USA Today 10Best: The Best Carolina-Style BBQ Joints in the U.S.

We’re honored to see Sam Jones BBQ named No. 4 in USA Today 10Best’s ranking of the country’s best Carolina-style barbecue. The list was nominated by barbecue experts and decided by reader votes, so this one comes straight from the folks who eat with us. Thank you to everyone who voted!

It’s a good list to be on. Seven of the top 10 spots went to North Carolina, and most of those are Eastern-style whole hog joints, chopped and dressed with vinegar sauce. That’s the way it’s been done in this part of the state for generations. It means a lot to see the Jones family’s Skylight Inn in Ayden on there, too, at No. 6 – along with a lot of our neighbors and friends.

Our job stays the same: cook whole hogs over wood coals, take our time, and put a good plate in front of whoever walks in, whether that’s in Winterville or Raleigh.

The News & Observer (November 3, 2026) - “Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville and Raleigh is number 4.”

Read More at NewsObserver.com >