History
Wayne Monk opened Lexington Barbecue (Honey Monk's) 60 miles north of Charlotte in 1962, cementing the style of chopped pork shoulder over hickory with tomato-vinegar sauce. The Piedmont style coexists with Eastern North Carolina's whole-hog vinegar style, and the two BBQ schools have argued for a century.
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Make it at home
Ingredients
- 1 pork shoulder, bone-in, about 4 to 5 kg
- Dry rub: 3 tablespoons coarse salt
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- Hickory wood chunks for smoking
- Lexington sauce: 240ml apple cider vinegar
- 60ml water
- 4 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Red slaw: half a small cabbage shredded, 120ml apple cider vinegar, 4 tablespoons ketchup, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon salt
Method
- Rub the pork shoulder all over with the dry rub. Refrigerate uncovered for 12 hours.
- Heat the smoker to 105 to 110 degrees Celsius (220 to 230 Fahrenheit) with hickory wood chunks. Smoke the shoulder for 8 to 10 hours, refreshing wood every 90 minutes.
- Pull the shoulder when the internal temperature hits 92 degrees Celsius (200 Fahrenheit). Rest in foil for 1 hour.
- Chop the meat with a cleaver or two forks. Mix with half the Lexington sauce.
- Make the red slaw by combining the cabbage with vinegar, ketchup, sugar and salt. Toss and rest 1 hour.
- Serve the chopped pork on a soft white bun with red slaw and extra sauce.
Tip from the editors. Hardwood charcoal works if hickory chunks are not available. Substitute oak as a softer-smoke alternative.
Where to eat lexington-style pork bbq
Lexington-style pork BBQ in Charlotte
Sweet Lew's BBQ ★ 4.5
Sweet Lew's BBQ in Belmont is Lewis Donald's wood-smoked Carolina BBQ counter, smoking whole pork shoulders, brisket and house sausages on a quiet street.
Why locals goA counter-service BBQ room on a quiet Belmont street, easy to drive past unless you're looking for it.
TipGet there before noon. The meats sell through by mid-afternoon.
Noble Smoke at Optimist Hall ★ 4.3
Noble Smoke at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's hickory-smoked-BBQ counter, with pulled pork, brisket and Southern sides served quick-service at the food hall.
OrderA two-meat plate of pulled pork and brisket with one side.
TipGet there before noon on weekends; the BBQ sells through Cash typically expected.
More places near Sweet Lew's BBQ and Noble Smoke at Optimist Hall
Not on this list, but close by, nearest first. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Optimist Hall Market, about 400 m away
- Botiwalla at Optimist Hall Street food, about 400 m away
- Bao and Broth at Optimist Hall Street food, about 400 m away
- The Dumpling Lady at Optimist Hall Street food, about 400 m away
- Enat Ethiopian at Optimist Hall Street food, about 400 m away
- Ava at Optimist Hall Street food, about 400 m away
More cities are in research. Want lexington-style pork bbq covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.