Wow! This is my new favorite bbq place in Raleigh! The menu has quite a few options to choose from (refer to the photos for the entire detailed menu). I ordered the Chopped BBQ plate with the sweet slaw and the baked beans, and OMG!!! It was really delicious! This is truly a North Carolina barbeque experience! The atmosphere was great, staff was super helpful and friendly and the common areas were clean. The location was easy to find with a free parking lot in the back with a limited number of parking spots. Overall, 100% recommended and can't wait to come back! read more

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This was my first visit to Sam Jones and I Loved their Catfish Bites!!! They were light chunks of fish with a tender crispiness that melt in your mouth. The portions were great too. I ordered the loaded baked potato as the side to accompany those heavenly tender morsels. Great meal! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Catfish Bites & Loaded Baked Potato - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This is a casual lunch or dinner place but the food is very good and if you want to try some good smoked bbq, you won't be disappointed. It's very good. read more

Highly recommend the sweet potato muffin, chopped pork, and baby back ribs! Casual ambience, friendly service, solid food. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Mac n Cheese, Sweet Potato Muffin, Chopped Pork - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I just can't get over how bad the Cornbread is. It's like bar shaped, lacking sugar and salt, dense as heck. Inedible. 30+ reviews echo the same, not sure who could like? I got the meat topped potato, fairly good. Reasonably priced. But Cornbread is such a staple of BBQ, not sure how this stays on the menu? Update per owner response: love the history, but I specifically said I was first time customer and I would have expected cashier to better describe cornbread if it is so non-traditional so as to better expectation set. I never heard of the muffins as another option, as that sounds like it would have been enjoyable to try to those with more traditional tastes. read more

Sam Jones BBQ is a highly rated barbecue restaurant in Raleigh and today I had the chance to learn why. They are dishing out delicious Eastern Carolina style wood fired whole hog barbecue right here in Raleigh. I've been craving the delicious vinegar tang flavor I grew up on as the daughter of a skilled pit master. I come from a family of men who know how to barbecue, so trust that when I recommend Sam Jones, it's with a sophisticated palette. I enjoyed everything we ordered via delivery. You'll find quality meats, large portions and flavorful dishes at Sam Jones. I decided on the turkey, pork chopped barbecue, Smoked Alabama white sauce wings, potato salad, barbecue beans, macaroni and cheese and moist sweet potato muffins. All of the barbecue meats were moist and flavorful. The turkey was sliced perfectly, the pork was delicious paired with both the vinegar based sauce and sweet sauce as well. The smoked wings with the Alabama White Sauce were a favorite for me. Alabama white BBQ sauce is a mayonnaise-based dressing that also includes horseradish and cayenne pepper. These wings were so moist, yet charred perfectly. The white sauce really packed the flavor for me. The sweet potato muffins were so delicious ! I'm glad I skipped out on the cornbread and went with the muffins. You can really taste the sweet potato and I love how soft, moist and fresh these were. I am extremely picky about side dishes. The Collard Greens were perfect here. Vinegar based and flavorful. I really enjoyed these. The potato salad, macaroni and cheese and baked beans were all perfect as well. Nothing was overly seasoned or under seasoned. I enjoyed everything. Sam Jones serves the perfect Sunday dinner. This is now one of my favorite restaurants in Raleigh. read more

Really great pulled pork sandwich with slaw, baked beans weee sweet and a slight hint of smoke, really tasty.

I'm genuinely surprised this place considers itself a BBQ joint. Unless you're absolutely starving, I wouldn't recommend the food here. Everything was overwhelmingly vinegary--so much so that it masked any actual flavor. We ordered the pulled pork sandwiches, mac and cheese (which arrived lukewarm), beans (again, heavy on the vinegar), and greens (barely edible--one bite was enough). This isn't even close to true BBQ, especially if you're used to Midwest or Texas-style. We only ate it because we'd already spent $40, but honestly, it wasn't worth it. Do better. read more

Wow! Sam Jones BBQ is spot on! The chopped barbecue was great, especially when you got one of the little crispier pieces that came off the grate with your bite! Try the vinegar sauce. Some of the best vinegar based sauce I have had in the state. The spare ribs had amazing flavor as well. For sides, the Mac and cheese and the baked beans did not disappoint either. The inside was extremely clean and the staff was super helpful. The only downside if any was finding a spot to park but don't worry, it will be worth it! read more

