Lexington Barbecue

A Must-Visit Spot in North Carolina We visited Lexington Barbecue twice during our stay in North Carolina and it quickly became a favorite. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming—definitely has that classic mom-and-pop charm. The staff were incredibly friendly and made us feel right at home. The food is true homestyle Southern BBQ, focused on pork (which we appreciated a heads-up on, since being from Texas, we’re more accustomed to beef BBQ). Everything we tried was delicious, and the prices were outstanding—great value for the quality and portions. One little detail we loved as a family with young kids: all the food is served on plastic plates. It made for a more relaxed experience without worrying about glass or heavy dishware around the little ones. We can’t recommend Lexington Barbecue enough. If you’re passing through or staying nearby, make it a priority to stop in. We’ll definitely be back next time we’re in the area!

I went to Lexington Barbeque because it was on the news for being voted the best barbecue in North Carolina. I’m originally from the Midwest. So, I wanted to try some genuine NC barbeque. My co-worker and I decided to go a bit early to beat the lunch rush. We got there a little after 11am. I’m glad we did! As we were walking into the restaurant, cars were pouring into the parking lot! The server was very nice and took the time to explain the basics of NC bbq to me. She was sure to tell me the hush puppies were made from scratch. I ordered the coarse chopped bbq with fries, red slaw & hush puppies. The food came out quickly & it was hot. Everything was delicious! The hush puppies were soooo good (flavorful & crispy on the outside). Loved the red slaw (sweet & tangy). The bbq was well seasoned and tender. It is a nice, no frills restaurant with great food.

Classic Lexington style barbecue-smoked pork with vinegar sauces. Very friendly service-maybe the most "friendly" restaurant we've been to, ever. Not many vegetarian choices, relatively cheap-two people,$32 Surcharge for credit cards, bring cash. Noon Friday, the place was packed.

Had the rough chopped BBQ tray. Pork was flavorful, Cole slaw and hush puppies were very good. Great venue and worth the stop. Our waitress was fantastic.

Lexington Barbecue is a North Carolina staple. Their signature BBQ style is executed extremely well. Atmosphere was great. Very down-to-earth, small-town, and homey. Very much a no-frills restaurant, and in this case that's an absolute plus. This was our first time trying BBQ in North Carolina and we were very impressed. It was different than we're used to coming from Alabama, but the vinegary sauce was very good. I especially liked the hushpuppies which quickly became addictive. If you're ever in the Lexington area, I highly recommend trying this place. Even if you're anywhere else between Greensboro, Asheboro, Charlotte, or Hickory, I'd argue that it's worth the drive.

BBQ wasn't even warm when it was brought to the table. BBQ-baked beans didn't have a lick of BBQ taste on those canned pork and beans The best thing was the hush puppies' though I ordered a roll Sat with tea empty until we left... Wasnt cool because I needed something to drink to get my food down. They did plate it nicely though.

This is legit BBQ. Chopped Pork sandwich on a steamed bun. To best the daily crowds I got there about 11:15. I was seated right away. It's good to be early because the line goes out the door and halfway down the length of the building. The only thing better than the food is the service. From order to table delivery of that order, maybe 3 min. The staff is awesome, there were 2 or 3 girls waiting tables in my area and they were always busy, filling drinks, checking on your contentment. The food was hot. Make sure to ask for their dip. It's basically Lexington system BBQ sauce that comes in a cup. You can put that on everything. If you like more heat they have their own hotter sauce, along with Texas Pete, Tabasco too. It's a local place so lots and lots of locals go there and the staff knows them all. Think "Cheers" Where everybody knows your name. Fair warning. They get very very busy. They do a good job getting you in and out. The parking lot is a madhouse when peak. They do drive up/pickup. That line can get pretty long, but they have the same great service. If you are a BBQ nut, fan, aficianato, you have to go. Nothing but good things to say.

