This was our first stop after arriving from San Diego and getting our rental car. I wanted to try Carolina style whole hog BBQ . Well this place delivered some tasty chopped pork and sides. I do prefer brisket and ribs and a ketchup base BBQ sauce over vinegar based but this was different and really good. read more

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We stopped here for dinner with friends before a concert. We ordered two meat platter with chopped pork and chicken with fries and coleslaw. The bbq had great flavor although my husband prefers more pulled pork rather than chopped. I used the sweet sauce and he used the Carolina sauce. Both were delicious. The fries were cooked perfectly and the coleslaw was finely chopped and really good. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We were in the area and wanted BBQ so we tried Sam Jones. Sorry, not impressed. We ordered pulled pork , Turkey , Collards and fries with cornbread and sweet Pot muffin. Sad when the fries were the best item on the plate although sweet potato muffin was nice. We asked for butter and got sour cream? or maybe butter mixed with sour cream?? Turkey was rubbery , flavor was ok. Collards were rubbery as well , sorta like if you eat them raw - they needed to be cooked longer. The cornbread must be an acquired taste? And still the sour cream like butter ?? no butter taste at all , puzzling. Pork did have a nice flavor. - but I guess we were expecting much more read more

This is my favorite barbecue restaurant--period. There are other great ones that I've been to in Charlotte, Memphis, Fort Worth, St. Louis, Washington, DC, and even Hill's BBQ in NYC, but Sam Jones is the absolute best. I eat here at least once a month since I've moved to Raleigh. Today, being President's Day, it was unexpectedly packed. Seemed that everyone in the Triangle decided to go to Sam Jones for BBQ. Although wrapped around the ramp to the rest rooms, the line moved quick. The food was out quick. The service was exceptional. My guest and I both had the original Jones Family BBQ plate with slaw. I had corn bread; they had the muffin. Best BBQ, slaw, and corn bread anywhere. The restaurant is very nicely decorated in a North Carolina country fashion. They also have a full bar where you can drink, eat, or both. A nice mixture of booths for privacy and tables. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Flying lite pig! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Absolutely awesome. I had the BBQ salad. 10 out of 10 banana pudding is the best I've ever had.

Did not meet (our high) expectations. Pulled pork was fine. Two sauces and they were both good. Ribs were disappointing. Too salty by miles. Flavor/rub was kind of "artificial" in a way. Not a fan of the ribs. The ribs were tender and MEATY but missed the mark (for us). New and shiny interior. Service was a bit off also...wait staff just seemed indifferent and slow. read more

Great experience dining here! Delicious bbq and sides. Restaurant was clean and workers were friendly. Would dine here again next time we are in town! read more

After all the hype from a friend I honestly felt let down with this dining experience. Each of us had something different and the only praise was for the catfish nuggets. The bbq was sad, it looked and was dried out like it was days old. The same for the Mac and cheese. It was barely warm and the cheese topping was hard. As for the cornbread I was told it was a type unique to Sam's. I like cornbread which is light, not like chewing on a piece of jerky. My friend, who hyped this place, said we'd need to drive to Ayden for a better experience. I would hope so. The dining area was nicely designed and decorated. We were there during the beginning of the evening dining period and the place was sparsely occupied. I've been to a lot bbq joints in NC , where there's a line out the door and a line of cars for take out in the evening - not the case here. read more

Fish bites: 5/5 stars Chopped bbq: 5/5 stars Sauce: 5/5 stars Sweet potato muffin: 4/5 stars Fries: 4/5 stars Beans: 4/5 stars Mac and cheese: 4/5 stars Banana pudding: 2/5 Cornbread: 1/5 star First time trying this location in Raleigh. We've been to the one in Greenville. My husband loves their bbq and the sauce! He craves it every time! I love their fish bites. The fries are regular, not too special but good. The beans taste like bbq beans which for me is too sweet but my husband and sister in law loved it. My husband gave the Mac and cheese a 4. Tartar sauce was good. The cornbread is weird, looks like a recipe that didn't work out. But the sweet potato muffin is a must try! Very good. The banana pudding is more like a banana dessert, like bananas and whipped cream. We didn't taste a lot of pudding. Overall great spot for NC style bbq. Service was also fast. You order at the counter and they give you a number and then they bring the food to your table. Pet friendly: we saw a fenced area with outdoor seating and some dog water bowls. Street parking read more

