Was visiting a family member in kinston and got some takeout from King's. I did really like that they have a separate part of the building just for take out and the whole takeout experience was really easy. Prices also seemed to be very reasonable. I got a plate with pork, green beans and collards. The green beans were tasty, the hush puppies were a bit dry but ok and the collards were chopped into literally a paste which I hate (though they still tasted fine). The pork was a nightmare. Bone dry and completely under seasoned. Was a slog to get through it. I would probably go back but I will never go anywhere near that pork again. read more

My wife and I get fried chicken to go at the location on Vernon ave.and it's good ,used to get it as well at the location up by the hospital.Anyway last Friday we went for lunch at the one down by Nuess sporting goods ,we have only eaten there twice and this time it was terrible. I ordered the BBQ chicken dinner with cabbage on the side. The chicken tasted bad ,sour when I tried to get the waitresses attention I was most definitely ignored.No one came over to ask about how things were going or how the food was.She had already dropped off the check when she brought the meal. Anyway I went to eat the cabbage since I wanted something out of the meal and it was all core pieces tougher than leather. When she finally came back I told her the chicken was terrible and she scribbled "bad chicken " on the check and said "maybe they'll do something" When I went up to pay the lady behind the register looked at the note and said nothing.Not once was I asked how my meal was. I am very disappointed with my overall experience at Kings and will buy my chicken elsewhere as well I guess.My wife's meal was a hamburger steak and she did say that was ok do I guess 50% will have to do,but only once read more

I came here for the Sunday buffet. It's in the banquet area, for those who aren't familiar. The buffet was ok, nothing really special. One smart thing they do is make you put on a clean plastic glove before going through the buffet line. Admittedly the BBQ was delicious, very tender and tasty. But all the fried foods were just average, and the turkey in gravy was gross. I tried the potato salad but it seemed like store bought. Also the dessert selection was below average, a few store bought frozen cream pies, and some banana pudding, and I think apple cobbler. The price was $18 which was too much for what they have. Although it looked like seniors pay around $12. The only drink choice is tea. The people eating here were somewhat odd, a lot of talk about Trump and how he should still be President, really made me uncomfortable when the waiter started in with the same talk. Guess that goes hand in hand with poor rural America. Anyway, I wouldn't go back, at least not for the buffet. read more

Kings - Sunday buffet $18 - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

We had Buffett had soup and salad and dessert plus sausage, veggies, chicken, bbq, pastries salads like potato salad all for 10.39 for adults kids under 13 I think was like 7.99.. not bad read more

Kings - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

The place isn't fancy, but the food is good southern cooking. The buffet is limited but good, it has about 10 items I had the fried Squash, very good, fried child, excellent, the cold part had beets, delicious, and coleslaw, great! There was much more, but to enjoy it I limited myself to that's which I wanted the most. The dessert was good. The service was excellent!! If you like BBQ stop in you will not be disappointed. You can also order from the menu. The buffet is about $16 a person. read more

Sent from goldbelly.com from a subscription. Have to say ribs were such a disappointment. Like they were boiled, no rub, no smoke or smoke ring. Sides were good. read more

Kings - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

Kings is a great place to eat too much at a buffet. NC barbecue is great and the fried chicken is well executed. Southern sides are good and the friendly, attentive service is top notch. Save room for some banana pudding read more

I wouldn't be a true North Carolinian if I never had a meal at the infamous King's Restaurant! Went at lunch, and you have the choice of the buffet or ordering off the menu. I went with the menu option. I ordered the Pig in a Puppy (a large version of a hush puppy as the bun for the barbeque sandwich) from the pleasant elderly server that everyone was calling "Miss Shirley". Miss Shirley knows her regular customers well - already knew what they normally ordered and was addressing them by name, I liked the uniqueness of the Pig in a Puppy, but found that the harder "bun" broke a little easier than that standard burger bun. Enjoyed the flavor of the barbeque. The other famous item I ordered was the banana pudding, which is served in a waffle cone bowl. OH MY GOODNESS. That is an awesome dessert! Enjoyed all the photos on the wall from the years that Kings has been in operation. Enjoyed the food and the experience. read more

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Wow! Could not have been more disappointed with the food. Maybe I came for lunch on a bad day, but my food was right up there with the worst cafeteria food I have ever had. The sweet tea was delicious, but that was the highlight of the meal. read more

Local BBQ. Buffet on one side, menu on the other. Was crazy busy at lunch time with lots of guys (single ladies take note - these guys had jobs) I perused the Buffet, but with a five hour drive I knew I'd be miserable. I sat at the bar on the menu side. They had libations but I opted for diet. I had a bbq plate with Cole slaw on the sandwich and fries on the side. The meat was perfect without a lot of greasy fat or gristle, but was moist. The bun was soft but not soggy. I loved the slaw. It was creamy style but not swimming in mayo. I only saw one sauce. It was eastern style but not too vinegary. I brought my husband home a pound of meat with slaw and puppies. It was $12.99. He was in heaven. The buffet was bountiful including potatoes and shrimp fried to perfection. It's worth the drive from Raleigh to check this place out. read more

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Pig. In. A. Puppy. That's really all you need to know. Picture this: a giant hush puppy, fried to golden, steamy perfection. Then split down the middle and stuffed with eastern NC style BBQ and slaw. It's the perfect marriage of some of my favorite things and it couldn't have been more delicious! We got ours to-go and the only thing I'll say is that by the time we ate it, we were unable to pick it up because it was soggy on the bottom. I'm not super picky about that because I just ate it with a fork. But, if you have your heart set on eating your Pig In A Pup like a sandwich, I'd recommend you eat it at the restaurant. It's a delicious choice and I'm not sure of anywhere else you can get it! read more

Very impressed!! Flew into town for the weekend and wanted to try some proper NC BBQ and we were not disappointed!! I'm not sure you can go wrong with what you order here. They have a board of traditional sides available for the day and almost all the meals come with slaw and complimentary sweet hushpuppies for the table. I tried the traditional bbq plate with pulled pork, Cole slaw, Brunswick stew and Mac n cheese. The pulled pork was expertly cooked and had that delicious vinegar tang to it. The rest of the table tried the signature "pig in a puppy" which was the pulled pork in a giant hush puppy. Brisket sandwich, and the ribs/fried chicken combo were also gone before I could ask how they were! To top off all the deliciousness we got their world famous banana pudding served in a waffle bowl! Definitely delicious bbq and with the stop! Christy was our server and she was so kind and made some great recommendations. read more

Kings - Banana Pudding - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

This was the worst spot to go to, I was in a hurry and when I went in it took 20 minutes just to order the drinks and the food was not good at all. Would give zero stars read more

King's Restaurant has always been popular. Mainly because of their premium pork barbecue, and other absolutely delectable food items. Their staff is courteous, kind, and very attentive. These are essentials for a successful business. read more

We were seated quickly and the place has a very rustic vibe. The food was good I had the turkey bbq and my husband had the pork bbq. Lots of side item choices and good prices. read more

First time eating here. In town for business, a client recommended Kings, so I decided to try it out while I had a few hours off of work. The food was delicious, prices were below what I expected, which is always a plus. My server Destine was VERY sweet, attentive to my needs, saw when I needed something, and had answers to all my questions. I was in a hurry to leave, and it was nice that I didn't have to wait on the check, she had it right there. The combination of the good food and Destine's great service is why I will come back soon. Thanks Destine & Kings! read more

Our family ate dinner at 5:05 pm on 090123 and the food was good, service was good. My complaint is that pets should not be allowed in any food establishment. The family sitting in the table behind us had two dogs with them and they were not service animals. The family was picking the dogs up and then going to the buffet, GROSS. Keep in mind I love dogs. Managers should have stopped this family bringing pets in before they even came into their building. read more

Used to be a fine country restaurant. Since having new ownership, it's gone way downhill. Small portions of mediocre food. After paying 18$ for lunch, I left hungry. Give it a miss. read more

Restaurant Style: NC Family Barbecue Last Visit: March 9, 2019 Ambiance: Down home buffet, well-worn with love. Especially welcoming, the staff found a place for our group of thirty without balking. This venue seats plenty so don't let the crowded parking lot scare you off. Service: This bountiful buffet begs the question, "Why would you order anything off the menu?" The pulled pork deserves pride of place, but if you like biting pork this sweet version will need a dash of hot sauce. With it and equally well-prepared came golden fried shrimp, country steak in gravy, pork ribs, and fried chicken. Sides of green beans, collards, mashed potatoes with gravy, and salad with soup evened out the buffet. Still, a slice of homemade pie--chocolate chip, lemon or chocolate meringue, pecan--could further tempt you to order off the menu. Another offering you might consider comes under the heading of family style, all you can eat platters of fried chicken, pulled pork, Brunswick stew, cole slaw, potato salad and French fries. Also, each day of the week also has its own special. For Kids: No dedicated kids menu but surely you can find something amid all the hot dogs, hush puppies, meat and banana pudding. Difference Dividend: They also offer an oyster night and meeting room. Lots of options. Expense Account: Figure about $15 each. Adult Beverages: beer and wine. read more

My family and I ordered steaks 6 of us total, for take out. We all asked for medium well. Needless to say we got them still bleeding! My 79 year old grandmother called and spoke to the owner just to let him know the steaks where still bleeding and not cooked how we had ordered. He proceeded to get disrespectful on the phone. Mind you we were not trying to get the order replaced or a refund. He proceeded to tell her we just wanted to eat off his establishment for free. KINGS WILL NOT GET ANY OF OUT MONEY EVER AGAIN!!!! I know his dad would not be pleases read more

Stopped on a whim after reading reviews.. We were surprised to see a buffet on a Monday night. (11.99) per person and more than a fair price. The fried chicken and BBQ were great! The shrimp and catfish was also good. Most of the vegetables were good but the green beans were kind of stringy. The shrimp and grits and hushpuppies were ok. I had better but have also paid way more for the food. All the desserts were very good. Taylor was a very accommodating waitress. The restaurant was clean and the staff was very friendly. Overall it was a good experience. I've had better food but for the price you can't beat it. read more

I've only had Kings twice while being stationed in NC. And it's my last meal leaving NC. I have no regrets. Friendly workers. Good food. Plenty of parking even for a moving truck... And I had no idea their sit-down/carry out was open at 10am some days! I thought I wasn't going to be able to get a pig in a pup on my way out of state and I could! Thank y'all for good food! read more

Kings - Carry out area open early! - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

The only reason I won't give this place 5 stars is because of the staff. However, the BBQ is divine. Traditional eastern NC pulled pork BBQ at its finest. They also have brisket and seafood. And of course hush puppies for the table. The fried food is nice and crisp, but not greasy. I enjoyed the BBQ and shrimp plate with perfectly seasoned collards and okra. Have not tried the buffet yet. This place is crowded at during peak hours. read more

I am so grateful to my daughter who sent us a delivery of barbecue, Cole slaw and hush puppies. Not being able to travel through eastern NC and visit Kings has been unbearable. The barbecue and Cole slaw that arrived today were first rate. What truly surprised me was that the hush puppies heated in the toaster oven were almost as good as they would have been straight from the Kitchen in Kinston. Maybe now, we can make it through this pandemic. read more

Okay, I'm going start off with the food. I dined in, ordered the boss hog. On the menu the sandwich seemed to be their signature sandwich. I could compare the quality of food to a Cook Out fast food restaurant. Decent food, decent atmosphere. All staff very polite! Would recommend to a friend. read more

Kings - Main dining area - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

Ate at the back bar - the Oyster Bar. The gentleman working the bar was pretty awesome, steaming and shucking oysters to a very friendly crowd and making sure nobody was dehydrated or hungry. I had hush puppies, rack of baby back ribs, and the coleslaw. Highly highly recommend this place. Service was excellent, restaurant was clean, staff was super friendly, food was delicious and you can't beat the price. read more

We stopped here on the way home from our vacation because Food Network had it highlighted on their app. We love family owned restaurants with homemade food and this place definitely was a winner! Everything was very reasonably priced, with a lot of food at each serving. I had the fried trout with creamed (mashed) potatoes & green beans - SOOOOO GOOD! My husband had the bar-b-q plate with slaw & fries. We left very full & satisfied. We'll be back the next time we're in town! read more

