My wife and I made the trek to do a day trip to watch all the beautiful colors this time of year one sees throughout the blue ridge mountains . To the important part , Howard Station is a must stop whether you are a local or from out of town . As soon as you enter you will be warmly greeted and given seating options . We chose to sit at the bar and were given excellent service . From how quickly we were given our drinks to the turn around on ordering and receiving our food , it was exceptional !!! I chose to try the maple bacon wings . Guys , I could eat a bucket of these !! They come out golden brown , lightly crisped on the outside and super tender smoked chicken meat on the inside . The dry rub - maple complement each other immensely well, you get salty , you get sweet, you get maple syrup smells , it's an A+ experience in addition to the warm safe ambiance . Treat yourself to Howard Station, it's a must try! read more

The meat was incredibly dry & tough on both the shredded chicken and pork sandwiches. The sauces were not impressive - not thick enough (thin liquid) and without a lot of flavor. The sides were also unremarkable - the fried okra was a little burned and soggy and the coleslaw was not crispy. The menu had limited choices. It's too bad that this NC town has only one good BBQ restaurant read more

I wish they were open while I was in school there because it is the best little dive bar. Our bartender Bailey was super sweet and friendly which made our night even more enjoyable. We did not have the food there but they had a good looking menu. They have great beers on tap from los province (local brewery). This place also has the best daily specials in Boone. Check the website and look what it is because you may get some really great deals on food and drinks. read more

Howard Station - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

We went on a Sunday late lunch early dinner and it was completely dead so we got seated right away. We were worried with how slow it was that it would be bad food or service but we were wrong. We all really enjoyed our food and the inside is super cute. They have rooftop seating as an option but not much coverage from the sun and its bar style seats as a heads up. From the looks of the website it seems like they have some fun events and nightlife like live music. Really affordable too! Definitely stop by and check them out. read more

Howard Station - Talk of the Town Tacos (potato, add queso, bacon, jalapeno, sour cream) with Fried Pepper Jack Cheese Curds - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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Went here last night, Taco Tuesday. I had a Mango Wheat beer that was absolutely delicious to go along with my BBQ plate, with slaw and okra. The wife had two tacos. What a great place to get real BBQ. Service was great! Yelpers have this place spot on. read more

Howard Station - BBQ pork, okra & slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Sat on the roof to enjoy a nice breeze. Our order was taken quickly. . The server was extremely polite and helpful. The food came out hot in nice size portions. All had good flavor but our favorites were the mac & cheese and pork. Tried 3 sauces (chipotle, traditional vinegar & original) we liked the original. read more

Howard Station - Pork, okra & slaw and smoked chicken, corn & mac - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

When I think Boone, NC--I think of Howard Station. I first tried it in 2023, but since--every time I come to Boone, I have to have either the brisket or pulled pork. Don't let that deter you from the wings, they're also amazing! Everything is full of smoke flavor. You can even smell it a street away most times. This place is great. read more

I love this place! One of my favorite spots in Boone. Bonus points because of the roof top. Their weekly specials are amazing and the bbq is really good. I like the blueberry sauce! read more

Howard Station - Bbq and Mac and cheese - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Absolutely the BEST food ever!!! Cheese curds, cheese tots and hush puppies. . The ribs are to die for!! Homemade sauces too!! 10 out of 10!!! read more

Howard Station - Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

As a local this is my third time and well your out! Ribs were really bad and what we got and what other ribs came out to out table on the left was totally different! We got ripped off and bought a full rack. Seriously WTF! Pitmaster your rub sucks also nasty tasting. I suggesting other avoid this spot! read more

Ate on the rooftop - nothing special about this area. It's very casual with bar type/stool seating. Has room for about 12 seated. Our food was good! Brisket was plentiful and so tender, Mac n cheese Smokey and cheesy. Hubby said the maple bacon wings were the best he's ever had and he's had a lot! I didn't get a chance to take photos of the food because we devoured it! Knocked one star off for the uncomfortable seating. Daniel was our server and he was awesome read more

Howard Station - Rooftop area - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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The smoked Mac and cheese and the worst food i have ever eaten. It smells and tastes like gasoline

We went here, after finding it on Yelp, for our huge family vacation we do every year. And hands down, everyone loved it! Us adults, all of our kiddos, and even our grands were tearing down! Everyone pretty much ordered something different and everyone raved about how good the food was. The service was also amazing, especially with it being our servers first big party. We didn't wait long for anything, whether it be our drinks, our food, or our dranks! She also had a great personality and was so good with the younger kids. My husband and I have a thing where we order apps at places we've never been so we can share and taste more, so we ordered one of everything plus a side of the smoked mac n cheese. Everyone else got a little bit of everything else they offered. Every item we tasted was perfection! We loved it all. We all kind of let everyone taste whatever, and we left there full and happy. The adults partook and the bar kept them flowing. Some of their signature drinks were really good! If you're in the area try them out definitely! read more

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The smoked Mac & cheese lacked salt, and the pasta was already cooked too soft before they smoked it. Could serve that at an old people's home if they have no teeth. And, where was the CHEESE? Tots needed salt. No damn salt? On something out of the fryer, really? The bbq pork sandwich lacked meat to fill it. $15? Seriously? The worst. read more

I showed up at 8:40 tonight. The sign on the door and online both say you're open until 10. Lame! I'll remember that the next time I'm taking a chance on somewhere to eat in Boone. read more

Excellent BBQ, best I have had in recent memory: ribs were fall off the bone tender and great even unsalted, brisket was tender and moist. Wings were some of the best I have ever had. Smoky, fried to perfect crisp. Plain itself was excellent but big surprise was the dry-rub maple bacon which was absolutely delicious. Kids loved the smoked Mac and cheese. Try the spicy BBQ sauce: unexpected applesauce twist was surprisingly delicious. One of the best meals we've had out in a long time. read more

This is the third year in a row of us dining here, and boy, both the food quality and service have gone downhill!! We ordered the hush puppies for an app, as usual, but only ate a few due to them tasting off. The other two with me ordered the Talk of The Town Tacos and weren't impressed with the flavor. I went with the rib platter and the meat was very tough and gristly; the plastic fork seriously could not pull the meat away from the bone and I had to try gnawing it off with my teeth instead. Our waitress didn't even bring our food and after trying the dry & bland ribs I figured only BBQ sauce could make them somewhat palatable so I sat and waited for her to return so I could request some. We watched her chatting behind the bar with patrons for so long that the other two in my party were done eating and my husband finally waved at her to get her attention and ask for BBQ sauce and drink refills. :/ The only thing any of us thought was tasty was the smoked mac & cheese. Not sure if this was just one very bad day for the chef and servers there, or if this is the "new normal" at Howard Station. It was a definite bummer, though, as we'd been looking forward to dining there for so long. read more

Every time we come in it is consistently good! And wonderful service!! My favorite place in Boone read more

Howard Station - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Probably the best BBQ in Boone. Feels very authentic and the service I've had is on point. I'd recommend the ribs or the wings.

Food/drinks were delish & our waiter & bartender were amazing! The ambiance of the place is very laid back with a smidge of razzle dazzle to it. Yummy margaritas! It's a street over from the main strip, so it's kinda like a hidden gem but we'll worth it. read more

Howard Station - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

A terrific local business we're happy to endorse. We visited here only once, for lunch last week, but had a very fine experience with the restaurant's signature salad (consisting of lots of lettuce, pork, jalapeños, onions, cheese, bacon, Queso, ranch dressing). Very yummy and very filling. We ate outside though there's a nice inside dining area and a rooftop, too. We spoke with the owner, Chelsea Jackson, and told her how much we enjoyed the food and service (Joe was an excellent, attentive server, with a sense of humor to boot) and how fortunate we thought Boone is to have this establishment around. Not much else to say; we'll be back the next time we're visiting this area. In the meantime if you can get there ahead of us, we think you'll enjoy it. read more

Howard Station - Sweet dining at Howard Station - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Easily the best grub I had in the region during our brief but super fun High Country NC trip. Staff was incredibly friendly with great hiking recommendations. The BBQ sauces were delish. The Mac and cheese was so out of this world, I regretted only getting enough for the kids. The cheese curds, the tacos, the coleslaw - all of it hit the spot. It was a little early to imbibe, but the beer selection on draft was pretty amazing too. A-plus on masking up too! Side note: my spouse really wanted brisket which I didn't see on the menu. I am pretty sure though that is not a Carolina thing generally so I fault them not. read more

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This restaurant beats all others, hospitality, food and a night of drinks on the rooftop was amazing!! If you've never been please make a day of it in Boone, NC and visit this cozy place read more

Absolutely love this place!! I went on a Thursday and they had $.75 wings! I got the maple bacon and regular. The maple bacon was absolutely amazing I wish I got them all that flavor. I also got the spicy Cole slaw and loved it!!! read more

Howard Station - Maple bacon and regular wings with coleslaw - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Since I am vegetarian I obviously can't speak for the meat here. But their mac and cheese, veggie burger, and potato tacos are quite yummy! I like to take the lady here for drinks mostly and they are also yummy but I would recommend going when they have $4 drink specials! read more

Howard Station - bar - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

This restaurant was located closed to ASU, and we try it for their yelp rank number one in this town, overall impressed was their tacos and chicken wings, we also had their ribs quiet tender, and offering different kind of barbecue sauce. Also they had cheese popper that was delicious. Service was very attentive, they promptly serve you drinks. Hostess also very nice greeting and seat you quickly. Ambiance has College vibe, cabin feel wood structure. We will be back to eat again read more

Delicious! I had the special mustard glazed ribs with fried green beans and cheese curds and my wife had the pulled chicken tacos. We were very impressed. I used to wait tables so I'm critical of waiters and our waiter was outstanding. Promptly brought us waters without asking and took our drink order. His timing was perfect with everything and our food came out promptly. Wasn't pushy or overbearing and very personable. We'll be back! read more

Howard Station - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Cool brick building with a rooftop patio. Staff was very friendly. Food was good. Would've rated a 5 star except for their kitchen seemed to be slow across the board. read more

Excellent options & ways to order their delicious BBQ, adults & our grands enjoyed everything except corn. Attentive service too!

We visited Boone for our anniversary and athe here one evening. It's a great BBQ joint. We sat on the open roof on a cool, breezy night. It was a great view. We started with pepper jack fried cheese curds. They were really good. My wife got the pork tacos and loved them. I got the pork sandwich with mac and cheese and tater tots. The sandwich was great with a buttered, toasted brioche bun. The mac and cheese was some of the best I've had. We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Great food. Service is wonderful. Love the friendly staff. Always visit when we are in Boone

Total rip-off! Tiny portions. Ordered brisket and got maybe 2oz for $15. All from one side of the brisket (the dry side? Never going back. read more

Howard Station - 2oz for $15. What a ripoff - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Excellent find just off King St (321) and Depot St. Beer on tap (about 10, mainly local craft + Blue Moon) and daily drink specials. The food was outstanding - Excellent BBQ! My wife is a bit of a Texas native brisket snob and she found this brisket perfectly cooked, requiring no sauce (although our waiter brought a selection). She had it with a side salad (mixed greens, red onions, diced tomatoes, croutons & cheese - very good) and fried green beans, which were slightly more than "light" breaded but were so delicious I stole at least half of them. I had the pulled pork with the traditional vinegar sauce, a side salad, and the fried pepper jack cheese curds, which were warm and spicy (pro tip - dip them in a little ranch sauce). Jack, our server, was friendly and engaging, and the owner came by to meet and chat with us. We ended with a slice of chocolate pie and whipped cream. The other, more well-known places nearby had a 45+ min wait but we were seated right away here. (Parking in the area can be tricky , but you can park in the ECRS lot across the street after 5pm.) read more

