I was in Durham for a convention and wanted to find a good local place for barbecue. The reviews for The Original Q looked great, so I decided to stop in for lunch. I absolutely made the right choice. Parking was a little tricky when I arrived because there was an ambulance in the lot, but there were still plenty of nearby options, so it really wasn't a problem. When you walk inside, you're greeted by a line, but don't let that scare you off because it moved surprisingly fast. The staff was friendly from the start, and I really liked being able to watch the food being prepared as I moved down the line. The atmosphere was exactly what I want from a barbecue restaurant. Everything was clean, the staff was welcoming, and the inside had that classic local barbecue-joint feel. I even ended up sitting underneath the moose head, which only added to the experience. I ordered the pork barbecue plate with a baked potato and a Sun Drop. And if you're eating barbecue in North Carolina, you pretty much have to get a Sun Drop with it. The barbecue was excellent. It was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. They had several sauce choices, and the one I tried paired really well with the pork. Normally, I like to take some of my barbecue and stuff it inside my baked potato, but the pork was so good that I didn't even want to slow myself down. I demolished the hush puppies first and then showed absolutely no mercy to the barbecue. The baked potato was also excellent--fresh, soft, moist, and loaded with all of my favorite toppings. This was one of those places where everything just came together: great food, friendly service, a fun atmosphere, and exactly the kind of barbecue experience I was hoping for. I honestly wish I lived closer because I could see myself eating here all the time. One thing is for sure: anytime I'm back in Durham, The Original Q will be on my list. read more

While visiting Durham, we stopped in for dinner!! So happy we did. I decided to try their Brisket platter for just around $25. A VERY nice portion of brisket, onions, pickles and 2 sides (fries & side salad). The vibe is fun, a local BBQ place definitely everyone should give a try if you want some yummy BBQ while in NC! The staff is so friendly and "visitor" friendly, they were patient and answered my questions without hesitance! Thanks for a lovely experience! read more

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Got the two meat plate for about 26$. It comes with two sides and I chose to get fries and mac and cheese. The sides were good but the start was definitely the brisket. It was tender and flavor was there. The ribs on the other hand was a bit dry and the hush puppies weren't my favorite since they felt a bit too dry and doughy. Overall, this has been one of my favorite bbq in Carolina. read more

The Original Q Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Just wow. Visiting from Seattle and this might be the best bbq I have ever had. Even better than Franklins in Austin. The smoked turkey was so juicy. Best turkey ai have ever had. Potato salad was really good and the collard greens were exceptional. Going back for round 2 before we head home. read more

The Original Q Shack - Smoked turkey, potato salad, collard greens and brisket, chicken coleslaw and Mac and cheese. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I ordered the 2 meat combo with brisket and pulled pork, with mac and cheese and beans on the side. It also came with toast, pickles, and fresh onions. The meat was very tender and juicy, and I liked that the BBQ sauces and beans were flavorful without being overly sweet. The place has a cozy feel, with both indoor and outdoor seating. It can get pretty busy around lunch, but overall it was a great meal. read more

The Original Q Shack - Two Meat Combo Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Got here around 1:30 and the parking lot was full, good sign. Ordered the brisket sandwich with creamed spinach and holy crap was it amazing. Brisket was tender and flavorful, spinach had just enough kick without it being too spicy. Inside was busy but had tables available and the service was really fast. I bet they are jammed during lunch. If you haven't been here you need to give it a try. One of the best briskets I have had in a long time. read more

The Original Q Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This is the way that BBQ should hit!! We stopped in the "Shack" while visiting Durham. Having been huge fans of North Carolina style BBQ, we were not disappointed.My wife and daughter enjoyed the Pork Plate. By for me, I went with the two meat combo with Pulled pork and brisket. The pulled pork was spot on. It was perfectly smoked and almost melted in my mouth. With a touch of spicy vinegar sauce, I was gone to Carolina in my mind for the rest of the day. The brisket might have been some of the best I've ever had. It had a nice fat layer and was also "melt in your mouth" and juicy. The brisket didn't need any sauce at all. It was that good. The hushpuppies were the star at the table. My family considers themselves to be connoisseurs of hush puppies, and these were ranked in the top five. A respectable ranking from such a discriminating hushpuppy panel. The sides we sampled included collard greens, mac and cheese and BBQ beans. The collards and Mac and cheese were out of this world. I should have ordered a double serving of the collards. However, the beans were a huge disappointment. They were more like a bowl of sub-par chili than BBQ beans. If we return, they will not be selected. A great BBQ spot when you are in Durham. Highly recommend you stop by, if only to taste the brisket! read more

