12 Best Barbeque Restaurants in Asheville

“On Saturday, February 14th, I went downtown for a solo dinner at Huli Sue’s and quickly realized I had completely forgotten Billy Strings was in town for the weekend. Between Valentine’s Day and a sold-out show within walking distance, downtown was absolute chaos. Walking into Huli Sue’s, though, felt like stepping into a well-oiled machine. The hostess (I truly wish I had gotten her name) greeted everyone calmly and kept the flow of guests organized and welcoming. They were operating on a reservation system for the evening honestly genius given the circumstances. Even as a party of one, the wait was about an hour and a half, which I completely understood. Knowing I was craving their food, she suggested takeout. She even let me sit at the table where they roll silverware so I could look over the menu and wait for my roommate to text their order and never once made me feel rushed. While I waited, I watched her run the entrance like an absolute goddess. She was pleasant, efficient, and incredibly organized. Every table being notified was already set, down to water poured and ready. When guests arrived, she greeted them with genuine enthusiasm and walked them to their tables like they were honored guests. Downtown was a madhouse. People kept walking in without reservations, and she calmly explained the wait. When guests were understandably discouraged, she let them know they were accepting reservations for the 15th and I honestly didn’t hear a single person turn her down. She made everyone feel welcome. Despite the cold and the madness outside, the restaurant remained calm and peaceful inside. Even at full capacity, the volume stayed comfortable. The kitchen ran like an orchestra no yelling, no chaos, no stressed staff just teamwork and smiles. I wanted to take a moment to praise Huli Sue’s, their staff, and their phenomenal hostess. They handled what could have been an overwhelming night with grace and efficiency. They already had my business —but after that experience, I’ll make it a point to go even more often.“

“My wife and I happened upon this magical gem tonight. We had spent the day in Asheville and were actually looking for a Mexican restaurant. My wife saw this and said that we hadn't had BBQ in a good while. So, we changed our plans. We walked in and noticed the awards on the walls and the Pride shirt. Every minute inside was amazing! The front of the house staff were all so friendly. The food was absolutely wonderful! When one of the ladies that works the dining room came to the table, she was warm, sweet, and spunky! We cannot thank you enough for such an amazing experience! We will definitely be returning and bringing our kids next time! 🤟🏻❤️ Thank you Punky Brewster! 😉“

“We had a lovely visit here last evening while briefly in the area. They are doing alright after the terrible hurricane thankfully!!!!! Over the years this has been our favorite go to spot and yesterday was no different. Food very tasty, plentiful, feel is a positive price point. I personally can be a bit picky about barbecue, I really don’t care for excessive fat in my meat and I find the brisket is perfectly lean!! 2 employees who are new to us as we haven’t been back in two years, Ian and Sheryl were very pleasant, smiles on their faces, communicative, and remained diligent in providing great service. They have had some updates on their menu, not as many side choice selections but the ones we all chose were most appetizing! I do miss the pineapple casserole side and was told its available on the menu in the fall. Spouse also feels their beer selection is great. They were all out of the popular homemade banana and wafer pudding, but just gives us something to look forward to during our next visit as we will absolutely continue to eat here. Positive all around! Tasty, clean, and lovely folks all working inside thank you thank you!“

“It’s great food but be warned to not leave your food on a table at any point. I had a fresh tray of food I was excited to eat ,I set it down on a table and walked over to the bar quickly to grab a beer when I turned around to go back to my babe the whole tray of fresh u touched food was gone. Thrown away. 20 bucks down the drain because an employee couldn’t wait a second to make sure the untouched food wasn’t from someone who might be in the bathroom or at the bar grabbing a drink.“

“Phenomenal food, awesome atmosphere, amazing service! 10/10. Highly recommend!!!“

“BEST BBQ IN N.C!! Friendly people and great food can't ask for more i love this place and recommend it 100%❣️“

“We ordered lunch here while visiting Antler Hill Village. The food was prepared quickly, and we found a place nearby to sit and dine beneath one of the umbrellas. The sandwiches were good, not great, but we didn't expect a gourmet meal from a food truck. It is a decent place to eat if you're looking for something quick.“

“If I could give them 10 stars, I would! I took my husband here for his birthday dinner last night, & we definitely felt like we had a culinary experience! The drinks we spectacular & affordable. We did the chef tasting for dinner, & the staff made it like telling a story through food. Our server Jesse G was so personable, animated, made great recommendations, & very attentive to us the entire meal. Okay, so just about the food. We are total foodies, especially on a vacation/for a special occasion like this. We loved unqiue, tasty foods, & occasionally enjoy a more fine dining experience. Our meal at Ukiah was that & more! It was served in 10 small plate courses. They spaced each dish, timed them perfectly, & each dish built on the last in such a way that was truly amazing. Just when we thought the last one was our favorite, the next one was as good or better. The vanilla, almond, coconut cake with house ice cream finisher almost wrecked me lol! I could have licked the plate clean, but I was honestly too full to commit that hard. Every staff member that brought us a dish, refilled our drinks, cleared our table, etc were so friendly. Jesse (funny enough, also my husband's name & same spelling) was one of the best waiter's we've had, but also the kind of person you just want to be friends with after you eat & go hang out at the bar or something. It is definitely a higher end restaurant, but for the experience & service, it is well worth the money! We hope to return some day for sure!“

“I am a 53 years old. Born and raised here. I have eaten here from time to time in my lifetime. But, I just read about how they treated some students. Took their money, then called the police on them. The witness said the students weren't causing trouble. Disgusting. One person cursed the students on the way out.“

“Everything we got was delicious. Wings, oysters on the half shell and lobster bisque w/ mini lobster grill cheese. Cool vibe atmosphere. Great service. It’s a hidden gem.“

“It’s not often I run into management that truly embodies what a manager should be. Tonight, Monica, went above and beyond to deliver exceptional customer service ensuring my party had a truly remarkable experience. She’s truly impressive, I had the pleasure of watching her work hand in hand alongside her staff.“

“Busy place!! We're servers 1st off, so we understand. We ordered steaks, duh. Filet and ribeye. (MR) Came out blue rare. Sent them back and got same steaks, flashed and now rare. We decided to eat them because we were starving... Poor form for a "steakhouse". Everything else was GREAT, including our waitress!! (Who we tipped 20+% Not her fault you have someone who can't cook meat.) Lol. I recommend the filet. Tasty even rare!!“