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This place is pretty awesome. Real, authentic, NC BBQ. Great service. Great location although parking can be challenging because they don't have a lot and you might have to walk a ways. You can smell the smokers. Staff is friendly. The one thing I don't really like is no real table service. You order as you come in and then take care of yourself. Not a fan of that. You can get full service at the bar so that's where I normally sit. The pulled pork is the 2nd best of the dozens of locations I've tried around the area. I mean fantastic. It's only beaten by the Redneck BBQ lab. The Pitt is a step down and 3rd place (I tried 12 different pulled porks in one day this year to see who made the best). Their smoked chicken is pretty much the best I've had anywhere. Ribs are exceptional and the smoked turkey is a little above average. Their Mac n' cheese is really really good too as are their collards. I also love that they do bourbon flights and have their own bourbon picks. Great place to get a nice drink and enjoy some bbq, again, why I prefer the bar. Definitely the best BBQ in downtown Raleigh. read more

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Visited Sam Jones BBQ in downtown Raleigh and was pleasantly surprised! As someone from Eastern NC, I'm usually skeptical of BBQ spots because too many places try to put a "flare" on it. If you know Eastern NC BBQ, you know all you need is to cook it low and slow with a good vinegar-based sauce. As an Offline member, I decided to give it a try--and I tell you what, I'll be back again and again! The BBQ was chopped perfectly and packed with flavor. Their house sweet sauce was delicious, and the vinegar sauce was just as good. They even had Texas Pete on the table, the music was right, and the sweet tea tasted like it had a whole bag of sugar in it... just like an old school BBQ joint. Side note: the baked beans were next-level--loaded with hamburger meat and onions, just like something you'd get at a backyard cookout. And let's not forget the slaw! It's rare to find really good slaw, especially on a sandwich, but theirs was spot on. Ordering is done at the bar, and the service was amazing! I went at lunch when it wasn't busy, and the staff was friendly, the restaurant was spotless, and my food was out before I even sat down. This spot is the real deal. I'll definitely be back! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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What can I say? I don't want people to go here because I wanna be able to get weighted on when I want to get weighted on. And if others aren't going there, they'll go out of business so I'm here to tell you if you're disappointed it's your attitude. The ribs fall off the bone you barely have to chew. You could gum them to death. The brisket same way let me tell you what honey if these good old boys weren't making it always that way I wouldn't be posting a review read more

Needed a quick and yummy meal while in town and Sam Jones BBQ did not disappoint! We ordered takeout on a Saturday night for dinner through the website and it was spot on with timing and ready when we got to the restaurant to pick up! We had plenty of silverware and containers of dressing and bbq supplied in the to go bag and we're on our way. The pulled pork sandwich was a hit with my family and I got the Sam Jones plate which was the perfect amount of bbq and side salad that I was hungry for! The sauce was a hit with everyone which was on the sweeter side. Definitely get the sweet potato muffin over the cornbread like another yelper recommended, you won't be disappointed. read more

