Went for lunch and got the brisket, slaw and double hush puppies instead of their pickles. Meat was very flavorful and tender. Hush puppies were good and slaw was very fine. Would go back. read more

Great food, no frills but killer BBQ. If you need ambiance, get take out. Brisket and pulled pork are a must.

Immediate thoughts: 1. Clean space - tables and area wiped down and not sticky 2. Efficient layout - self serve drinks, utensils, take out boxes, trash bin and plate collection all in one serving station 3. Great atmosphere - nice big windows and outside shaded seating Was greeted upon entrance. There's a lot going on, on the blackboard but also a bunch of laminated menus at the cashier's so it's pretty easy to figure out. Tried the bbq plate the first time, because duh - try all the signature items upon first visit. The plate came with MEAT (and by the caps, I mean a lot), homemade pickles, hush puppies, and coleslaw. Meat - not as tender as I have had in the past, but pretty good. Definitely used the bbq sauce and vinegar from the table. Didn't pay that much attention to the composition of each, but together it was yum. Pickles - love bread and butter pickles, so I really enjoyed these. They're homemade, light, sweet, and vinegary. Hush puppies - made like funnel cake pieces. It's got a lot more surface area (aka more crunchy to inside ratio) so it's a bit different. But good! Coleslaw - heavy on the carrot, light on the mayo. Tastes healthy - but too carroty and thus too sweet for me. Especially in combination with all the other sweet flavors. Limited sofa fountain selections (Coke products). 2nd visit got the bbq sandwich (came with the pickles separately but coleslaw in the sandwich). Got the house cut fries as a regular side...the thing came out on its own seperate tray - SO MANY FRIES! Definitely saved for a second helping later. read more

See all

Can't beat this NC start up- owned and led by a true food entrepreneur! We are regulars, enjoying pulled pork and a solid line up of sides. We enjoy the meat-less barbecue as well. Just because it tasted good. Also, Neighborhood Bar, next door, is well-named. Stop on for a cocktail and grab some 'que too. read more

Items Selected: Hand Cut Pimento Cheese Fries with Cheek Bacon All Dark Meat Fried Chicken with Pickles, Hush Puppies, and Slaw Hickory Smoked Whole-Hog BBQ, Roughly Chopped and seasoned by Cider Vinegar Sauce with Pickles, Hush Puppies, and Slaw Sweet Potato Bread Pudding Banana Pudding Targeted as our final meal in the state of North Carolina, a post-game destination after watching Roy Williams run the 4-Corners in honor of Dean Smith against Wake Forrest in the dome bearing his legendary name, it was just moments prior to 3:00pm that we entered The Pig and with a sign at the door proudly promoting the use of locally-raised hormone and antibiotic-free pork the barbeque that followed was the very definition of 'saving the best for last.' Perhaps a bit more hip and trendy than traditionalists looking for a spot like Ole Time or Allen & Son would prefer, but at the same time offering all the essentials plus some whimsical specials in a space far less commercial than The Pit, it was only after standing back perusing the laminated menu and chalkboards that an order was placed, the $45 tab after tax and tip speaking to higher ingredient quality while the décor was mostly wood, tile, and Formica with a few swine-centric ornaments strewn about. Waiting only ten minutes while a few more parties sporting Tar Heel Blue filed in, it was with both appetizers and mains served simultaneously that we sat impressed by the portions and uncertain of where to start a mixed tasting would ensue, first bites of the crispy hand-cut potatoes beneath spicy pimento cheese and briny cheek bacon proving far better than later bites after the oil set in while both the slaw and hushpuppies were as good as we found during our trip, the later rich with herbs beneath a particularly crisp shell. Focusing next on the "Carolina Classics," though here served as separate plates as opposed to in combo form, the question of whether the brined bird or cracklin' studded pork was better is truly a matter of taste because no matter how you rate it they both were reference standard, the former just short of Beasley's for best in The Triangle while the later was even more succulent than that at Ayden's Skylight Inn, a tremendous amount of smoke proving an adept balance acid and salt. Not exactly a spot for sweets, but trying far harder than many mom n' pop houses of 'cue, it was a menu of four specials that we were left to navigate and with the banana pudding an obvious choice my personal preferences also saw a bowl of steamy bread pudding arrive alongside, the former nothing to write home about compared to those at Mandolin, The Pit, or others while the sweet potato pie-meets-flan concoction was surprisingly mild, the tuber's natural starches providing most of the flavor alongside milky tones with whipped cream added for sweetness as well as to lighten the load, each bite still stick-a-spoon-up-straight thick. read more

