North Carolina family-owned barbeque joint Haywood Smokehouse has been recognized in Yelp’s Top 10 BBQ Spots in 2024 list, ranking 7th in the U.S. and 11th in the Top 100 US Restaurants. Haywood Smokehouse is the top-ranked barbecue restaurant in North Carolina.
The three locations of Haywood Smokehouse, including the spots in Waynesville and Dillsboro, received specific mentions on the best BBQ and best restaurant lists. Co-founded by Joe Beasley and his wife Brenda in 2013, Haywood Smokehouse has gained national attention for its barbecue offerings.
Haywood Smokehouse’s diverse barbecue styles, such as the classic N.C. vinegar-based sauce and St. Louis-style sweet-red sauce, earned it special recognition. The distinctive flavors and ingredients in North Carolina’s vinegar-based barbecue sauce set it apart from more common tomato-based sauces.
Types of BBQ Styles
- Texas-style BBQ
- Kansas City-style BBQ
- Memphis-style BBQ
- North Carolina-style BBQ
- St. Louis-style BBQ
Besides Haywood Smokehouse, other BBQ spots like Wright’s Barbecue, CorkScrew BBQ, Eric’s Family Barbecue, and Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que also made it to Yelp’s Top 10 BBQ Spots in 2024.
Additionally, several other North Carolina BBQ joints, including Midwood Smokehouse, Prime Barbecue, and The Smoke Pit, were recognized in Yelp’s Top 100 list. In the overall top restaurants ranking, Haywood Smokehouse in Dillsboro secured the 11th spot, followed by Odeh’s Mediterranean Kitchen, Freeman’s Grub & Pub, and The Table.
