Grady's Barbecue

Do you like eastern NC BBQ? Then you are going to LOVE this place. There’s good reason Grady’s made the NC BBQ Trail list. My plate was generously loaded with Q that was tender, moist, and had just the right amount of smoke. Add the tasty hush puppies, cabbage, and green beans and I was in heaven. Service was lightning fast and the seating area definitely gave it that “joint” feel. Off the beaten path but that certainly wasn’t holding it back because at 11am it was SRO. I do regret not having tried one of the homemade deserts. They looked great!

A friend and I recently visited Grady's BBQ in Dudley, NC after reading some online reviews. What a great experience. The hospitality was excellent. They made us feel like family. The BBQ was the best I've ever had. We met the owners Gerri and Steve and several members of their family. They gave us a tour and told us about the history of Grady's BBQ and how they cooked "Whole Hog" BBQ over wood coals. Definitely make plans to check out Grady's BBQ in Dudley, NC.

Grady’s BBQ delivered one of the most delightful dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. The barbecue and fried chicken were absolutely fantastic, which were full of flavor yet not overly salty. As someone who needs to watch sodium intake, I truly appreciated how well-balanced the seasoning was. It suited my taste perfectly without compromising on that rich, smoky barbecue flavor. But what truly stood out was their exceptional hospitality. The chef and the ladies on the staff welcomed us warmly, and their sincerity was genuinely touching. It went far beyond typical service—it felt personal and heartfelt. Coming from a different cultural background—where Korean barbecue is also considered world-class—I was thoroughly impressed. Grady’s BBQ stands on its own and delivers a mouthwatering experience I’ll never forget. Even though I now live in an area surrounded by many well-known BBQ spots, none can match the combination of food quality, service, and sincerity found here. This restaurant has a perfect sanitation score of 100, which speaks volumes about their commitment to cleanliness and quality. I hike at Cliff of the Neuse State Park a few times a year, and from now on, Grady’s BBQ will be a regular stop. It’s also the perfect place to bring friends and family visiting from Korea so they can experience not just amazing local food, but also the genuine warmth of NC hospitality. Highly recommend this place—it’s a treasure

Grady's is definitely known for their bbq which is delicious fresh and taste good. Definitely enjoyed the collard greens which also had a good flavor I personally felt the cabbage wasn't quite to my liking but everyone season their cabbage differently. Hush puppies were ok but the sweet potato pie was definitely a 10/10. Not only is the food good but their customer service was great friendly and got my order out quickly.

This was the BBQ experience I had been dreaming of. Best hush puppy I have had in decades. Loved the assortment of vinegar based sauces. Meat was tender and flavorful. Really loved the vinegar kick in both butter and string beans. Tea and sweet potato pie were perfect. Lovely staff. Great prices. If you are shifting from I95 to route 17 it's quick to get here.

I got the BBQ combo with BBQ chicken today and the chicken was disgusting, small, and dry. The skin was rubbery and it was something of the worst chicken I've had in a long time. The BBQ was ok, but nothing to write home about. Pretty bland without the sauce. I know everyone puts this in high regards, but im just being honest. The staff is absolutely great and the wait was short. Honestly, the best part on my plate was the hush puppies and the FF were cooked right. I commend everyone for their hard work and a home town experience, but I keep getting reminded why I've only eaten there a handful of times. I work less than 10 minutes from here for the past 7 years. I just consistently see reviews and want to love it, but it's not that great to me. I'm sure someone will read this and think I'm crazy, but it's my opinion.

