Its okay. Not great, but OK. I've been twice. I will go again some day and give a more thorough review, because when I don't love or hate something, I probably owe a longer explanation. The place has two types of sauce available on the table that I recall. One is the thick red western style, the other is something perhaps in between Lexington and Eastern style. The first time I went the Lexington/Eastern type wasn't bad, but for some reason the second time it was just bland. I probably just got a bad batch - I'm guessing my first experience was more representative. I don't remember well enough the quality of smokiness in the meat. That's the main reason I'll have to edit this someday with a better description. But in general, for a quick fix, this place is fine, and it is open on Sunday, so its probably close to the best you can get on a Sunday (most good BBQ places close on Sundays in the area). read more

One of my pet peeves is when people say they've had North Carolina BBQ after Q Shack. place is overly commercial in appearance and a lot of the food is trying too hard. Southern cooking is at its best without unnecessary additions. I don't need seasoned salt on my fried okra or my onion rings. I guess part of the problem is that Q Shack ISN'T really southern cooking. North Carolina barbecue is pulled pork, not brisket. I've never been a fan of brisket, so I can't really comment on how good the brisket here is, but I can tell you that the pulled pork is just mediocre. If I'm looking for a quick fried fix, I might go by Q shack. If I want to really enjoy my food, there are better places in Durham. read more

Sometimes you look at a place like Q-Shack and you say "they have 200 reviews.. do they need my two cents?" Yes. Yes they do. Q-Shack is awesome (as you can tell from the reviews) so I won't go into the details of the delicious BBQ. But one of the unsung heroes in this food adventure is their catering. We always get Q-Shack when we are having over 15-20 people over. We can usually keep it under $100 (which, when you break it down, is a good deal). Plus, there is always more than enough food for 20 people, so you get leftovers for days. Just the other week we pulled some ribs out of the freezer for a "special" dinner. That's right Q, you not only cater our parties, but our date nights. On top of this awesome price, we are also lazy, and usually don't call until the morning of our party. We've never had an issue getting what we want. And by "what we want" I obviously mean "We don't know what we want, but put together something awesome with the appropriate meat::hush-puppy::veg ratio". So yes, stop by Q-Shack when you want something delicious (can we side bar here: I've never used the "Q" key so much in my life), but also keep them on your radar for parties, tailgates, and backyard get togethers. read more

OK .. BBQ goes against everything I believe in and almost all of my dietary principles. This place is my great big BBQ guilty pleasure. The people here are the first thing you notice. Everybody is happy, customers and staff alike. The atmosphere is very casual and the attitude is contagious. The cafeteria style of service is very simple and direct. The choices are many and I have never had anything but superior food from this place. I found it when I moved into the Hope Valley area and was very pleased to have it so close to my home. I have taken numerous friends there when they visit and they all want to go back every time they visit Durham. Some friends even ask me to pick up a brisket for them when I am headed out of town to visit them. I do not pretend to be a BBQ expert or a sauce connoisseur. I will leave that to more savvy BBQ enthusiasts. I can only tell you that the food here is great. Everything is perfectly cooked from the entrees to the sides to the veggies. Don't think about calories or fried foods or any of those issues. This is a place to go for pure culinary pleasure and a good time with friends. read more

I'm sure locals will poo-poo my five star review. If you're a BBQ connoisseur, then again, you will probably sniff your nose at me. But I love the Q shack! $9.95 for a plate of brisket, 2 sides and hush puppies?! Yes, please! The brisket was delicious, Andrew's pulled pork was delicious. Our sides? Also delicious. The collard greens were yummy, the mac'n'cheese was a little dry, but still good, and the hush puppies were perfect little bites of fried yummy. And this is what puts the Q-shack in my faves: They have a three-side combo plate! It's like they know me... because I often pick an entree based on what sides come with the dish and let Andrew at the main portion. Which means that I can just order sides and not be a freak, because it's on the menu! Yay! read more