The Original Q Shack - Two meat combo - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Still never misses! Can't go wrong with the brisket or pulled pork. The mac and cheese is creamy and cheesy and the collard greens are savory and delicious. Fries are cooked perfectly and hush puppies are stellar with their honey butter! Service is quick in getting your order put together at the counter and seating is casual both indoor and outdoor. read more

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Met friends here for dinner. It's set up as quick service and the you can sit at tables indoors or outside at picnic tables. Meats were freshly prepared and seasoned nicely without being salty. Nice options for side dishes. Prices were reasonable. Parking can be challenging so be patient. read more

Awesome Texas style bbq. Ribs sausage and chicken wings were great. Potato salad and cream spinach was awesome too. Great food!

I think I like the sides and the chili better than the main course. I think the barbecue could've had more flavor. I had the brisket. I tried my friends pork, and I thought I had a lot more flavor. They were out of quite a bit of items by the time we got there, no chicken The barbecue sauce really works just OK. read more

The Original Q Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Food was good, chicken just needed seasoning! Parking is terrible. This was my second visit and I was pleasantly surprised that the food was better this visit,The service was excellent, will go again read more

Grabbed take-out from here recently and enjoyed it! The parking lot was kind of a zoo, but we did manage to find a spot near the restaurant. We walked in and our food was ready at the time estimate, which is great! It was sitting there already bagged up, so I guess we could have come a little earlier, but it tasted fresh so no big deal. I ended up getting the chopped pork BBQ sandwich with a side of collard greens and some banana pudding for dessert. The meal also came with a side of hushpuppies, so it was definitely a good amount of food. I really liked pretty much everything! It was a little strange to me that they gave me an empty bun and all of the BBQ on the side, so I had to make my own sandwich. That being said, the portion of BBQ was pretty large (more than would fit in my sandwich!), so I kind of get it. Overall, I would definitely come back here - maybe I'll grab the brisket next time! read more

I love The Original Q Shack, especially their sides. I usually order chicken because it's super juicy but this time I tried the ribs. They were good, just not my favorite. I wish they had been a bit juicier. One thing I really appreciate about this place is how quick the service is. Even if the line is long outside it moves fast. They also have plenty of outdoor seating and a good amount of space indoors. read more

The Original Q Shack - St. Louis Cut Pork Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is great! Visiting from Texas and needed from NC BBQ after the Notre Dame - Duke lacrosse game. Great service. BBQ was terrific. Brisket was tender, not fatty, and the sauces were a great experience - different from Texas sauces. Will be visiting again! read more

What a great place for a BBQ dinner while traveling in the area. You order at the counter and they get the food to you as you move down the counter. I am guessing this could be slow if they were busy but at 4 pm it was very fast. The brisket, turkey and ribs were very good. Not always easy to all meats great at the same time. I loved the fries that had a dusting of some rub. It came with wonder hushpuppies and that was surprise. Wonder BBQ in the south and worth a stop to try. read more

The Original Q Shack - Collard greens, fries, hush puppies, turkey, ribs, an brisket. - three meat combo - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great bbq, really good sides, fast and kind service. Great for everyone from work groups to out of town relatives. The ambiance is all you need- large picnic tables, fans, patios, and plenty of napkins. read more

Awesome barbeque and sides! We love this place for the authentic barbeque and great sides. Never had a problem getting a table. We like the combos, but if you have a larger group, you should order family style/sharing. The brisket and ribs are great, and the accompanying table sauces are great. A must-visit for every trip. read more

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Q Shack was our first BBQ since moving to the triangle area and it did not disappoint! We loved the variety of side options and loved the meats. Definitely feel like the pork was their best meat and paired best with their sauce. Brisket wasn't our favorite but still good! read more

The Original Q Shack - Three Meat Combo Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Wow! This was my first ever North Carolina bbq experience and it was amazing. The service was fast and friendly. Hardest part was choosing what I wanted, everything looked amazing. I went with the meat combo to try some different sides as well! Collard greens were delicious, I highly suggest the fried okra!!! That was amazing. The meat melts in your mouth and is so flavorful. It was not too busy when I went on a Friday afternoon but I hear it gets busy. Well deserved, what a great place. Will be returning! read more