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In hog heaven! If you're an Eastern Carolina BBQ fan, then try Sam Jones Wood Fired Whole Hog BBQ @ 502 W Lenoir St. The sweet slaw is fabulous! And the mac n cheese was creamy cheesy deliciousness! Try the pina colada with bourbon slushie. Oooh they are heavy handed with the bourbon And they play fun honky tonk! Full of glass windows that allow you to look out onto the street and view the super cute neighborhood. The staff was super nice and so friendly. Yummy deliciousness! read more

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Smokey and juicy meat, that's the way I like it. First time trying Carolina's bbq and it was delicious. The ribs were good, but what amazed me the most was the turkey. Amazingly seasoned and not dry at all. The collard greens were sour to me. Cole slaw was light and refreshing. Oh and their corn bread is different, not your typical corn bread but definitely worth the try. I would come back and recommend to others. read more

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

I came to this bbq place for the first time last week for a late lunch. Parking was a breeze and the inside was nice and spacious. They also had some outdoor seating and a patio area. I ordered the bbq plate with bake beans and Mac and cheese and cornbread. The food came out pretty quick, everything was good except the cornbread. It was pretty heavy and had no flavor, wasn't sweet. Was able to talk to the server to get a different bread so we opted for the sweet potato muffin which was better. Overall the bbq was good and the service was great. They also have a bar inside as well. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Bbq plate with bake beans, Mac n cheese and cornbread - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

A regular spot for good BBQ and sides in Raleigh. Their collards and baked beans are delicious. The BBQ is amongst the best in Raleigh. I know that "good" BBQ is so subjective when it comes to us southerners, but I like it!! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Part of the outdoor eating area. - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The spare ribs ($16.99 per pound) is the best thing on the menu. The worst on the menu is the cornbread. It's hard and not tasty at all. But, there is the option of the sweet potato bread is moist and the better substitute. As a side, upgrade and get the loaded bake potato. It can be a small meal in itself. The baked beans would be my next best side. read more

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

Took the family and we weren't disappointed. Pulled chicken, smoked quarter chicken, pulled pork bbq and fried catfish bites were among our choices with nary a complaint. I found the pork Q tender and tasty, a little bit of fat to add positively to the texture,and the vinegar sauce is excellent, proper zing and tang. The smoked chicken was very flavorful and the catfish bites satisfied our non-pork eater. The collards, potato salad, baked beans, slaw and mac and cheese all earned plaudits but the collards were standouts. A good Southern dinner was had by all. read more

Love skylight BBQ and Sam Jones BBQ. No better pork found anywhere!!! Sam has the best ribs at his Winterville location. Everyone in eastern NC travel to Ayden just to get lunch. Thanks for carrying on your family's legacy. Your grandad would be so proud!!! read more

Excellent bbq eastern nc style the ribs are also fantastic. Highly recommended . Give it a try

Wonderful. We had a great time. Music and Nic atmosphere. BBQ was better than Smithfield's.

Out of the several bbq spots I tried in Cary and Raleigh, Sam Jones wins for best ribs and bountiful sides. I ordered the rib plate ($17), which came with six ribs, a huge pile of nice, salty fries, a paper boatful of collard greens, and a sweet potato muffin. It was tons of food! The ribs had a delightful light smoky flavor and were really tender and juicy (and meaty!). Truly ideal ribs. Other ribs I had afterward definitely paled in comparison. I added the sweet bbq sauce to my ribs and it was delicious. Fries were delicious but could be crispier. Regardless, I ate them all. Collard greens were also good, with plenty of pulled pork mixed in. Sweet potato muffin was soft with a hunk of sweet potato inside--good but I wasn't blown away. Service was friendly. For $17, my meal was totally worth it. Anyway, it's been a few weeks and I'm afraid to to eat ribs here in NYC because they can't live up to Sam Jones's ribs :( read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Ribs with fries, collard greens, sweet potato muffin! $16.99 - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Family recipes passed down from the 1800s Ayden, NC influence found in Sam Jones whole hog barbecue which is cooked low and slow over oak wood. Many would say this barbecue is the "holy grail of North Carolina barbecue" Cooked to perfection it will be some of the best you have ever eaten. Pork and chicken are delicious with a choice of sides of slaw, baked beans, and corn bread complete your meal. Other menu highlights include seasoned and smoked chicken wings, pork skins, pimento cheese, crispy fried catfish, and spare ribs are among an assortment of other delectable meats. They even serve iced tea and Cheerwine to wash it all down. I highly recommend you try this iconic recipe for the finest Eastern North Carolina style barbecue. read more