Oh man. I asked for some iconic Southern BBQ and I got it. I always thought to myself that I could get just as authentic stuff elsewhere and now I know that I was dead wrong. I've tried so much BBQ in New England and on the West Coast and they just don't do it the same. What makes the difference? The sauce. The sauce is incredible, with the perfect degree of sweet, savory, tart, and spice. I had the sliced beef brisket sandwich which had some very tender beef, but really lacked in the baseline flavor that the pulled pork sandwich had. It was a great canvas for the the BBQ sauce though. =p I imagine the chopped brisket, though less expensive, may be better than the sliced since it'd provide you with greater surface area for the sauce. The sides were authentic. Great fried okra. Not too greasy and with good cornmeal crunch. The sweet potato fries that I had were ooookay. Sweet potato fries are never as crispy as I hope them to be. They definitely need to be battered and they were not here. People need to know that if they try for these fries, they need to do them better before they put them up on the menu. These fries were a special on their side menu and should not return until more crispy. Needless to say, the place still gets a great review for having provided a Bluegrass band on site while we were eating. How much more authentic do you get... Overall, great meal. read more

Q-shack will definitely give you your fill of bbq for the next few years or so. Being from Virginia, we don't have much bbq, so of course it's a sin not to try it in North Carolina. It only took one trip to Q Shack to not crave bbq again for a LONG time. Don't get me wrong, it was big, juicy, greasy, spicy, and flavorful. Perhaps my constitution is not fit for such a meal. Everything is pretty much ready before you order, so the line moves pretty quickly. The inside has picnic tables (for a faux picnic experience). My impression is that this place is not for those looking to get a taste of NC bbq, but rather for local bbq-eaters. read more

I love the Q-Cobb salad and their smoked wings. Oh, and the jalepeno eggs... mac and cheese...Yum! I do wish they served Coke products instead of Pepsi, but for that salad, I can drink iced tea. read more

oh SO GOOD. I was starving, because I had just traveled 7+ hours from San Francisco to Durham. I ordered way too much, but was glad I did. =) I ordered the 2 meat combo plate: - Smoked Pork Butt: tender and flavorful. I think I ate all of it. - Chile Rubbed Beef Brisket: again, tender and flavorful. I ate all of it. - Coleslaw: nice and vinegary - Fried Okra: crispy and slimy all at once. fantastic! - Baked Beans: good - Hushpuppies: kinda heavy to eat...tastes wonderful the day after! - Mac n Cheese: just ok. All this (only 3 sidedishes) for $12. GOOD MEAL for sure! read more

I have a standard: above anything else, all barbecue joints should do one style of smoked protein, and do it well. The Q Shack does what a lot of places can't: a great job of spanning a number of barbecue traditions, albeit with a Texan focus. Great brisket, smoked sausage, and fantastic, fall-off-the-bone ribs. The pulled pork is legit, and the sides are a worthy accompaniment to whatever protein you choose. The tables are set with a choice of sauces, and while I'd like my sauces a bit more tart, I know that's just personal preference, and not a knock against their work. Add a great selection of local beers, iced tea as the good Lord intended it, and this place is perhaps the best Q joint on the west side of Durham. Get there early during lunch hours, and plan on a struggle at the weirdest parking lot in Durham (aside from the Whole Foods). Bonus: Ask for the smoked pork skins- they will keep you tided over until you get home with that takeout plate. read more

I won't mention how long I've lived in the Triangle as I won't be able to call myself a local anymore. Let's just say my first visit to the Original Q Shack was long over due. Driven by the desire to get some ribs, I was torn between Q Shack and City Barbeque. I usually eat Backyard BBQ but I find their ribs to be too wet for me. Moving along. Obviously I chose the Q Shack. I got a 2 meat plate: Ribs, Pulled Pork, Baked Beans, Macaroni and Cheese, Hushpuppies and Peach Cobbler. I wish I had continued being able to say I had never been there. Ribs - Great smoke flavor and great taste without any sauce. Great depth of flavor. I didn't care for either of the sauces provided but since I took my order to go I used my own sauce at home. Pulled Pork - Very tender and juicy but very bitter. Too much vinegar perhaps? I don't know whatever it was, I don't want anymore. Baked Beans - Don't just don't. Aside from the not done beans I had at The Pit, these would have to be the worst beans I've ever had. Macaroni and Cheese - Okay, not bad but more of the boxed macaroni with a pouch of cheese variety. If it weren't for this Macaroni, I wouldn't have had a side. It was a good balance for all he vinegar flavor. Hushpuppies - Good. I wish I had a chance to eat them hot. Even cold they were still good. Peach Cobbler - Decent, didn't seem homemade or locally made. The crust was good but the peaches seemed of the canned variety. I gave it 2 stars because of the Ribs and Hushpuppies. My meal wasn't completely horrible but bad none the less. Even with the Ribs and Hushpuppies, I won't be back. It wasn't absolutely horrible but just bad enough for me to know it's not for me. While I understand that there are many people that have enjoyed this place for many years, I'm just not one of them. read more