The Original Q Shack - Collard Greens Fried Okra Hushpuppies Two Meat Combo Plate - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

For my son in laws bday he wanted to eat here. Me & Kel had brisket & 2 sides. D had 1/2 a chicken. It was enough to share. May do so next time Not sure why he didnt have bbq? The food was so tender & fresh & yummy ! It was lunch time so very busy. Help very friendly. I've been here several times & always delicious!! Can sit inside or out on patio. Was raining the day we were there so sat inside. read more

Food, mouth water good. Efficient service. Ambiance more than VG for a shack. We were here on a Saturday evening at 4-ish. No waiting line. FYI, none of the 4 BBQ joints in Durham on our list opened on Sundays we discovered on Sunday. Plan ahead if Q is on your menu and you don't live nearby. Two of us shared the 3 meat combo which includes 2 sides and it was plenty filling. We had spareribs, pulled pork and brisket-all excellent choices. Our 2 sides were fried okra and Mac & cheese plus 2 beers. We ate there. It's an excellent BBQ joint type vibe. Plenty of togo orders (large and small) went of the door while we ate also. It's a very efficient operation. I need beer with my BBQ and they did not disappoint me (see photo). read more

The Original Q Shack - Yes, beer! There are 27 cans showcasing them. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Do not be alarmed by lines out the door at lunch time. They are very popular but you order right where you come in, and the line moves fast. Good food, good Carolina barbecue, and the sauce is good and sticky. I liked it. Mac and cheese was amazing too. So many good BBQ in here, this is one of them. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Parking can be tricky. read more

Came by for a late lunch around 1PM. No line, so we were able to order right away. Let the staff know and they will quickly prep your order. The highlights for me were the brisket, ribs, and mac and cheese. I wasn't a fan of the pulled pork. On the really dry side. Portions are large. There is seating inside and outside. Limited parking in the lot, but we were lucky enough to get a few. read more

The food was hittin'! Everything was flavorful, fresh, and served hot. The pulled pork was tender, the greens were seasoned just right, and that mac & cheese? Comfort in a scoop. Solid spot for some no-fuss, good BBQ and hearty sides. I'll be back! read more

The Original Q Shack - Smoked Pork Butt, Mac & Cheese and Collard Greens - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Average bbq at average prices. Plenty of seating and lots of it outdoors. They're somewhat limited on sauce options. The chopped meats are ok though I think the sides are pretty decent, especially the okra and spinach. I just think I'm more a fan of central Texas style bbq. It's counter service and you clean up after yourself so pretty straightforward. read more

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First time going yesterday. I wasn't sure what to expect. I wanted authentically good NC bbq. There was a short line that moved quickly. We had a rather large order so it did take maybe 15 minutes to prepare 4 dishes. We got a half chicken with fries, smash burger with fries, brisket & chicken combo with fries, and a large size ribs, potato salad, and collard greens. I figured if they could get the potato salad right then that would tell me all that I needed to know. NAILED IT! Ribs so tender, can be pulled apart with your fingers. Burger so juicy and delicious. Get the chicken, because you'll regret it if you don't. The collards was the only thing that didn't hit. It was cooked a bit under and needed more flavoring. I can't wait to return when I pass through the next time. Bravo! read more

This is my favorite bbq restaurant I have tried so far! I haven't better brisket than this place! Also their smoked wings are very good as well also their jalapeño cheddar sausage! I've been going here for years and it's definitely a place I've been gatekeeping because of how busy it gets but they definitely deserve more recognition than they get! Their jalapeño deviled eggs are really good! As well as the creamed spinach and the ambiance is very classic vibes it's always a treat going here! read more