Ight folks..honest review here. I took an hr drive to Gradys today to see what the hype is about and sheeeshh.The service was phenomenal. Its like you're family. Its a small dining area but cozy. We loved the atmosphere. The line was ridiculous and wait time was about 25 minutes just to order but we didnt mind. Everyone in there was friendly. Got our food in 5 minutes. $50 to feed a family of 4. I recommend snatching a table while you wait to order. The Que was amazing, probably the best Ive had thus far and my wife enjoyed it so much that she went and ordered more and shes not a big bbq fan. They mix in crispy pieces of skin in their bbq which=amazing. I scarfed it down and then came the fried chicken. IMHO, the real star of the show was the fried chicken. Holy smokes! Made me wanna smack my momma and do a happy dance. My 12 year old daughter left nothing but bones. The breading is just that good and it was NOT overdone and dry which is very easy to do with fried chicken breast. It was juicy and tender fresh out the fryer. The sides and banana pudding were good too. We tried the butter beans, potato salad, boiled potatoes, rice and gravy and crinkle fries. All were good. We liked the food so much, that we went and ordered some to go for later 😁😁. Oh yea and their lemonade will have you questioning every other lemonade you've ever tasted...idk what they put it in it but you'll be asking for a refill before you even get your food. We'll probably take the hr drive once every 2 months to eat there now. 😁😁

If your ever near dudley or not even near here it's worth the drive. Lol you all know I'm a foodie and when I heard about this place I had to make the drive. this place best BBQ and fried chicken place I've had east of 95. This is a staple of a country spot to go to, not alot of seating but, people are in and out 😁, the owners are amazingly nice and make sure your taken care of. They get your order fast, the food is fresh 💯 on sanitation grade and good pricing. Definitely coming back and loved everything about this experience.

What a treat! Excellent barbecue, sides and sauces. Staff is friendly, courteous and kind. Very unassuming building but it's super clean and homey inside. Highly recommend barbecue (with Grady's sauce), fried chicken, Cole slaw, butter beans and lemonade. Delicious!! PS - don't forget to bring cash.

Going to close out the year with a review of a classic barbeque shack, Grady's! Dropped in on a trip out to Kinston and it was totally worth the detour. White cinderblock restaurant with no windows and weathered signage. Inside there's an order window with a piece of paper listing the menu items and prices in hand-written type. I did the barbeque dinner with 2 sides for $12. You get a heaping pile of tender pork, smokey with a hint of sweetness, delicious! And live the field peas on the side, I was less thrilled by the cabbage which was just ok. But overall, I loved my meal and would like to come back and try the chicken if I'm in the area again!

I'm not a bbq lover at all, but Grady's bbq is very good. The potato salad is the best I've had since I've eaten my mom's. The staff is wonderfu! I will definitely be eating here again very soon!

Great service! The young lady Amiyah was polite, helpful and patient. The food was good and it's a great place to get turkey bbq for the non pork eaters.

UPDATED REVIEW: Grady's is definitely known for their bbq which is delicious fresh and taste good. Definitely enjoyed the collard greens which also had a good flavor I personally felt the cabbage wasn't quite to my liking but everyone season their cabbage differently. Hush puppies were ok but the sweet potato pie was definitely a 10/10. Not only is the food good but their customer service was great friendly and got my order out quickly.

Oh, my goodness!!! This was some of the best Eastern North Carolina BBQ I've ever had, and I've had lots. It was so tender and smooth, and it didn't need any additional sauce although sauce was available. The restaurant is an iconic stop on the NC BBQ Trail for a reason. The ladies who work behind the counter are just as sweet as can be. Lovely, gracious ladies! As for the atmosphere, it's typical old-style NC BBQ joint. Very informal. The health grade was 100, for those who worry about such things.

The fried chicken is one of my favorite and best in the area!! Everything is so fresh and always tastes just as good as the previous visit! The employees are always so nice and very helpful!! Grady's is a nice small and tasty local restaurant!

Amazing food. Super nice staff and great prices. Bbq chicken is delicious. Sides are all good. My go to place for whole hog bbq.

Great food Some of the best sweet potato pie and a beautiful young lady at the register navigating you through the menu. The staff greets you with a very welcoming voice. I drive near 30 miles at least 3 times a week for take out . I've gotten the same order each time : combination plate with sweet potato pie : today I got two pies ‍ to be clear , it's not just the good food that has my attention BigCountry

Outstanding bbq sandwich, slaw, and sauce. Good sweet tea too. It's a bit out of our way but we will definitely go again. If you like NC style bbq, definitely stop by. Everyone was super nice and the restaurant (in an old building was clean. I would love to try some of their other bbq items, but don't know if I can tear myself away from the bbq sandwich. The hot sauce and Grady's sauce were also terrific... just a little spicy and lots of flavor.