This place is run by a member of an iconic Eastern NC BBQ family, the Jones - the family that started Skylight Inn! Pete Jones started Skylight in 1946 at the age 17. The family has operated Skylight for nearly 80 years now. Sam took a bigger part of the operation of Skylight when his grandfather passed in 2007, but he has never had an ownership position - Skylight is owned by his father and his uncle. He went to work revitalizing the old school BBQ joint as pit master, and he quickly did so. He left much untouched but he did upgrade the quality of the pork! What remained was cooking whole hog, chopping everything up including the crispy skin (no sliced or chunky), and thin, coarse cornbread that is much an acquired taste, and slaw that is on the sweet side. Along the way he became the consummate pit master, and in 2015 Sam opened Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, on the outskirts of Greenville NC. This spot was more than a little different than Skylight - while the pork was still whole hog, still chopped with skin and all, the cornbread remained firm - but other smoked meats were added, along with beer and wine service, and an array of Southern style side dishes. The same format is in play at this location, and it works just as well. The pork remains king, but the ribs, smoked chicken, wings, pork skins, and especially the smoked turkey are excellent. It may just be a mental thing due to being in a location other than the coziness of the hallowed Skylight Inn, but I felt the chopped pork was a bit off from that at the Inn - still very, very good, mind read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Chopped BBQ and Ribs with Slaw and Collards - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Ordered Chopped BBQ tray. Chose Sweet Slaw, Mac n Cheese, and Sweet Potato Muffin as my sides. Ordered additional Banana Pudding and Cheerwine. My sister ordered the ribs (not pictured). I think we both agreed to give 3-3.5/5 stars. Heard that the meat was the best thing and it was fine but also just a bit dry, lacking flavor. We both made ample use of the provided vinegar and sweet barbecue sauce on the table in the squeeze tube. Those two sauces saved the day! Excellent flavor. Gave much needed moisture and flavor. I would buy both those sauces outright. I'm visiting North Carolina, and this is my first time eating the Eastern style vinegar pulled pork. I absolutely loved the vinegar of the sauce when I pumped it on. But just thought the Chopped BBQ meat was underwhelming as served. Did not really taste like vinegar. Mac and Cheese was tasty because of the layer of oven baked cheddar (?) cheese mixed in. A nice homestyle Mac and cheese with a thick white cheddar type of sauce. Pretty satisfied with it, though not the best I've ever had. Sweet slaw tastes pleasant, light, milky and sugary. It's not bright or acidic like regular slaw. More mellow. I thought it was fine, though simple. Sweet potato muffin had a good bake. Moist, fluffy, with sweet potato flecks. Heard this was good, but to me it was just fine. A slightly plain muffin. A bit of taste like carrot cake. My sister said it could use butter and I agree. Maybe some more flavor. Personally thought the Chopped BBQ was on the smaller side. The ribs my sister got were more impressive in size. But she said it wasn't fall of the bone tender. And I thought it also lacked the kind of flavor that makes me go "yum!" The banana pudding was authentic with banana pieces, vanilla wafer, and maybe like some toasted marshmallow. It was pleasant but also small and expensive at $6. I do feel I've had as enjoyable or better for less. For banana pudding, you don't fancy for it to be good. Cheerwine is good to try once as it's talked about as a North Carolina staple. But admittedly it is much like cherry Coca Cola, with a little less of that distinctive Coca Cola taste. We went in the early afternoon around 2pm right when it was about to get busy. The surrounding neighborhood is quite quiet, sleepy even without much going on. Especially when there's not many customers yet. Not such a lively vibe, but still seems like a local favorite. The prices are pretty decent when compared to surrounding area. But I do think you get what you pay for as well when it comes to a slightly out of the way location. And smaller sized portions too. Everything I ordered seemed just a bit small for a bill that came out to like $21 ($15 plate, $6 dessert). I do have to say the cashier and wait staff are nice though. And I did like the simplicity of paying at the counter up front. Although there is a full waiting section too for those who want the diner experience. I think Sam Jones is perfectly fine when you add the sauces on the table on the meat. Vinegar sauce: slaps! But it's gained a reputation on Reddit for like the best barbecue Raleigh has to offer. I would say that's hype. If Sam Jones is all that's in your area, it's fine. Even good. But don't expect to be wowed. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We were so disappointed in our meal at Sam Jones BBQ. The barbecue was so dry, the cornbread was like cardboard, and the only good part of the whole meal was the slaw. The portions were small, the price was too high, the restaurant was freezing cold inside and had flies and gnats flying all around us outside. We wasted our money and will never go back. Do not understand how they got any good reviews. read more

By far the best BBQ in Raleigh. The BBQ chicken has such an intense smoke flavor, so delicious! And the Mac and cheese, it's to die for! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Raleigh is full of BBQ spots, making it difficult to select the right one for you. If you're looking for a quick service style restaurant, Sam Jones BBQ will please you. Upon entering, you order at the counter and your food is brought out to you. Ours was out within 5 minutes during lunch rush. We enjoyed the outdoor seating. My boyfriend had the pork platter with baked beans and collard greens. It was paired with cornbread, which we both agree is the worst we've ever had on our lives. As a southern girl, I'm not sure what this cornbread was going for but it wasn't it. My entree was the BBQ salad which was yummy. We would come back here, but avoid the cornbread. read more

