Backyard BBQ Pit

Good food, amazing service and an overall vibe. I heard the place was remodeled, not sure what it looked like BEFORE but the NOW is giving! Couldn’t give it 5 stars because the fried chicken wasn’t working for me, not saying it was bad but just wasn’t working with my taste buds today. However! That Mac and cheese and yams… absolutely 🔥! Oh and that pineapple lemonade was everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I plan to return and try some other things soon, I’ll keep the pics coming!

Staff were very friendly and welcoming. Food was great 👍🏾 even though customer in front oof me took my rib plate and went out the door 😆 🤣 the lady behind the counter said don't worry about it and quickly made me another. It's clean in side 👍🏾 The pork sandwiches delicious and all the sides delicious. Definitely recommend this BBQ place.

Really good! The pulled pork had flavor even without sauce added — something I don’t see a lot. Green beans were good but I think the yams stole the show (although there’s a lot of sugar if that’s a problem for you). Prices were great. The only negative for me was the seating felt odd and better for someone eating alone instead of with a friend or group.

This is my first time trying them since they opened back up. I got a fried flounder sandwich and it was Horrible, smh. The fish had zero seasoning and it was cook in very old grease. Even though it was flounder it had a lot of bones it. You can look at the grease on the bread and tell that it was not fresh. Plus it was sooo hot in there that I was uncomfortable and the fans did not help at all. All the sides on the bar looked old as well. They also need to put hairnets on as well as a top of the container of lemonade. I has such high hopes for them but im not going back.

I'd like to start off by saying that my first experience was a catering request for a repass. It was short notice and they were accommodating with a 5 day notice when they normally require 2 weeks notice. Two days after, people were still talking about the food... fried chicken, pulled pork, mac & cheese, potato salad, string beans, strawberry cake, banana pudding, sweet tea & pineapple lemonade. Everything was tasty and well seasoned. The only reason I couldn't give 5 stars for the food was because the banana pudding was mostly custard and it was soupy. They delivered from Durham to Greensboro and it arrived on time.

I want to express that the food was very good but the professionalism and appearance of the employees were not in good standing. They were talking very loudly to each other and one of the cooks was out front looking as if she just finished swimming in a bag of flour. Again the food was delicious but lets make it more professional.

Love this spot! Hadn't been in years with COVID and the recent renovations, but let me tell you...IT'S STILL BANGING!!! Food on POINT, staff on POINT, and the place is looking good from the reno! I had the BBQ plate with Mac and cheese, cabbage, and hush puppies; it was delicious! I had enough BBQ left to bring to work for lunch! This a Durham GEM that deserves our continued support!

The food is great. I love it there. That said they need to work on portion control. I've ordered platters before and the amount of BBQ was less than what would have been on a sandwich, and other times it's a normal amount of BBQ. Apart from that it's really good.

Recommend! Recommend! Recommend! We were staying overnight in Durham to catch a plane early the next morning. Googled Inexpensive Restaurants Near Me. Backyard BBQ Pit was one of the suggestions. Read some reviews and headed over. This place looks like a dive diner, but walk in and be welcomed like a long lost friend. The staff seemed to enjoy working together (always helps the atmosphere) and the food was EXTREMELY tasty. The 'pulled' meats are not swimming in BBQ sauce, once you get it , you can add as much or as little as you like. When trying to decide what to drink, one of the staff piped up and said they had Pineapple Lemonade. Heavenly. My friend had the fried catfish, which I tried. It was not heavy on the fishy taste (normal for catfish) or the weird tang many of them have from eating trash. The portions were enough to fill you up and not break the bank.

They are back !!! Went here a year ago and was so sad when I heard they were closed prior to my trip back to Raleigh. But after looking on Instagram I found out they had reopened! The food is immaculate and the service is great! The ribs were delicious! The Mac and cheese was chefs kiss! They completely upgraded the inside of the restaurant and it really looks good compared to the old look! I honestly can't wait to go back to North Carolina for this place!

I use to come here long ago when I attended NCCU. The food is just as good as ever to this day! The service line moves fast and everyone is kind and patient. The turkey is my go to! The inside has had a facelift since I was last in. I honestly miss the graffiti walls but it's still a cool spot to eat in or take out.

The food was bland and tasteless. The pulled pork was shedding to the point it was dry and had not taste. The brisket was tender but again had no taste. I was disappointed and actually throw it out. I will not go back.

OooWeee this is some of the best I've ever had hands down. I came here after a TikTok food reviewer claim Backyard BBQ to be the best in the Raleigh/Durham area. I ordered the Yams, Brisket plate, Mac & Cheese, Greens, hush puppies, Pulled Smoked Turkey and Baked Beans. Bayyybayyyeee!!! When I the food is hitting it's on point. It is legit the best BBQ I've had in my life and the side Zelle not to be played with either. The yams are yams'n and the Mac & Cheese is cheese'n everything is superb. The staff is supper welcoming even let me sample everything being it was my first time the and being an out of towner. For everything I bought it was very affordable and I wish I could have bought more to fly home with it's so good, but I have it all figured out for next time lol. I will definitely be back here real some as I'm planning another trip back to North Carolina.

Very friendly staff, since this was my first time playing hey let me try the pulled turkey and pulled pork. Both had good flavor but I like the turkey a little more. I felt like both were a little too spicy for me so I opted for the smoked sausage that also taste and smell like it was in a beer broth. Very good, I could have used some yellow mustard. Cabbage are good but not sure what meat it was seasoned with you can see and taste it. Yams are tasty but could have been drained a little. The hush puppies are sweet and it reminds of funnel cake. Not corn based like I'm used to. Now I must say the pineapple lemonade stole the whole show and they received an extra star just for it...Chunks of pineapple in some ice cold lemonade....awwww man. There was a steady stream of customers coming in to this well loved restaurant. There were a lot of things on the menu they didn't have like the pig feet & ox tails. They also do not have desserts...which I couldn't have eat anyway.

I googled for good barbeque in Durham. The Backyard BBQ Pit showed up repeatedly. What a mistake! First, the only chicken available was wings (how can a BBQ place run out of chicken). Second, the side dishes were awful. The potato salad was more like a soup and the green beans were fresh out of a can. Third, the strawberry lemonade was lukewarm (what - no ice available). Fourth, no hush puppies (unbelievable). Fifth, the woman behind the counter was uncommunicative. I won't be going back.

Bbq sandwich was terrible. The bbq was old and tasted like it came from a low end grocery store. They were out of almost everything.

To summarize my experience at Backyard BBQ, I will say two words. Customer service. This restaurant is the definition of a local business. We went here at the recommendation of a friend, and quickly realized that this would be an incredible place to eat. Once you enter the door, you are treated with warm welcomes and incredible smells of BBQ. We split a pulled pork plate, and at the recommendation of the staff ordered the beef ribs. I wish I had remembered to take photos but the food was so good that in my rush, I forgot. We had to wait 15 minutes for the ribs to finish cooking, but they were worth the wait as they were soft off the bone. Now let's get to the customer service. While we were waiting, they gave us some shrimp stew to eat. ON THE HOUSE. I insisted on paying, but they refused. Since this time, we've come back a second time, and we had an equally good meal. The person I was with wanted to get a sweet tea to go, and they again said it was on the house and refused to allow us to pay for it. I will always come to Backyard for BBQ in the triangle area. They've earned a customer for life

I used to come here all the time for lunch and food was so good but ever since they remodeled the food just been really bland and just doesn't taste how it used to. The brisket was really tough with 0 flavor and pulled pork was extremely bland . The greens were has no flavor and really greasy. I usually don't write reviews but I'm hoping the quality of their food will be back how it was before the remodel .