Unimpressed? That's like saying a cat has a mild interest in a laser pointer. I was on my way to a different BBQ joint, but it was closed Monday-Wednesday, which by the way, is a weird time to take a vacation from BBQ. So, I did what any sensible person would do: I searched for "BBQ places near me." Spoiler alert: I should've brought a parachute. Upon entering, I was greeted by an ambiance that can only be described as "post-apocalyptic diner chic." Everything looked like it hadn't seen a paintbrush since the last time the local team won the championship. But hey, the locals seemed to love it, probably because they were busy eating... or planning their escape. After 15 minutes of trying to make a decision (and contemplating whether I could just order takeout from the place I originally wanted), I decided to embrace my inner BBQ explorer. My friend advised against the mac n' cheese, which looked like it had survived a nuclear fallout. But who are we to judge? We don't turn down squid based on appearance, right? I finally settled on the 1/4 chicken, greens, and yes, the infamous mac n' cheese. Why, you ask? Because I believed that BBQ magic would transform it into gooey goodness, and maybe, just maybe, I would find the holy grail of cheese. Spoiler alert: I did not. When my tray arrived, I was greeted by a leg and thigh combination that screamed, "Surprise! I'm dark meat!" Not my favorite, but I was on a mission of culinary bravery. The chicken looked like it had just come back from a pink-tinted vacation and was not quite ready for the plate. I took a bite and felt like I was playing a game of "Is it done yet?" If anyone viewing the picture, please let me know if it's done or am I too picky. I need a second opinion. Now, the mac n' cheese was my second mistake of the day. Imagine if six boxes of Kraft mac n' cheese had a party in a giant bowl and decided to invite a sprinkle of pepper. That's what I got. Zero flavor, zero cheese, and definitely a zero on the "this is acceptable" scale. The greens, however, were the shining stars of this culinary train wreck. I would return just for a side of those delightful greens, but that's the highest praise I can muster. So, if you're expecting grandma's BBQ, you might want to rethink your life choices. Just remember to take this review with a grain of salt--one that should have been generously sprinkled on the food! read more

The Original Q Shack - 1/4 Smoked Chicken - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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This place is my favorite briskets joint in the US!!! Generous juicy slices aided with homemade hush puppies and delicious bbq sauce.

Amazing barbecue!!! It's a self service sort of place without wait staff Country music at a little noisy level 1960s tables and chairs The ribs were moist and delectable and sauced just about right--maybe a little on robust side. Chicken was soooo moist and delicious. Brisket was moist and had a nice smoke ring! Come here and you'll come back ! read more

The Original Q Shack - Main cabin - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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great food for good price. $14 brisket sandwich , side and hush puppies. ..............

I love this barbecue place, and I think it was a great value for the price. Me and my family came here, we got our food very fast, and everyone was super friendly. There was plenty of seating for us, and we all agreed this barbecue was really well-made! Definitely one to check out if you were in the area! read more

The Original Q Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

BBQ done right! Juicy meat, rich flavors, and generous portions. The staff made me feel right at home. Will 100% be back with friends next time. read more

The Original Q Shack - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Been there a few times and the food is always on point! We love the atmosphere and the music played is my husbands favorite!

Incredible food, fast and hot, reasonably priced. Pulled pork was tender, flavorful, and juicy. Collards were perfect! Our group also enjoyed the fried okra and deviled eggs. Will definitely be returning here again and again! read more

What a great meal! Delicious and a great deal. This meal plate was enough for 2 people! I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was small and a little crowded; there was a line out the door! But it waa definitely worth the wait. Ordering is super easy, and the food comes out fast. Definitely recommend the ribs. Mac was also great. Would hit this classic Durham spot again! read more

The Original Q Shack - St. Louis Cut Pork Ribs - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Pretty decent food. My chicken was over cooked and dry. I came in the middle of the week during lunch time so that could be why. The ribs were perfect and the mac and cheese was surprisingly good. The service was quick and efficient. They had outdoor seating and indoor seating as well. Would go again. read more

The Original Q Shack - 2 meat option (ribs and chicken) with mac and cheese & fries also hushpuppies. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

As a vegetarian, sides were decent. Hush puppies were good but a little oily. The Mac and cheese was nice, but not the cheesiest I've ever had. The banana pudding was phenomenal though and worth going back for. We sat outside on a nice day, the space is large inside too. Service was very fast. read more

Let me start with the staff. (Very straight to the point... "May I help you with your order?" Though it's written in LARGE letters infront of me I asked what do you have for sides. Without hesitation or Tude I was told every side there was with the biggest smile (almost like it was being sung) AND the line was full. In a nutshell these people were professional and pleasant. Picnic styling, VERY clean and neat. The hostess (who I'm assuming is taking care of the family business, so much care and friendliness almost like you're in there living room. NEED I say I love it here. Came for lunch. Now the FOOD. You see my TRAY? I HAD TWO meats, the Ribs which were tender and tasty, the meat fel off the bone into my mouth. (Cooked to perfect) The Beef brisket... WOW AMAZING (I'm really picky) the fat on this brisket was even heavenly. ( read more

The Original Q Shack - Two meats (ribs and beef brisket) as you can see EVERY THING is finished! For sides collards and their beans. - Barbeque Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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