Bullock's Bar-B-Cue

Barbecue restaurant · Durham

Bullock's Bar-B-Cue

Barbecue restaurant · Durham

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3330 Quebec Dr, Durham, NC 27705, USA

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Highlights

Hearty BBQ & sides at a family-owned institution since 1952  

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3330 Quebec Dr, Durham, NC 27705, USA Get directions

bullocks-bbq.com

$10–20 · Menu

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3330 Quebec Dr, Durham, NC 27705, USA Get directions

+1 919 383 3211
bullocks-bbq.com

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 13, 2025

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11 Best Barbecue Restaurants in Raleigh and Durham | Eater Carolinas

"Family-run Bullock’s has been a Durham institution since 1940, with faded framed photographs of celebrities and sports stars dotting the window, a pay-at-the-front system, and cafeteria-style service in the dining room. Expect to find barbecue joint staples like pulled pork, fried chicken, collards, mac and cheese, and more, alongside more eclectic offerings (for a North Carolina barbecue shop) like Maryland-style crab cakes, chicken parmesan, and quesadillas." - Matt Lardie

https://carolinas.eater.com/maps/best-barbecue-raleigh-triangle
View Postcard for Bullock's Bar-B-Cue

Tom MacNabb

Google
It’s popular, I was there at opening and the tables filled quickly. I ordered the ribs and they were tender but seemed to have been in a steam tray or something so they lacked that grilled quality.

Bruce Szmajda

Google
Get off I 85 for great barbecue! We split the large plate w collards (Fri-Sat), baked beans and hush puppies and still took some away with us .

William Ball

Google
Made a trip to Durham for some business. Haven't been there in eons. Planned to hit lunch at THE BBQ institution, Bullocks! Didn't disappoint. Just as I remembered. Good food, friendly atmosphere and the best service. Well, won't let me post photo I took during meal. Combo 8 is pulled pork, fried chicken, coleslaw, Brunswick stew. Ask to be seated with Fran. She is the best server!

Sarah Harris

Google
Bullock’s has been a tradition passed down through my family for years now. We’re not in the area frequently, but this is the place we go when we are! Definitely recommend checking this place out. The real way to go is get the family style dinner with a large group, and you’d still have plenty of food to bring home. Tonight we didn’t want leftovers so we go individual meals and the brisket was the choice. Don’t recommend the green beans. Way overcooked with no flavor. The chicken, the Brunswick stew, the baked beans, is flavor you can’t get anywhere else. Another bonus: they start you with hushpuppies. Great restaurant to stop at if you’re hungry and need something to start before your meal. One critic; they used to make the sweet butter but now they use premade. Miss a bit of the authenticity. Service was phenomenal! Waitress never let our drinks empty, and was very friendly. Typical experience is friendly accommodating staff. They allow substitutes for most of their combos as well. Overall, good BBQ!!

Jeannette Borne

Google
The atmosphere is really decent and the food is fabulous. Everything is well cooked will maintain and delicious. Everything is seasoned to perfection and I have no complaints about the food whatsoever. However the service of the cashier was horrible. Upon me checking out the young lady asked if I "would like to pay with cash or check" and in normal fashion I asked "you do not accept credit cards"? To me this was a normal question considering that 99% of businesses nowadays credit cards. And you are very rarely going to see someone except the check so I thought maybe swapped her words by accident. That wasn't the problem the problem was how she responded. When I asked her response was "didn't you hear what I said?" As someone who's working in customer service literally all my life I would never in a million years respond to a customer like that. That attitude is not appropriate for customer service and can completely change the experience for a customer from a five-star experience to a 1. The only reason it didn't for me is because I know that I've had employees that work for me where their attitude needed to be checked. I hope something is done about the attitude because I would hate for you to lose business based on attitude and not the quality of your food.

Chris K (Crispy)

Google
The food here is always so good! No matter what you get, you really can't go wrong. Their Brunswick stew is about the best you'll find anywhere. Chicken is fried perfectly, and the sides are tasty. The staff is always nice and keeps your drinks full. CASH ONLY!! No checks or cards.

