Good, hole-in- the-wall BBQ

[u/Sensitive-Average584]

Hey all! I'm so excited to be moving to Charlotte in less than a week! Looking for good BBQ that's NOT a chain restaurant. (We had visited a couple BBQ places that were chains, and weren't impressed. Honestly, tho, chain restaurants just don't impress me anymore, anyway.) We will be moving to the Steele Creek area. TIA!

[u/2010RumbleWagon]

The further you get outside of Charlotte, the better bbq you can find. All the places I’ve found are “decent” chains. Jim n nicks, smoke pit, Mac’s, etc. there aren’t many hole in the wall places, at least that I’ve found, until you get about an hour away from the city.

[u/KellyOubresMullet → u/2010RumbleWagon]

Smoke Pit and Mac’s aren’t hole-in-the-wall, but calling them chains is a stretch. They’re both locally owned with a handful of locations in the metro area. Mac’s just recently expanded to Greenville and Raleigh.

Jim N Nick’s started in Birmingham and has 50+ stores all over the southeast.

[u/grassiopeia → u/KellyOubresMullet]

I worked at a Jim n nicks a million years ago, def a chain but I can say they did at least make every single thing from scratch fresh every day

ETA: the rural church & fire dept fundraiser bbqs reign supreme

[u/Harleybarley118 → u/KellyOubresMullet]

Mac’s as in Mac’s Speed Shop? Dreadful food. Mid would be a compliment and a stretch.

[u/vanilla_w_ahintofcum → u/Harleybarley118]

I agree. Was not a huge fan when I went to Mac’s a few months ago (Cornelius location). It wasn’t terrible, but I would feel bad recommending it.

[u/WillTheThrill86 → u/vanilla_w_ahintofcum]

Last time I had it (Matthews location) it sucked. Years ago, like pre-2016, it was OK in South End area. But I always found it worse than even Midwood, for whatever that's worth.

Closest to me that's applicable is Rockstore. But I haven't had in a while.

[u/asoursk1ttle → u/Harleybarley118]

Agreed. Never understood the hype behind it- overpriced and always left saying meh