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You are here: Home / Restaurant & Bar Reviews / First Take: Lexington Barbecue #1 For Classic NC Barbeque

September 5, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

First Take: Lexington Barbecue #1 For Classic NC Barbeque

Sign at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining
Sign at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining 

When you first get to North Carolina as a transplant, one of the first things you’ll learn is that barbecue means only one thing: smoked and pulled/chopped pork! Whether you’re talking vinegar or a tomato based sauce, shoulders or whole-hog, it’s all about the pork. And when you’re talking about some of the best NC barbecue in the state, people usually think of Lexington Barbecue #1 off of Highway 85 in Lexington, NC. I had stopped by for lunch years ago and finally got back for a return visit recently. But now with a lot of barbecue eating under my belt, I wanted to see how the place held up.

Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining
Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining

From the outside, Lexington Barbecue just looks like a down-home barbecue spot in basic white and brick with hardwood smoke gently billowing out of the top. The parking lot is already jammed at 12:45pm but it looks like the early lunch crowd is starting to move on. Inside Lexington Barbecue, the place is bustling with locals looking to get their barbecue fix.

Smokehouse at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining
Smokehouse at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining

Old-school and clean, the staff here wears tan frocks reminding me of a simpler place and time. Small dining counter to the right, two dining rooms in back with a mix of small booths and some shared tables. We grab an end of a table and peer through the menu. It’s super basic with barbecue trays (slaw and hushpuppies), plates (slaw, hushpuppies and fries), sandwiches, sides and some desserts. I go with the coarsely chopped que!

Coarsely chopped barbeque plate at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining
Coarsely chopped barbeque plate at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining

The food comes out lickety-split, they do a serious volume here. The line for a table has really blown up so apparently the 2nd round of lunch folks are in the house! My plate looks fantastic, leaner pork shoulders in a light vinegary sauce with a touch of ketchup and heat. Perfectly fried crinkle fries on the side and some very spicy and tangy, finely chopped slaw, uhmmm…  It’d definitely some of the best que I’ve had in NC and well-deserved of its reputation. The meat is tender, the sauce light but flavorful.

Hush-puppies at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining
Hush-puppies at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining

A side basket of hush-puppies is also amazing. Perfectly fried with a brown crust and slightly onion-y interior. Again, some of the best I’ve had in NC. The entire meal is satisfying and I finish off with a beautiful peach cobbler with flaky pastry crust! Uh yeah, there are no such things as diets here at Lexington Barbecue #1.

Peach cobbler at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining
Peach cobbler at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington- NC Triangle Dining

Our glasses are filled up regularly and the staff here is very efficient but hospitable. We pay up front and head on of to our next destination full of great barbecue! And while I’m not sure when I’ll get back here next, Lexington Barbecue #1 is a worthwhile stop if you’re making the drive from the Triangle to Charlotte. Don’t miss their delicious que, hush-puppies and cobbler here for a taste of old-school North Carolina!

 

Lexington Barbecue

100 Smokehouse Lane

Lexington, NC 27295

336.249.9814

 

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Last Updated on December 30, 2016

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Filed Under: Restaurant & Bar Reviews, Travel Tagged With: Barbeque-Smoked Meats

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