Must say I was very disappointed. Had the large chopped pork tray and a large cheeseburger. Pork was dry and did not have even a hint of smokey flavor. Cheeseburger also dry. On the plus side prices were VERY reasonable (although portions definitely on the smallish side) and service was lightening fast.

Lexington BBQ is my favorite place to eat amazing Q. Friend and I stopped there on the way back to WS. Both of us picked the chopped barbecue plate with hush puppies, fries and slaw. Amazing smoked Q with the best tasting hushpuppies. And Cheerwine to drink. Place was crowded but was seated at booth right away. Waitress came back several times to ask if we needed anything. Just go cups for the Cheerwine. Restaurant super clean and excellent staff. Any how this is the place that sets the standards of excellent NC BBQ for others to shoot for.

Lexington-style barbecue, also known as Piedmont or Western-style, is a North Carolina barbecue tradition known for its use of pork shoulder, a tomato-based sauce with vinegar, and a red coleslaw. It's a distinct style that differs from Eastern-style barbecue, which uses the whole hog and a vinegar-based sauce. First time to visit this place through my cousin Pete, who's from Archdale, NC. Authentic NC barbecue style and we did like the foods that were ordered by my cousin as well as our menu picks. Servings are big with sides plus the price is affordable. Servers are polite, friendly and helpful. They are wonderful people. Place opens 10AM up to 9 PM from Monday thru Saturday. They're closed on Sundays and were early and people started filling up the place . Huge parking lot , busy place, amazing place to taste the NC style of barbecue, wherein they cook pork shoulders in 9 hours using oak and hickory coals. Mouth watering, yummy Lexington style of Barbecue. Common people, drop bye there, taste it and you'll love it. Happy tummy.

I clearly do not appreciate the love of the BBQ here. But I will say that I am definitely in the minority. To me, it was the very bland. I only took a few bites. (Note: my husband is a chef and does incredible smoked barbecue at home, so I'm clearly spoiled to lots of flavor.) My husband wanted to come here since we were staying in nearby Greensboro for an event. Afterwards, he said it was just as he remembered from many years ago but found that he no longer was attracted to the bland flavor. However he loved the red slaw and their barbecue sauce (bought a couple bottles to take home). The slaw was OK but my preference is a creamy sweeter slaw. Personally, I would have liked to had the option of some more southern style sides, like mac & cheese, sweet potato soufflé, fried okra, etc. However, considering the crowds and the other reviews, it simply isn't necessary to bring in the business and I get it. Enough of that, NOW FOR THE GOOD that I very much appreciate. Hush puppies were delicious. The place is clearly an old school, well established institution that is loved, appreciated and frequented by the locals and travelers alike. The place was packed with lines to the door at 3 o'clock on a Saturday afternoon, a time that I thought we could get in and out quickly. The staff seemed well seasoned, were friendly and efficient. Kudos to the owners, as I would bet that most staff has been there long-term. KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AS IT HAS CLEARLY WORKED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

Got a bbq sandwich with slaw and a side of fries to go for lunch this week. The meat is tender and the slaw was very tasty. The fries weren't seasoned but they were cooked well!

Best BBQ in NC. Smoke rolling out of this place every time you pass, unlike a lot of BBQ places that don't smoke on site. Service is always prompt and food typically comes out within a few minutes. Staff are very courteous and helpful chopped BBQ tray with bbq slaw and hush puppies is my go to. Bbq is always fresh juicy and perfect amount of smoke. Red slaw is tangy and crisp! If they have the skins and dip these are a must! Fresh and super crunchy fried pork skins (probably my favorite thing on the menu) with a healthy serving of lexington dip

Real pit cooked bbq here!...best in Lexington. Don't know what batter they use for the hush puppies but man they are addictive!!..full house but was able to walk right up to the counter seating and order....cane out about 10mins later everything was hot and fresh