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Came for a quick Dinner after seeing a show I had the pulled pork over salad with corn bread croutons. Really good portion pork bbq was chopped fine, other party had pulled pork Mac & cheese and baked beans. It was all tasty and delicious read more

Went there with a few people to eat before a concert. Really nice Bourbon selection. I had the small plate sweet potato muffin, mac and cheese, and bbq. The muffin was good as well as the Mac and cheese. The bbq however was absolutely amazing. Service was fast and very good. Loved the place. read more

This was my first stop on my foodie tour. Sampled the Mac and a pork slider. Very good, but the star of the show for me was the sweet tea. A true southern girl who loves her sweet tea so when I get some that is made perfectly, I am a happy camper lol read more

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Came in for the BBQ and brisket. Unfortunately they were out of brisket, so I had the turkey instead. BBQ was very good and there is sauce on the tables. I enjoyed the vinegar sauce, it had a nice heat to it. The mac and cheese was good, the collards and sweet potato muffin were delicious. read more

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

Solid spot but nothing to write home about. We came here as a team and did buffet style which did the job but nothing was amazing. The rolls were generic martins potato rolls and all items were relatively generic. Nothing that really stood out or was different. Their sweet sauce was pretty good but I would have liked more options. Great seating options downstairs and staff was solid as well. Gets the job done but nothing extraordinary. read more

I had a business trip and ordered from here via Door Dash. The ribs were good, baked beans ok and the Mac and cheese was on point , not bad for my first night in NC! read more

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

Mr Jones' team has really upped their game. The BBQ has always been good, but now, on certain days, there is some outstanding brisket. It has a very good bark and smoke flavor. In addition to the brisket, burnt ends are also offered. The burnt ends are exceptional. They are pretty addictive. They have a great flavor, tenderness, and the perfect amount of sauce. I recently brought 2 friends visiting from New Zealand here to try Eastern NC BBQ. The burnt ends were so good one of them went back up and ordered a pound to go. Both commented on how much they enjoyed the pork BBQ and the Mac and Cheese sides as well as the beans. One commented how surprised they were by the crackins' in the BBQ and how it added a "pop" of smoke flavor. They were split on the cornbread. It is not for everyone. If there is a group, at least one person should get it and share. The BBQ pork is never oxersauced. Additional sauce is on the table if someone feels the need to spice the BBQ up some. To me, too much sauce covers up the smokiness of the pork. The ribs are always a great choice by themselves or to share, not a fall off the bone, but very close. They are moist, tender, and not oxersauced. For those that do not want pork the chicken and turkey are great options. I wish my grilled chicken turned out 3/4 as good as the stuff they have here. There is seating indoors and tables outside. Inside tends to be a bit noisy when it is crowded. As a bit of advice, go earlier in the day if possible. read more

Had a party catered at the restaurant. The service was good and the food was good also.

The BBQ is divine. There is outdoor seating. Iced tea good. But the BBQ is the show stopper. Skip the Pit. Skip them all. Just get their BBQ and call yourself the winner. I can't say the same for the collards. They were good. The french fries and home made potato chips are also pretty special as they are hand cut and look like they are locally made. No bagged vibe here. Sense of humor vibe with the table markers named for old country western singers. And the piped music that sometimes matches thoses sixties era country crooners give you the proper southern atmosphere. Looks around left and right. Where are the hush puppies? Can you find the hushpuppies? WTH. No hushpuppies? The only reason there is not an extra star. Somebody please send out a hushpuppie search party. Cause there ain't no party without some good old deep fried hushpuppies. read more

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

We were in town visiting family and this place has some of the best BBQ I've ever had. Oh and the fried catfish is horribly underrated! So yourself a favor and give it a try. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Chopped BBQ 1/2 Pound , greens, coleslaw! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

This place has great food and service. I've been here twice for lunch over the past few weeks. Both times I've been in a crunch for time. The food is delicious and comes out quickly. read more

Food is always good service there always on point and you can always have a good time the the vibe and everything is on point