See all

I went to a southern barbecue restaurant and ordered the most ethnic item on the menu. Some might think this would've been a mistake and I almost second guessed my order until the cashier and our food deliverer confirmed my ordering choice: "you're going to love it!" And love it I did! A little pricey, at $9.00 for the Vietnamese Pork Cheek Sandwich (which I opted to have as a salad) but with tender pork cheek, a carrot slaw, cilantro, grilled jalepeno slices and dried shrimp. A little oddly located, tucked away in a small shopping center down the street from East Chapel Hill High School, but definitely worth the distance. Love their homey touches, like serving their own pickles with their sandwiches and plates, and of course their Southern hospitality. I look forward to returning. read more

The Pig - Vietnamese pork cheek on lettuce. - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

They give a lot of food. The fried green tomatoes and pork ribs were really good. Meat was tender and you could tell it was smoked for a while. I like the pickles and the fried okra as well. read more

The Pig - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I've only gotten the brisket platter and a brisket sandwich... fabulous. The wife loves the collard greens. And BBQ pork. She wasn't very impressed with the BBQ chicken. read more

Music still rocks, sweet tea is still delicious, mac and cheese is still the side to get, and service is still on the ball. More or less the same as every time I've gone before. So why the extra star now? MORE vegetarian options! Yes. MORE. Unlike most meat-centric restaurants where options are ever-declining, The Pig knows how to treat its non-meat-eating fans. The spouse and I split the tempeh sandwich and the country fried tofu plate and almost ended up in a food coma. Every bite was a 'How can this taste so good?!' moment. The pickles are too sweet for my taste, but their hushpuppies are The. Best. Hushpuppies. that I have ever had in North Carolina. Seriously, NC; this is how you do 'em. The staff may not bow and scrape when you enter but I prefer the casual, friendly manner in which they do engage; I feel comfortable asking the counter staff detailed questions or trading gentle jokes about not eating meat at a barbecue restaurant. It's not that much more expensive than most places are these days, and for what we ordered it was a lot less than a lower-quality, less satisfying meal would cost at the more famous, similarly-named 'The P--'. And top tip: Taps are coming! Draft beers will be yours for the enjoyment, with an emphasis (as always there) on local offerings. For food that leaves off the meat but packs on all the flavour in true Southern style, I'm sticking with The Pig. read more

I just had the best collard greens I have ever had here, no joke. He said they take the pig trotters and tail and smoke them for a day. Then, they cook those in beer for a day. Finally, after straining that foot-tail beer, they cook the greens in there. Holy sh--. Fries were hand-cut. The brisket was good, not quite as good as the BBQ. read more

We had catering from the pig for an event and the prom was great. The salad could have had more stuff in it but the pork and coleslaw were solid. read more

Probably my favorite barbecue place in the Triangle! You definitely wouldn't expect it since The Pig is located in a pretty shabby strip mall seemingly in the middle of nowhere, but it serves up some fantastic BBQ. I'll make it clear right off the bat that I'm a vegetarian reviewing a BBQ place, so my comments will mainly be on the side dishes and vegetarian options. That being said, I absolutely love that The Pig has so many entrees catered towards vegetarians - I've actually never found that in another BBQ joint anywhere else. There are sandwiches and plates with tofu, tempeh, and shiitake mushrooms made with a BBQ twist, so vegetarians, don't worry! There are plenty of options for you here. I've had the BBQ Tempeh Sandwich. I'm usually not a huge fan of tempeh, but I wanted to see if The Pig could make me like it. I thought that the BBQ sauce on the tempeh was absolutely delicious, but it still couldn't bite through the grainy texture of the tempeh that I dislike. So yes, it still tastes like tempeh, but the barbecue flavor definitely made it more bearable. In terms of side dishes, 100% GET THE MAC-N-CHEESE. It's the bomb. The best mac-n-cheese I've had. I don't know how they do it, but it just has the perfect combination of cheesy flavor and smokiness that I love. I can finish a double portion on my own, and it's the only side I ever get here. You won't regret getting the mac-n-cheese, I promise. I've tried the Pimento Cheese Fries as well, and the portion is gigantic. The fries are crispy, and overall, it was a very overwhelming dish. I usually hate pickles, but the ones here are unexpectedly refreshing. I've never been disappointed with a trip to The Pig. My meat-loving friends that I've brought here also rave about the meats, so I expect them to be just as good, if not better, than the veggie options. read more