I love looking at lists of best BBQ places in America and one I have seen often is Lexington BBQ. I was finally able to travel to North Carolina and was close by so had to give it a try. This is old school BBQ. There are no ribs, brisket, or even chicken! They do pork and they do it well! The pork was so flavorful and tender as it is dipped in a vinegar dip with a little tomato and pepper mixed in. There is a thicker and more tangy version on the table. My plate came with crinkle cut fries and red slaw. I really enjoyed the tanginess of the slaw and it was diced really fine. They also give you a basket of hush puppies. In all, the plate was loaded and was a good size portion to eat. I ordered beans on the side but I would skip them because they are just dressed up Bush beans from the can. Sweet tea was refreshingly sweet! If you love tangy and vinegar BBQ, Lexington BBQ is an excellent choice. If you prefer another BBQ taste, I would look elsewhere. I enjoyed it more than I expected.

Easily the best BBQ I've had in NC. We went for chopped pork, sliced pork, baked beans, hash browns and rolls. The BBQ plates come Cole slaw and hush puppies. Let me say, the cole slaw isn't creamy, but vinegar based, and it was great. I thought it had some horseradish in it, but learned they chop the entire cabbage, including the thick center, which gives that subtle flavor. The pork was juicy and smoked to perfection. Service was beyond friendly, and the restaurant had the authentic NC BBQ feel to it. Will be back ASAP! If you're traveling thru on I85, it's worth the 5 minute detour!

Prices are great and the food is good for that price tag. Homemade bbq sauce is also the best Lexington has to offer and ambience is solid as well. Buns and fries are pretty subpar tho so they lose a star for that. Will continue to stop by!

This joint is a local establishment with that ol' country feel. There's a certain nostalgic feeling to this place with staff that is so friendly and eager to ensure you leave feeling full. The servers here and hard working and take care of you. The food is outstanding and you can taste the wood smoke that has been bbq'd into this meet. Hush puppies are AMAZING! Baked beans are some of the best which contain that same smoky flavor. All in all this was a total win and we'd come back here any day!

Lexington Barbecue sold me on NC-style BBQ! As a lover of acidic flavors paired with rich, heaviness, Lexington-style BBQ was a great fit for me. My husband and I ordered a Chopped Barbecue Tray & Sliced Barbecue Tray, and I much preferred the former (Chopped), because some of the Sliced was a bit dry. I had also never had red slaw prior to visiting NC, and can consider myself a fan! Hush puppies were absolute perfection, and we loved pairing them with the "dip" (sauce). This place is as old school as it gets, and is like walking into a no-frills time machine. I love places that are no nonsense (but still with friendly service) and all about the food, so this was an excellent pit stop en route to Greensboro!

Lexington has been on my list of places to get to for a long time, based on a friend's recommendation. I'm so glad to have the opportunity to try it finally! In true pit style, you can smell and see the smoke before you open the door. There were four visible chimneys coming from the cook house behind the restaurant, three of which were rolling white smoke. The aroma told me a lot about the food and got my stomach rumbling. They serve pork butt. Sliced, chopped, sandwich or plate or platter. Don't look for ribs (at least not on the menu at lunch) or chicken or beef. They focus on doing pork perfectly. The meat is smoked well but is not overwhelmed. My ample platter came with barbecue slaw, which was perfectly balanced between the tang of the slaw and the savory of that sauce. The table bottle of sauce was spicy but a good complement. Note that it is not the same sauce that comes on the meat at serving (the preapplied is milder), so ask for that if you want it. Onion rings and fries were hot and good. The hush puppies were soft in the middle but crusty on the outside -- perfect! Didn't need butter. The beans were outstanding. I know they were probably only commercial beans with Lexington's bbq sauce (and maybe some sugar), but they were spot on. The pork skins were only okay, very crispy but tasting a bit burnt. I saw these on the menu as a sandwich as well, if you don't want good barbecue instead. Service was good. Prices were reasonable. 3.5% upcharge for credit cards, which is annoying.