Excellent bbq and fried chicken with delicious collards and potato salad was my first meal here. This is one of the best bbq restaurants in eastern Carolina.

The BBQ was great, I'd say 5 stars. The coleslaw was solid and the collards were OK. The hush puppies were unfortunately so awful. Like inedible... they tasted like nothing, no salt, zero flavor. Weird! Other tips for your visit: - cash only - no fountain soda, only bottles - pretty small one-room seating area inside... and the bathrooms open up to that seating room... I opted to eat in my car

Good people good food! You can't beat good food and service love Grady's not to mention they were featured in our state magazine once! So run

Hole in the wall type of a place, located in the middle of no where. No muss, no fuss. Stand in line and order. It is whole hog bbq that brought me, but there are several other options- bbq chicken, chicken fried steak and so on. Ordered the bbq dinner, comes with 2 sides and 4 hush puppies. Sides are what you would expect- green beans, slaw, cabbage, boiled potatoes et al. Absent the cabbage, everything was delicious. To me, the real star was Grady's bbq sauce... maybe the best I ever tasted. They will sell you a bottle of it, but order it with your meal otherwise you have to get back in line. This place is 100% eastern NC bbq... awesome testimony to how good bbq can be when done right.

I would die for their chicken, seriously, the best fried chicken I have ever had in my life. Don't tell my grandma. And the butter beans and banana pudding I love this place so much.

Great east, Carolina style barbecue! Superb sides , friendly staff , bargain prices , good quality and selection. Worth the drive . Cash only -so go prepared . Fast moving Line and old school building and ambiance . Can't wait to go back . Memorable spot in the boonies . A true old style local treasure . Quality food like you get in the Greenville and Lexington BBQ spots in NC . Don't miss it if you're within 50 miles . It's that good .

Out in the country and well worth the drive! Authentic wood smoked NC BBQ and great Southern veggies like butter beans, black eyed peas, and collards. Friendly service at this family run establishment.

If your looking for good eastern NC BBQ look no further. Just amazing is all I can say. Only regret is that I didn't buy more. Staff was friendly and patient.

I love this restaurant. They are a mom and pop business with great food and great service. They have been around for years. There BBQ sandwich and Fried Chicken is great.

The food wasn't that great it was bland with no seasoning. The chicken was over fried. I also tried the BBQ turkey sandwich and ended up throwing it in the trash. Very disappointing after all the hype. I will not be returning

Too bad they have a closed until further notice on the front door. Hopefully they will reopen soon.

Grady's (grah-dees) rocks. Classic eastern NC pulled pork with fat back mixed in. I grabbed the bottle of sauce but wisely took a bite before adding...doesn't need any sauce. Flavor is on point straight from the well worn wood block. Slaw is on the sweeter side. Corn bread is a the dense variety but good. This is a destination bbq spot worth the trip.

Very good barbecue. Got the small barbecue plate and included slaw and black eyed peas and cornbread. It was cooked to perfection and brought to the table before I could even sit down. Talk about fast. They must have fixed the plates before we walked in the door. Everything was great; just wanted some banana pudding and collard greens but my stomach couldn't take anymore. Will definitely go back soon and try what I missed.?

The fam and I stopped for lunch on the way to the beach. Very glad we did. Lions and tigers and pigs - oh my! Grady's pulled pork is about the best I've ever had (outside of mine, and even then, it's pretty doggone close). Chopped from a whole hog cooked over wood, the pork was full of flavor, unctuous with the right amount of fat, and kissed with smoke. Eastern Carolina sauces were on the table, but the meat did not need any. Sides were varied (collard greens AND cabbage greens! Black eyed peas, field peas, AND green beans! Potato salad AND cole slaw - and hush puppies, fries and more). All were great, but my heart (and my stomach) always returned to The Pig. Sigh. Don't worry about it being "out of the way." It isn't; Grady's is just 5 minutes off N.C. 117 on the way to Seymour Johnson AFB. It will be our go-to place on future trips. Heck, I may focus future trips around Grady's, and add the beach on later!

Wood smoked chopped cue with nice pieces of crispy skin. Good Eastern NC sauce with ample red pepper. Excellent sides - chopped collards, black eyed peas, butter beans. And yummy real hush puppies (not corn sticks). All with friendly efficient service. Closed for vacation til Jan 23, 2019

Delightful little spot at a literal fork in the road. We could tell it was good because the parking was full, so obviously Grady's is sought after. Excellent, juicy chopped pork with the most exceptional North Carolina style BBQ sauce (is there any other kind in NC?) I've ever had. The BBQ chicken is tender and juicy with plenty of smoky flavor. Sides were very good, especially the greens and potato salad. The hush puppies are the best on the planet -- more like a cornmeal fritter than a traditional hush puppy. Well worth the detour if you're traveling through the Mt. Olive area.

Grady's is some of the best NC pulled pork barbecue I've had, and it is a worthy member of the North Carolina barbecue trail. From the outside, it may not look like much, but the inside has a family-run feel to it, and the people are very friendly. I came on a Saturday for lunch around 11:45, and we arrived at the right time, because after we ordered, there was a line forming to the door. Efficiency at the ordering window wasn't their forte, so the line tended to move slowly. If you happen to get stuck in a long line - wait it out, it's worth it. I shared a bunch of food with three other people, and here's what we tried: Pulled pork barbecue - You must order pulled pork barbecue of some kind when you come to Grady's, or else your trip is wasted. It is moist, tender, smoky, and I actually like that they include the rinds. Their vinegar sauce is also on point - it has the right amount of tangy-ness and spiciness to pair perfectly with the meat. It's nothing short of amazing. Cole Slaw - They shred their cabbage into larger pieces, which I like. It makes the slaw taste more homemade. It's not too heavy and not slathered with mayo, but it has enough in it to make it tasty. Potato Salad - The potatoes are cut into large chunks, and some of my potatoes were a little harder than I generally like them. The flavor was great, and it wasn't too heavy, either. Hush Puppies - The hush puppies were solid, but didn't blow me away. They had an added crunch on the outside that most hush puppies don't have, but overall, it seemed like a pretty standard hush puppy. Sweet Tea - Hard to go wrong with sweet tea. Banana Pudding - Nothing spectacular with the banana pudding. It was a bit on the sweeter side for me, but still tasted good. Overall, it was an excellent meal, and I wish I had more space in my stomach for more barbecue. Do yourself a favor and make your way out to Brady's to try some incredible pulled pork barbecue - you won't regret it.

I took a detour off from a long day's drive on I-9 to check out Grady's on a Saturday afternoon. Waited in line about 45 minutes. Would I do it again? Absolutely! Since I had a long drive ahead, I didn't sit down and eat. Instead, I picked up a chopped pork sandwich (with slaw, of course) and it was spectacular. The hush puppies were outstanding as well. I'm glad I bought a pound of chopped pork and a pound of slaw to take home. Cash only. They don't have a web site, but they do take phone orders. Looking forward to trying more on my next detour!

Food was delicious, but the service and home town feeling were by far the star of the meal. Can't believe I grew up in the area and it was my first time. Will return.

Drove from Wilmington to Dudley to try Grady's BBQ on Saturday. It did not disappoint; solid Eastern NC bbq. Really friendly people working there. Worth the drive. They are doing take out with a constant flow of customers driving up.

Some of best bar-b-que I've ever tasted! I called close to closing, as the moment just hit me. They told me to come on they had two sandwiches left and they weee mine. That's better than "southern hospitality" that's just kind!

Grady's was the fourth stop on our one day Eastern NC BBQ Quest For The Best - Part One (included B. J.'s Grill & Ken's Grill in La Grange, Wilber's, McCall's, Jack Cobb's in Farmville. and Holt Lake BBQ in Smithfield).At each stop we sampled some fresh BBQ (sandwich or tray), and bought some (also fresh) to take home - amounts varied on the take home, here it was 3 pounds. We got here just after 11, and were the first customers of the day. The reason we started with B. J's, Ken's, and Wilber's is that they are close together, and all 3 serve breakfast, so you can get the BBQ goodies early, and move on. The BBQ was every bit as good as I remember - moist, tender, with some smokiness, and great flavor. I still consider this one of the top five Eastern NC BBQ joints.

The only thing I regret living in Spanish Fort Alabama is it's too damn far from my beloved East Carolina BBQ, and Grady's when I'm anywhere near, and they're open is my BBQ of choice. Years ago we accidentally stumped onto this place. Once I had a hankering for it so much, we departed from the Submarine Base in Georgia, drove nonstop barely making it there for the end of lunch. The Grady's couldn't believe it when I told them what we just did. Grady's is the real McCoy.uBBQ Pork Plate

Quality wood smoked 'Que with an eastern NC sauce. The sauce is vinegar based with a little bit of sweet flavor. We had a BBQ and slaw sandwich and it did not disappoint. We splurged with an extra $1 and bought a piece of fried chicken just to have s taste. It was great. Grady's is a really cool place that reflects what a BBQ joint should look like and it should be a destination. They had a health grade of 99.5 which is another super cool feature. It is on the map for NC BBQ Trail.

Detoured 45 minutes to try this and Grady's did not disappoint. I'm born and raised western Kentucky, where wood fired pits are the norm and the BBQ is generally underrated. Great smoky flavor. Spotless and very friendly. When I was leaving, a gentleman walked in who could have been a stunt double for Gabby Hayes and that's always a good sign when grub is involved.

I've been coming to Grady's BBQ from Chicago since January, 2012. The first time was sheer luck, just by looking for a place to stop on the way from Virginia to Charleston. My two times this September were my 12th and 13th visits. I absolutely adore their barbecue (chopped pork) sandwich with slaw, and their fried chicken is nothing short of spectacular. Mrs. Grady is always very friendly, with a huge smile on her face.

Absolutely stellar food and service. Some of the best eastern style BBQ I've ever had - a bit more bite to it than many others, due to the less severe chop on it. Really awesome flavor - combination of buttery pork, smoke, and vinegar, noticeable chunks of loin and shoulder. Also, incredible INCREDIBLE fried chicken. Can't recommend it enough.

Grady's is legendary. Everything about this place makes it the best. It's a nice drive through the country side. It's small and family style. Everyone is super sweet and appreciative. And the food....is so authentic and amazing. The BBQ sandwich is so good, people drive all the way out here just to have one. The collard greens and butter beans are so sweet like my moms. I make it a point every time I come home to visit Grady's and you should too!

I tried the fried chicken for research purposes, but no combos are needed here, just get the large pork barbecue. This is a spectacular whole hog offering with great texture, taste, smoke and juiciness. There's a good variety of shredded bits, chunkier fragments and occasional skin. The dip has a great zing but isn't necessary for the meat, so you might want to throw some on your side dishes. Other items I sampled in order of preference: banana pudding, butter beans, black-eyed peas. Be sure to check the hours before visiting.

The barbecue was worthy of 5 stars. Amazing pork! The fried chicken was not so great. It was SWIMMING in a grease pool. I know fried chicken is inherently a bit greasy, but the skin was soaked through and not crispy. I ordered dark meat, but they were out of legs, so they brought me a thigh and a wing. I guess they had the chicken already made and my timing was poor and I arrived between fresh batches? It was 12:45, so not closing time. Anyway, the chicken was a let down, and I am guessing it was a fluke based on other folks' rave reviews. The BBQ and slaw were definitely some of the best I've had.