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Many great bbq selections but the real star for those of us who don't like pork, are their Chicken tenders. Lightly breaded, crisp and delicious. The fries are also excellent. Not a fan of their cornbread but I guess you love it or hate it great place to eat outside with your kiddos and dogs when the weather is nice. read more

I've been to Sam Jones twice and I loved it both times. I know they are best known for their delicious pork barbecue, which I've definitely enjoyed, but man oh man I love their catfish bites. They are crispy on the outside, flaky and fresh on the inside with the perfect amount of seasoning in the batter. Their mac and cheese is also a favorite. If I lived closer, this would be one of my regular spots, for sure. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Catfish Bites - so good! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The service was attentive and pleasant. This was our first time visiting this location. We started visiting the Skylight Inn years ago and went to the first Sam Jones when it opened. Going to this location and seeing a picture of the original pitmaster made me smile. I remember seeing him on TV years ago, declining to speak with the TV crew, and deciding I had to go there. The macaroni and cheese wasn't as cheesy as the other location, but we ate it. It's a lovely location with limited parking. You must park on the street if you go at a popular time. Potentially blocking in front of someone's home. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - BBQ Family Dinner. - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The first time I went, I got a to meet combo that included the pulled pork. While the pulled pork was good, I wasn't that impressed with it. I was nearby at a local watering hole and decided to give them a second chance. So I walked over to get takeout and ordered the Pete Jones barbecue sandwich with slaw. Usually I'm not a fan of the small, chopped slaw because it's usually swimming in to much Mayo or sauce. But I went for it and I'm glad I did the whole hog barbecue was perfectly complemented by the sweet coleslaw. It was a delicious sandwich. It comes with one side and I highly recommend the extra cost that it takes to get the collard greens. A tasty meal. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Sat at the bar, service was amazing. Ordered some BBQ and Mac n cheese (based on server recommendation), and went with the "controversial cornbread". Nothing left to take a pic of , portions were perfect. The food was amazing. The cornbread is, well, not what most expect, it's dense rather than fluffy cake. It is really very good. Highly recommend. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - What's left... - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I enjoy Sam Jone's Barbecue, I tried this location because I always eat at the Winterville N C location. I was not disappointed the food was good and the location was easy to get to Downtown. The parking was easy also for the time of day I went. read more

Service was friendly, food consistent, flavors simple. Overall fine but ordinary, a fair three-star dinner.

For whatever reason this was still in my draft. I did a to go order at Sam Jones sometime ago. The barbecue, baked beans, mac and collards were delicious. I also enjoyed the sweet potato cornbread. read more

I was looking for spots to eat on my trip to Raliegh. I saw an IG post on Sam Jones BBQ, so I said I would try it. Well, I tried to pull pork, bake beans, potatoes salad it was good. But what topped it off was the service by Colin he was a blessing and well knowledgeable about the business. Well-mannered young man with a great head on his shoulder. I wanted dessert and he suggested banana pudding and boy was it a win win. I took a tour of the inside and found a lot of information, and I will go back gain when in the city. I enjoyed the dine-in and had a local soda drink and let with sweet tea. I told my friends in the area, and they said they would stop in and try out the food. read more

It's no Skylight Inn. Pork and slaw were fine. But the ribs were tough and rubbery. Chicken skin just had to be scrapped, but the meat itself was okay. Would not recommend this location. For Eastern, gotta go Easterer. read more

The service was good and the atmosphere was calm and pleasant. However, the food was disappointing. We ordered the triple combo with ribs, pulled pork, and brisket. The brisket had an extra charge, but when the food arrived, they only brought two pieces of brisket that were very small and extremely dry. The ribs hardly had any meat on them and were also very dry. After we complained about the brisket, they brought us some extra wings. Those were actually the only thing that was worth it. Overall, I wouldn't come back, as I believe there are much better BBQ restaurants out there. read more