See all

Found this restaurant on Yelp when passing through Chapel Hill and was glad I did. This is not a cheap-but-good BBQ joint. This is a pricey-but-worth-it "whole hog" BBQ restaurant. The small plate was about $12 and included a 1/3 pound of meat, cup of cucumbers, cole slaw, and hush puppies. The large plate was around $15 and upgrades you to a half pound of meat and you can add a side. While the cucumbers and slaw come in small plastic cups, the sides come in generous sized bowls. You could easily fill up on the small plate, but for me it was worth it to upgrade to the large plate to get the extra side. I just took the leftovers home. I don't think the proprietors are native Carolinians because when my friend asked if the slaw was white or red, they didn't understand the question. We were told the slaw was orange, because of the carrots, and when it came out it surely was. And it was good. The cucumbers were a nice surprise and contrast to the rest of the plate - crispy and marinated in a slightly sweet vinegar. It was a good palate cleanser between bites of BBQ. I asked about what sides are specialties of the house and was told the sprouts-n-shrooms - brussel sprouts and mushrooms flash fried and slightly salted. Like the cucumbers these were tasty and unexpected, and the bitterness of the sprouts again were a nice contrast in the overall meal. The lady running the register - who I took to be the proprietress - asked if we had been in before and when we said no she threw in an extra side of mac-and-cheese and a bowl of gumbo gratis. That was nice. The mac-and-cheese is made with chedder that is smoked in house and was just cheesy enough for my taste (but not overly so). The gumbo uses sausage that they make in house and had a very nice flavor - spicy but again not overly so for my taste. The only downside of the whole meal was the okra in the gumbo was overcooked and slimy. read more

Spent a day in Chapel Hill visiting an old friend and needed something to eat before the friend was free. I wanted to do BBQ. We're Pennsylvanians and we were in the south so it had to be pig and it had to be vinegar-based sauce. We stopped at a small place downtown and found it closed. On a weekend. When there was a basketball game happening. Whuck? Huh? After a quick consult of the old GPS, we ended up at The Pig. From the outside of this small, generic strip mall, you'd never know what lurks inside. Not to say that the inside is impressive. It's a sparse joint with a long bench along the wall and a few tables. The soda is serve yourself with the boxes of syrup right out in the open. The menu was unusual. Tempeh? Homemade bologna? Whatever, we were there for the pig so we ordered two large plates of the whole hog BBQ. It came with a mustard-based slaw, homemade sweet pickles and another side. I chose fried green tomatoes- a bucket list food item for me- and my hubs had french fries. I'm no BBQ expert but we really enjoyed the hell out of that meal. It was an insane amount of food. The pork was moist and very tender. I loved the vinegar sauce provided on the counter but my hubs is not a vinegar lover like I am (I could drink the stuff... and have) so he concocted a tomato based sauce using the vinegar sauce, ketchup and hot sauce. And it was good! I loved the slaw but I am a slaw person. I even eat the little dixie cups of the stuff you get at diners up north. My hubs? Not so much. He doesn't like anything that involved mayonnaise. Still, he's always willing to try something so I convinced him to try The Pig's slaw. He ate all of it. It was that good- minced cabbage and carrots, celery seeds and a mustard/vinegar sauce. Not too soupy or wet. Delicious. The pickles were exceptional and after seeing the photos here of their pickle plate, I am sad I didn't get one. The french fries were fresh, hand cut, 3/8" fries cooked to crispy perfection and sprinkled with an irregular flaky kosher salt. I ate a bunch of them but since they brought out a large plate of fries as a side, I didn't feel guilty stealing food from my husband. I had the fried green tomatoes because I've always wanted to try them. Count me as a fan! The Pig's version of these were breaded in some kind of batter that had herbs in it. I thought I tasted oregano and maybe thyme. The slices were the perfect thickness and even and not mushy/mealy at all. I ate them right out of the bowl but noticed later that other diners were putting ketchup on them. I didn't know! I wish I had tried some that way. I would like to have tried their hot dogs, which looked amazing and are made in house, and their pimiento cheese fries. I saw a plate walk past me and they looked incredible. I love pimiento cheese. The only dark spot of the meal was the hush puppies. I thought they were a little bland. Next time we're down that way, we're going back. read more