K J

Google
Old school barbecue place in Durham. Great food, great prices and large portions what more can I say. Just off I-85 if you are passing through. Friendly service and enough food I had plenty of leftovers. The hushpuppies were great and I had a country ham and 3 delicious sides.

William Ross

Google
Guys this is not actually good. It was fair at best. The food is tolerable mostly because it is deep fried. My brisket was tasty but not tender. The pulled pork was mediocre; so chopped it was almost gritty. The chicken was okay but close to dry. Fries were sad, clearly frozen not fresh. This is the best in town?
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Brandi B.

Yelp
Bullock's is a long time Durham stable! I've been eating here for as long as I can remember. I almost always get the country style steak, rice and gravy, greens and yams. The food was a little salty, but still delicious! The service is always good! Once you become a regular, the amazing staff remembers you!
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Dave C.

Yelp
I had the impression that this place had perfected the art of barbecue over the years without needing to change anything. Unfortunately, I was mistaken. I ordered the chopped BBQ, and also got to sample some of the food from other people's plates. To be honest, the BBQ was extremely disappointing. I understand that everyone has their own technique, but this one didn't impress me. The meat was turned into a mushy paste that tasted mostly like tomato paste. It was acidic without being tangy, and overall, very bland and one-dimensional. I really didn't enjoy it. The Brunswick stew was similar--just tomato paste, some canned vegetables, and more of that BBQ meat. The sides were also underwhelming. They had that typical "old-school Southern" feel that might have impressed generations raised on canned veggies and processed mixes, but today, it just felt stale and uninspired. The desserts were fine, but nothing special. My parents liked the cobbler, though they didn't finish it since it lacked ice cream to balance out the sweetness. Now, my parents are fond of traditional cafeteria-style food and old-school Southern spots, even the ones that usually aren't great. But even they didn't love Bullocks. Digestive issues we all experienced afterward. I won't go into details, but it was one of those "morning after" situations. This style of cooking might have worked in the 1940s to 1970s, but it doesn't hold up today. Cool ambiance though.
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Wayne L.

Yelp
Haven't been here in decades but I had occasion to do it again today. It was good when I was young, inexperienced and very hungry. Not so much anymore. It's good southern food from the 80s. Nothing has really changed except my tastes. I'm looking for juicier more tender fried chicken than this and barbecue pork that has more texture and flavor than what Bullock's is producing today. Friendly service. Cash only.
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Aurelia B.

Yelp
Food was ok I ordered the green beans, cabbage, mac & cheese, pulled pork, fried chicken and peach cobbler. My service was amazing everyone was friendly and super helpful
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Marian M.

Yelp
Love their food! Home style cooking. Great atmosphere and great service. Barbecue is my favorite at this restaurant.
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Fred P.

Yelp
It's hard to imagine how a place that has a line out the door almost every night can be showing as only 3 stars on Yelp. Seriously??? Bullock's is a legendary spot & has some incredible, classic, Southern BBQ & comfort food. Maybe some people rate them for the older decor, etc. But don't be fooled -- go for the deliciousness -- and pay no attention to the snooty, pinky-in-the-air reviewers. If you do, you'll miss out. The menu is substantial & has much more than BBQ to offer. In fact, their seafood (including flounder, shrimp, crab & numerous other options) is as good as any other you'll find that far inland. And their homemade daily specials such as meatloaf & fried chicken are fantastic as well. And the wings -- wow! If you're hesitating, don't!! Ho to Bullock's. And you'll see for yourself why there's a line out the door & a parking lot full of locals!

Miss M.

Yelp
Normally this place is great every now and then the service and food is off...I should've known better when I didn't see the usual cook. I normally stay away from businesses in the last 90 minutes of operation. I ordered a grilled chicken liver and onion plate w gravy on the side, fried okra, fruit cup and hush puppies. I won't call my server out by name I know it though I should've looked@ my food thoroughly Normally I receive a bag full of hot hushpuppies today only 6, my onions and gravy were mixed my fruit cup was in the plate w the hot food and the okra was soggy from the steamI'll fall back a while... what happened ⁉
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Joy R.

Yelp
Very generous plus selection of entrees and sandwiches & deserts- my second time visiting- seems to be a favorite in the community & surrounding areas plus 2 minutes from a major interstate. My stew beef bread bowl was chocked full of hot juicy meat - small potatoes- it's was soooooo good! My turnips greens were just as tasty with a drizzle of vinegar. My hubby had the homestyle steak entree with add on delicious stewed apples - peach cobble for dessert equally good. I had enough food for a take out! Our server was great - we weren't rushed. This is a cash only payment option but there is an ATM machine on site. Parking is free but a little tight around peak times. The accessible parking spaces marked on the ground for parallel parking! I feel prices fair for the generous serving sizes and fresh southern favorites plus availability of sandwiches and appetizers if desired & more in line with the budget.
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Chris K.

Yelp
The food is as good as ever!! Crispy chicken, tasty veggies, great friendly services, and the prices are more than fair. Don't forget to bring cash here!! They have an ATM in the lobby, but otherwise no cards taken to pay for your meal.

Johnie W.

Yelp
It's slow, ordering takeout. Because they are busy. but the food is great nice atmosphere.

Diane K.

Yelp
The fried chicken is awesome and great sides. I would not recommend the steak. Service was good. Not a fancy place, come as you are.
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Jim P.

Yelp
Food was absolutely amazing!!! Service was old fashioned great!! And the ambiance take you back to a better time! A true gem.... Will most definitely be back!!!!!!
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Ken B.

Yelp
Great food as always! Found it sad that scallops were no longer available on the menu! The one menu online is outdated and needs updating. The order taker stated that tie site had been hacked and couldn't be fixed. Didn't sound like a plausible reason to me. The place still does a booming business, I suppose they feel the website isn't important.
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Mika D.

Yelp
Love the atmosphere, not a single cell phone was seen, people actually talk face to face. Usually a mixed age group, waitresses treat you like family. The menu is extensive,but our favorite is the chicken livers. And I've only had one of their desserts, banana pudding, it tasted just like my grandmother's recipe. Next time I am trying the coconut cake!
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Clinton S.

Yelp
Good home style food, from seafood to ribs, to BBQ. Service was great, waitress was friendly and attentive. Food was served hot and was excellent. Very large portions. My only feedback is the place could use a good cleaning. Ceiling tiles stained, glass between tables dirty, light fixtures with a lot of dust. Interior looks tired.
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David H.

Yelp
Ordered chicken and all they had was legs. The mashed potatoes were cool so the waitress took them and put them in the microwave no thanks. I was not impressed.
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Joe M.

Yelp
We are BBQ lovers so, this being our first visit, we ordered their different BBQ offerings. To be honest I can't give a fair review of the BBQ because we favor Lexington and Western NC style dishes and Bullock's specializes in Easter NC (heavily vinegar based) BBQ. I will say, for this style of BBQ, I thought it was pretty good. The brisket was my favorite of the BBQ dishes they offered. We are definitely planning on going back to try some of their other, non-BBQ, offerings. We saw a lot of great looking food and talked with some regulars about what they liked most. So, (for us) not so much the BBQ but a lot of other dishes we look forward to trying! The service was good and friendly. Ambiance is typical for a BBQ place, being comfortable and relaxing and somewhat laid back. All things considered I would definitely recommend that you give it a try!

Armani R.

Yelp
The service was was great great hostess and server, food was great I had the ceaser salad and fried shrimp on the side they had to 86 the lettuce but they made a swift and delicious substitute. Now onto the critique the building is old and off puting on the outside when I walked in the interior looked like it was stuck in the 90's, the server yes I know I said she was great but she anytime I saw he making drinks the restaurant uses a cooler for their ice no ice maker, and she instead of using the ice spoon dunked the cups into the cooler. The restaurant was out of date but still clean other than the air vents that look like they haven't been cleaned in months and the table I sat at felt sticky I want give this place a nother try but it need to be upgraded before I make a return
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Stephen D.

Yelp
Have eaten here many times over the years and have thoroughly enjoyed it every time. Nostalgic and their BBQ is quite good with multiple sauces for it. Pro's: Conveniently located in Durham for me Great food, BBQ and the many sauces especially Nice staff Nostalgic feel to it Cons: Slight cons. Parking is awkward. Last few times I have been seemed to be understaffed and a bit slow.
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Jason N.

Yelp
Stopped by last week for a first-time visit and really enjoyed my meal. I arrived a little after 2 PM and this place was packed and busy. I ordered dark meat chicken and chopped BBQ with slaw and sweet tea. My meal and the service was great and I can't wait to go back. I want to try the chicken pastry now.
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Michael B.

Yelp
Our family group came here one Friday afternoon to share a meal today. The first thing I noticed on the door was the sign that said that they don't take Debit, or Credit cards, they were a cash only place, and to use the ATM in the lobby. After having my Debit card skimmed before, I learned never to use my Debit card, because if they still your PIN, they can't always prove it wasn't you, so any money lost is gone forever. But the bigger issue is that I never carry my Debit card, only my Visa/MC because I like the rewards that come with them, and who wants to pay that $5 fee for using another non-branch ATM machine. So I had to borrow money to eat with the family. (That reminds me, I need to pay Cousin Shaun back.) My daughter ordered the hot dog, and when she bit it, she complained that she hurt her mouth. I called the server over, and said to the server, "I am sorry, but my daughter complained that the bun was..." and as I said that I thumped the bun a couple of times. The server busted out laughing along with others at the table because it sounded like I was knocking on wood. I mean, the kitchen staff knew they shouldn't have sent that out. The server did exchange the item for shrimp. I originally ordered meatloaf, but they were out, so I ended up just getting shrimp. I will say that the shrimp is not as good as Mayflowers. They were also out of a few other things as well that day. I really did like the collards, so did others at the table. The staff here was friendly, and they were busy as well. I would eat here again, I would just have to make sure I stop by my bank first for plenty of cash to pay with. #466
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Khalilah L.

Yelp
Ordered take out from this restaurant because I was on the area. 1. They do require all customers to enter with a mask, HOWEVER the 2 ladies running the front had on mask incorrectly; the mask did not cover their nose. Kitchen staff all had their mask on - some correctly & others incorrectly, no gloves. All waitress were masked up correctly! 2. They are enforcing social distancing. 3. They are sanitizing between customers. 4. They DO NOT ACCEPT CARDS; ONLY CASH! The young man that waited on me was super nice. I wanted the brisket daily special and they were sold completely out (I got there 1 hour before closing). I ordered a slice of butter pecan cake with the cheddar hamburger with bacon. It included 3 sides - I chose coleslaw, baked beans, and gree beans. Everything was okay & I may try it again; I'm not trying to go back just because...

John M.

Yelp
I had fried chicken plus 3 vegetables. Hush puppies were very good. My wife had a vegetable plate, which she enjoyed. Very friendly server.
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Rosalind J.

Yelp
I finally made it here against my better judgement because my sister begged me to go. I should've known better. First red flag cash only they don't take any type of card credit or debit. Second red flag as we waited to be seated, the hostess was not seating someone else she was reading a book. I'm like are you kidding me, I said I'm excuse me she said oh ok as she looked up from her book and got up to seat us. We ordered and the food wasn't good at all. The ribs I sent back because they were cold and the chicken was tasteless. First and last time for me. A waste of $28 plus my $2.50 atm fee because I had to withdraw cash to pay.
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Reena V.

Yelp
This is a small family owned business. First thing, they only accept cash. It's 2022, I rarely have cash on me. They did have a teller in the entry way. The food was good. The chicken was fried nicely and crispy, just the way I like it. The greens were good. Several guests in my party ordered them and we could taste the difference in them. They were seasoned differently. Overall, I will return and remember to have cash on me.

Felicia H.

Yelp
We traveled from Newport News, VA to eat some good BBQ Bullocks BBQ!! We made it to Durham, NC safely we got Brunswick Stew and BBQ my Grandaughter got brisket and Bbq I ordered a pint of Blackberry Cobbler to go I got all the way home before bed I decided to have a snack so I opened the cobbler dipped out my first spoonful went in for the second spoon and low and behold a whole black glove it still has BBQ on it
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Yuri Y.

Yelp
Bullock's is an eastern style NC bbq joint serving whole hog bbq -- vinegar based sauces and mayo infused slaw, along with sauced ribs, heavily sauced brisket and all sorts of other animal parts. The more famous NC bbq tradition (North Carolinians will fist fight about this) is Lexington style - from central and western NC -- specializing in smoked pork shoulder and known for its mayo-less red cabbage slaw. Bullock's is straight up basic Southern Q. Since 1952 they have been feeding locals some serious meat and fried fish or chicken with all sorts of sides. My #12 combo plate came with heavily sauced beef brisket, chopped pork, mayo based cole slaw and choice of side veggie (I had collards). Hush puppies for the table and fried pickle chips rounded out the meal. No ETOH but all the iced tea you can drink is on hand. We all ate some version of this meal. They pass the vinegar separately -- which is the preferred seasoning for your pork -- along with a spicy and tangy vinegar/pepper sauce if you prefer. I liked the ole timey feel of this joint -- but can't say I liked everything I ate. For starters -- the brisket is drowned in a ketchupy sauce that kills the deal for me. I'm more of a Texas style brisket guy and like me a nice chewy bark from a dry rub. You can taste tangy smoke from Bullock's brisket - but I can't tell if it's from the sauce or the meat. The pulled pork was bland and not at all smoky -- which is why you need the vinegar and sauce to coax some flavor. That said, you can make a very decent pulled pork sandwich from it topped with slaw and some house bbq sauce. The heavily fried hush puppies were sweet and crunchy - an addictive treat - and the same is true for the pickle chips. I'm not a big fan of heavily fried foods with thick cornmeal coatings, but when in Rome ..... Everyone in Durham we spoke with swears by Bullock's. It's an institution here. The joint was packed at 5:30 on a Friday -- folks lined up for eat in and take out -- and seating is picnic style. The overall experience was OK -- but in truth -- the Q we ate at Whole Foods in Durham a couple days later -- prepared in the same style -- tasted the same and cost less. Go figure. Top Tip: No reservations and cash only dining here. Not exactly the cheapest meal in town - despite its rural looks. I reckon you pay something for the ambiance. :))
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Lauren R. S.

Yelp
Everything was delicious! We tried all kinds of dishes with my family and everything was hearty, good, and big portion sizes. We tried and loved ribs, chicken tenders, Brunswick stew, fried pickles and fried okra, fantastic coleslaw..

Mary S.

Yelp
I have been there several times and it bothers me that the wait staff is all White and a few Hispanic workers are bussing tables. Cashiers and hostesses are also White. Hard to imagine they could have no Blacks or other people of color on wait staff in Durham. good and service was good but this throwback racial segregation feel impacted the ambiance.
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Guy W.

Yelp
Now We get their BBQ/Chicken catered to Us at Work alot!!! So Folks You know it must be Good!!! I love the Pulled Pork and Yes it is GOOD!!! Hushpuppies are so Good too!!! BBQ is what put them on the TEN BEST BBQ List , Try them and You'll agree too!!!!
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Catherine A.

Yelp
Old school BBQ-delicious and authentic. Successful since 1952. Sides are all fantastic.
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Lizzy L.

Yelp
We've heard great things about Bullock's and finally had a chance to try it out with a visiting friend who we wanted to introduce to North Carolina BBQ. This place only takes cash, so come prepared. We tried the chopped pork, brunswick stew, and beef brisket, as well as the baked beans, slaw, and fries. The menu has a lot of different ways to order--combination, family style (but everyone at the table has to get family style to qualify for the all-you-can-eat option), individual entrees with sides. We had a sweet waitress who was patient with us as we took awhile to decide what to order. The restaurant was definitely hopping even on a Thursday night. The beef brisket was everyone's favorite---very tender and flavorful, and piping hot. Brunswick stew was ok, but a little too sweet for me. I ordered a bowl of it and it came in a huge portion. My husband thought his chopped pork was tasty but not the best bbq pork he's ever had. I'd definitely recommend coming here for the beef brisket. My favorite part of the meal was the unlimited complimentary hot and perfectly fried hush puppies!
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Steve H.

Yelp
For those people who gave this place a bad review. Y'all must not be from the south where great bbq / food takes time and yes there are long lines. Duhhhhh. This is the very best bbq in NC. PERIOD. so go here before you try anywhere else. 'dont overthink this. Just eat here.
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Ricky G.

Yelp
Love their food!! Been eating food from there for decades. Highly recommend them for NC barbecue.
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Charlotte G.

Yelp
Got a pulled pork sandwich from Bullocks BBQ. Am not impressed with their veggie portion sizes ( they don't have combo plates so each veggie is $1.65- see pics for dinky portions...maybe 3 tablespoons) for the price of the food! Come on I'm an adult not a 5th grader! The mac and cheese is nuclear orange and very powdery as if it is from an institution. The string beans were not de-stringed so they get caught in your throat...and they were severely overcooked...the coleslaw was bland... No sauce for the sandwich, no cutlery... I don't mind spicy BBQ but this is almost too hot. The spice overrides the flavor of the meat. The meat is moist and what isn't burning my tongue is actually nice and flavorful however it needs salt or a rub of some kind.You can see the red pepper flakes and no one should sweat eating a pulled pork sandwich! Scratching Bullocks off our list! Getting a glass of milk to wash it down! Whew! (Wiping sweat from forehead)

Matt J.

Yelp
Hard to see why this place has any appeal, but I'm a foodie, not a historian, so perhaps I wouldn't understand. The walls abound with pictures of presidents, yet I can only wonder, how the hell did they eat here? I ordered the brisket plate with 3 sides: baked beans, collards, and fried okra. I should've known by my waitress' reaction to the collards "oh I've never tried those" that I was in for a ride. The brisket was so tough I couldn't even cut through it. It had clearly been tossed on the griddle, charred a bit, and thrown on my plate. I could see the char marks. The BBQ sauce can only be described as canned. At least I've got 3 sides, right? I regret to inform you that the baked beans are Bush's (from a can), and that my waitress was right to never try the collards. They tasted old and slimy. They were nice enough to give me another plate with pulled pork, which was fine, but definitely not worth the hype. I've had better pulled pork in NJ. If you're cool paying $12-$15 a plate for reheated canned food, by all means! You'll enjoy the ambience/history, the service is decent, and I'm sure there's a good thing or 2 on the menu. But beware: don't get creative with your ordering, as this menu isn't one to trust and you'll leave hungry like I did.
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Melissa G.

Yelp
It is what it is: A bar-b-que joint with classic Eastern style bar-b-que, fried seafood, hushpuppies, and southern style veggies. Personally, I don't like bar-b-que but my husband does and he said it was good; not as good as Wilbur's in Goldsboro, but good. I'm the southern style veggie lover and Bullock's has plenty to choose from. The mashed pots and gravy were tasty, the turnip greens were typical of greens, and the fried okra was the cream of the crop. I LOVE Mac and cheese, but not their Mac and cheese. The noodles were over-cooked, and it tasted like a powder mixture, additionally, it had that bright orange color to it which isn't real. The very best part of the entire meal was the banana pudding. This is the real deal, y'all. Handmade with real custard, vanilla wafers, and meringue! Other than my MIL's, this is the best I've ever had. I will return just for their okra and banana pudding. They lose stars for the mac and cheese, and the fact that they only take cash. Who carries cash anymore? They do have an ATM machine on site, but it will cost you $3 in fees to use it. Bummer.

Betsy M.

Yelp
This is a Durham classic The walls are lined with photos of celebrities who have dined here over the years. There are always lines of people picking up carry out. But dining in is a delight and the food is terrific. Best hush puppies around. The pulled pork bbq is fabulous as is the Calabash style shrimp. If you live Brunswick Stew it is thick and savory. Prices are so reasonable and the service is warm , friendly and quick.
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William D.

Yelp
Warning, no trees were killed in the preparation of this BBQ plate! Bullock's BBQ is probably a place you should eat at once, but don't expect it to become your regular place--unless it already is. This place has a bigger reputation than deserved, probably because of Duke students who come here and think they've had the real deal when they go back home. Bullock's is a pretty classically southern local eatery. It's billed as a BBQ joint, but really it's a southern diner. The menu is huge - with fish, BBQ, chicken, ribs, wings, salads, etc. Their combo BBQ plates are simple - BBQ and Slaw. Not a lot of country vegetables on the combos. The staff was welcoming and friendly. Place is large and looks like a diner. Clientele was a mix, but mostly older folks. I came to test out the BBQ and got a BBQ and Fried Chicken combo, which came with slaw and hush puppies. I also ordered an unsweetened tea. The BBQ was pretty meh. Whole hog cooked in a stainless. No smoky flavor at all and kind of mushy texture. Very sweet sauce. Sauce on the table was a Western-style sauce. The fried chicken was pretty good and looked like it hadn't sat long out of the fried. The puppies were also good and had a little spice (onion probably) that was nice. The slaw was fine. The tea was so weak I thought it was water. Overall, this place is ok, but it's not giving you a real BBQ experience in flavor or in scenery.
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Erica P.

Yelp
Finally tried this legendary Durham BBQ institution and it was everything I'd hoped it would be! I tried the bbq pork sandwich with slaw and house hot sauce and OMG I cannot get enough of the hot sauce! I love that this family-owned establishment is still thriving--it's so cool to see all the celebrity photos on the walls of the dining room. I can't wait to go back and try more of the menu!
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Will C.

Yelp
A Durham institution! Unfortunately it has seen much better days. I've been going to Bullock's for many years and while it's never been the best, it's a little sad to see this landmark Durham restaurant in decline. It's still fairly popular among retired folks, but the lines aren't as long as they used to be. Our large group opted for a family style meal (pricey at $14.50 per person) with shared big bowls of fried chicken, barbecue, slaw, Brunswick stew, green beans, and fries. - hushpuppies underdone - fried chicken overcooked, with the white meat like cardboard - barbecue pretty good, though lacking any wood smoke flavor (as always here) - cole slaw too sweet, too much mayo, and lacking black pepper - Brunswick stew mediocre, too thick, too sweet, and didn't have enough recognizable veggies - green beans straight out of the can - fries were typical crinkle-cut, so I didn't try them - iced tea was watery, with almost no tea flavor - service was poor - one member of our party ordered off the menu and wasn't served until the rest of us were done - credit/debit cards not accepted, though there is an ATM at the entrance Adding an extra star to the rating because it's still a Durham institution, one that perhaps you should visit once before it closes, if only to see the photos of celebrities on the walls. Recommendation if you want to give it a try: get the barbecue sandwich (with slaw on it) with a side of fried okra.
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Jocelyn K.

Yelp
This place is like a bunch of grandma and grandpas decided to get together and open up a BBQ place. I haven't had North Carolina BBQ before, but for a noob like me, this was great. We did the All-You-Can-Eat for only $12.95, which came with fried chicken, pulled pork, green beans, cole slaw, Brunswick stew, and french fries.The fried chicken was juicy with delicious crispy skin. The pulled pork tasted average to me, but their BBQ sauce really ups the flavor. They have two different BBQ sauces (tomato and vinegar based). Be liberal with the sauces. I thought the Brunswick stew was a little sweet and really reminded me of sloppy joes. They really gave us so much food. With the 5 of us, we couldn't even get through the first round. As good as everything was, my favorite has to be the complimentary hush puppies. I ate way too many of them before the BBQ was brought out. They have bowls of butter to put on your hush puppies so it's really easy to gorge yourselves on these before any BBQ is brought out. For dessert we tried their banana pudding and lemon ice box pie. I've never had banana pudding before, but it was so delicious. I don't normally like creamy things, but it wasn't at all. Plenty of bananas in the pudding. The lemon curd on the lemon ice box pie was a huge punch of lemony tart flavor. It really is just key lime pie except made with lemons. I still have a huge craving for their hush puppies and banana pudding. I hope I get a chance to come back and have both again.
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Dale R.