The only people who come to Q-Shack for BBQ are Dukies and out-of-towners; that is, folks who don't know better. Look, it's not terrible. The food is decent. But it's not spectacular, and it's certainly not as good BBQ as you can get in Durham. But it's centrally located, has fun outdoor seating, and it has nice decor, live music and other stuff that draws a younger crowd in. So go check it out, by all means. But is it "authentic" BBQ? Is it the equal of Bullock's, Hog Heaven or Allen & Sons? No way, no how, never. read more

While down in NC to do college tours of UNC and Duke, we had to get BBQ. On our way to check out Durham we pulled up next to a Sheriff at a red light and asked where to go. $15 for a platter of pulled pork, brisket, hushpuppies, mac&cheese and coleslaw. 4 sauces to choose from on the table. It couldn't be any better, the brisket was moist and flavorful, pulled pork had that little twang that you expected. Saved a small piece of brisket, little bit of fat and bark for the last bite. read more

Visiting from San Diego, I had no idea what kind of BBQ I was in for. I came to visit and I could literally smell the OQS by driving by. The first time I tried it my husband had just picked up bbq from Kings... he swore up and down this was the best place. I decided to get some OGQ too so we could have the battle of the bbq. Let's just say we ended up coming here again before we flew back to San Diego lol! It's cafeteria style which is helpful so you can see everything's that's delicious! The pork butt is basically chopped bbq and it's so good! I went for the ribs which were amazing almost as good as the pork butt. I did not get the brisket but it looked so good I def will when I come back to visit! The Mac n cheese is very peppery but delicious ! And the collards weren't anything amazing but they were good. Would definitely recommend ! read more

I'd like to say that this place screams Texas until I remembered they have Cheerwine on tap. So it's a win-win. They have actual barbecue sauce, not the NC vinegar garbage, and it's pretty damn good. They also serve on Texas Toast. The staff is friendly and efficient. You're going to think I'm weird, but they have my favorite layout for ordering food. You tell the guy what you want, he cuts it and it gets passed down. Your eyes are on your meal the whole time. No waiting for the waiters, no forgotten orders, no paying them before they make it. The only trouble is it gets a bit busy at dinner, which is great for them, but they don't have a lot of indoor seating. read more

An old stand-by! Consistently good and great value. My usual order is a pulled pork plate. I love their sides, so I get my order with some combination of creamed spinach, mac and cheese, sweet potato tots, fried okra, and green beans (with ham)... plus some hushpuppies, of course! Friends and family I come here with typically have their "usuals" as well. Though I like the plate because I get more sides, the sandwich and one side combo will fill you up-- I promise. I have yet to try the ribs, so I'll have to get that one day. Bonus: You can bring your well-behaved doggie to sit with you on the covered porch area! read more

Let me start by saying I am not a huge fan of BBQ. I was in Durham for work and figured I had to go out for some local BBQ while in town. I read Yelp reviews and decided to give the Q-Shack a try. I tried the 2 meat combo-Brisket and Pork Butt. The Brisket was great, delicious on its own-no need to add sauce. The Pork Butt on the other hand was a little disappointing. I love hush puppies and was excited to see they were included as part of the meal...not so excited after eating them. My sides were good-fried okra and greens. My review is strictly on the food-I took my food to go. read more