I finally got a chance to try out The Pig. Lucky for me, I got to avoid the downtown madness and head north of town, in an area I don't visit much. There's a wonderful park up there, Cedar Falls, right across the street, but other than a couple other shops it's mostly residential up there. At least it's somewhat easy to spot, if you look up the hill a bit. The exterior looked nice, new, and big. So I was surprised when we went inside and it looked like a 20-year-old diner with crappy little tables and chairs, a solid wood bench for seating and ugly bathrooms. I was so confused, how could such a newish looking building have such an unkempt interior? But I guess BBQ restaurants aren't known for being fancy, so I wasn't exactly expecting white tablecloths either. I was a bit confused at first about whether we were supposed to sit, wait for a hostess, or order first. Apparently you're supposed to order and pay first, then chose a table, and they bring the food out to you once it's done. I guess the good thing is you don't have to tip, because there's no real table service. After surveying the options, we asked what the difference was between the BBQ trays and the BBQ plates, besides that the plates were $3 more expensive each. The guy explained that they originally just offered the trays, but so many people wanted to exchange the sides that they offered the plates to be able to accommodate that. I figured that the slaw, pickles and hush puppies sounded like perfectly good sides so I just ordered the small tray. My husband got the large BBQ tray. The difference between the two was the weight of the meat, one is 1/3 lb. of BBQ, and the other is 1/2 lb. of BBQ. When they came out I couldn't really tell the difference though. Eh, for only a dollar more, I suppose the difference might not be too obvious. I also ordered the chess pie for dessert. At first I couldn't find out what all the orange stuff was on the slaw. After tasting it I realized it was carrots. I don't think I've ever had such a carroty coleslaw. It wasn't really to my liking, it wasn't as vinegary as I would have liked. The hushpuppies were fantastic. They were really fluffy, like little cornbready donuts. I'm not sure if that's what hushpuppies were supposed to taste like, but they were still very good. The pickles were fresh pickles, not like the ones that have been sitting in a jar or can for 6 months. They tasted like the ones I make, and I imagine they were probably made about the same way: sliced, then put in a bowl with vinegar, sugar, salt and spices for just a day or less before being served. The BBQ was really amazing. I think it was the best pig I've eaten since moving to North Carolina. There's 3 sauces you can use with it, ketchup, vinegar sauce and hot sauce. I found the vinegar sauce to be the best, and I used plenty of that, and just a dash of the hot sauce. The chess pie tasted more like a brownie than anything else. Near the outside it was a bit dry, but towards the middle it was very rich and moist. It wasn't really what I was expecting, but it was good all the same. I think next time I'll probably avoid the slaw, and try one of the other sides like the fried green tomatoes. The prices are pretty decent here, as a lot of the entrees with sides are $10 or less. Chapel Hill is a little far for me to bring home take out, but certainly if I lived closer, I would rather eat in the comfort of my own home than in this restaurant. But man, I'll keep dreaming about that BBQ for weeks. read more

See all

All the food is seasoned with the same thing.. seemed like Italian seasoned bread crumbs.. but whatever it was gave my family and I heartburn and upset stomach. The coleslaw is orange and tasted more like celery than cabbage. The catfish tacos were horrible little black bricks. The Mac n cheese nuggets "Dank Nugs" were gross and wet. They don't have ribs or white meat chicken. I would not recommend to anyone especially with children. And it cost way more than it was worth. read more

Driving back from Asheville to Raleigh, I decided I could not leave North Carolina without getting myself some BBQ! This place cam highky recommended, so I decided to make the small detour to try it out! So glad I did! Nice little no fuss restaurant (you order at the counter, and they bring your food to your table), with amazing service (the South hospitality and charm at its best)! I ordered the small BBQ plate (pulled pork), and just because it sounded interesting, a side of their pimiento fries... The plate came with a nice amount of pork, quite a few hush puppies, a very interesting coleslaw of sorts, and some pickled cucumbers... Everything but the the hush puppies were excellent... I am usually a big fan of hush puppies, bith those were pretty much tasteless... Honestly, everything else was so delicious (including the BBQ sauces waiting for you at the table), I really did not miss them. Now, a special word on those fries... OMG! You just can't pass them out! A little greasy, but that is what happens with any kind of melted cheese! Flavor is awesome! This dish is worth every calories that are in it (and no, I do not wish to find out how many exactly!!!)... The rest of the menu looked just as delish... And wish I had enough room to try one of their homemade pies... Maybe another time! :) read more

