Another stop on my Raleigh barbecue tour, Sam Jones BBQ was well worth the visit. I stopped in solo and grabbed a seat at the counter, starting with a Bulleit Bourbon before settling in for dinner. I ordered the Jones Family Original BBQ Tray, which comes with slaw, their slow-smoked whole-hog pork, Skylight Inn-style cornbread, and mac and cheese. The pork was the star of the show. Smoky, tender, and full of flavor, with those delicious crispy edges you expect from properly cooked whole-hog barbecue. You can really taste the Carolina oak and hickory smoke, and the vinegar-forward Eastern North Carolina style gives the pork a nice tang without overpowering it. The cornbread was excellent and the mac and cheese was a comforting side that paired nicely with the pork. I also appreciated being able to sit at the counter and watch the place in action--it has a relaxed, unfussy barbecue-joint atmosphere that fits the food perfectly. And I enjoyed my conversation with the bartender. Sam Jones has definitely earned its reputation for Eastern North Carolina whole-hog barbecue. Another strong stop on my Raleigh barbecue tour, and one I'd happily return to. read more

No hush puppies!!!!! That's all I wanted, and they didn't have them. My NC relatives couldn't believe it. The pulled pork was good, and the sauces were what I was expecting. Others in our party enjoyed their briscuit, ribs and smoked turkey. They have "corn bread" which was pretty awful. It was more like a Mexican sope or maybe something the explorers kept in their satchels to nibble on. The fries were real potatoes, but not hot. The slaw was good. Our server was very nice and accommodating. We ordered at the counter, then had a number and got a table. The food came out super fast!! They have sodas, sweet tea and beer & wine. Different size tables, some booths and all had sauces on them. Also rolls of paper towels, which I thought was smart. Lots of outdoor seating too, although it was sprinkling when we went so everyone was inside. As soon as done who spent 4 years in NC a few decades ago, I was really hoping for an authentic NC BBQ lunch and unfortunately this wasn't it. Will hopefully try another place tomorrow! read more

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This was recommended by a friend who is a local and who's reccs I usually agree with. I've lived in Memphis and Houston, and think I've been spoiled by both places. Had the chopped pork and it was dry and flavorless. Had the vinegar sauce and that helped a smidge but overall it was really disappointing. Tried the potato salad and it was fine. Not bad, not remarkable. Also tried the cornbread and ...I have not had an unleavened corn bread before. I could appreciate it for what it is but wouldn't have again. Even without it being touted as "the place to go" I would be disappointed. Given its accolades, I'm totally confused. read more

Stopped by Sam Jones BBQ as I've been on the search for good east Carolina bbq and this restaurant did not disappoint. When you arrive there is parking available on the street or in the parking garage across the street. Walking into Sam Jones BBQ it felt lively, casual, and family friendly. There was a bit of a line but it is definitely worth the wait. To order hop in line and order at the counter. Once you order you'll be given a number and then you'll be able to choose between sitting inside or outside. We ordered the three meat combo with the chopped bbq (this is whole hog bbq), the slow-cooked chicken, and the brisket with cornbread. For the sides we ordered fries and Mac & cheese. The slow cooked chicken was amazing and by far our favorite as it was packed with flavor and was so perfectly smoky. The brisket was our second favorite as the bark was well seasoned and it fell apart. The chopped bbq was good just needed some sauce but had a great smoky flavor. For the sides, definitely ask for the ranch and honey mustard on the side. They make these sauces in house and were excellent. The cornbread was interesting, kind of like a hybrid between a hush puppy and a piece of bread. Definitely worth trying if you haven't had the cornbread Carolina style. If you are in the Downtown Raleigh area this is a must stop. I can see why this restaurant was added to the Michelin guide. read more

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Sam jones BBQ was yum!! We've tried a ton of local spots and would definitely recommend this one. I got their salad and the cornbread croutons and homemade bleu cheese dressing were really good. The meat was really tender. My husband got a sandwich with mac and cheese. Overall great spot and the outside was very kid friendly. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Big BBQ Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Sam Jones BBQ was a great stop, and all four of us really enjoyed it. I went with my partner and two friends, and everyone liked the place. We sat down in the dining room after finding menus. After deciding what we wanted, we got in line to place our order. The line moved somewhat slowly but after ordering, it did not take long for the food to come out. I had the Sam Jones Sandwich with potato salad and added a side of mac and cheese. My partner ordered the ribs with collard greens and fries. Everything we ordered was very good, and everyone at the table was happy with their meal. There were a couple of minor service details that could have been better. They put a roll of paper towels on the table, but ours was empty. I also noticed after the fact that our table had two bottles of the sweet BBQ sauce, while other tables appeared to have both the sweet sauce and a more vinegary BBQ sauce. That was a little disappointing because I really did not care for the sweet sauce and wish I had known there was another option before I had already eaten most of my sandwich. Those were small issues, though. Overall, the food was excellent, the experience was enjoyable, and I would definitely go back. read more

