Sam Jones BBQ

Stopped here for lunch with a big group. This place came highly recommended by family who lives just outside of Raleigh. We got a bunch of stuff so I got to taste a bit of everything. The wings and brisket were Amazing!!! The service was good, we sat outside so it wasn’t the traditional waiter taking order system. You have to order using a QR code and the food comes out. Everything was great, I think my expectations were a bit too high. The cornbread was awful! Only reason I’m taking away a star. If you’re going to have a smoke house, you have to get the cornbread right! Other than that, it was a good experience.

Sam Jones BBQ is also one of your classic Carolina-style BBQ. The smoked turkey was actually juicy and flavorful, the chopped pork were a bit dry, but the sides were solid, especially the creamy mac & cheese. Cornbread muffin was soft and slightly sweet. Portions were generous and the food came out fast. A great stop for no-frills, quality BBQ at a decent price!

We had excellent first experience at Sam Jones BBQ. We honestly weren’t sure what to expect, but this place is well known around Raleigh and has been on our list of places to try for a while now. I tried the Chopped BBQ plate with collard greens, baked beans and toast. 10/10 would get this same combo again. Sean tried the Three Meat Combo (pulled pork, brisket, and chicken) with potato salad, coleslaw and cornbread. He would leave the potato salad and brisket off next time but glad we got a good sampling of everything. We loved the sauce options and took a bottle of their signature Vinegar Sauce home (yes it was that good)! Love the location and vibe here. It’s close to downtown and the farmers market. Nice outdoor seating options. We saw some folks sitting with dogs outside so we will definitely bring ours next time!

This is legitimately some of the best BBQ in NC. Cooked over coals. Chopped with crispy skin. Great sides, especially the slaw and collards. We love the ribs and turkey too. I prefer the corn pone, but my family likes the sweet potato muffins. Always a stop when I’m in Raleigh.

This is a classic NC BBQ establishment. The food is the star of the show. You bring your own atmosphere to this simple restaurant. Wood fired goodness awaits you. The service can be spotty. To some extent you need to ask for what you want. They will take care of you, but it is just great authentic bbq. I will drive an hour to enjoy this place.

when I'm in town visiting, I try to stop by , This is the third time I visited this place. I normally order regular pulled pork barbecue sandwich and the homemade cut fries which are excellent. I did try a smoked chicken wing very meaty wing size. Nice smoked flavor . Stays very consistent as far as what I ordered ,the place is very clean and organized . It's a great place to bring a group of people because there's plenty of room and an outdoor area.

We drove two hours to try this restaurant in Raleigh, because it was highly recommended by a YouTube video of two men from Britain who did a food tour of the southern United States. Unfortunately, the food tasted average overall. We ordered the fried fish as an appetizer, which was pretty good— crispy on the outside & moist on the inside with seasoning! 👍 But the whole hog BBQ sandwich disappointed us; it wasn’t how it was hyped up online. The people online said you could really taste the flavor of the pork meat, with the moistness of the pork belly & the textural crunch of the pork skin. Neither one of us tasted anything more than your average BBQ pork sandwich. The ribs were tender, but not very flavorful— again, just average. Same goes for the sweet potato biscuit. 😔 The cole slaw tasted pretty good— it was sweet & refreshing! 👍 The dessert was surprisingly the best thing we had there: the banana pudding included meringue on top, which was a creative & flavorful combination with interesting texture! I personally really enjoyed that. My brother, on the other hand, ordered the deconstructed chocolate ecclair. Its crumbles on top used as a substitute for the usual pastry added great texture to the ice-cream-scoop-sized ball of chocolate & cream below, & both tasted sweet & flavorful. ❤️ Overall, it wasn’t work driving 2 hours to eat there, my brother & I agreed. The food was average to pretty good. 3 out of 5. We didn’t pay a whole lot for the large amount of food, though. If you’re in the area, give it a try, but I don’t HIGHLY recommend it or going too far out of your way to get it. I do recommend the nearby bakery called Edible Art, though; they have great cookies!