The Pig - Pimiento fries and small BBQ Plate! - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

My first experience with North Carolina BBQ was a winner. The Pig is a spot in Chapel Hill where you can go H.A.M. over a big plate of BBQ or fried protein options- chicken, of course, plus vegetarian-friendly tofu and even tempeh! My ribs were delicious: tender with that perfect BBQ smokiness sealed in. I tried a bite of my mother's brisket, which was only okay; I thought it was rather dry and leathery. The plates come with three pre-set sides: hush puppies, cole slaw and pickles. The pickles come micro-sliced in a small pile and their vinegar provides and nice acidic alternative to the richness of the entrees. Cole slaw was noticeably above average. It was a heavy slaw, with a big veggie:sauce ratio and a lot more shredded carrot than the typical slaw. Hush puppies were mainly vessels for absorbing the grease and BBQ sauce. We ordered three additional sides to share. The Sprouts and Shrooms were awesome. The fried green tomatoes were good but too greasy. I heard the Mac n cheese was delicious (I'm allergic so I have no comment). The Pig is a traditional order-at-the-counter restaurant: take a few menus to an empty table; walk up to the counter to order for your table, pay and you get a standing number sign so the food runners know where to bring your food. The first thing you notice about the Pig is how unassuming it is. It's in a strip mall and has a middle school cafeteria aesthetic. Don't be alarmed: the food is legit and that's all that matters! read more

See all

Four of us made a stop at The Pig after arriving in Raleigh for a barbcue weekend. We liked the sound of reviews we had read. This was our second NC barbecue tour and it is always hard to decide where to eat, there are so many choices. The young man behind the counter was super helpful. We ordered chopped pork, sliced brisket and fried chicken. Our side choices were collards, slaw, potato salad, mac and cheese, beans and hushpuppies. We always try to get a good selection and in this case it worked well. The pork was mildly smoky, a little on the dry side but was OK with the addition of a little sauce. I would not rate it at the apex of NC pork. (3 star pork at best) The brisket on the other hand was quite good. It does not look all that great, more like roast beef. There was no smoke ring, but the bark had a serious smoky flavor. The meat was very good, tender and moist. I would definitely order again. (4 star brisket) The fried chicken was fresh and juicy with a light crisp coating. It had some pepper but could have used a little salt in the meat. It was perfectly done (4 star chicken) There was a typical vinegar sauce for the pork and for the sweeter tastes, there was a great thick, rich, dark red sauce. It was medium sweet, red from tons of chile. It was fruity with tamarind flavor and pleasantly bitter from the chile. Excellent for the style. The collards were a harsh flavored in a rich, brownish sauce and some meat bits. The flavors were pretty strong. OK, not great. The slaw was chopped very fine. It was very mild and needed vinegar. It was not creamy or sweet, which was not bad, it just lacked kick. The potato salad had a reddish, creamy sauce with a little cumin. The red skinned potatoes were large chunks. This was pretty good salad, perhaps a little too much dressing. The mac and cheese was firm like a cake, a little dry, but it had a good mild cheddar flavor. It was not gooey with processed cheese like Velveeta or American. I liked it very much but it may not be your favorite if you prefer the really gooey stuff. The beans were fairly standard, slightly sweet with too much onion. They were thin and soupy. Not a lot of effort went into these. Hush puppies had strong corn flavor, no sweetness, no onion. I would have liked a touch of sweetness but they were fine. Overall this is a mid-range pork place with very good brisket and excellent fried chicken. Service was friendly and helpful. We had an enjoyable meal and it was a good start to our trip. read more

I came here for lunch and ate a barbecue sandwich. It had some yellow (mustard) slaw, and came with a side of pickled (vinegar?) cucumbers. The meat was ok. It was pretty dry, even with the vinegar sauce. I liked the flavoring that the vinegar sauce added, and the meat had a hint of smokiness, but it was overall unimpressive. I've never tried yellow slaw before, so that was a first for me. It wasn't bad, but I prefer other types of slaw. The pickled cucumbers were pretty good - it wasn't pickled enough to be actual pickles, but the vinegary-ness added the right amount of zing. The service was not so great - the person who took our order didn't really seem like he cared for being there. I'm still of the opinion that Allen & Son is the best barbecue you'll find in Chapel Hill. Hands down. read more