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Coming off of the excitement from the Michelin recognition, I was excited to try this place with some friends on a Sunday evening. What I can say is that it is authentic. By the time we were there on a Sunday evening, they had run out a lot of things, which makes sense since it is all fresh. I ended up getting a bbq chicken BLT sandwich with their mac & cheese, and it was all good. But it didn't stand out to me compared to the other bbq places we have in the Triangle. I would say if you're in the area and craving bbq, this is a good option. read more

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My family and I visited Raleigh for the first time. Came here for dinner. Didn't dine in just cause our young kids getting to be early. We did take out and everything came out great! Food was still nice and hot. We got the bbq brisket which was super tender flavorful. Our sides were the baked beans and potato salad were just as delicious. The only thing we didn't enjoy was the corn bread. I wouldn't even call it bread. It was a square brick. Hard and inedible. Other than that, the food was great and my husband said the people at the counter were friendly. read more

I ordered the pulled pork sandwich and it was juicy and delectable. Had it with the vinegar and the sweet bbq sauce, pickles and a side of beans. The bbq beans had a good flavor but I added vinegar and bbq sauce to them and it made them even better! Made an Arnold Palmer with the pink lemonade and sweet tea. The service was fast and friendly. Got a lot of extra pickles and we loved them. They have Cheerwine soda which I just tried for the first time and it was really fun. read more

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"Well, I'm back again" The pulled/chopped BBQ stayed on my mind. We ordered the 3 meat option again - via Uber Eats. Only difference, we ordered smoked dark meat. Portions were smaller (compared to restaurant visit) - However, ribs were more tender. For sides we ordered slaw (what's eastern style bbq w/out slaw) and baked beans. Beans were good - meat included and flavoring not too sweet. If you love eastern style bbq, this is a must visit! BBQ: 4.6 Family vote: 4.8 read more

Brisket was amazing! I had it on top of my fresh crisp salad. R had a plate with sides. Coleslaw was delicious. Sat outside with lights and golden early evening light. Service was so quick! Okay - the cornbread was odd, maybe a "hoe cake" the guy who took our order tried to warn us . He guided my husband to a delicious sweet potato muffin. It was a great introduction to Raleigh! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Salad and brisket plate - corn bread? - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Incredible. Their Catfish Bites are the best I've ever had. Every time we go to Red Hat we stop here first, it has always impressed us!

Found this hidden gem on my journey to the air port. I can say that this place is very neat, with delicious food, and very nice customer service. When I ordered my food, the person at the cash register was very nice and friendly. She told me about how Raliegh is a very neat place to explore. The store itself seems like a very chill and relaxed place to get some BBQ at. There is plenty of seats around and it's nice to see this places history through the posters around the dining area. Sam's Original BBQ is very very good. It had the right amount of spices and salt added to it. I did not even need any sauce for it. The fries were good too and the sweet potato muffin was very decent. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - BBQ Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Ordered the 2 meat combo. The smoked turkey and collard greens,were okay. Got 1 small slice of brisket which really wasn't enough to be able to make a solid decision on its overall taste. I was disappointed in the meal after having read so many good reviews about the restaurant. I can say I've had better. My recommendation is to look for a different BBQ place. read more

Another great trip to Sam's in the books. We had the 3 choice plate with red bs, chopped bbq, and brisket. All were great. The brisket was super tender and juicy, ready bs tender, and chopped delish as always. All of our sides were also great. read more