There's something I really enjoy about a simple thing done incredibly well. That's exactly what Lexington bbq does. Perfectly smoked pork butt with a simple tangy sauce. Definitely a must try when in Lexington.

Service was very pleasant and the immediate warmth of the small town America graced the atmosphere. That, however does not make up for dry BBQ. Unfortunately, they only smoke hog, you would assume they would be next level for their specialty, in the heart of the "BBQ capital" of NC. Skip this for the Smoke Pit in Concord if passing through. I wonder if people had their taste buds burnt off or have never left "the village," and explored actual BBQ.

We stopped here on our trip back from North Carolina. We had been here once before so we knew the barbecue was good. We sat at the counter and the service was very good. The people there were nice and sociable. We both had pork sandwiches with fries and hush puppies, I like the fact that they put coleslaw on top of the pork sandwich. The only thing missing was Brunswick stew. We got some Lexington barbecue sauce to go but chose not to buy a T-shirt. Lexington barbecue has a simple menu with very affordable prices which is a release in high plate. Inflation times such as now. Right down the street there is Randy's barbecue and speedy's barbecue but of the three he can't go wrong with Lex and barbecue if you're traveling down 85 in North Carolina.

Did you know there's a lot of cities named Lexington? Evidently, there's one in North Carolina. My family and I drove the one hour to get here to try out one of the best (if not the best) barbecue places in the state, and we were not disappointed. Heading into the parking lot, it was FULL. There was actually the ability to order while in your car there, but we opted to wait in line to be seated at the restaurant. Thankfully, we got there before the sit down rush! The restaurant is very quaint; it was comfortable to be in, and surprisingly larger than what it seemed to be. Service was extremely fast. I ordered the chopped plate, and opted not to have the slaw. Instead, I got french fries, and was able to try the hush puppies and the bread. The fries were good; I wish they were slightly more salted, but they were cooked well without being burnt. The fries were crinkle cut and thick, so it was a nice balance of soft foods. I'm not a fan of hush puppies, so I wouldn't order them again, but my family thought they were tasty. The star of the show for me was the barbecue. I'm not a fan of barbecue... The ones I've had have always been too sweet, too wet, and just too sloppy. This barbecue though? I didn't feel like it was that sweet, and it had a bit of a sourness/tang to it that was a welcomed change. It was not wet either, and really hit the mark for me. I eventually asked if I could have bread instead, and that worked out amazingly with the meat. Be warned though - you're literally getting a buttered/toasted (?) hamburger bun rather than a roll. Like, they literally just give you both slices of the hamburger bun, lol. Bread was bread though, and it was nice to make a DIY sandwich. I tried the slaw, and it was fine, my family absolutely loved it though. It's different from regular cole slaw, and is red/more vinegary. Would I drive the hour to come back? I think so. Service was fast, and portions were really good. Is it the food or restaurant that I'd seek out on vacation though? No, not really... but if I had a friend who really wanted to eat here, I'd take them.

Lexington Barbecue is an iconic presence in Lexington, North Carolina. It is a landmark of the North Carolina barbecue scene and deserves its fantastic reputation. The people who work here are friendly and the overall ambiance just provides the perfect setting to enjoy a barbecue feast. It is not pretentious, but let me ask you, what is pretentious about barbecue? I enjoyed my meal here and I enjoyed embracing a tradition not only of the city of Lexington, North Carolina, but rather a tradition of the state of North Carolina. Barbecue is taken very seriously down here in the South and there is a reason for it. It is taken very seriously because it is a part of the tradition of the South and it is this serious approach that makes the barbecue in the South that good. I also enjoy how the South has distinct approaches to barbecue. While some love Memphis style barbecue or St. Louis-style barbecue, the barbecue from the Carolinas is spoken with the same reverence. If you are in the area, you must try Lexington Barbecue.

Waitresses are awesome and some really good food. Fast service and food for those that don't want barbecue.

