a dipping sauce for the french fries my husband ordered. The coleslaw was the oddest I've ever had. It was like a soup of Thousand Island, lots of pepper, and some cabbage shreds mixed in. Overall, front desk service was good, but the facility wasn't the cleanest and the food wasn't something I would return for. read more

Trump memorabilia everywhere. Open carry signs too. Very hostile atmosphere. The BBQ is okay, but I won't be back.

food is awesome, but was disappeared last time we ate inside,big poster of trump, so we don't go in anymore we eat in car. i know everyone has their right to have their own politic views but the big poster of trump isn't necessary or of any politician!!! i've had about 10 friends tell me they stop going before the election because of it!!! don't run your business off for a politics. ros is a landmark keep it that way. great food, & cherry lemon sundrop crushed ice. no real cherries in them but they are great! the ros truck is in king's mountain in front of blackwood's drive in at careash on wednesday and friday. cash only & we always tip read more

I'm not in anyway shape or form a slaw guy but this place here is absolutely amazing!! read more

Ro's Barbeque Distributing Company - Doesn't look like much but dang it's good! - Barbeque Near Me - Gastonia, North Carolina

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As a Gastonia Native, I've been eating at R.O.'s since the 50's. As a child I used to order the slaw burger (which has no meat, only their famous spicy slaw). As I grew older, I graduated to the minced BBQ sandwich, and as an adult, I now prefer the sliced BBQ sandwich (all with extra slaw). Get plenty of napkins! Many patrons order the hamburgers and hot dogs (with the slaw and chili). You can still order from and eat in your car, so no need to dress up. Please remember to tip your car hop! This has always been a blue collar restaurant, which was a favorite of the Textile Mill workers (at the height of the Gaston County based industry). Come to G-Town for a real treat! read more

I don't live near RO or would go way more frequently but whenever I am in the area it is a definite hotspot. I had actually been craving their bbq sandwich for about six months. The foot is delicious and their bbq slaw (which I'd never heard of bbq slaw before ROs) adds an extra pizazz to the sandwich for an overall amazing affect. The staff is very friendly and helpful and were adhering to COVID cleaning standards. Done in was available. read more

The first thing that struck me was how clean ROs is! We had the pulled pork bbq plate and it was very reasonably priced and delicious - not fatty, very tender and well seasoned. Of course I had to try the slaw, and glad I did! Not what I expected yet opened more possibilities for dressing-up everything - thinking right now about fried fish, burgers, salad dressing, even rice. read more

I went to pick up a bunch of orders for co-workers. The lady working in the kitchen began to cough, tried covering her mouth with her shirt and hand. Once she was dont coughing she did not change her gloves and went right back to making our orders. When I said something to the manager her response was "sorry". Definitely not the thing to do when there is such a pandemic with the COVID-19 going around. I definitely will never step foot in that place again! read more

RO's is the best burger joint in Gastonia and Charlotte area. They have good burgers, Fries and Service. I really recommend this place.