My husband and I decided to try after seeing people sitting outside. Service was ok..people at register great. Food runner..eh. seeing my husband and I were sharing a meal, you would think he could have gotten an extra fork. Pork good. Turkey excellent but that's where it ends. Slaw was 50% liquid as if it were last in bucket and too sweet. Chips were 75% crumbs as if they served the last of what was in the bag. Sauce from the table tasted like...no words. Corn bread was very dense and not corn bread.

Mr Jones' team has really upped their game. The BBQ has always been good, but now, on certain days, there is some outstanding brisket. It has a very good bark and smoke flavor. In addition to the brisket, burnt ends are also offered. The burnt ends are exceptional. They are pretty addictive. They have a great flavor, tenderness, and the perfect amount of sauce. I recently brought 2 friends visiting from New Zealand here to try Eastern NC BBQ. The burnt ends were so good one of them went back up and ordered a pound to go. Both commented on how much they enjoyed the pork BBQ and the Mac and Cheese sides as well as the beans. One commented how surprised they were by the crackins' in the BBQ and how it added a "pop" of smoke flavor. They were split on the cornbread. It is not for everyone. If there is a group, at least one person should get it and share. The BBQ pork is never oxersauced. Additional sauce is on the table if someone feels the need to spice the BBQ up some. To me, too much sauce covers up the smokiness of the pork. The ribs are always a great choice by themselves or to share, not a fall off the bone, but very close. They are moist, tender, and not oxersauced. For those that do not want pork the chicken and turkey are great options. I wish my grilled chicken turned out 3/4 as good as the stuff they have here. There is seating indoors and tables outside. Inside tends to be a bit noisy when it is crowded. As a bit of advice, go earlier in the day if possible.

I had a business trip and ordered from here via Door Dash. The ribs were good, baked beans ok and the Mac and cheese was on point , not bad for my first night in NC!

We were in town visiting family and this place has some of the best BBQ I've ever had. Oh and the fried catfish is horribly underrated! So yourself a favor and give it a try.

Chopped bbq was below average to average. Just dry and not a lot of flavor. Fine once you put sauce on it. Quarter chicken was really good. Nice smokey flavor. The sides were all average except the cornbread which was exceptionally dry.

I just wanted to take a moment to add that I recently tried the hand-breaded chicken tenders that are fried to order and served piping hot with a homemade honey mustard dipping sauce. It was my first time ordering this from the share plates, and it was worth every mouthwatering bite!

Sam Jones is located downtown Raleigh. I was able to find street parking when I arrived. There is outdoor, indoor and bar seating available. If you want full service you should dine at the bar. There were TVs near the bar. We ordered our food at the counter and it was brought to us a short time later. I got the rib dinner with Mac and cheese and baked beans. It also came with a choice of bread so I chose the sweet potato muffin. The bottom of my muffin was burnt and it lacked flavor. When I brought it to an employee's attention she told me that they have been coming out like that all day. I am not sure why they would still be serving them if that was the case. She allowed me to exchange the muffin for a piece of Texas toast. The toast was better and was buttered well. The mac and cheese was ok and the baked beans were sweet with a small amount of meat. I was given a large portion of ribs and small portions of sides with my dinner.

Solid spot but nothing to write home about. We came here as a team and did buffet style which did the job but nothing was amazing. The rolls were generic martins potato rolls and all items were relatively generic. Nothing that really stood out or was different. Their sweet sauce was pretty good but I would have liked more options. Great seating options downstairs and staff was solid as well. Gets the job done but nothing extraordinary.

I have been dying to try Sam jones. Well the stars aligned and I was around town. Everything was good. The smoked turkey was so nicely smoked. The beans.....try the baked beans. The sweet potato muffin was a home run for me. Such a cool atmosphere.

North Carolina BBQ just like it is meant to be. You order, get a number and find a seat. They bring the food and drinks to you. They have a very nice outdoor seating area along with a good number of seats inside as well. I got the two meat combo with Carolina bbq and chicken. It came with two sides, I got collards and Mac&cheese. The bbq and chicken were tender, moist and full of flavor. The collards and Mac were very much on point. My wife got the pulled pork sandwich and collards. She totally enjoyed both. If you are looking for NC bbq, Sam Jones should be your stop.

Not sure I'm a fan of NC BBQ....long-live Texas BBQ. Potato salad was salad bar quality. Sandwich was sub-par. Not sure I understand the hype.