Service is top tier at Lexington Barbecue. While I greatly prefer eastern style NC barbecue, this was pretty good. It's a little bland for my taste. Sides were excellent and their curbside service is refreshing.

A 1950s-style BBQ restaurant - with booths and tables that haven't changed appreciably in decades. There is plenty of parking (though apparently often full), and it can be busy, but a weekday afternoon, service was prompt and friendly, and there was no wait. We got a pound and half of chopped barbecue (two items, charged separately), a quart of slaw, hush puppies, buns, and sauce. All were delicious. This is the real thing, and not to be missed (and apparently there are many local imitators, but you should go here to the original). This is western North Carolina style barbecue - a tomato base (though plenty of tang, this isn't sweet, but rather just different from BBQ in eastern NC). The BBQ was great, and the slaw a kind not found in other parts of the country -- rather than mayonnaise-based, it's vinegar-based (with some tomato?). Yum! I'd go back again the next time I'm on my way from Charlotte to Chapel Hill.

I was in town for some business and had a bbq craving. I have heard great things about Lexington BBQ and decided to stop by for some pork. The restaurant has an old school vibe. The service was impeccable and fantastic as soon as you walk in the door. Obviously, I was here for one thing and one thing only chopped bbq sandwich with slaw and a side of hushpuppies. Once I ordered the food it came out really fast and little too fast. Well I will say that the flavour of the food was really delicious but the food itself was a little cold.

The food was ok... in my opinion the meat was blend. It didn't had a good smoke flavor/taste. The bake beans and hush puppies were delicious! The service was good and fast. The ambiance was typical for a restaurant.

After years of living in the area, we finally made the trip to Lexington Barbeque over the Veterans Day weekend, and it was absolutely worth the drive from Raleigh. This place has set the bar so high that I doubt I'll enjoy barbecue anywhere else as much! The texture and flavor of their barbecue is truly exceptional. The parking lot filled with cars was a clear sign that they're doing something right. We ordered the sliced barbecue, and it was a perfect 10/10. The slaw was mildly spicy and had a unique flavor you don't find at most barbecue places. And the hushpuppies--wow! They were bite-sized, perfectly fried, crunchy on the outside, and soft on the inside, hands-down the best our family has ever had. For dessert, we tried the peach cobbler, and it was so delicious we ended up ordering a second one! Our meal was so good that we not only enjoyed it there but also took some home for the next day. Located in the heart of rural Lexington, this place is truly a hidden gem. They focus on doing classic barbecue, so don't expect brisket or other styles; they specialize in hog, and they do it better than anyone else. We also tried the fried chicken tenderloins (not barbecued), which were tasty too. If I'm ever traveling on I-85 again, I'll definitely make a stop here.

After living in North Carolina for 11 years, I needed to try this iconic restaurant before we moved out of the state. My husband and I shared a Chopped Barbecue Plate and a Coarse Chopped Barbecue Tray. I hate to say this, but I don't understand why this place is consistently talked about as one of the best barbecue spots in the state. I've never had pork from a barbecue place that was dry before, but both of the plates we got had incredibly dry meat. It wasn't good. I did love the slaw though. The sauce and hush puppies were also good. We got takeout and ate at the park across the street to avoid having to wait for a table. The place was packed, so I'm guessing we're in the minority. We've been to several of the most talked about barbecue spots in the state and I've loved them all, but this isn't one I'd come back to.

Of course it's the best Lexington style BBQ in Lexington. You probably suspected as much from the name of the place. In this case, their name speaks the truth. Excellent, pig, sides, and service. And appropriate prices for BBQ. It's not Eastern style, it's Lexington style (I prefer Eastern, normally), and it's about as good as Lexington gets.

Consistently good if you like Lexington style BBQ. It's fast, cheap, and good. This place is always packed for a reason.

Not what it used to be. Slaw was so runny...bbq was mediocre...the hush puppies were the best part. Sweet service folks though. Disappointing food.

The attentive service and the lemon icebox pie were the highlight of our hour drive to eat here. There was nothing wrong with our food, it just wasn't memorable. The red slaw was a nice surprise, but, the pork was dry and didn't have much, if any smoke flavor at all. When you combined the red slaw with the pork, it was good. As a Texas girl, good BBQ should be able to stand on its own.

One of my favorite BBQ places. It gets a 5 star in the bbq genre for me. A lot of booths with some tables in the middle. There's a lot of local art on the walls, some by kids. There is also a short lunch counter with stools if you like that style. The coarse chopped pork and the smoked turkey are my favorites. My wife loves the regular chopped. The hush puppies are awesome. No butter or honey needed on these bad boys. The slaw is red bbq style which I like. The fries are good too. One Christmas we got a whole smoked shoulder for dinner. It was a huge hit. Can't wait to go again, love this place.

Having grown up in NC where BBQ is a big deal, I have to say this was a hugh disappointment. The chopped BBQ was wet even before putting sauce on it and had no pit cooked smoked flavor, VERY bland. The BBQ sauce on the table was terrible and when I asked if there were other sauces our server brought out a Styrofoam cup of vinegar with a slight red tint to it and added they also had Sweet Baby Rays! The plate had red slaw, the predominate & only flavor to it was vinegar. The hushpuppies were the best item we were served by far. Not sure what wood they smoke the meat with ( I'm sure they must use wood to smoke it?), but it lacked that wood fired taste we all expect from real pit chopped BBQ here in the South.

The food here is great For the best barbecue in the world. Lex Barbeque is the best they have good meat skins good fries. The food is too good enough to eat service. They wait on your hand and foot and they treat you like family. I love them. It is a good atmosphere. They welcome you. They don't care if you black white red or green they treat everybody the same. Rick loves everybody. He's a great guy. He always treat me good when I go now when you go to this restaurant, he treat you like one of the family even though I'm black he treats me real good as a person he loves everybody thank God for Rick and his dad for starting Lexington barbecue.

Walked it, it's seat yourself. The place wasn't really clean, it was pretty busy. Grabbed a couple of menus and sat ourselves. We both ordered the Chopped BBQ Tray. They asked hushpuppies or 'rolls'. I asked for the 'rolls not knowing they were not 'Rolls", but BUNS. I was highly disappointed. Ordered onion rings on the side, those were great. The BBQ was good, which is really disappointing. I haven't been there in years, but remember it being great! I live near High Point now, and I have to say Kepley's is just as good if not better. Guess I don't have to drive so far next time I want BBQ.

Nothing fancy, just great Lexington style BBQ here. Pulled pork shoulder with proprietary sauce. Great service and an atmosphere that feels so quintessential small town America that you want to fall in love with it. Got the pulled pork plate. It's all you need. Red slaw perfectly seasoned.

We traveled two and a half hours to try the supposedly best barbecue in NC. What we got was far less than mediocre. The thick chunk barbecue platter was served in a fry tray filled with dry meat and the not so good slaw was served in a much smaller tray. Food was edible but for the price I should not have had to leave hungry.

Best hush puppies in the world. Our waitress brought us some warm BBQ sauce to dip them in. I'm an Eastern BBQ girl, but still appreciate a stop at Lexington!

The best North Carolina style BBQ that I have had in the state. Super nice folks work here too