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Howard Station was an oasis from heavy snow in downtown Boone. We were able to grab a table for lunch. Quick service and hearty meals. We enjoyed the brisket, egg & cheese sandwich, pulled chicken Mac n cheese & pulled pork. Staff was friendly and curious. read more

Howard Station - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

It's a hole in the wall so you know it's going to be good! The brisket egg and cheese sandwich is a complete game changer!

Their sliders, cheese curds, and veggie burgers are amazing. Pay attention to their daily specials, they have great prices. The staff are very kind, and they even have rooftop seating if you're lucky enough to get there at the right time. read more

Do not eat here! Have ordered 2x and both times I have gotten food poisoning. Mediocre food for high prices.

The service was great and the beer is better than other places in town. The food was terrible, by smoked Mac and cheese it tasted like it was smoked with exhaust instead of wood. No one at my table could stomach the mac and cheese. The BBQ sliders are nothing more than fat and Gristle and no matter the BBQ sauce it isn't palatable. read more

Super cute place! They have a nice rooftop area where you can sit. Service was quick and food was great! Would recommend! read more

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My new favorite taco shop! And really, it's a combination of taco and barbecue that works very well. It was so good that after going to Howard Station in early August, I made another trip to North Carolina just to go back and get more tacos. Yup, it's that good. Okay, so maybe that wasn't the *only* reason I drove 6+ hours back to Boone. But it definitely didn't hurt, and by the third time I went, the staff was starting to recognize me. New goal when discovering a favorite out-of-state place: go there often enough they consider you a regular. But back to the tacos. It's straightforward enough. Choose chicken, pork, or potatoes. I'm a carnivore, but my sister reports the potatoes work quite well, too. Choose any of four barbecue sauces - my favorite is the Alabama white, but I've tried all other than the vinegar (personal preference not to go vinegar), and they're all good. And say yes to the toppings. It's amazing. Traditional Mexican tacos? No. But this is America, so you can make this sort of delicious food. My previous favorite taco place wasn't traditional, either. The sides are excellent, too. The first two times I had the hush puppies, but the model railroad engineer I sat next to at the bar said I had to try the fried green beans and the smoked mac and cheese. So naturally I went back on my way out of town, and followed his recommendation. And he was not wrong! The fried green beans were incredible. I would be in favor of all French fries being replaced by Howard Station style fried green beans, they're so good. They're just as devourable if not more so, and have a satisfying crunch that French fries simply lack. The bartender recommended one of the sauces for dipping them, but alas, I only had one and a half to go by the time he made that recommendation. Next time. The smoked mac and cheese was good, but not so life-changing. So far, I prefer the smoked mac and cheese that I've found in Williamsport, PA. The cobbler for dessert is also pretty darn good. My sister and I came back the same evening that we'd had tacos in the afternoon for cobbler. Very tasty, and the fruit options vary. And now that I write that, I realize I've actually been to this taco place in a state that doesn't even border a state that borders mine not three times, but four, since I discovered it just over two months ago. The friendly service also deserves a mention. The staff are always upbeat, were always accurate when I was there, and perhaps most of all seem to have real camaraderie. Most of them attend (or perhaps recently attended) App State, which perhaps contributes to this. The best example is that once when I was there, one of the employees was there as a customer at the bar, studying for one of her classes while having a drink or two, and talking with employee-friends who had free time. Few people go to their workplace to hang out, but when they do, it's usually because they actually enjoy working there. At some point, she mentioned that some other place was looking for more workers, and a colleague said that if he needed more hours, he'd just ask for more hours at Howard Station. They must be doing something right for their workers to have that sort of team atmosphere. In summary, go here. Get tacos and fried green beans. And become a repeat customer. read more