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Perhaps no culinary question inspires as much debate as this: “Where can you find the best barbecue?” Most meat aficionados will agree that the holy trinity of barbecue has you going to the Carolinas for pulled pork shoulder in a semi-spicy mustard sauce, Kansas City for ribs and chicken or turkey in a molasses and brown sugar sauce, and Texas for lean cuts of beef and sausage seasoned with a salt-and-pepper-based dry rub.
While most barbecue lovers will agree on these three, the knife-sharpening really occurs when trying to determine the next sausage link in the pecking order. There’s Memphis, Tennessee, St. Louis and Chicago. Alabama is known for white barbecue sauce, and California boasts a distinct smoky style.
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With so many delicious options and styles to choose from, here’s a short list of towns from coast to coast with impressive barbecue.
![Charlotte, North Carolina and a plate of carolina bbq the skyline of charlotte north carolina and an inset of carolina barbecue with hushpuppies hashbrowns and collard greens](https://cdn.aarp.net/content/dam/aarpe/en/home/travel/vacation-ideas/food-drink/info-2023/barbecue-cities/_jcr_content/root/container_main/container_body_main/container_travel_main_body/container_travel_body/container_body1/container_body_cf/body_one_cf_one/par3/articlecontentfragme/cfimage.coreimg.50.932.png/content/dam/aarp/travel/destinations/2023/07/1140-charlotte-north-carolina-barbecue.png)
Charlotte, North Carolina
Carolina barbecue began on the coast in the 1500s and slowly expanded westward to the Appalachian Mountains. The different regions of North and South Carolina put their own unique twists on barbecue over the centuries, but one issue remained constant: What’s now the most populous city in the Carolinas didn’t have impressive barbecue.
All that changed when Midwood Smokehouse founder Frank Scibelli opened his first barbecue joint in Charlotte in 2011 because he was frustrated that the Queen City only had barbecue fit for a jester. To wit, North (and South) Carolinians would drive many a weary mile for homemade vinegar-based sauce on pulled pork, they just wouldn’t go to Charlotte for it. Midwood caught on like wildfire and now boasts six locations across the Carolinas. Be sure to try the hickory-smoked chopped pork in eastern North Carolina vinegar sauce.
The Charlotte location on Central Avenue is 3 miles from Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
If the wait is too long: Sweet Lew’s BBQ is another response to the “Does Charlotte have any great Carolina barbecue?” question. The pork shoulder is smoked over a blend of pecan, hickory and peach woods. Bring your appetite: The sandwiches are big.
Where to stay: The Sonesta ES Suites is a short drive to several Midwood locations, as well as Carowinds theme park and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.