I've always said it's hard to find bad barbecue. Mission accomplished. The place was packed. It was hard to find parking. That says to me it's going to be good food. The line to be seated was long, but the menu is built for speed. The barbecue is all pork. Other things are fried -- chicken, steak, shrimp, fries, hush puppies. We thought we'd time it to see how long it took from placing our order to being served: two minutes, 17 seconds. It takes me more time to open a can of food and scoop it in my dog's bowl, if that tells you anything about the level of care and pride here. It seems that there are paper plates of the limited menu items sitting out, ready to quickly marry with sides and whip out to tables to maximize turns. This place is well known, and I think that's its downfall. Maybe at one point it was good food, but the decisions seemingly made to speed abundant and willing customers through their meals have resulted in factory-fast-food-flavorless barbecue, and that's not what barbecue is at all. The meat was gray and tasteless. Tough and chewy. No smoky taste, despite us being told there was a pit out back where it was prepared. No smoke ring -- though I'd not have been surprised to find a cigarette butt. Mine tasted strange. It took me a minute to realize it was the "sauce." The "sauce" is called "dip." Until today, I thought of "dip" as something thick you'd put on a potato chip. It turns out it's more akin to something you put between your cheek and gums and spit into an old cup. It was watery and gross. I have long ago noticed that if a place can't smoke meat well, the beans will show it. The beans here were runny and mushy, and tasted a little like the aluminum can they must've came out of. For $1.49, a can of Bush's Country Style beans are far better. There is cole slaw. Instead of mayonnaise, they use ketchup. I think I'm going to be sick. The resulting concoction looks the color of pink you'd find in a dirty toilet bowl. I couldn't even stand to look at it. There were what was termed hush puppies. Growing up in the south, I know well those little brown cornmeal dough balls. Imagine my surprise to find these were not hush puppies at all, but were thin little tubes of cornmeal dough, lightly fried, looking as through they'd been squirted raw into the oil and fished out when they bobbed to the top. Little crust, little flavor, and little in size. Bleah! I could be wrong about all of this. Barbecue is regional and it's personal, and some of us take pride in it. I've eaten it from Texas to Illinois, Virginia to Florida, and I've rarely found anything I didn't like. My go-to is always the pork (usually pulled) because it's a barbecue staple and I can judge it based on hundreds of meals that came before. This was the first time in 50+ years of tasting it that I had pork I simply couldn't eat. Two bites was all I could stomach. My two companions agreed, and we made jokes about it the rest of the afternoon. I think that says something. Barbecue isn't hard to do, but it's a challenge to master. Why someone would go such a radically different direction on literally everything about barbecue -- ketchup slaw, watery "dip," flavorless meat -- is just baffling, as is the loyalty this place holds. Our waitress was delightful, and her service was good and her smile was sweet, and she was clearly the highlight of the day.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE!! Subpar food. No homemade sides. The establishment hangs their hat on pull pork. If you don't like pork then this place isn't it. Respectfully, if you take out the localness and good people vibes then this place would close in a year in a major city. Sweet tea is a 10/10. Your grandma probably loves this place.

This is an iconic restaurant that defines a very specific barbecue style, aptly named, "Lexington" BBQ but also known as "Piedmont" BBQ so as to not leave out surrounding areas, such as Salisbury. You know the story - vinegar, ketchup (light), sugar, peppery sauce - chopped, whole hog BBQ - hush puppies and sweet tea (or Cheerwine, if you are a soda drinker). It is the mecca for this style BBQ. Family owned. A slice of America. But my wife didn't like it, however, I was thrilled. Beyond thrilled, since I live over 2 hours away. And besides, she is a pulled pork fanatic and a yankee, but we love her. It was a Saturday at 12:30 and packed, but even more packed when we left! We waited only 5-6 minutes. There was a table with four NC Highway Patrol officers, you know that is a good sign (locals). It was just as I wanted and expected. Chopped Pork plate, slaw, fries, pickle and hot sauce along with those hush puppies. I had not been here in over 15 years, at least, and I was not disappointed. Down home, diner style, just an excellent experience. My wife prefers pulled pork and thicker, sweeter sauce, and I think it was just not what she expected or was used to, but she was happy with my joy.