Finally after coming to Chapel Hill numerous times over the past 3 years while my son was in Law School, I always wanted to get to The Pig after hearing how good it was from my son. Well, I finally made it this last time in Chapel Hill and after eating there wished I had gone way before this time. Ordered the BBQ Plate withe a side of Mac &Cheese. It comes with hush puppies, slaw and pickles. The pork was amazing. Had such flavor that I did not need any sauce to go along with each bite. The sides were good, not great. Each had it's own twist, like the hush puppies done almost like curly fries, and though I enjoyed them they did not rise to the level of the pork. For sure will be back at The Pig to try some of the other meats and a few different sides. read more

The food was good! The sauce seemed weird by itself but when on the BBQ sandwich, it tasted very good. The serving size of fries was kind of a rip off. 4 dollars for a large tray that really was best for more than one person. A smaller size would have been better. Prices were a tad high I felt like, but not enough to throw a fit haha. read more

This blew my mind! They make their own bacon and bologna. The pimento fries were killer and the chopped pork was fantastic. The deep fried moon pie sounded much better than it was. Quite possibly the best hushpuppy I've ever had!!! Fantastic beer selection as well. Great, creative little BBQ joint. Reasonably priced as well. The only reason they lose 1 star was because they no longer serve ribs. WTF. read more

See all

Delicious food! Great barbecue. We ordered brisket, pulled pork and ribs ! Generous portions and friendly staff. Definitely will be on my list for favorite barbecue stops. read more

He said: I got all wound up for a BLT, but they were out of the homemade bacon!!!!! Got the brisket sandwich. Brisket sandwich a touch dry, but I have big standards for brisket, and I am in pig country. Sandwich very tasty. Sauces on table pretty good. Fried okra and fried green tomatoes delicious and the sides are big enough to share, which is good because they are $3.25 The hard rock music was a little weird, but didn't detract. I tried her fried baloney sandwich- it was good and had a big slab of homemade baloney on it. Pickles that come with sandwiches are delicious They stopped selling ribs. I asked why and the guy said they'd run out and people would get mad that they came for ribs, so they started wholesaling them to other restaurants and took em off the menu. I suppose that's one way of solving the demand problem. Good value. Will be back. She said: I was disappointed that they were out of their homemade bacon. I would love to have reviewed that. I mean come on...it's bacon! I was equally happy to try the homemade fried bologna sandwich. It was very good (though they put diced onions on it instead of rings or a slice...made it awkward to eat). The fried green tomatoes were seasoned much differently than typical ones. You will either love or hate them (I say that, though I'm actually in-between...go figure). The pickles were very good. read more

The Pig - Fried baloney. - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Disappointing, overheated, dry, flavorless, chopped bbq. This might be a place where the sides outshine the main dish. I had the small pork BBQ plate with hushpuppies, cole slaw and pickles for $8.00. The pickles and cole slaw were good, hushpuppies did taste a little bland. I'm not sure I would order his again, but I'll give it a second shot in the future. The prices here are too high. Food C Decor B Staff C Location D Health Inspection Grade 92.0 read more

The Pig - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I actually bookmarked this place based on the Yelp recommendations- so I am reviewing this as an out of towner. This place is very unassuming and located in a strip mall. The decor is limited and there are a couple of tables (so probably not the best place for huge groups). There is a menu and you have to order at the counter and take a number. I got the BBQ large plate (I split in two) which came with pulled pork (vinegar based), pickles, coleslaw, and an extra side. We picked the mac n cheese. The plate was HUGE and only cost $12.50! I was really impressed with the quality, price, and portion size. I would definitely recommend this place to someone looking to grab a quick simple bite of BBQ read more

The Pig - $13 for large plate of BBQ pickles slaw and mac n cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