The best BBQ and atmosphere in Raleigh. Great food and excellent bar selection , Don't miss it!

Got the 2 meat sample. Gigantic portions of pork and turkey. Both were awesome! Baked beans were fantastic. Slaw was mostly just cabbage but really tasty. Flattest corn bread ever; was a bit tough. Definitely coming back here! Great local beer on tap selection. Service team was SUPER friendly!!

Our group ordered one of everything (except for the brisket because they were out) and enjoyed every bite we took. The pulled pork, which I'm normally not a huge fan of, was absolutely delicious. The ribs are HUGE and maintain a delicate balance of being both tender and meaty. The atmosphere is fast casual (emphasis on fast - food was ready immediately) with counter service, but they have a bar if you want drinks as well. Their selection of whisky is small but impressive. Just be sure to ask for prices, because some of their prices were on the very high end of market value.

Really great food! Traditional Southern Collards were delicious! The catfish sandwich was delicious I just wish it were a whole one piece of fish instead they were smaller pieces in one sandwich which was kind of hard to eat without getting everywhere. My Dad enjoyed his pork BBQ. My grandmother is from the South and she loved their collards! They are from the coast, the capital where the collard festival is held. I forget the name of the town. Parking is a bit short in this area, mainly on the street. There's plenty of seating inside, with some outside options. The lady that brought our food knew enough about collards and the restaurant to tell us which was nice.

This was my first visit to Sam Jones and I Loved their Catfish Bites!!! They were light chunks of fish with a tender crispiness that melt in your mouth. The portions were great too. I ordered the loaded baked potato as the side to accompany those heavenly tender morsels. Great meal!

I'm a subscriber to Southern Living Magazine and when I saw Sam Jones BBQ was on the list of Top BBQ Joints in the South, I knew I would have to make a trip over. I went for lunch with my husband, 2 year old, and 3 month old. We arrived before the lunch rush so there was plenty of seating and no line to order. The parking is limited (small lot behind the restaurant and street parking) so we are glad we went outside of peak hours. I ordered a BBQ pork sandwich with slaw and my husband ordered the Original Family Tray. Each came with one side and the tray comes with a sweet potato muffin as well. I got Mac and Cheese and my husband got the Potato Salad. Honestly, both of us thought our meals were just average. We weren't blown away. For almost $30 for lunch and the honor of "one of the best in the South", we were expecting to be much more impressed. The ambiance is great though. There's a bar, plenty of indoor seating, and lots of outdoor seating as well. There's a covered patio area as well as a turf area with picnic tables and umbrellas. There's a "Doggie Diner" area with water bowls and given the open turf area, I would say the restaurant is dog friendly. I would give Sam Jones BBQ a try, but in my opinion, there are better tasting BBQ establishments around.

Highly recommend the sweet potato muffin, chopped pork, and baby back ribs! Casual ambience, friendly service, solid food.

The positives: Great spot -- spacious and open with plenty of eating areas inside and out. Located in an area of downtown where parking is not that difficult. Order at the counter -- employees are friendly and service is fast. Food was not overly salted as it sometimes is at barbecue restaurants. The not so positives: Food was just okay to me. Nothing stood out. After seeing them featured in Southern Living as fifth best barbecue joint in NC I expected more.

This place has great food and service. I've been here twice for lunch over the past few weeks. Both times I've been in a crunch for time. The food is delicious and comes out quickly.

Recently visited here as it was locally recommended to my friends. Had to try that vinegar based bbq. Overall, the experience was pretty good! The staff was friendly, the vibes were like a southern bbq joint, and the bbq itself was quite good. I had the two meat combo with chicken and pulled pork. The meats were well smoked and definitely flavorful. The sides were to be desired though. It may have been that it was late into the night and almost closing, but the corn bread was stale, slaw was under seasoned, Mac was okay. Definitely visit here if you're looking for good bbq! The sides may be slightly lacking, but the meats are definitely worth the trip.

Quality BBQ! Service was great. Food was good! We got the triple meat combo with the bbq pork, turkey, and chicken. Buffalo chicken wings. 2lb spare ribs. And their new pork skin nachos. We also got sides of their collard greens, fries, cornmeal, muffin, house salad, and sweet slaw. To start off, bbq pork was dry, the Turkey was pretty average, but the chicken was super tender and juicy. It was probably slow braised because it was delicious. Chicken wings were packed with flavor and tender as well! The ribs were honestly my favorite. They were sooo good! The pork skin nachos were unique and pretty good. Sides weren't that special. I didn't really like their cornbread, but I'm happy they include these sides. I was super hungry when I got there, so this review might be a bit biased. But to me, this was a delicious meal!

The food was what you expect from North Carolina bbq. Lives up to its name. Florida is my first choice for bbq NC is my second. Service was very prompt drink never went empty and was very accommodating to my demands. Family atmosphere would definitely come back.

In hog heaven! If you're an Eastern Carolina BBQ fan, then try Sam Jones Wood Fired Whole Hog BBQ @ 502 W Lenoir St. The sweet slaw is fabulous! And the mac n cheese was creamy cheesy deliciousness! Try the pina colada with bourbon slushie. Oooh they are heavy handed with the bourbon And they play fun honky tonk! Full of glass windows that allow you to look out onto the street and view the super cute neighborhood. The staff was super nice and so friendly. Yummy deliciousness!

I came to this bbq place for the first time last week for a late lunch. Parking was a breeze and the inside was nice and spacious. They also had some outdoor seating and a patio area. I ordered the bbq plate with bake beans and Mac and cheese and cornbread. The food came out pretty quick, everything was good except the cornbread. It was pretty heavy and had no flavor, wasn't sweet. Was able to talk to the server to get a different bread so we opted for the sweet potato muffin which was better. Overall the bbq was good and the service was great. They also have a bar inside as well.

Where to start? When you walk in, you walk up to the counter and order your food. They give you a number and go sit down, they bring out your food once it's ready. If uou see they have the cheerwine and bourbon slush, get it. I don't think we waited longer than 5 minutes for our food. I ordered the bbq sandwich with slaw, the Alabama white sauce wings, and banana pudding. The sandwich was delicious. Nice soft bun, perfectly cooked bbq, and sweet cole slaw. I highly recommend the white sauce wings. They are limited editions, so get them while you can! I was slightly disappointed with the banana pudding. Pudding was liquidy, and the bananas were firm. The staff were all extremely friendly. Made excellent recommendations. If you're looking for tasty BBQ in downtown Raleigh, check this place out!

the bbq pork sandwich was wonderful and I have never had "sweet slaw" before and could have enjoyed a bucket of it! Is it a North Carolina thing? I am from Massachusetts and our Cole slaw is so different. wonderful and casual outdoor seating was available. our group of 4 enjoyed our meals.

Wow! This is my new favorite bbq place in Raleigh! The menu has quite a few options to choose from (refer to the photos for the entire detailed menu). I ordered the Chopped BBQ plate with the sweet slaw and the baked beans, and OMG!!! It was really delicious! This is truly a North Carolina barbeque experience! The atmosphere was great, staff was super helpful and friendly and the common areas were clean. The location was easy to find with a free parking lot in the back with a limited number of parking spots. Overall, 100% recommended and can't wait to come back!

Everything we ordered was excellent. The Turkey and the mac were our favorites. Homemade chips were on point as well.

Best BBQ in Raleigh! Came in on a Thursday lunch hour, was immediately greeted by Kelsey who was extremely friendly and helpful. Ordered the chopped bbq, smoked chicken and ribs, all of which were incredible. Their sauces were delicious and a side of mac and cheese was perfect! To top it all off- they have an amazing bourbon menu at great prices (Blanton's, Stagg Jr, CYPB, and even King of Kentucky). Plan to go back again soon!

This was my first stop on my foodie tour. Sampled the Mac and a pork slider. Very good, but the star of the show for me was the sweet tea. A true southern girl who loves her sweet tea so when I get some that is made perfectly, I am a happy camper lol

Is the BBQ here as good at Skylight? No, but it's damn close, and I don't have to drive to Ayden to get it! Plus Sam Jones has plenty of seating, and the outdoor space is really nice. I've eaten here a few times and every time has been delicious!

Short waiting times for great food! Try something different each time you go. I suggest a combo of sliced turkey and BBQ to get a range of flavor. The coleslaw has a great balance of flavor with a sweet, light and crunchy texture.

From the service to the food, everything was incredible. The atmosphere was fantastic and I was so glad to be back in a Sam Jones again. Would highly recommend!

Not sure how anyone could rate this location anything less than FIVE Stars. The preparation & flavor of their chopped pork approaches the literal definition of Eastern North Carolina barbecue. Then, many of their other offerings create an even broader appeal if you're wanting something different that day, or for any newbies still acquiring the taste, or (for whatever unknown reason) needing to get their brisket on. The biggest surprise (and a very pleasant surprise at that) were the spare ribs. Honestly, 3 of these will be more-than filling for many people. The quality of the meat, the trim, the flavor & the texture were unique & spectacular. Plus, the amount of "tug" was spot on. And no sauce was even necessary, although a little sauce did add to the overall enjoyment. Street parking helps with their small parking lot, but isn't the most convenient. Leave some extra time to find parking in this more residential location. Expect a line & a generally busy, bustling, vibrant atmosphere. It's not your average gravel parking lot bbq "joint". But, everyone seemed very nice & helpful, especially the floor servers. It's also not cheap. Expect to drop $20-25 per person on average. However, you get what you pay for, both in terms of quantity as well as the excellence of the flavor. And you're guaranteed not to go away hungry or disappointed!

I actually came here because the other place i chose was closed. What a hook up.! I have never had a turkey sandwich like this in my life. Point blank /stop what you're doing get the turkey sandwich.

A regular spot for good BBQ and sides in Raleigh. Their collards and baked beans are delicious. The BBQ is amongst the best in Raleigh. I know that "good" BBQ is so subjective when it comes to us southerners, but I like it!!

Wow! Sam Jones BBQ is spot on! The chopped barbecue was great, especially when you got one of the little crispier pieces that came off the grate with your bite! Try the vinegar sauce. Some of the best vinegar based sauce I have had in the state. The spare ribs had amazing flavor as well. For sides, the Mac and cheese and the baked beans did not disappoint either. The inside was extremely clean and the staff was super helpful. The only downside if any was finding a spot to park but don't worry, it will be worth it!

Smokey and juicy meat, that's the way I like it. First time trying Carolina's bbq and it was delicious. The ribs were good, but what amazed me the most was the turkey. Amazingly seasoned and not dry at all. The collard greens were sour to me. Cole slaw was light and refreshing. Oh and their corn bread is different, not your typical corn bread but definitely worth the try. I would come back and recommend to others.

The spare ribs ($16.99 per pound) is the best thing on the menu. The worst on the menu is the cornbread. It's hard and not tasty at all. But, there is the option of the sweet potato bread is moist and the better substitute. As a side, upgrade and get the loaded bake potato. It can be a small meal in itself. The baked beans would be my next best side.

Returned back to Sam Jones to try more of their sides and service. Got to try the sweet potato muffin, which I recommend more than the cornbread side. I tried the mac and cheese again, and to add some more carbs, I got a side of the french fries. Weather was rainy, so we sat inside. The interview has lots of photos of the Sam Jones story, so it makes you feel like you're apart of something awesome. I will have to come back again!

Out of the several bbq spots I tried in Cary and Raleigh, Sam Jones wins for best ribs and bountiful sides. I ordered the rib plate ($17), which came with six ribs, a huge pile of nice, salty fries, a paper boatful of collard greens, and a sweet potato muffin. It was tons of food! The ribs had a delightful light smoky flavor and were really tender and juicy (and meaty!). Truly ideal ribs. Other ribs I had afterward definitely paled in comparison. I added the sweet bbq sauce to my ribs and it was delicious. Fries were delicious but could be crispier. Regardless, I ate them all. Collard greens were also good, with plenty of pulled pork mixed in. Sweet potato muffin was soft with a hunk of sweet potato inside--good but I wasn't blown away. Service was friendly. For $17, my meal was totally worth it. Anyway, it's been a few weeks and I'm afraid to to eat ribs here in NYC because they can't live up to Sam Jones's ribs :(

I really wanted to love this place, but after visiting 4 or 5 times, the truth is: it's just okay. The space is solid, service is decent, meats are good (not great) and the sides are kind of a joke. They might try to pass the sides off as simple/traditional, but you can go to Food Lion and get better Cole slaw/mac n cheese/beans/potato salad. Portions are laughably small for the price, too. The cornbread is bland, dry, and seems like they forgot something in the recipe (though they insist it's how it's supposed to taste). As a big BBQ fan, I gave them a fair chance, but don't see any reason to go back. To the management, I'd say: lower the prices or put more love into the food, especially the sides.

Family recipes passed down from the 1800s Ayden, NC influence found in Sam Jones whole hog barbecue which is cooked low and slow over oak wood. Many would say this barbecue is the "holy grail of North Carolina barbecue" Cooked to perfection it will be some of the best you have ever eaten. Pork and chicken are delicious with a choice of sides of slaw, baked beans, and corn bread complete your meal. Other menu highlights include seasoned and smoked chicken wings, pork skins, pimento cheese, crispy fried catfish, and spare ribs are among an assortment of other delectable meats. They even serve iced tea and Cheerwine to wash it all down. I highly recommend you try this iconic recipe for the finest Eastern North Carolina style barbecue.

Came for a quick Dinner after seeing a show I had the pulled pork over salad with corn bread croutons. Really good portion pork bbq was chopped fine, other party had pulled pork Mac & cheese and baked beans. It was all tasty and delicious

Sam Jones catered our Triangle Talks event last night at the Slalom office in Raleigh. We had about 50 guests who devoured a fantastic spread of chicken, pulled pork, mac & cheese, beans, and slaw. The pork was shredded to perfection, with rich flavor and some cracklins scattered throughout. The chicken was juicy and flavorful, with a savory smoky taste. The sides were just right, balancing out the meal. Our guests were well fed and raved about the food. Thank you Sam Jones for your excellent food and service - we'll be back!

Visiting from DC, I googled around and saw everyone recommending this place for the eastern style whole hog bbq so I had to go. One quote from the internet said it ain't true Carolina bbq if it ain't cooked with wood so it was nice to see a huge pile of wood next to the back of the building when I pulled up. This was one of the best pulled pork bbq sandwiches I've ever had. I added both sauces, one vinegar and one sweet, and it was truly amazing. I will be back to try out their ribs but the pulled pork already has me hooked. The only reason I am giving 4 and not 5 stars is that I asked for potato salad as my side item and they forgot to include it.

Sam Jones is delicious Eastern style Carolina barbecue just outside of downtown Raleigh. On this day, I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with slaw and fries. The tables have sweet barbecue and vinegar based sauces to pair with my pork sandwich. My only gripe is that the prices have really gone up recently, and it wasn't cheap to begin with, but I'll definitely be back again.

I've been back twice now and had a great experience again, so I thought it's time to write about it! I would highly recommend going in the summer/fall when you get to sit outside. Get the ribs, they're very juicy, flavorful, and also tastes amazing as leftovers! (Usually they're dry, but even as leftovers they're delicious). I wasn't a fan of their cornbread, so beware, when you order their cornbread, it's their old fashion recipe on cornbread. It's not fluffy. It's flatter and tastes a little like polentas. Their other sides are great though! Baked potato, potato salad, Mac and cheese, collard greens - gotten them all! Really good! Would definitely go back for the ribs though :)

My first time visiting Raleigh and when I asked where I should eat, I was told, "You GOTTA have Sam Jones BBQ!" Wish I could endorse their takeout team, but they really let me down. The meal I ordered includes a dipping sauce, but I received no dipping sauce. I also ordered BBQ sauce with the pulled chicken sandwich, but received no BBQ sauce. Also requested utensils, but received no utensils. So we ate 2 dry dinners and ate our sides with our fingers. The food we ate was good. Bet it would've been a lot better with BBQ sauce and a fork!

Another crowd pleaser. I went for BBQ but was totally blown away by the baked potato. The BBQ was great and we tried the wings with Alabama White Sauce. They were good. The potato salad has a bit to much mustard for my taste but that's just me. My nephew had the combo plater and loved the chicken, pork and ribs. Sam JONES definitely lived up to its reputation!