Was raining and getting late so I decided to Uber the food. The sweet tea was dare I say too sweet. I've been looking forward to some good sweet tea all trip and when I finally found some, it was just too sweet and I have a sweet tooth too so it was disappointing. I got the two meat plate - ribs were good and tender; chopped bbq was mediocre at best. I was missing the sweet sauce so maybe this isn't a fate assessment. I tried to complain to uber but didn't get any resolution. Anyways, the meats were good but nothing mind blowing. Maybe I had high expectations. The coleslaw was good but there was just something about it that was a little off putting. Maybe it was the bits of kale that were overpowering? Not sure but overall just ok. My other side was fruit and it was surprisingly good. I normally don't like honeydew but it was really good. Overall, I'm glad I tried the place and maybe it would have been better in the restaurant. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Chopped Bbq, Ribs, coleslaw, fruit and sweet tea - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Solid barbecue, but go for the sweet potato rolls, not the cornbread. Of course, Sam Jones BBQ is most famous for their Lakeview Inn location, But you can get you fix here in Raleigh. The family platter is quite economical for 4 people. We fed 4 people with leftovers for only $65. The collards are good, the mac and cheese is also good. The cornbread had no leavening, so it's a bit like hard tack. I suggest going with the rolls, instead. You order at the counter and they give you a placard and deliver your food quickly. So that was great. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The BBQ here was 10/10. What makes it 10/10 you ask? First of all, the ribs were tender and flavorful! Also, I love a bbq spot where the sides are equally as good. Their Mac and cheese was creamy and fresh and collards greens were amazing! Lastly, on a beautiful day, the patio was a perfect spot to devour all this food lol. Oh lastly, amazing portion sizes! I was able to have lunch and dinner! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First and foremost, they played a great variety of country music. Everything from George Strait to Gary Stewart. And after I placed my order, I was given my table number with a picture of Johnny Cash on it. Props for recognizing greatness! I ordered at the counter and went with the three meat platter, which included turkey, pulled pork, and pulled chicken. But it had been one of those weeks so I paid an extra 6 bucks for a pound of ribs instead of the chicken. There were only 4 ribs, but they were huge. Lightly glazed, and they had a little seasoning on them. But very juicy for sure. The pulled pork is their calling card and while I liked, I tend to like a little more of a coarse chop. And the sweet bbq sauce was really needed. There were two sliced of smoked turkey, also good with some of the sauce. The meat was quite moist, and that's so key to a good turkey. Don't overcook it! I would rate the sides as ok. The beans were pretty standard, they could have used a little more seasoning or spice. The slaw was very finely chopped, nearly minced. It is vinegar based, which I prefer. I opted for the sweet potato muffin and while I liked it, I thought it was a little dry. Some butter or honey butter would have helped. For beverages, they have a bar to sit at with plenty of NC brews, as well as sweet, unsweet tea and Pepsi products. The tables all have salt, pepper, ketchup, Texas Pete hot sauce, and their two sauces (Vinegar and sweet BBQ). And if you fill up, to go containers are readily available to grab. For parking, I was able to grab a free spot on the street very close by on a Thursday night around 6 pm. Not the best BBQ restaurant I've ever visited, but still a solid option. read more

I had the bbq plate. The beans were the best part of the meal. The Mac and cheese a close second. I saw the sweet potato muffin was popular, but after getting it I don't know why. It was burnt on top and didn't taste great. The bbq was alright, it wasn't a strong smokey flavor like I've had in Texas. I asked for sweet bbq sauce, but it was very vinegary. My guess is they put the wrong one in. read more

I eat here as often as I can, love Sam Jones BBQ...and the cornbread controversy: it's the best out there. Reminds me of my grandmother's cast iron skillet cornbread as she was from eastern NC. Crusty, thin, dense & not sweet. Sure wish I'd learned how she made it but Sam's is the closest. I don't care for thick, crumbly or sweet cornbread, Sam's does it right. Tasty, dense & legendary. I get two slices every time I go and I'd get more if it didn't turn into a shingle! The only comparable sides would be hush puppies or the fried corn sticks mentioned in another review, love eastern NC fried corn sticks ... keep up the great work, Sam, already looking forward to my next Raleigh road trip! Pete's legacy lives on... read more

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We stopped in for our first visit to Sam Jones BBQ at 502 W Lenoir Street, Raleigh for dinner last weekend and left fully satisfied and plotting our next visit. Service was on point (attentive, suggestive, and helpful). The space felt super clean, almost brand‑new even though it isn't. The food absolutely hit the spot! Packed with flavor: mac&cheese, simply outstanding; pulled pork so delicious (you don't even need the added sauce); catfish bites, super tasteful and plump. Fries were cut, seasoned and cooked to perfection. I even ordered a second helping of those. Everything that needed slow‑cooked T.L.C. was done with slow-cooked T.L.C. Draft and bottle beer selection fairly sizable, a full bar onsite actually, or just grab a quick fountain drink. Plenty of indoor seating, and even outdoor seating with canopy covers (for when it's not 90+). We'll for sure be back. Just a matter of finding the right time. read more

