Tarheel Q
“Real brick pits and hickory smoke out on US-64 West.”
Order the chopped pork with red slaw and hush puppies, and add wings if you want something extra. Breakfast is served too; open Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday.
Know Before You Go
- Price
- Budget-friendly ($)
- Don't miss
- Chopped Pork Tray, Red Slaw, and Hush Puppies
What to Order
Why It Stands Out
Tarheel Q cooks true Lexington-style barbecue on real brick pits over hickory wood, west of town toward Reeds. It is a favorite of purists for its wood-smoke flavor and unfussy country-store setting.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 6835 W US Highway 64, Lexington, NC 27295
- Phone
- (336) 787-4550
- Website
- tarheelqbbq.com
- Price Range
- $
Tarheel Q — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Tarheel Q?
Regulars point to Chopped Pork Tray, Red Slaw, Hush Puppies, and Smoked Wings.
Is Tarheel Q expensive?
Tarheel Q is budget-friendly ($).
What kind of barbecue does Tarheel Q serve?
Tarheel Q serves Lexington-Style barbecue — Lexington (or 'Piedmont') barbecue is built on pork shoulder rather than whole hog, cooked low and slow over hardwood coals until it can be chopped or sliced. It is dressed with a thin, tangy tomato-and-vinegar sauce known locally as 'dip,' and the same dip flavors the region's signature 'red slaw' (also called barbecue slaw), which uses no mayonnaise. The style traces to tent cooks like Sid Weaver and Jess Swicegood on the Lexington courthouse square in the early 1900s and was codified by pitmaster Warner Stamey. Davidson County calls itself the 'Barbecue Capital of the World.'