Yelp
Wanting to try new places on this trip, I did some searching. And Bullocks came up with high rating in several travel apps. The final thing that said, go to Bullocks was one of the students in a class I am teaching. So I decided to give it a go. I drive over to Bullocks to have a late meal (7PM). When I get out of the car I am not greeted with that nice smell of hardwood smoke; and when I step inside, instead of smelling like a BBQ restaurant it smelled more like a fish camp. That's OK I thought as I was lead to my booth. The waitress gives me my menu and takes my drink order. I must look the menu over hard to find BBQ. Finally, there it is. Hmm, is this a BBQ joint or what? Ok time to place the order: Spicy Pulled Pork Baked Beans Potato Salad Mac and Cheese I get the sides out of the way. Nothing spectacular about them. The Mac and Cheese was cheesy and it tasted like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese with some extra cheese. The Potato Salad was kind of bland. The baked beans were pretty good. The Spicy Pork What can I say? It was bit dry, and there was no sauce to wet it down with. My waitress didn't come back by very often so I just started eating. The flavor was OK, not horrible but nothing spectacular. I really cannot say anything more. It was uninspiring. Verdict: If I ever come back I'll try something other than BBQ Banana Pudding The banana pudding was ok, again nothing that made me go WOW. Verdict: Because I like banana pudding I might get this again if I come here. Just depends on how I feel about the extra calories.

Cyndi D.

Yelp
This is a hole in the wall, old neighborhood type of place. The service is good. The chopped bbq is good. The steak is good. The fish is good. Wide variety on the menu.
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Lynn L.

Yelp
Country spot. Wait staff is very friendly and sweet. You can tell it's frequented by tons of regulars. The food was ok. Macaroni and cheese is from a mix, not homemade. The turnip greens weren't very good either. Chicken wings were ok.

Andrew R.

Yelp
I keep coming back because the bbq is GREAT! However, if I walk in for takeout, I know I will be standing in line for 30 minutes or more. It doesn't matter what time I go, I will be standing for at least 30 minutes. I expect to wait during lunch and dinner hours. But during off-hours, they still keep me standing for 30 minutes. Bullocks has a unique system of filling orders. The person who takes your order cooks the food, packages it, and hands it back to you. That person is completely tied up until the order is complete. That means the number of orders they can handle is entirely dependent on the number of servers they have in the kitchen. During the off-hours, Bullocks reduces the number of servers in the kitchen, effectively reducing the number of orders they can handle. That seems to make sense, as there should be fewer orders during off-hours. But it means I still stand in line for 30 minutes. Bullocks just doesn't seem to have any desire to make their customers wait any shorter. So despite the quality of food, I subtracted a star because the restaurant makes me wait every time I step inside. I would go more frequently, but I don't have the time or stamina to stand for 30 minutes.

Sexy T.

Yelp
Yummy. Delicious Good old country food.Go at the end of the month to avoid the crowd
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Emily K.

Yelp
Country cooking at it's finest! For our take out order we ordered the grilled pork chops and some chicken livers. All was delicious. Plate came with 3 sides, all were great. Staff was friendly and service was quick. Definitely will return.
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Brian C.

Yelp
Classic southern restaurant. This place really is what you want and expect from a southern food restaurant. The food isn't going to win a James Beard award (though I know of one James Beard award winning restaurant that resells their bbq) and the decor sure isn't fancy. But you get a healthy portion of hot and tasty food for not a whole lot of money. This is a full service restaurant. Our server came over pretty soon after my wife and I sat down. Our waitress was friendly and quick. She took our order and returned pretty immediately with hot and fresh hush puppies. Our food order took less than 10 minutes to make it to the table. My wife ordered a small bbq sandwich and I ordered the bbq plate with okra and baked beans. The bbq had a nice flavor and didn't require sauce. The okra was crispy. It was actually over cooked though I prefer my okra more done than less done. The bbq beans were just ok. The portions were generous. Over all the food got a 3 out of 5. It was the service, cleanliness of the restaurant and service that bumped it a star. All of that and the bill was 12.85. You read that correctly.12.85. That's hard to do at a fast food restaurant but the food was way better.