I drove here after work because I needed some good BBQ! It's off 55 and without GPS I would have missed the location. Driving into the parking lot it looks like any Southern small restaurant. At 4 there were ~10 cars. Inside was a mess! They are remodeling and setting of for drive thru. That will be cool! The food is served cafeteria style so fast and hot! The staff was busy but friendly. I got smoked chicken mac and cheese, sweet potato, collards and brisket. Each a dinner. A little under $20 a plate. In the way home I almost pulled over to dive in to the food it smelled SO GOOD!! The smoked chicken was moist and delicious. I am not a huge fan of smoked poultry but this was good. The brisket was for my husband, I stole a piece... before he got home. So good! I will get that next time. I hate cooked beyond recognition collards... these were not! They still had texture with perfect seasoning. Mac n cheese... perfect amount of cheese! Baked. My sweet potato was so good. Next time I am just getting 2 orders of brisket, Mac and cheese and two extra sides of sweet potato.. just for me, eating in my car! Missing a star only because the inside seemed a bit icky. As a woman who is brave and does not like to turn away from good food I looked passed it. But many may find it unpleasant. They are working on it.

I've been wanting to try this place for a while, and now I regret not trying it sooner. I don't think I'll go anywhere else for barbecue anymore. I came here one day and was told that they closed early because they sold out. I had to see the reason the next day, and it's no wonder why. The best barbecue I've had is at backyard bbq pit, and the generosity and kindness of the employees made it that much better. They gave their honest recommendations and were very helpful. We were given complimentary shrimp to try while waiting for the ribs to be ready. I will definitely be back and tell all my friends and family to come.

First time visiting since the remodel. The service was very slow, I paid for white meat dinners and end up having to settle with dark instead. Half their sides they didn't have in stock. I'll spend my dollars somewhere else.

This place was the highlight of our North Carolina BBQ tour. After talking with the regular customers in line, I couldn't decide what to order--they all had their favorite fishes, and they all looked/smelled delicious! After sampling several things, settled on ribs with my favorite collards and potato salad. To satisfy my indecision, I had a side of chopped pork and awesome deep fried gizzards--wow did those send me back to my childhood! All meals come with their house made fresh hush puppies. For those who haven't had these before, Backyard BBQ Pit's hush puppies are the best you'll ever eat. Guaranteed. Enticingly crispy outside, pillowy soft inside with a hint of sweetness. This will forever be the gold standard for any hush puppies I'll eat in the future! The friendly service and warm hospitality are top rate, I felt like part of the community, conversing with the patrons and the owners. I'd return to Durham--just to come back to this restaurant!

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As bad or worse than I remember. Horrible pulled pork. No taste. Bland and tons of horrible tart cole slaw. Sides were bad. Why did I let my friend drag me here. How has this place not closed down. Will never go back. For good bbq go elsewhere. MCL cafeteria had better bbq.

the food delicious,staff was friendly and amazing and i cant wait to tell friends that they are reopened. I completely enjoyed my dining experience.

I really want to like this place. The BBQ itself is pretty good and the whole atmosphere yells local and authentic, not to mention the staff is polite. I can't recommend eating here though, not with the current level of cleanliness if you really look at the back and what's going on among various other issues (hair in drink etc). I'm not interested in writing a terrible review in detail because I think the staff is well intentioned, wants to serve their customers and the issues are more a matter of someone coming in to train. If they see this I would love to come back in a few months and be able to give a great review.

This is just sad. I saw this in the News and Observer. I have not been back since my last review. It has fallen so far. Over 20 violations in the most recent Health and Sanitation check. At one time I came here at least once a month. Now, there is no way I would eat here. "Received a score of 84.5% during an inspection on Feb. 8 (2023). The restaurant was in violation of 20 state standards, with point deductions ranging from zero to three points. Violations included multiple dented and rusted cans of apples in the dry storage area, several foods being held at incorrect temperatures, some foods not being date-marked and "excessive amounts of roaches in facility." Some violations were corrected during the inspection. The restaurant previously scored a 90% in July and December 2022 and an 83% in June 2022." The violations are listed above in Yelp.

This is a legit hometown backyard BBQ place. They offer two sauces, one is vinegary with a little kick and the other is darker brown, thick, and very sweet. The dark meat chicken falls off the bone and the chicken skin has a great rub and a slight crust. The baked beans taste like they have a lot of honey or something else very sweet, like molasses. The cabbage was perfect, with no sauce to it and cooked just right. The pulled pork was a little dry, but that may be because I got there late. They sometimes close earlier than posted hours. It's a definite place to visit and try North Carolina BBQ. I'd go back. Service is provided with a family feel. It's not really a place to sit down and eat. This is more of a take out place. Remember to tip well.

Omg!! The service is so chaotic. After ordering , it took them a while to get my order and when asked for receipt they refused. After asking for my order again, they literally opened a ready box of food and touched everything by hand to verify, I was grossed out to even go back and eat that food. Wish I checked the reviews before visiting.

By far the best BBQ place in North Carolina. I love the brisket and the mac and cheese will make you cry with delight. The dining area is a bit alternative but the bbq is PERFECT!!

The food here is so delicious. It's one of Durham's best kept secrets. I don't normally like peoples collard greens but theirs was on point! Hush puppies were a good mix of sweet and savory. Max and cheese was super cheesy. Very delicious the sauce with the ribs was sweet while the beef ribs were really good. Not as chewy but more tender. Which I loved. I'd give it a 8.2 out of 10.

In think my expectations were too high. I ordered collard greens, Mac and cheese, and turkey BBQ. I just wasn't impressed. The prices were definitely reasonable but the food was just ok. I went on a Friday afternoon and they were packed! So I'm sure others enjoyed it.

It's a sight and site for sore eyes. There's a whole lot of character to the building (writing on the walls) and the staff is friendly. I love the bbq sandwich special. But if I'm a little hungrier, the ribs are my next choice. Their Mac and cheese, collards, and sweet potatoes are delicious. Oh! And the cabbage? Yum! The pineapple lemonade is worth every penny. You won't be disappointed.

Super convenient BBQ joint in RTP. Over the years I have enjoyed almost everything on their menu. The BBQ, ribs, chicken and fried fish is always good. The sides are AWSOME also. Looking forward to my next visit.

Amazing food! this is a restaurant that consistently provides good food. Everything and I do mean everything is delicious. I most recently tried their lemonades-the peach and pineapple is great. Literally any and everything you order is good-the pork chops, the barbecue, the chicken, the Mac and cheese! You won't be disappointed. Nice hole in the wall.

Backyard BBQ definitely has some solid bbq and some great, large portions. I've tried their Pulled Pork sandwich plates and Brisket sandwich plates. The Pulled Pork sandwich plate is around $7 and you get a huge portion of food for that price. It comes with two sides of your choosing. The Brisket sandwich plate is a bit more expensive around $11-$13 (I don't remember exactly) but it comes with hushpuppies, and then you get to pick another two sides on top of that. The pulled pork was decent, very tender and juicy with the notable North Carolina vinegar taste. They definitely pile on a bunch of meat in your sandwich and it also comes with coleslaw if you want it. However I think overall the food is just really...greasy. And I get that BBQ is definitely on the splurge/unhealthier side, but it's just a bit much for me. I've only tried a few sides, notably the mac and cheese, hushpuppies, and the baked beans. I felt like the mac and cheese was 80% cheese and the mac was super soft, that it all felt like the same mushy texture. No "bite" to the noodles and the cheese was really overwhelming. The baked beans were alright, pretty classic baked beans. The hushpuppies were great though, they had a slightly sweet taste to them. Backyard BBQ can get super busy and have a really long line. The flow is essentially like a cafeteria line, where you go down the row of food and pick what you want, and pay at the end. Unfortunately, a lot of the employees weren't wearing their masks properly and there wasn't a limit on how many people could be inside the restaurant at one time (it's been pretty crowded every time I've gone, too). While customers were required to wear a mask, it was shocking to see the employees not follow that protocol, especially during a time like this.

Very good nc bbq. Love the coleslaw , hush puppies, chicken (fried or bbq) and brisket. Must take out though. Not a place where you'd want to eat.

This recent inspection says it all. Backyard BBQ Pit (5122 N.C. Hwy 55, Durham) received a score of 83% during an inspection on June 22. The restaurant was in violation of 18 state standards, with point deductions ranging from zero to three points. Violations included employees not properly washing their hands, multiple foods being stored at incorrect temperatures, the facility having "absolutely no refrigeration" working and "excessive amounts of flies and gnats" in the facility during the inspection. Some violations were corrected during the inspection, the inspection report shows. The restaurant previously scored a 90% in September 2021, an 87% in August 2021 and a 94.5% in November 2020. Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article262956668.html#storylink=cpy This accurately sums up my one and only experience at this restaurant.

Lord have mercy! The ribs here are perfection! The reviews about the food here are legit. I have been waiting to try the ribs from backyard BBQ pit for quite a while and it was worth the long drive to get there today after a very long week. The ribs were tender, meaty and cooked the way they should be. They had a hint of sweet barbecue sauce on them that was not overwhelming it was just enough to melt in your mouth If you wanted more types of sauces you could add different flavors to it after you picked up your order. I tried the green beans as a side dish and they were delicious, they had somewhat of a smoky taste to them and you could tell they were cooked in something extra, but you'll have to go figure that out for yourself I won't give it away. This is a mom n pop type of establishment and trust me it's a place you do not want to miss ordering ribs from. They also serve chicken, brisket ,shrimp , and lots of other things so you can try a variety of things. The staff was very pleasant and appreciative of me being there to order a dinner today and I definitely will be back. The barbecue Pitt is easy to find off a main highway and the food was ready when I walked in. A perfect way to end my week thank you.

Hands down the best barbecue joint you can get in Cary. This place reminded me being at a family cookout in the early 2000s. All their food is fresh, hot and seasoned to perfection. The serving sizes are amazing and the staff is super friendly. I've been coming here for years now and it's always consistent in terms of performance. If you are not a eastern NC style bbq lover then the pulled pork might not be for you. However, everything else on the menu is absolutely to die for! Their mac and cheese is one of my favorites and they have some outstanding brisket and pulled chicken. Absolutely will keep returning to this establishment.

Great food! Great NC style pulled pork sandwiches hit the spot as we headed to the airport to go home to Texas.

The epitome of NC barbecue! Great food and great service. You can't go wrong with the classic pulled pork sandwich, beef brisket, or pork ribs. Their sides are also excellent, including the fried okra and hush puppies. The building itself is nothing special and easy to overlook, but it seems to mostly function as a takeout spot for lunch anyway. Always happy to support this local, family-owned business!

The food is good, the restaurant itself needs a lot of work. The building inside looks like it is hardly ever cleaned outside of mopping and the air filters were literally sitting in the air ducts crumpled with the entire ceiling stained with dark dust. They also do not seem to clean their tables so I would bring some wipes with you if you want to use their tables. I can forgive a place being somewhat dilapidated outside, but neglecting to even keep up basic maintenance inside is very unnerving (esp. to new customers). Despite all that, the barbecue is good and the workers are nice. Just don't get the brisket, it was pretty tough.

Delicious, delicious barbecue. Absolutely not a fancy place and you won't be impressing your date with this joint. Unless they like really good 'cue and then you're golden. Arriving in the peak of the lunch rush, I ordered the pork barbecue plate with an extra pork rib. Neatly packaged and layered with paper in the styrofoam, it was three hush puppies on top, the rib in the next and then my main course underneath. I did try one of the hush puppies. They're delicious. Still warm, very light, delicious. But not really good on the keto diet, so I did not eat the others. The rib was delicious. Loaded in sauce, very moist, meaty, delicious. I could eat a whole plate of these. Finally, the main course. Collard greens were good. Definitely fresh and tasty, there was one big stalk in there that I had to eat around but the rest was excellent. Cole slaw was wet and very finely chopped. Almost pureed. Tasty. The pulled pork needed absolutely no sauce. Very moist, very flavorful, this is perfect barbecue. Great stuff at the Backyard BBQ Pit. I would definitely eat here again. [Review 11639 overall, 1420 of 2019.]

It's definitely a whole in the wall type of restaurant, but it's good enough to give it a try. If you like a lot of accent then this is your place. I'm from Kansas, where our bbq is just on point and never disappoint.

This place is the real deal. Ribs falling off the bone, oxtail that melts in your mouth, mac and cheese you can feel hardening your arteries, and the best hush puppies I've ever had. The people there are what set it apart though. Super friendly from the moment I walked through the door. After finding out I had never been there before, they even fixed me a little sample platter of everything to try. Definitely on my list next time I pass through Durham again.

Amazing service and food! 10/10 for food and service. If you are looking for authentic southern food this is the spot! Backyard BBQ stayed open and fed 30 of us and every single person loved it! We will be back!

Outstanding food with so much flavor and so many options to choose from all there on the line where you can see them. I always have to revert back to my original first order from 10 years ago: rib plate with Mac and collards Recommend getting some fried seafood from the back too, it's always good. If I could give this small business more s, I would!!

This business has declined significantly. I was extremely disappointed with my last visit to this place. Everything was filthy i.e., floor, entrance door ( I don't think it has been cleaned in several months), staff apparel and preparation surfaces. The cashier attire was so filthy, it looked like she had just finished digging ditches. My pork ribs were so under cooked, I had to return them. The baked spaghetti was swimming in grease. I don't know if this business is under new ownership but it is sad to see where it is today. WOW!!

Great service and delicious food! We enjoyed the atmosphere as well. Good to see local businesses thriving

This is a little hole in the wall with excellent food. Everything is great and always hard to decide what to order. Staff is friendly and so helpful. Can't go wrong with the ribs, Mac and cheese, veggies or anything else they serve. Always try to stop by when passing through.

Owner was so kind to us and the food is AMAZING. best NC bbq, great price and big portions

This place is truly a southern gem , if you can get in then do it , the pineapple lemonade is out of this world , the food is fresh and the owner & staff are family from the moment you walk in , incredible

Best bbq I've ever had in my life. A quaint local owned bbq that's sure to satisfy every craving. I wish all the best to this great establishment.

If you looking for good, authentic BBQ, this is the place to go! Customer service is top tier and the food is amazing!! Can't wait to go back soon

Backyard BBQ is 5 star food with a rough ambiance. Arrived shortly after opening and beat the lunch rush. After we received our food we noticed that a consistent line formed for the next half hour, but it moves fast because everything is cafeteria style. This place is cheap as hell. $8.50 for a pulled pork meat and two. The BBQ pulled pork is less vinegary than some of the other eastern BBQ places, but they make up for it with an awesome spice blend that packs a punch. The collards were the best I've ever had, and the Mac was very good. If you order fried food they'll fry it on the spot, so the individual wings I ordered were delightful: perfectly crispy. The ribs were fall off the bone good. They were not overly saucy. The only negative about the food is that the hush puppies were room temp and off consistency. But at least to this Yankee, hush puppies are akin to complimentary bread. Save room for the meal! Just to comment on the ambiance, the place is a bit dingy. While the place reeked of antiseptic cleaners, they may have missed a spot. Backyard BBQ is not waitress service: most people grab a takeout plate, but they have a few tables for you to eat in. Mask wearing leaves a little to be desired. In all, this is among the best bbq I've ever had, and the prices cannot be beat. They even have a working man's special which probably runs 5 or 6 bucks. I don't rate on ambiance. We don't rate on ambiance. This was some damn good Q.

Pretty run down place, food was cheapish but it wasn't worth the money. Love BBQ places and someone recommended this place and idk why anyone would do that. Sauce was watery and scarce, had a gelatinous type of feel to all the chicken. Ribs were whatever, not smoked for sure. Would avoid unless your pretty adventurous. They have potential but they need to put some money into the place which can be tough because the pandemic has everything so uncertain

This was the first time I went to this place. The food was amazing had a little bit of everything barbecue fish chicken. This is a must try if you're looking for some authentic soul food. Polite and friendly staff