There are folks out there who are going to suggest to you that this well known establishment is the center of the universe when it comes to pork. And to each their own. For me, however, Lexington Barbecue's meats are a bit under flavored. The chopped pork is not dry, thankfully, but the taste I'm looking for from the meat is just too delicate for my own tastes. Staff members are efficient, and in particular they always endeavor to keep my glass full of drink. But I don't find them very welcoming, which could of course be a reflection of the number of clients they're dealing with. This place is always busy, or so it seems, and maybe it's dealing with the masses that dulls their personalities. It's for these reasons that I'm more likely to frequent other barbecue joints in the area (and there are plenty). My personal favorite in town is Barbecue Center, as the taste I'm looking for is more prevalent there and the waitstaff are more personable.

I've always wanted to stop here for a bite to eat and finally had a chance. I'm going to be honest, the BBQ was decent but it wasn't anything extraordinary in my opinion. I got the coarsely chopped BBQ plate it was quite dry, couldn't finish my plate. The best items were the fries and hush puppies. The meat had a bit of a smokey flavor but not thoroughly. I'm not sure what the hype is all about in Lexington in regards to BBQ. Overall, good customer service and nice folks. I appreciate the quality service.

The BBQ is what put Lexington on the map. It's smoked pork shoulder only for the BBQ. I get it chopped, with their sauce, slaw, and I love their hush puppies. They have good onion rings too!

Made the pilgrimage to the home of NC BBQ, the perfect combination of vinegar and pork something simple but amazing the beans were great the hush puppies were fresh and the cheerwine was the best compliment for it all. It's not Texas bbq but when in Carolina drown it in the sauce and make it happen

A must stop for me when I'm in the area. If chopped bbq isn't your thing, go the turkey route. The service is always friendly and food comes out very quickly.

Growing up on the eastern part of North Carolina, I'm used to vinegar-based barbecue and I'm not a fan of vinegar. I thought Lexington barbecue was western style barbecue with tomato based sauce. I was mistaken when I got a barbecue sandwich that had vinegar based sauce. If you like vinegar-based sauce on it would be a really good sandwich and that being said it wasn't bad to me at all. The highlight of the trip was the service, attentiveness, and friendliness of the waitress and staff. The place was crowded but they got us a table right away, brought our sweet tea to us immediately, and it seemed less than 10 minutes after ordering we had our food. Food. I also got a cheeseburger and it was really good. I may go back if I'm in the area.

Worse bbq I've ever had. That vinegar bbq sauce they call it is horrible. I was very disappointed

The Great BBQ Debate in North Carolina, between Eastern and Western (or Piedmont)-style 'que, is almost as fiesty in the Tar Heel State as the Tobacco Road basketball rivalry between Duke and Carolina. While Eastern purists swear by the 'whole-hog,' vinegar-sauce recipe, fans of Western style prefer their pork to be finely chopped, with a vinegar tomato sauce and a side of hush puppies. Since 1962, Lexington Barbecue has made its name as 'The Home' of Western-style Carolina 'que, serving generous plates of sliced or pulled pork along with fries and hush puppies, out of a no-frills restaurant just off Hwy 29. The interior is about as basic as it gets, and service is fast and friendly, whether you slide into a booth or or grab a stool at the counter. Drop by at lunchtime any day of the week, and you'll find a wait for parking and a table, although both turn pretty quickly. I wish I could say this place lives up to its reputation as a culinary landmark, but I've honestly had much better BBQ elsewhere in the South. On two separate visits over the past couple of years, I found the pork to be bland and lacking in flavor, even after I added a healthy dose of sauce. The hush puppies were average at best, and the fries soggy and forgettable. I'm admittedly not a huge fan of vinegar-based BBQ, so maybe this style just isn't my thing, but I was still hoping for a better experience. That said, a visit to Lexington Barbecue is still a MUST for every BBQ fan in North Carolina, whether you live here or are just passing through. At the very least, you'll leave with a better appreciation for the history of Tar Heel BBQ -- a culinary art form that's also a cultural heritage across the American South.

The food is absolutely delicious! The service was quick, the food is good, and the staff were very friendly! I highly recommend.

I don't know where all the haters have come from. This is still the absolute best Lexington style pork Butt/shoulder bbq. It's simply my favorite hands down.