My husband and I came here for a late lunch. It was our first visit, and all I can say is WHY DID WE WAIT SO LONG?!?! Seriously, it was awesome. We started with a small order of pimento cheese fries with cheek bacon. Perfect size for the two of us to share. Fries weren't crispy but neither one of us cared that much. I had the Vietnamese cheek salad and my husband had the bbq sandwich with mac and cheese. My salad was AMAZING, the cheek was insanely tender-melty-fatty-good, perfect vinaigrette and loved the grilled jalepeno and baby shrimp. Husband loved his sandwich and mac and cheese was great. And $3 glasses of wine on Wednesdays! Last but not least, super friendly service from the lady at the counter, wish we had caught her name. We'll definitely go back, maybe even for dinner tonight! read more

The Pig - Small pimento cheese fries cheek bacon - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

As an out of towner, The Pig is just what I expected from a Carolina barbecue spot. We were warmly greeted upon entry and offered samplings. Our greeter explained that their pigs are locally raised and on a strict antibiotic, hormone-free diet. All of the preparation, smoking, and slicing and dicing is done on site. At this point, I was compelled to order the BBQ sandwich. It was topped with "slaw" and came with a side of pickles. I also ordered a side of mac and cheese to complete the package. I couldn't be more pleased with my selection. My friend ordered the catfish po' boy which didn't disappoint. Prices were pleasantly appealing. Overall, it was a worth while experience, definitely a must do when in the area. read more

See all

The Pig has been serving Carolina BBQ for nearly eight years. And having the door open and lines still long enough at dinnertime that you'll need to gird up your patience is testament to how good this place is. But The Pig is not a run-of-the-mill Carolina BBQ joint. The angle is Sam Suchoff, a California boy who moved to Chapel Hill when he was 15 and ended up graduating from UNC in... wait for it... mathematics. Sam ended up working in various restaurants, including The Barbecue Joint, the previous incarnation of The Pig. When Sam ended up taking over The Barbecue Joint, he launched it with a slightly different angle. Sam is not a chef in that you'll probably not see him slinging butts behind the counter. He's not the guy who must touch every piece of food for this place to be good. But he's a passionate cook and self-declared process engineer, which means that he can instill a sense of quality and care into his products by systemizing it. Those systems allow you to have consistent and good products, no matter who is behind the counter. Unlike many restaurants that I love that rely on a great chef, this is the Five Guys of BBQ - which I mean as high praise for systemizing a top notch product with consistency. This isn't run-of-the-mill BBQ/mac/collards place. The showpiece is the BBQ, a mild version of smoked pork shoulder. This is one of the few places that does whole hog, so the BBQ is moist, long pulled bits, with plenty of delicious flavor blobs anad bits of charred goodies. There is a light hand in adding sauce, which is great because I'm there to eat pork, not vinegar. His other products are wink-and-a-nod products - things done with great care and daring you to notice that they are different and special. I could go on for hours about the pickles. These are homemade pickles that are some of the best. Hushpuppies have the best texture I have ever had. Some swear the hot dogs are fine cuisine rather than lips and a-holes. I've heard about the dessert, but they were sold out. The ribs were a moist and had a heavy coating of dry rub on them. But these efforts at trying to do something special means that Sam's recipes are going to please some people more than others. For example, the ribs were fine, but a bit too much rub for my liking. The puppies were a bit bland. But it's hard to get mad at a place where the worst thing is merely good. So 4 stars. I really love his BBQ and pickles, but his overall portfolio means that I prefer some other places over The Pig. But I certainly can see myself coming back here again and again. And by the look and sound of the staff greeting clear regulars, I can see there are indeed people who do repeat coming back frequently. read more

We just happened to stop in here, and were SO glad we did. The barbecue sandwiches were out of this world, and the fried okra and hush puppies were perfect! The sweet tea was wonderful and the staff was super friendly and helpful. Go to the Pig, you won't be disappointed. read more

The Pig - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

I would say that the meal overall was a great start to our visit in Chapel Hill, NC. The pork plate was a good choice and I would have to say that the brussel sprouts were almost as good as my own (which means they were pretty darn good). You must try the pickel plate because I have never had pickled green tomatoes and they were awesome. read more