Place is cute, people were super nice. Meat: We had pulled pork, brisket, and smoked jalapeno sausage. It was good, not great but good. Sides: I just feel like side dishes are such an important part of my bbq dinner. Oh my lord....what can I say. These all get a "no star" rating. Absolutely horrible. What kind of baked beans are those? Never tasted beans so bad in my life. They would be better off opening up a can of bush beans. Terrible taste, could not figure out the horrible taste but they were so bad. Potato Salad was so chunky you could not just eat with a fork, they were practically the size of golf balls, you needed a knife to cut the potatoes before you eat it and it had no flavor at all. Too chunky and a bit flavorless, tasted like sour cream smothered on large pieces of potatoes. Okay so the cole slaw gets a 2 star, it was decent, a bit sweet but decent. Would not recommend this place unless you want mediocre meat with bad sides. Actually I had to come back and edit to say that the hush puppies were AWESOME and I loved them. If I ever come across this place again, I would def stop in and grab some hush puppies. read more

Was looking forward to a decent lunch today when I observed a couple being mistreated by one of the owners. Apparently the owner was told the meal the gentleman had was not paid for when in fact the customer had paid. I saw what could have resulted in a physical altercation. On the one hand I understand business so I would want my money but on the other hand the owner came behind the man asking him who was he calling a *insert expletive* why did he not verify with his staff or look at his receipt roll anyways I will not be back the man was black and he mentioned the owner being racist but it left very little to be considered in the way of customer service an apology for miscommunication was not offered rather an offer for him to never come back but the owner was wrong the salad was ok, brisket a little dry today. read more

My favorite barbecue place in North Carolina. The hush-puppies and creamy spinach are delicious!The baby back ribs and shredded pork are both a tasty must! You can't go wrong with anything here. If you're looking for a traditional American barbecue, look no further :D! read more

The Original Q Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The barbeque is a mix of eastern NC pork bbq and Texas brisket. I've eaten here multiple times and had them cater my rehearsal dinner. Catering info: The prices are super reasonable and on their website. They are very flexible with delivery and they give you a ton of food. I promise that you will have leftovers. Menu favorites: My favorite meats are the brisket, pulled pork, and surprisingly the wings. Make sure to get a mix of fatty and lean brisket. The lean can be on the dry side. The pulled pork has great flavor. The wings are nice and smoky. They have awesome sides too. My favorite is the mac. All the other sides are pretty great. The only one I wouldn't go for would be the okra. It was crispy, but i'm probably just not an okra fan. Most meals with texas toast and hush puppies :) read more

Great BBQ....had beef brisket "sliced"....forgot Texas. Really great food. read more

The Original Q Shack - Beef brisket...sliced. With coleslaw and potato salad. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

On a brief trip to Durham, we stopped for BBQ at The Original Q Shack and loved it! You order food and pay, before sitting at picnic tables with sauce and a roll of paper towels. There's an outdoor section as well. We both had the pulled pork sandwiches, which were too big for us to finish but so delicious! Didn't even need to add sauce to it. We also had potato salad (OK) and mac & cheese (a bit spicier than expected). I gotta say, the best part was the hush puppies though. We could not get enough of them! I may not have finished the sandwich, but you'd better believe I finished the hush puppies! read more

This bbq joint is pretty darn good, the ribs are really good, i have been here twice on my visits to Durham. The brisket was fine, but i doubt if i will order them again, i will just stick with the ribs, the potato salad too was delicious, so were the hush puppies. Good bbq joint. read more

Florida STATE Seminole here...this place is AMAZING! I'm a former military officer and had my share of BBQ at my stops in Texas, SoCal, Vegas, Ohio, Bama at home in Florida. The quality of the food here is second to none. I HOPE MY DADDY NEVER READS THIS! NC BBQ has earned the reputation. GO NOLES BEAT THE PACK!!! read more

Overall just okay. I didn't hate my food, but I didn't finish it and don't think I'll be back. I got the 2 meats platter with chicken and sausage. Came with hush puppies and I also got fries and fried okra. The meat was fine, not bad but I honestly could've made the same at home if not better. If I were to come back id def try pulled pork or ribs instead. For the sides, all again okay. Fried okra was probably the best. The hush puppies were dry and flavorless. Other people got creamed spinach and Mac and cheese--both prolly a little better than the sides I tried. They do have outdoor seating and a good selection of beers! Overall pretty average to below. Wouldn't pick it again if I had the choice. read more

I've had food at the Q shack 3 times. Every time I've had a meal there it's been excellent. Their Brisket is amazing. The food here is on point. Def one of the best spots for BBQ in the RDU hands down. You will not be disappointed. read more

After an uninspiring visit to Bullock's, I decided to try the other BBQ spot in Durham. Wow. This was MUCH better. First of all, this is the best brisket I have had outside the State of Texas. Indeed, the brisket served here is almost a clone of Rudy's BBQ in Austin. I would strongly recommend ordering the brisket here. The St. Louis style pork ribs were reminiscent of the ribs one would find at Dreamland's BBQ in tiny Tuscaloosa, AL (which, yes, I am aware is not located in Missouri). Like the brisket, they are best eaten without either of the sauces provided at Q Shack. The jack cheese creamed spinach (one of the specials) was phenomenal. Although it lacked great consistency and might remind some patrons of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, it was a downright tasty Southern treat. If they are serving it when you visit, it's worth the gamble unless you don't like heavy veggies. Also, I had the opportunity to sample the mac-n-cheese here and it's definitely worthy of finding its way onto your plate. Very tasty. My brother would note, however, that it wasn't "cheesy" enough. Again, everyone has their own tastes, but I enjoyed their mac-n-cheese spiked with black pepper seasoning and onions. Good stuff. Q Shack, however, did have some faults. Most notably, their accompanying sauces disappointed. Again, that isn't the main focus, but these were bottom quarter sauces accompanying top quarter BBQ. I wasn't impressed with their hush puppies either. Their fried okra was merely average. I also had my first, second, and third "Lester Burnham" moments on record. This just made me want to take my BBQ to go. But outside of that momentary awkwardness, the rest of the ambiance was worth it -- wonderful smell of BBQ cooking, a nice chalkboard with the specials written, quick service, down home folks, and sweet tea. This is definitely worth checking out in you find yourself in the Triangle. read more

I really don't know what the big deal is about this place. I've tried it on numerous occassions and always walk away scratching my head... I will say that I do love the wings and they are the main reason they get a 3 star instead of 2. I most always get the pulled pork but I keep hearing (and reading here) that I need to try the brisket. I will definitely do so on my next visit, but for now, I'm reviewing on the pulled pork and sides. As some others have said here, its a good place to get your fix. It's not the best in the area but it'll do it you need a quick shot and are close by. I've also heard folks raving about the macaroni and cheese; honestly I think its the worst I've ever had...I don't know...maybe its me... Many rave about all of their sides but for me all have fallen flat. I feel like they focus on trying to cover everything, to keep all barbeque fans happy, but fail by doing everything mediocre instead of specializing in one thing that's great. Hell, maybe that's the brisket and I'm just missing the boat. Either way, the food is served-up pretty quickly, you can eat inside or out, and the prices are pretty reasonable. If you need a fix, give it a shot, but definitely seek out some of the other amazing local, seasoned barbecue joints. read more

My sister took me here on a visit to the Triangle, and I'm a fan! I like the flexible a la carte ordering. The food was good. The atmosphere is relaxed. The service was good with the possible exception of the cashier who appeared to be hating life on the day I visited. read more

Outstanding. Everything here is really cheap and of high quality. I had the turkey plate, which I chose because I'm more of a poultry fan than pork. It wasn't bad, and definitely came with more food than the sandwich. I'm glad to recommend this item. read more

The brisket was A-MAZ-ING! Ditto the fried okra. They made them perfectly with just the right ratio of crispy coating to okra. The batter had som extra zing with salt and pepper that made them just right! The mac n cheese wasn't up to my snuff, but snapped up by my two mac-cheese monster nephews. The coleslaw was a little runny and needed more mayo but hey, when we had 5lbs of perfectly BBQ'd brisket and chicken drowned in sauce, none of that matters. Go for the brisket and okra, delicious and meets your requirements of meats, carbs and veggies! read more

Amazing food. I ordered pulled pork and beef brisket. The pulled pork was tasty and juicy. The brisket, with its beautiful bark, was delicious, tender, yet not greasy! The sides were amazing as well. I would definitely go there again. read more

In Durham for work and a friend recommended Q shack for lunch. Went with the pulled pork plate that featured two sides and hushpuppies. The portions were huge (though I live in LA and my gauge may be a little off) and I felt like I could have easily shared. Went with mac and cheese and fried okra. I agree fried okra was amazing! Mac and Cheese was okay but not really as good as I hoped. Huge bonus = crushed ice and SUNKIST on tap. I plan on coming back the next time I'm in town. read more

When I was an undergrad, I'd come here virtually every day, almost certainly every week. Frankly, the price/flavororgy ratio simply cannot be beaten, especially with the chile rubbed beef brisket sandwiches. It's kinda like Jesus pouring pork and molasses down your throat with a funnel. Yeah, kinda like that, but reasonably priced. The ambiance has just the right blend of kitsch and country nostalgia to make for a very comfortable southern meal. Just went back after being away for a couple of years and it feels like nothing's changed. read more

What's not the love? Typical Piedmont style barbecue, crispy fried okra and a lot of things I have not eaten yet because Mama's only allowed to do this a maximum of once a month and, darn it, there's so much barbecue in Durham! That said, all the police go here so you know it's good Q, and the ambience is friendly and picnic table-ey. What you need to know is that it was started by Scott Howell of Nana's and Nana Taco, so the cool vibe was set by a tasteful pro. Current ownership has kept the yumminess intact. AND it's five blocks from my house....Hard to resist. read more

The Original Q Shack - An excellent Gonzo painting by a local artist of a happy, stoned hog with a bib on takes center stage at the Q Shack. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

First stop here trying to kill some time on the way to the airport. Had the Chopped Pork plate with two sides. The pork was good, and minimal fat and gristle. Had the eastern NC vinegar based sauce, was not too bad. Hush puppies were good, Mac and cheese was above par, however the BBQ baked beans were poor. Would visit again but wouldn't go out of my way. read more

My husband and I stopped in for lunch on a recent visit. We LOVED everything we tried. My husband had the 2 meat combo with the ribs & brisket, and I had the smoked chicken special. I've never had chicken this flavorful and juicy before. I don't know what they put on their rub or how they marinade, but its amazing. Every bite was juicy and bursting with smoky goodness, plus just enough of a kick. My husband's ribs were perfectly cooked. We also ordered the pimento Mac n cheese, the creamed spinach, and hush puppies. It wad way too much food, but it was all delicious. The pimento mac n cheese was a special when we were there. If it's oon the menu, get some!! read more

The Original Q Shack - My husband was in heaven with thus delicious plate of BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Traveled to Durham and ate at the Original Q-Shack for first time Saturday night, parking was very limited but was able to get a good spot up front. Ordering was somewhat difficult could not understand the Hispanic guy taking my order, luckily my order was correct and prepared fast. Pricing: Is a little pricey for BBQ pulled pork plates. The food did meet all my expectations, meat was moist and well seasoned and went great with the tomato and vinegar based BBQ sauces on table. My sides included fried okra and potato salad which were just average. The restaurant was extremely small, we had to share a table with a friendly family who I believe were Duke Fans. There were tables available outside on the patio but was told cold to consider. Overall I enjoyed the food and restaurant atmosphere, would give all five stars if there were more seating inside. Will definitely return. read more

I eat here twice a week, so I'm a fan. But this review isn't about the food, which I love, but about the goodness of a man - in this case, Dan Ferguson, the owner of Q Shack. I read in the News & Observer today that Q Shack was donating ALL its revenues on January 2nd, 2013 to the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI). Not just its profit for the day, not just some percentage over fixed or variable cost, but 100% of all the money handed over by customers. That's just an amazing donation to NAMI. It's a worthwhile charity, so I was there, and the joint was hoppin' today. Dan will lose a LOT of money today - but he was happy, really happy, to be doing the right thing! There is genuine goodness in the world and you often find it among small business owners. Dan Ferguson is an exemplar of doing good for your community. Up until today, I went to Q Shack because I love the Pulled Pork, the Brisket, the Hush Puppies, and the Sweet Potato Tots. From now on, I have an additional reason to spend my money at Q Shack. Dan Ferguson is a stand up guy who does his part - and more - to make his community a great place to live. read more