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The ambiance was nice and felt very country. Service was excellent. Food was okay. I will say heed the warning they give you when you order food that the cornbread is not your average cornbread... it is most definitely not, i dont know how that hard piece on the whatever it was could be classified as cornbread. Definitely need to take it off the menu. The BBQ and the sauces they offered were good and have no complaints. Wasn't amazing, but wasn't bad either. The Mac n cheese was grainy, I know some may like that. Overall not too bad, I would eat again. However, I would get different sides as my husbands French fries were good. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Pulled pork sandwich - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Having made the pilgrimage to Skylight Inn and knowing the pedigree behind Sam Jones BBQ, my expectations were understandably high. Unfortunately, this felt like a distant cousin of the Ayden original rather than a continuation of its magic. I grabbed a seat at the bar, which was pleasant enough, but the restaurant lacked the character and sense of place you'd hope for from a barbecue institution. Instead of feeling like a true barbecue joint, it felt more like a modern restaurant that happens to serve barbecue. The whole hog barbecue was good, but good is a difficult standard when you're carrying the Sam Jones name. Compared to Skylight Inn, it lacked the texture, moisture, and depth of flavor that make that chopped pork so unforgettable. The seasoning was there, but the meat never achieved the balance of smoke, tenderness, and richness I was expecting. The collard greens were equally underwhelming. As a Southern boy now living in Miami, collards are one of the comfort foods I miss most, and these failed to satisfy that craving. They lacked the depth, soul, and pot-liquor richness. What stood out most was the service. It was pure Southern hospitality...........warm, genuine, and welcoming from start to finish. Maybe my expectations were unfairly shaped by an exceptional experience at Skylight Inn, but comparisons are inevitable given the family legacy. Sam Jones BBQ isn't bad by any stretch. In fact, it's better than most barbecue you'll find outside North Carolina. But when you've tasted the benchmark, "good" can feel surprisingly disappointing. read more

I thought the food was kind of bland and for the amount I paid, I wished I had just not eaten out. If I had enjoyed the food, it would have been fine, but none of my friends were too crazy about theirs either. Both friends who got the cornbread only took one bite. The baked potato was the highlight for me which is disappointing because you can get one anywhere. The meat was cooked well but I didn't like their sauce that much so it didn't really want to eat the meat on its own. The mac n cheese was decent but not worth specifically coming for. read more

All good except The ton weighted corn bread. The ribs were really good, and the chicken. Yes, beer selection--excellent. And, the potato salad was quite scrumptious. read more

We eat here a lot The food is great and comes out fast Service is great My recent GoTo is the chicken with double collards Awesome! read more

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Love Sam Jones BBQ. We actually visited twice in our quick three day trip to Raleigh. Over the last for years we have eaten here half a dozen times. Always get the same meal BBQ...the whole hog pork. This time was not different just amounts. First visit we ordered a pork sandwich with coleslaw on the side(we split it as we were having dinner with family a couple hours later. The next day we brought our nephew and we ordered a pound of BBQ pork, a pint of coleslaw and a pint of potato salad. The big platter of food arrived and it was just as beautiful as our BBQ pork sandwich the day before. Our nephew tasted the pork and said "Oh My, this is delicious." Needless to say we had no leftovers. The pork was some of the best whole hog pork in the area that we have tried. Love the little pieces of the cracklings mixed into the pork which give that bite and extra special taste. The Sam Jones BBQ sauces are wonderful. The ENC vinegar based sauce only enhances the bbq itself. The potato salad is very good but the COLESLAW takes the cake. Oh, I wish that served both this style BBQ pork and coleslaw in the Atanta area. Service was outstanding. Costs of the food were very reasonable especially for the quality of the products. Both visits the place was crowded. Might be a small line to order but the wait is worth it. Now we might have to have it shipped and I will test it to see how good it travels. Highly recommend. read more

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Very mid food. Where's the flavor?! Chicken was dry, barely any Smokey flavor. Beans were OK but sweet. There are many better bbq options. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Potato Salad, Baked Beans, greens, chicken, Sweet Potato Muffin - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