The Pig - Was a good start for our trip in Chapel Hill, NC. Pulled pork plate with Brussels Sprouts and we had to try the pickle plate. - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I sooooooo wanted this place to be awesome. With all the positive reviews I knew I was in for a treat. I was let down however. The food is good, but not great. The brisket had pretty good flavor, but was really dry. Maybe they cut it without resting it? Or maybe it was reheated? The sauce was really good though! I preferred their version of western carolina BBQ versus their eastern version, although I prefer eastern typically. The fries were good. They seemed to be from actual potatoes instead of the processed garbage fries at most places. The hush puppies were really dense. The flavor was ok, but by no means traditional. I'm not a fried green tomato fan, but we had them as a side. The breading was really good! I still do not condone ending a tomatoes life before it turns red and can be used properly. My highlight was eating at the table literally sitting beside Tyler Hansbrough! We didn't bother the fellow because he was eating, but that was still really awesome! read more

Stopped by here for a plate of chopped pig. Its a simple place on the side of the road with great fare. I had the: BBQ sandwich: a tasty sandwich topped with a yellow slaw. The pork was rich and tasty and the slaw was sweet and tangy. The two go together perfectly. It comes with a side of sweet picks which act as a an effective pallet cleanser. Gumbo: Looking at the menu you'll probably wonder why a cup of gumbo is like 6 dollars. Well if you look at the picture I posted you'll see its well worth it. A cup is a small bowl and its about 70% meat. MEAT! chicken, ham, and sausage everywhere. You can definitely get your protein fix in a small bowl of this magic meat stew. An addition plus for this place is apparently the drinks are free. You just grab a cup and get a fountain drink or tea for free. That is almost unheard of today in a place like this. I was pleasantly surprised. Overall If you see this place on the side of the road STOP IN NOW and gorge yourself. It's worth it! read more

The Pig - Cup of gumbo. Lots and lots of MEAT! - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

See all

It's a very unassuming place which is what I feel BBQ should be like. This is going to also sound weird but I'm giving this place 4 stars based on the sides. Don't get me wrong the ribs were good, not spectacular, I personally would've preferred more smoke flavor as I couldn't really taste any but the sides oh man! Someone else said it but the sprouts and shrooms are a-ma-zing. They flash fry them in a sauce very similar to the my shrimp shack sauce which as far as I can make out is garlic butter and Cajun seasonings. The hush puppies were nice and the pickles probably are too sweet for a traditionalist, but since I like mine sweet I really enjoyed them. So I mean I'm a guy who can finish his king Henry cut 16 oz prime rib and have another slice but I couldn't finish the huge portion of ribs. Bonus points because they have lefthand milk stout on tap! read more

The Pig - It's all good, but the sprouts and shrooms are KILLER - Barbeque Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Tongue cheese steak (5/5) - I've typically had tongue as the meat in my taco truck burritos and tacos, but seeing this tongue cheese steak definitely caught my eye! It was quite delicious and the tongue wasn't overcooked and tough, but still soft and chewy. Comes with a whole cup of pickles on the side! Would most definitely recommend! BBQ brisket plate (4/5) - Delicious beef brisket that's smothered in a BBQ sauce (not heavy on vinegar, like typical NC bbq). Served with a side of pickles, cole slaw and hush puppies. Cole slaw wasn't heavy on the mayo (which is great), but the hush puppies weren't quite what I expected (something felt slightly "off" about them compared to the ones I've had in NOLA). read more

Really liked this place. Their pork is ethically sourced, which already had me leaning towards liking the place. The pork was very good. It wasn't the best I've ever had, but it was solid, eastern-style chopped bbq. The vinegar on the table was nothing special, but adequate. There was some red sauce available too. The slaw was excellent. It was yellow, but it was delicious. They also gave a handful of pickles on the plate that were sweet but not super sweet and added a nice touch. The collards were a little soupy, but pretty good. The hushpuppies were the worst I've ever eaten. I ate one and then pushed the rest aside. I don't know how you mess up hushpuppies, but they were awful-but hey, it's only hushpuppies. Overall: very pleased. They have an interesting menu but, of course, I got the pork plate. read more

See all

The gumbo is good , but the spice varies from mild to moderate. I wish they could be more consistent with the spice.

GET THE CAROLINA BOY. You will not regret it. Hands down THE BEST sandwich I've had in my entire life.

I've been to a handful of BBQ places in the area and so far this has to be my fave! Pork was moist and flavorful even before adding sauce. And all SIX sides that I tried were also great - pickles, slaw, hush puppies, mac and cheese, pickled beets, and fries. Fries were a bit soggy but still good somehow. A bit more expensive than some other places but I will probably be back anyway. read more