We visit Johnny Ray's at least once a week. The food is always great and so is the staff. Natalie is a always a great server !

How can you possibly find better value in America? You can't. A burger the size of my wife's head, with hand cut fries that is a meal in itself for $13?! The place makes me feel at home, service is attentive but not over the top. I love the decorations and that the owners are local and focus on quality, big portions and a hometown feel. read more

Johnny Ray's Smokehouse - Benches outside if you have a wait, with a hot babe to keep you company. - Barbeque Near Me - Lawndale, North Carolina

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We always get there late but the service was great! The building is beautiful. It's really nice and cozy on the inside just like old-fashioned grandpa and grandma's house. The barbecue is out of this world. The server was so funny. It was late in the afternoon and we asked for something on the menu she was out of and the girl said that's number 86. She said I don't know why they don't make 87 of them. read more

Great food and great service! I saw a post about this place so had to come try it. The atmosphere is very cool. Feels like being at your Grandmas house for Sunday Supper. I got the Patty Melt with Mac n cheese and it was delicious! My hubby got the pulled pork sandwich with the white slaw on the side and fries. He said it was divine! We also got the hush puppies as an appetizer and ate them with our meal. The hush puppies come with their own tartar sauce that they make and it is so good! We loved this place and will definitely make it our "date place" and try everything on the menu. read more

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After being asked how many, we were forced to wait for FIVE customers leaving to pay. Finally seated, we ordered. Three times our waitress passed our table. I had to go to the food bar to get a refill on my beer. 20 minutes after our food was brought to the table, I again had to go to the food bar and ask for my Grand-Daughter's plate. The fries I ordered with my (delicious) wings were never provided. Great food, terrible service. It is a shame we will not return for what is really great food. read more

I have been a couple of time and it's always delicious. I've been for wing night and brisket nights, both outstanding. The only thing this last visit I ordered country fried steak and it hadn't come in yet. Only reason I went was for that got the chicken fried chicken it was good but not what I was craving but it now just gives me a reason to go. I live in Davidson but my family lives 5 minutes away in cherryville. Great place read more

Great food and great service. When I am in the Cherryville area, it is my favorite spot to eat with my dad.

I drove over 30 minutes so my wife and I could could eat there. We were repeat customers, the place was not busy so I was like cool we should get right in and eat. I was wrong we waited at the front for over 15 minutes while Atleast 4 people who work there never seated us with one walk by and not even acknowledging us. This was a good place with a good atmosphere to come enjoy good food, but BBQ isn't worth that bad of service, and this the first negative review I have ever given a business. I would give less than 1 star if I could. read more

Eddie Z here again.had 2 burgers that were both way overcooked. Shared some chic wings that were as well way overcooked.best part of lunch was my salad. read more

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Service is always on point with friendly staff, they keep the drinks fresh and excellent service consistently! Food is always great and as you've ordered it! Love sitting with friends and dining here! read more

My wife and I tried Johnny Ray's Smokehouse based a recommendation from my uncle. We were glad we took the time to drive almost an hour to get there. The food, service and atmosphere were great. We had the hush puppy appetizer. They were great with their special tartar sauce. We had the brisket sandwich with white slaw on the side and home chips. We also had pulled pork sandwich with red slaw on the side and fries. The meals were great. Both styles of slaw were great. The atmosphere was also great with the feeling of being in an old house. Highly recommend this place. read more

Johnny Ray's Smokehouse - The hush puppies with tartar sauce were great. I forgot to take the picture until we were almost done with them. - Barbeque Near Me - Lawndale, North Carolina

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Authentic Texas barbecue and superlative Texan Shiner Bock beer was a heck of a great surprise to find after visiting Foothills Shooting Complex! Got the sampler as it was my first time. All great. Will return to try ribs! Awesome! read more

Johnny Ray's Smokehouse is a country smorgasbord of meats and sides. It's a culinary delight in comfortable farmhouse-feeling digs in Fallston. Everything we've eaten is fresh and filling, and the people are always nice. The food comes out quick too! read more

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I had the bacon mushroom Swiss burger. Cooked perfectly. Fried house chips are always good. Staff is phenomenal , even when they are busy. For the amount of food you get, the prices are very reasonable. If you leave hungry, it's your own fault!! read more

The food was wonderful and our waitress Nicole was awesome, she was very attentive. The atmosphere was good!

