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

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

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

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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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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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

We were in the area and wanted BBQ so we tried Sam Jones. Sorry, not impressed. We ordered pulled pork , Turkey , Collards and fries with cornbread and sweet Pot muffin. Sad when the fries were the best item on the plate although sweet potato muffin was nice. We asked for butter and got sour cream? or maybe butter mixed with sour cream?? Turkey was rubbery , flavor was ok. Collards were rubbery as well , sorta like if you eat them raw - they needed to be cooked longer. The cornbread must be an acquired taste? And still the sour cream like butter ?? no butter taste at all , puzzling. Pork did have a nice flavor. - but I guess we were expecting much more read more

"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

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

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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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

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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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

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

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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Absolutely awesome. I had the BBQ salad. 10 out of 10 banana pudding is the best I've ever had.

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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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

It was a nice location with inside/outside dining .There was a line but it moved fairly quickly and service was great and greeting all around ! The food was very delicious, and I will definitely be coming back when I'm back in town !!! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Jones family original bbq tray , the pulled pork with the vinegar sauce really complimented each other! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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 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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This was our first stop after arriving from San Diego and getting our rental car. I wanted to try Carolina style whole hog BBQ . Well this place delivered some tasty chopped pork and sides. I do prefer brisket and ribs and a ketchup base BBQ sauce over vinegar based but this was different and really good. read more

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After all the hype from a friend I honestly felt let down with this dining experience. Each of us had something different and the only praise was for the catfish nuggets. The bbq was sad, it looked and was dried out like it was days old. The same for the Mac and cheese. It was barely warm and the cheese topping was hard. As for the cornbread I was told it was a type unique to Sam's. I like cornbread which is light, not like chewing on a piece of jerky. My friend, who hyped this place, said we'd need to drive to Ayden for a better experience. I would hope so. The dining area was nicely designed and decorated. We were there during the beginning of the evening dining period and the place was sparsely occupied. I've been to a lot bbq joints in NC , where there's a line out the door and a line of cars for take out in the evening - not the case here. read more

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

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

This is my favorite barbecue restaurant--period. There are other great ones that I've been to in Charlotte, Memphis, Fort Worth, St. Louis, Washington, DC, and even Hill's BBQ in NYC, but Sam Jones is the absolute best. I eat here at least once a month since I've moved to Raleigh. Today, being President's Day, it was unexpectedly packed. Seemed that everyone in the Triangle decided to go to Sam Jones for BBQ. Although wrapped around the ramp to the rest rooms, the line moved quick. The food was out quick. The service was exceptional. My guest and I both had the original Jones Family BBQ plate with slaw. I had corn bread; they had the muffin. Best BBQ, slaw, and corn bread anywhere. The restaurant is very nicely decorated in a North Carolina country fashion. They also have a full bar where you can drink, eat, or both. A nice mixture of booths for privacy and tables. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Flying lite pig! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Did not meet (our high) expectations. Pulled pork was fine. Two sauces and they were both good. Ribs were disappointing. Too salty by miles. Flavor/rub was kind of "artificial" in a way. Not a fan of the ribs. The ribs were tender and MEATY but missed the mark (for us). New and shiny interior. Service was a bit off also...wait staff just seemed indifferent and slow. read more

Great experience dining here! Delicious bbq and sides. Restaurant was clean and workers were friendly. Would dine here again next time we are in town! read more

Fish bites: 5/5 stars Chopped bbq: 5/5 stars Sauce: 5/5 stars Sweet potato muffin: 4/5 stars Fries: 4/5 stars Beans: 4/5 stars Mac and cheese: 4/5 stars Banana pudding: 2/5 Cornbread: 1/5 star First time trying this location in Raleigh. We've been to the one in Greenville. My husband loves their bbq and the sauce! He craves it every time! I love their fish bites. The fries are regular, not too special but good. The beans taste like bbq beans which for me is too sweet but my husband and sister in law loved it. My husband gave the Mac and cheese a 4. Tartar sauce was good. The cornbread is weird, looks like a recipe that didn't work out. But the sweet potato muffin is a must try! Very good. The banana pudding is more like a banana dessert, like bananas and whipped cream. We didn't taste a lot of pudding. Overall great spot for NC style bbq. Service was also fast. You order at the counter and they give you a number and then they bring the food to your table. Pet friendly: we saw a fenced area with outdoor seating and some dog water bowls. Street parking read more

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Collin at the bar absolutely killed it. Perfect mix of service, personality and professionalism. Excellent bbq and sides. The place was packed from start to finish. Casually refined. We will drive from Richmond to eat here again read more

It's no Skylight Inn. Pork and slaw were fine. But the ribs were tough and rubbery. Chicken skin just had to be scrapped, but the meat itself was okay. Would not recommend this location. For Eastern, gotta go Easterer. read more

Needed a quick and yummy meal while in town and Sam Jones BBQ did not disappoint! We ordered takeout on a Saturday night for dinner through the website and it was spot on with timing and ready when we got to the restaurant to pick up! We had plenty of silverware and containers of dressing and bbq supplied in the to go bag and we're on our way. The pulled pork sandwich was a hit with my family and I got the Sam Jones plate which was the perfect amount of bbq and side salad that I was hungry for! The sauce was a hit with everyone which was on the sweeter side. Definitely get the sweet potato muffin over the cornbread like another yelper recommended, you won't be disappointed. read more