THE ORIGINAL Q SHACK

Anytime I'm visiting from out-of-town I go here multiple times. The sliced Beef Brisket sandwich is absolutely excellent and comes with one side and the best hush puppies I've ever had in my life. Get it with the fries and a Sunkist, you can't go wrong. Cool environment, very reasonable prices for what you get, and again, the food is excellent. The only downside is the parking (it's not their fault - so still 5 stars).

To set the stage, I felt like North Carolina bbq, but I'm a newbie. I don't even know what a hush puppy is. I decided on this place due to the existing ratings. I picked the 3 meat combo so I could try the options. Ribs. Brisket. Chicken. Sides were creamed spinach and spicy pinto beans. I opted for the leg for the chicken. They cut the meat right in front of you, and brush with some sauce before playing on the tray. I loved the ribs. The brisket was tender and very good with some sauce. The chicken skin was good but I felt the meat itself was a texture I didn't like. I ate the skin. I really liked the creamed spinach, and the beans weren't spicy at first - a slight kick in the back end. And those hush puppies? I really really liked them. I don't normally go for sweetish things but... oh man. I had to get a takeout box.

The meats are smoked to perfection and the okra is delicious. The mac and cheese terrible just box Kraft and the spicy pintos tasted like it was the starter for Brunswick stew not at fan at all. The meats are 10/10 sides leave something to be desired and that's my take. I will return for the meats but not for that box mac or spicy pintos. They need work for sure. I had ribs, brisket and pulled pork

GREAT FOOD AWESOME SMOKED Q. Sean had the 2 meet combo and could not finish his melt in your mouth smoke brisket and pork ribs. Loved his sides of jack cheese creamed spinach and his collard greens. I had the 2 meat combo pork ribs that were falling off the bone awesome tasty and probably I could use enough adjectives to fully describe their extreme flavors. My second meat was smoked turkey and I had so much I could not eat all that 4 thick slices of moistness. I loved the hush puppy fingers that so good I could eat a bag full by themselves. My sides were that yummy jack cheese creamed spinach and deep fried okra. Both of had 1/2 iced teas. Service was excellent. Wish I lived closer to visit more often. I would recommend to anyone looking for a BBQ place for properly smoked tasty meats.

Overall Score: 6.9/10 – A busy BBQ spot with great value, smooth service, and a unique, casual atmosphere. The menu features some standout items and offers fair pricing across the board, making it a worthwhile stop for BBQ lovers. Atmosphere and Service: 6.7/10 – The place gets packed quickly, which makes parking tight, but the line moved smoothly. It’s a seat-yourself style setup with a laid-back BBQ vibe. Staff seemed friendly, and while the place was a little dirty in areas, it wasn’t too bad. Food came out on time, and the variety on the menu—including unexpected items like meatloaf—added character. Brisket Baked Potato: 7.1/10 – A strong dish with great value. The potato was large and generously topped with sour cream and tender brisket. Very filling and flavorful. Chicken: 6.4/10 – Served as a bone-in breast, this was a juicy and flavorful cut, cooked well. Mac n Cheese: 5.7/10 – A fair-priced and decent side. Nothing fancy, just a solid standard mac. Ribs: 7.6/10 – One of the highlights. Extremely tender with a bold, flavorful seasoning. The meat fell right off the bone and delivered on all expectations.

I think I like the sides and the chili better than the main course. I think the barbecue could’ve had more flavor. I had the brisket. I tried my friends pork, and I thought I had a lot more flavor. They were out of quite a bit of items by the time we got there, no chicken The barbecue sauce really works just OK.

I have mixed feelings about this place. Great location and the food easy okay. I got the brisket but I feel like Lawrence BBQ has the best brisket in town - but now they moved to Cary so maybe Q Shack is the best. If you are looking for local Texas bbq than this will be fine.

The four of us got a variety - from deviled eggs to chili to a side salad. All delicious - all I would get again. Seating wasn’t hard to find nor was the wait long for any of our food.