Collin at the bar absolutely killed it. Perfect mix of service, personality and professionalism. Excellent bbq and sides. The place was packed from start to finish. Casually refined. We will drive from Richmond to eat here again read more

Food was very delicious, but do NOT get the cornbread. The pulled pork was a great representation of Carolina BBQ, and the chicken was melting off the bone - meat was delicious! The sides and the banana pudding were also very good. However, the cornbread was not what I was expecting. I don't know if this is a style of cornbread that I'm not aware of, but it was tough, came out as a huge, thick block, and felt and tasted rubbery in texture. I could literally bend it back and forth, there was no crumble like a good cornbread. There was also no flavor and all together super bland. A friend likened it to hard tack which is a great description, unfortunately. read more

Sam Jones is located downtown Raleigh. I was able to find street parking when I arrived. There is outdoor, indoor and bar seating available. If you want full service you should dine at the bar. There were TVs near the bar. We ordered our food at the counter and it was brought to us a short time later. I got the rib dinner with Mac and cheese and baked beans. It also came with a choice of bread so I chose the sweet potato muffin. The bottom of my muffin was burnt and it lacked flavor. When I brought it to an employee's attention she told me that they have been coming out like that all day. I am not sure why they would still be serving them if that was the case. She allowed me to exchange the muffin for a piece of Texas toast. The toast was better and was buttered well. The mac and cheese was ok and the baked beans were sweet with a small amount of meat. I was given a large portion of ribs and small portions of sides with my dinner. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Bar - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Emily is so nice and held the door for us on the way in! The ribs were great. Anna was also very kind and made sure we were taken care of. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Rib bone - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Pulled pork sandwich is "The Truth." This is whole hog at its finest. The crispiness of the finely chopped skin in contrast to the tenderness and moistness of the smoked pork on a soft potato roll with the perfect "meat to bun" ratio makes this a hit! No vinegar here - just slow cooked (20+ hours) whole hog delight with choice seasonings. I didn't use ANY sauce. WhIle I've only visited once, I'm jonesing for my next visit. The homemade mac n cheese along with the sweet potato muffins is a bonus. I haven't said anything about the ribs - you'll have to see for yourself...another hit. I'll try the smoked chicken and another BBQ pork sandwich during my next visit. read more

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One of our favorite places! They have awesome chicken and turkey and brisket. Great selection of sides and to die for Mac n cheese! The loaded potato with brisket is delicious. Seriously can't go wrong here. Highly recommend. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Turkey dinner, smoked chicken plate and chicken tenders with fries. We all love their Mac n Cheese!! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I've passed this place numerous times and saw how busy it is. Figured I needed to give it a try so I stopped by. The tiny lot was full but there was plenty of nearby street parking. I ordered the Pete Jones BBQ Sandwich with Slaw, with a side of potato salad. Service and quick and friendly. The bun was soft and tasty. The pork was okay, nothing special. The slaw was average. The potato salad was not unique - it tasted like an average store bought potato salad. I tried both the vinegar sauce and the sweet sauce and neither was anything I would ever choose. I would give the food a 6.6 out of 10. Everything was edible but not anything I would ever go back for. read more

Food is dry and flavorless. Corn Bread is Awful. Everythin his terrible. Do not Recommend

If you're expecting good barbecue, don't go to Sam's. In fact, not only do they not know how to do barbecue, they can't make cornbread either read more

Sam Jones BBQ is also one of your classic Carolina-style BBQ. The smoked turkey was actually juicy and flavorful, the chopped pork were a bit dry, but the sides were solid, especially the creamy mac & cheese. Cornbread muffin was soft and slightly sweet. Portions were generous and the food came out fast. A great stop for no-frills, quality BBQ at a decent price! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We had a last-minute need for a large dinner and boy did Sam Jones barbecue come through. The customer service was fantastic. They helped me make the right selection to feed a large group quickly. The barbecue was delicious. The burnt ends were a huge hit. As was the coleslaw one of the guests said it was as good as her mothers. read more