Kings - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

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The fried chicken was hot and delicious. The hush puppies were nice and hot. The potato salad had that great southern taste. The chopped barbecue was tasty, but I'm a old school Pete Jones barbecue lover( when Pete Jones was actually still alive). Missed that crunchy skin. I would definitely eat there every time I come to Kinston. read more

Ordered the slow cooked bbq pulled pork from gold belly.com.. this is a must try for bbq lovers and definitely has that Carolina flavor to their sauce. Worth it, and was eating It in upstate New York only 33 hours after later, delivery was extremely fast! Would have waited a week for this quality bbq! read more

Always a good meal. Been eating here for 35+ years. Great service and great food. You won't be disappointed unless you don't like eastern Carolina bbq in that case take 70 to 95 north and proceed home. read more

Kings - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

Our first experience was not good with a takeout order. We decided to try again but this time we ate there. We had the buffet and it did not disappoint. All the food was hot and tasty. They had pig picking style BBQ and real southern Banana Pudding which was nice and warm. Will be returning again. read more

Great NC style BBQ! Had chopped pork, collards, Coke slaw with. Hush puppies! Very good!! read more

Kings - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

King's is one of the Best Restaurants in town. I enjoy their BBQ, as well as their ribs and steaks. They have sandwiches to choose from and some amazing desserts. Recommend this place! read more

I ordered online from their Oink Express menu because I live in Pennsylvania, but I grew up in the South and I love great Eastern North Carolina BBQ. My order, with ground shipping, arrived less than 48 hours after I placed the order and I am beyond impressed with their BBQ sauce and sandwiches. Hands down the best BBQ that I have had in a decade! The meat is very flavorful and tender and the sauce has a great vinegar and spice taste that they get just right. I highly recommend this restaurant and I hope to visit them in person to complement the chef. read more

The food is just ok. I ordered a veggie plate originally. The rice was cold and I only received a small scoop. The Brunswick stew tasted very acidic and bitter. The cabbage was solid. The yams were what made me send the plate back. This time I got the turkey barbecue. I've had better in that department as well. The potato salad is pretty good. I will not return here anymore. read more

Kings - They ship their barbecue! - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

Stopped here to take home some BBQ on the way back from the Pine Knolls Aquarium. Had been here a few years ago and remembered it was one of the classic NC BBQ joints, along with Allen & Sons in Chapel Hill, which is local to me. The pulled pork did not disappoint in the least, possibly the best I ever had. The quality of the pork was good, no gristle or unnecessary fat. Also, the meat was incredibly tasty, I easily could of done without the sauce I had bought. I also got some fried chicken for my daughter and tried it. While not bad, nothing special and I actually prefer Bojangles. But you don't go to a place like Kings for anything but BBQ, and theirs is great. read more

This is a shout-out for Brandon, who facilitates the Oink Express orders and shipping nationwide. He came through for me recently trying to get some delish Kings barbecue, slaw and ribs to my far flung children, who missed it since leaving NC. I am most grateful he persevered during the huge mailing snafus cased by a massive snowstorm. Thank you Brandon and King's staff, and of course, your cooks for the best eastern BBQ anywhere!! read more

Don't let the outside or the location- or the building fool you. This place is amazing food! We stumbled on this gem and ate SO much! It was well worth it. For two adults, our bill was $30. The employees are great! The place was very clean, spacious, and delicious. read more

Lemme break it down: Fried flounder is fresh & pretty good. Their fried oysters taste old & flavorless; had better. Okra is fried in old grease & very oily. Yuck! Pork barbecue is at par with other vinegar-based barbecues in the area (e.g., McCall's, Wilbur's) but seems to have less vinegar & sugar that its counterparts (it may be a good or bad thing depending on your taste). read more

Kings - Barbeque Near Me - Kinston, North Carolina

I grew up in Eastern NC and Wilbur's was my gold standard. My mother recently ordered from the Oink Express and had it shipped to me and I hate to say it but this is probably the best eastern NC bbq I've had. Everything. There was a rib joint in Florida that I used to love that closed down several years ago. I've been chasing those "best ribs" ever since. These are equal to them. I've ordered from here before and everything arrives fresh and is easy to heat up to restaurant quality. Price is about what you'd pay to eat in a restaurant. I've never eaten here in person but I've never been disappointed when I've ordered. read more