With a walk up counter to order and no wait, we were excited to try Sam Jones after it was recommended to us a few times. The meats we tried (smoked Buffalo wings, turkey and pulled pork bbq, were all great with the turkey as the clear stand out for juiciness and flavor. The sauces on the table had interesting spice and liquid combinations, neither of which I thought were a value add to the meat. It's quaint and cute inside and also offers outdoor seating. There are also a variety of salts and rubs you can purchase to bring home. The sweet potato roll was a nice moist bread that didn't give a distinct sweet potato flavor, but was fun to try as a corn bread alternative. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Table Sauces - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I saw this place on Jolly, a Youtube channel, and they raved about the chopped bbq so that's exactly what I ordered. It was cooling having see the behind-the-scenes in the video so I knew how meticulously crafted this was.  I got the smokehouse plate with chopped bbq, baked beans, mac n cheese, and sweet potato muffin. The chopped bbq had plenty of flavor on its own although it was on the dry side. To help with that, I added vinegar and sweet bbq sauce which were both very water-y which I learned was the North Carolina style.  The sides were the stars of the show though. I loved the baked beans so much that I wish I could've taken a tub of it to go. The mac and cheese was also delicious but very rich and creamy so I couldn't finish it all in one sitting. And finally, the sweet potato muffin had the right amount of sweetness to act as a dessert.  I would definitely come back again if I visit because they have rotating specials every day. The patio area where we sat was beautiful but they also have plenty of indoor seating. Our food was ready right away and the worker walked with us with the food to the table since we were busy getting the drinks. read more

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Ordered a house salad, potato salad, mac and cheese, and the three meat platter with ribs, brisket, dark meat chicken, potato salad and mac and cheese for lunch. The brisket was my favorite. Had the banana pudding for dessert. The nice lady that brought our order also brought us extra plates and utensils so that the three of us could share. Took home a rib, some chicken, potato salad and mac and cheese. Didn't need to order the extra potato salad and mac and cheese. read more

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Enjoyed my pulled pork. However, the experience was inconsistent with my group as one person's pork had cartilage/bone in it. The sides were a hit, especially the greens. Cute outdoor eating area and good service read more

Sam Jones BBQ - BBQ tray - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

We were so excited about trying a new (to us) BBQ place and were a little disappointed! The vibe and menu seemed on point - but once we got the food, the cornbread was an actual doughy brick, the pulled pork was okay but the 2 BBQ sauce options on the table were watery and nothing special, and the slaw was flavorless. The Mac n cheese was awesome! My husband loved his smoked turkey, sweet potato muffin, and fries. He noted that the ribs were okay/good but didn't have a lot of meat on them. Unfortunately, we wouldn't return anytime soon! read more

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I have visited this place a few times and i will say this is one of the best places to get BBQ around Raleigh, there are not many good around here, but this has a pretty good food. Usually i get the triple meat tray with the ribs, pulled pork and chicken, some mac and cheese and fries, of course you can't miss the corn bread. So i definitely recommend this place. As always this is my true and honest opinion. read more

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We decided to try this spot on a cold night when we were craving some good southern comfort food. You order at the counter, which I actually like--it makes it easy to just relax and enjoy your meal once it arrives. We ordered the three-meat platter with mac & cheese and fries, plus the chicken tenders with chips. The food came out quickly, piping hot, and super fresh! The chicken tenders were perfectly crispy on the outside and tender inside, and the meat platter had a great variety of flavors. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and agree this is one of the best barbecue spots in town. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Everything here was outstanding. From the savory bbq, to the meaty baked beans, to the creamy mac n cheese. Their unique cornbread was also outstanding. I'm not always a huge fan of how sweet cornbread can be, so their take on cornbread was a very pleasant surprise. The service was also outstanding, and getting to sit outside on their patio was a huge plus. Next time I'm in Raleigh, I know where I'm headed. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - BBQ Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This is my favorite place to get barbecue. The ribs, baked beans, mac and cheese and the sweet tea are delicious. Service has always been good and it's a short wait. It's also nice that there's outdoor seating. read more

My hopes were high for this place, but the BBQ turned out to be average. I specifically ordered the Spare Ribs. They looked great when they arrived, but after the first bit I could tell these were overcooked. So disappointed. Thankfully, there were some sauces to use that could somewhat revive the flavors. read more

We stopped here for dinner with friends before a concert. We ordered two meat platter with chopped pork and chicken with fries and coleslaw. The bbq had great flavor although my husband prefers more pulled pork rather than chopped. I used the sweet sauce and he used the Carolina sauce. Both were delicious. The fries were cooked perfectly and the coleslaw was finely chopped and really good. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina