No matter where you reside in America, barbecue can be found just about anywhere. With that said, depending on where you are depends on the type of barbecue that may be featured on a local restaurant menu and it all comes down to how long you cook the meat, to what type of meat to what’s in the sauce and when you incorporate the sauce. While barbecue is popular across the country, the styles are specific to certain destinations with the more recognizable styles being Memphis, Kansas City, Texas, and of course, North Carolina! Now, if you are not a pro and are unsure about which barbecue is your favorite this blog may just be a road map to make your next barbecue experience a more enjoyable one.
Memphis Style is slow-cooked pork with a dry or wet savory sauce. They cook their barbecue on low heat for about 5 hours, allowing the barbecue to become soft so the meat falls right off the bone.
Kansas City Style focuses a lot on the sauce which is sweet and thicker than other styles. Made with tomato and molasses and sometimes even brown sugar, the sauce is cooked into the meat or brushed on immediately after it’s done cooking.
Texas Style is unique as it covers different styles based off which region you are within the state and includes Central, West, East and South. In most cases, when you hear Texas Style it’s more often than not, the Central Style which uses large cuts of meats, mostly brisket, and seasoned with just salt and pepper and then cooked slow and low, over indirect heat.
North Carolina is home to two styles, Eastern and Lexington. Eastern uses the entire hog (minus the squeal) with a lemon juice or vinegar, pepper-based sauce and doesn’t use any tomatoes. Lexington-style barbecue is made with a ketchup and vinegar and spice-based sauce and uses meat from the pork shoulder. High Point is not shy when it comes to serving up either style ‘que. Check out six local favorite barbecue restaurants below:
2) Country Barbecue, located at 3921 Sedgebrook Street and 2928 N. Main Street, is known for their delicious homestyle barbecue. Their menu includes southern staples ranging from biscuits & burgers to chicken baskets and various barbecue plates, trays, and sandwiches. Their Lexington-style barbecue is served either chopped, coarse chopped, or sliced. This classic barbecue joint is even known for their southern-style breakfast—if you can make it there in time!
3) Sweet Old Bill’s, located at 1232 N. Main Street, provides a great atmosphere to sit back and have a drink or indulge in some delicious burgers, nachos, or various barbecue plates and sandwiches. Sweet Old Bill’s is known for their delicious NC Pulled Pork, chopped or sliced beef brisket, St. Louis-style BBQ ribs, and smoked chicken with Alabama White Sauce. Their pork and brisket are smoked at a low temperature for 12-14 hours to ensure that the meat is well-cooked and easily pulled apart.
4) Black Powder Smokehouse, located in a historic converted gas station in Jamestown at 302 E. Main Street, is a Texas-style artisan barbecue joint. They are known for their delicious barbecue, smoked for up to 14 hours to ensure maximum flavor. The Texas-style brisket pairs perfectly with their decadent gouda mac-n-cheese, BBQ baked beans, and authentic southern collard greens.
5) B3, located in Stock + Grain Assembly at 275 N. Elm Street, is serving up modernized southern staples. They specialize in elevated comfort food, including classics like homemade biscuits and gravy and unique offerings like their tender, flavorful smoked turkey. You can’t leave without trying their sliced-to-order slow smoked brisket paired with a local NC craft beer. B3 operates on a cashless system and serves until they sell out each day.
So, whether you’re a ‘cue connoisseur or just looking for some comfort food, High Point and its locally made barbecue options have you covered. We look forward to welcoming you to High Point soon and will be eager to see which style is your go-to.