When I eat Mrs. Grady's fried chicken I can close my eyes and it tastes like my grandmother's chicken which I missed terribly until I had Mrs. Grady's. All the items on their menu are home cooked and delicious! I've never been disappointed not even once! The chicken is always delicious and the BBQ is never greasy. The vegetables are seasoned to perfection and if you can find a better meal get it because it would have to be superb to beat Grady's! My husband will get us some plates and bring them home as a real treat. I always say thanks for the Grady's when we say grace! Order a meal and you'll be giving thanks, too!

What an experience! NC Style bbq cooked the way it was 100 years ago. The restaurant is well off the main roads & the building is simple. As we got out of our vehicle, we could smell the delicious smoked pork! If it smells good outside, you know the Q will be good. We arrived at 1:30 on a hot Saturday afternoon. The line was long & the wait was 45 minutes, but well worth it! The pork was whole hog with a perfect mix of loins & shoulder meat. The seasoning was light & exactly like I like...salt, black & red pepper with vinegar. They offer extra sauce as needed. The sides were excellent... butter beans, collards, green beans, black eyed peas, cabbage, fries & likely whatever was fresh locally. Southern country cooking at its best! My wife tried a dessert. The yellow cake with chocolate icing was homemade & good. It is a family owned restaurant & the owners care about their food. TRY IT IF YOU ARE EVER NEARBY!!! Highly recommend!

The barbecue, slaw, boiled potatoes, and collard greens were all very good. Mrs. Grady was charming and gracious, made our visit very enjoyable.

Absolutely fabulous. It reminds me of how NC use to be. My son and I had their BBQ and it was great. Don't miss this place on your tour of great BBQs.

Grady's has to be one of Goldsboro's best kept secrets. It has the best pork BBQ and sides around. This is a great place to grab an awesome meal service is also great Southern hospitality and second to none!!

Disclaimer: I am from Texas and brisket is king where I am from. The pulled pork we do have is heavily rubbed and the individual shoulders are smoked. Grady's has the best whole hog pork I've ever tasted. As other reviewers have stated the crispy cracklin bits really vault the already moist and extremely flavorful pork over the top. They didn't overdo it with sauce( although they had a bottle on the side) and the pork flavor really shone through. Less on the smokey side than I am used to, but not a bad thing in this case. I also had coleslaw, hushpuppies, sweet tea, and banana pudding (all of which were grade A). The people were extremely friendly and helpful. They were excited to see what a Texan thought of their BBQ. I talked shop with the 81 year old owner and pit master for a while and he was nice enough to show me his pit and tell me how I could build one in my backyard (although it would require more fuel than his enclosure). It was definitely worth the 3.5 hour round trip. I will be going back.

The absolute definition of a hidden gem. A small building out in the middle of no where with park-where-you-can setup. The men are outside cooking at the smoker while the women run the inside. Great pork BBQ sandwiches and even better banana pudding. This is a must if you within 90miles...no joke. It's cash only, so keep that in mind! Cheers!

This little known secret is, without a doubt, the best BBQ in Wayne County. And for a place that calls itself "The BBQ Capital of the World," that is a big deal! The BBQ that Mr. Grady offers up is so much more flavorful than other places around, and I've tried them all. Don't be put off by the looks of the place, although I must admit, it is a hole-in-the-wall establishment. If you are dining in, be sure to try the black-eyed peas (they are incredible) & the collard greens (OMG Good), and you'll be glad you did!

Came here for lunch, it looks as small on the outside as it does on the inside, however for the price the food is pretty reasonable. There are only a few options, so the wait is not long because most of it is prepared in batches that day. While the BBQ I had was good, I could not give it 5 stars because the hush puppies and boiled potatoes tasted ok, but not great, this combined with the lack of AC here, caused my rating, but still a good place to come for BBQ. If you come here and see a line. You will find the line gone through pretty quick. So don't worry. Protip- though it does not say on the menu, the "BBQ Plate" already comes with hush puppies. They also keep the ketchup in the drink refrigerator.