Great bbq and chicken sandwiches. Had a mishap with a missing item in our carryout order once & didn't discover til we got home 40 minutes away. Johnny Ray said they would make it right on our next visit & his manager did. We will definitely be back for more bbq. read more

Johnny Ray's Smokehouse - Menu June 18, 2023 - Barbeque Near Me - Lawndale, North Carolina

Wings were great. Brisket was the very dry. Maybe one good piece on plate the rest uneatable. Don't know if I'll make the 40min trip again for that quality food read more

I was really looking forward to try Johnny Ray's and had heard good things about it. But sad to say I was not impressed. I love barbecue, especially brisket. I got the chopped brisket plate with hush puppies, white slaw, and a side salad. The brisket had no flavor, no evidence of seasoning/a good bark on it. There was nothing noteworthy of the bbq sauce that came with it. It tasted like Sweet Baby Ray's and not a signature homemade sauce. The hush puppies tasted stale and were bland. I didn't taste the slaw so I can't comment on that. My side salad was probably the best thing I had. On a positive note, our waiter was friendly and very attentive throughout our lunch. read more

Our dinner started off great. It was a little confusion over who our waitress would be and turn. Ed, we had 2 different waitressesthe food came out wrong and missing itemshowever what did arrive was good at the end of the night when we cashed out. Due to the confusion of having 2 wakes's. We were charged for items that we did not order. Making our bill over sixty five dollars for 3 meals and an appetizer In additional items that we did not order or receive. I will say that our waitresses that we did have we're pretty good. In management did rectify the situation. All that being said, we might go back and give them a second shot. read more

The cowboy quesadillas are amazing!!! They definitely do not skimp on the meat and the sauce adds the best Smokey tangy sweetness!

Fresh, tasty farm to table food. The chopped brisket sandwich was tasty and the portion size was great. I loved the strawberry cake too. Get there early to get a table and parking. Exceptionally friendly service. read more

Johnny Ray's Smokehouse - Chopped brisket sandwich, Cole slaw and fried potatoe chips - Barbeque Near Me - Lawndale, North Carolina

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I love the feel of this old farmhouse setting. My husband enjoys the comfort of it. It is soft wood and smiling faces, very friendly. I have eaten several of their dishes and have to say I like what I've had. Except maybe the French fries, not crazy about those. I like dark beers and there is always a good choice. We eat here twice a month. read more

Love the food and service! This is now a family favorite restaurant for BBQ ribs and smoked wings!

Well, for our first visit... they knocked it out of the park. The cheese curds were delicious. Sweet tea awesome! The pulled pork and brisket were the bombdiggity. The service was good and the atmosphere was pleasant. However, the wait was a bit much, no lie, it was long. And, the "waiting room" the old sofas kinda stink. But, other than that it was an enjoyable lunch. Definitely recommend but go early. read more

We love eating at Johnny Ray's Smokehouse! We drive more than an hour to get here last night. We had the ribs and they were the best we have ever had. The cheese curds are a delicious appetizer and a must have when you visit! The atmosphere is great and the staff did a phenomenal job taking care of us. I highly recommend Johnny Ray's Smokehouse as they bring delicious smoked food to your table to exceed your southern cuisine expectations! read more

Johnny Ray's Smokehouse - Slow smoked wet ribs, homemade chips, double breaded onion rings, with a side of hush puppies. - Barbeque Near Me - Lawndale, North Carolina

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I came all the way from S.C. to eat here because my sister said they had the best BBQ around. I ordered a large pulled Pork plate with ff and slaw. The BBQ was dry but had a good flavor, the slaw was the best I've ever had. The only problem I really had was the service was Terrible, the wait staff were the most unfriendly people, nobody smiled or even said thank you. I won't be back! read more

Great food, service and ambiance. Our first visit, we were welcomed as old friends. Food was fresh, hot and delicious. Service was great.

EVERY. SINGLE. THING. on the menu is absolutely incredible! We have never been disappointed. Wings, Ribs, salads, soups, appetizers, it's all wonderful! If you've never been here, you're missing out! read more

The decoration was classy.Service was a bit slow but everyone was nice.But their chicken tenders are the best I've had in a very long time,when I say best,I've been to over 50+ restaurants with chicken but these are the best.The chips are homemade and the fries are wonderful.Although I'm not from around Shelby area,I would drive the 45minutes-1hr to eat here again,the price per person is about $15 but that depends on appetizers. read more

Great food and love the farmhouse atmosphere! We went on Sunday and I got the chicken and dumplings that they only have on Sundays. It was delicious and tasted just like my great grandmother used to make! My husband got tHe some pig bbq sandwich, fries, slaw and Mac and cheese! They were delicious too! Highly recommend eating here! read more

Friday night is the night to go to this place. Great ribs delicious cheese curds. They also have yummy desserts. We had two pieces of cheesecake. Service was wonderful! read more

Food is awesome - good service - great location in Fallston, NC, ambiance is a historical house in Fallston, nc

It was better when it was The Honey Hog. I know it's the same owner but something has definitely changed (and not for the better). Food is just "okay" and very over priced. read more

Very nice people good food and service. They deliver to us working behind there place. Great people

the good: -service - resataurant "vibe" - fresh cut fries - hush puppies - bbq sauce the not so good: - dry dry dry brisket - both types of slaw read more

The best ribs on Friday night that I have ever had! Highly recommend this place! I love the atmosphere and music