The BBQ was good, but man I wish I had read the reviews about the cornbread. Better yet, I wish Sam Jones would read the reviews. What even is this? We are in North Carolina. This is just wrong. Very dense, flat and hard. No sweet corn taste. It reminds me of a bland tamale.. At first I was convinced there were several ingredients missing, then I realized through the reviews that this was intentional. Criminal smh. read more

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

Sam Jones BBQ is one of those places I go to entirely too much. The vibe is always laid-back and welcoming, and they're dog-friendly (with an outdoor area to hang out in), which is probably the main reason I come by, usually my greyhound is in the car with us. I order the turkey everytime - it's always on point--tender, flavorful, and smoky, and yes, I share with my dog, he's worth it. If you're in the mood for some Lexington style BBQ, Sam Jones won't disappoint. read more

I found this place on Yelp! Thank you fellow Yelpers! I didn't get a picture of our food because we couldn't wait to start eating it! BBQ, ribs, Mac and cheese, cole slaw, banana pudding, and corn bread. Every item was delicious except the corn bread. It is weird mix of a corn stick and corn bread and it needs to choose a side. The Mac and cheese is authentic southern style! The banana pudding had real meringue! You never see that in places! This place is huge and is very deceiving from the outside. The outdoor area is also large and set up nicely. read more

Sam Jones is delicious Eastern style Carolina barbecue just outside of downtown Raleigh. On this day, I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with slaw and fries. The tables have sweet barbecue and vinegar based sauces to pair with my pork sandwich. My only gripe is that the prices have really gone up recently, and it wasn't cheap to begin with, but I'll definitely be back again. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Pete Jones barbecue sandwich with slaw and fries - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Being a fan of Skylight Inn, I'm so glad Sam Jones BBQ now has a location in Raleigh. I finally got to try it the other day, and needless to say I'll be returning. The pulled pork is what you'd expect - smoky and flavorful meat with bits of pork rind mixed in. Yes, pork rinds mixed in - it's awesome. But make sure you add the vinegar sauce to moisten the meat up as well as provide the right amount of flavor and kick. The slaw is sweet and creamy, which is just the right complement to the vinegary pork. And the cornbread is straight from the Skylight Inn tradition - probably unlike anything you've tried before, but still good - dense, firm, and slightly chewy on the inside, with a nice crusty exterior. It's one of those things you may not love immediately, but I've grown to enjoy. I also branched out and tried the ribs as well. Definitely worth it! They were deliciously seasoned with smokiness perfection - there was no need for extra BBQ sauce slathered on top, which says a lot about how well they seasoned the meat. Each bite was blissfully bite-off-the-bone in texture, and honestly it was some of the best ribs I've had in a long time. I love me some NC pulled pork barbecue, but these ribs might be my favorite thing from Sam Jones BBQ. I called in my order to-go, and it was ready for pickup at the expected time. They also have outdoor and indoor seating available with COVID precautions. All the staff were wearing masks when I came to pick up my order. Parking around this part of Raleigh wasn't bad, either. I will be back! read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Jones family original (pulled pork, cole slaw, Skylight Inn-style cornbread) and Ribs. Delicious! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First of all know that in these covid-era times, there is ample outdoor seating, as well as a spacious interior. Either way you do need to go in to order at the counter. There are sandwiches, sides, main dishes...great variety on the menu. When you first walk up to the place, you will smell the delicious smoky aromas! Parking is street parking nearby. We didn't have any problem finding any, but it was a Monday at an off-hour. Between the four of us, we tried the smoked wings, bbq pork with mac n cheese, collards and sweet potato muffin, and bbq pork sandwich with mac n cheese side. With two teas and two beers, this was a $60 meal. Well worth it for the quality! They offer both a vinegar sauce and a sweeter sauce to compliment your meal. Portions are very generous. Highly recommend! read more

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My Dad had visited the Greenville location and was super excited for us to try the ribs. He says the Raleigh version are different. So overall I will say we were disappointed in our experience. You order at a counter and then find a seat. The restaurant is very loud inside. The bbq sandwich was very dry but the mac and cheese was delicious. The cornbread is also very dry. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - Spare ribs plate - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I actually came here because the other place i chose was closed. What a hook up.! I have never had a turkey sandwich like this in my life. Point blank /stop what you're doing get the turkey sandwich. read more

Sam Jones BBQ - The best smoked turkey sandwich I've ever had! - Barbeque Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina