Feeling piggy: Southern BBQ parlors

Just about my favorite Roadfood places to visit are bbq parlors in the South.  Not just for the great pork bbq, but you can usually count on some kind of tribute to the pig itself.  Whether it is in the sign outside or figurines on a shelf, happy, dancing pigs usually mean really good 'que!  Here are some of my favorites:
 
Bridges Barbecue Lodge - Shelby, NC


The Pink Pig Restaurant - Levy, SC


 
Corky's - Memphis, TN



 
The Little Dooey - Starkville, MS




Duke's Barbecue - Walterboro, SC 
 






Johnny Ray's - Birmingham, AL

 

Rendezvous - Memphis, TN 

 
Sweatman's - Holly Hill, SC





 
Bunn's Bar-B-Q - Windsor, NC

 
Leonard's - Memphis, TN



 
Melear's - Fayetteville, GA


 
Abe's - Clarksdale, MS






 
Bubba's Barbecue - Eureka Springs, AR


 
Brick Pit - Mobile, AL

 
Wilber's Barbecue - Goldsboro, NC

 
A & R Bar-B-Que - Memphis, TN



 
Po Pigs Bo-B-Q - Edisto Island, SC


 
Bob Sykes Bar-B-Que - Bessemer, AL



 
Jerry's Drive-in - Pensacola, FL

 
Westside Bar-B-Que - New Albany, MS




 
Interstate Bar-B-Q - Memphis, TN



 
Shaw's Barbecue House - Williamston, NC

 
Sgt. White's Diner - Beaufort, SC


Payne's - Memphis, TN

Oh man!  I appreciate the homage to the pig.... but without showing any picks of the "Que" its a bit of a tease....

Fabulous!!!  I enjoy a happy pig as much as the next guy.

This is not a BBQ parlor, but one of my favorite lunch stops close to home.

Rolli's Pork Loin Extraordinaire - Melbourne, FL

TTM-
Very much still in editing phase, but I was going to mention that it would be great if others would contribute their own oinkilicious photos.  Yours is a beaut!!!

If you are a fan of "Happy Pig" pictures, in general, flickr has a group dedicated to such.

"Happy Ham" photo pool

I rather enjoyed seeing all those signs and memorabilia buffetbuster. Thank you, for taking the time to point out some good BBQ places.

TTM-
Thanks for the link.  That was cool to look through.

DougS-
I appreciate you saying that.  It was a lot of fun to put together.

braunsteinm-
Sorry for no 'que photos, but that wouldn't go with the theme. 

What a great collection of piggies.  About half-way through it, I thought, "This would make a great coffee-table book!"

Good work, BB.

Greetings Buffetmaster and thanks for sharing. By the way, headed to FLA. RT95 next Monday. Are any of these you mentioned close to RT95? My typical trip has included stops at 1)Bubba's BBQ, Charlotte, 2)BigT's BBQ, Columbia SC 3)Georgia Pig, Brunswick, Georgia and finally 4)Dixie Crossroads, Titusville, FLA.
   These are all great stops, but it would be fun to try some place else if time permits i.e. close to RT95. Actually, Dixie Crossroads is a must stop. I buy several pounds of the rock shrimp and toss in the cooler. I know, Key West pink shrimp is stunning but the rock shrimp competes. Thanks

 
 OK  Here are a couple of additions to your Piggy Album.
 
First- The famous Beale Street Neon Pig in Memphis. I think this has been on more BBQ TV shows than any other Logo!
 

  
 
The second is a Vehicle rebuilt into a BBQ Cooker at the Madison Indiana Ribberfest Cookoff.
 

  
  
  
 

One that I remember passing by a lot (taking the 6PM Greyhound run to Nashville from
Birmingham & starting on U.S. 31) was Porky's Bar B-Q in Gardendale, Alabama: the
mascot on the sign looked like Porky Pig, wearing a chef's hat & carrying a tray.
 
(of course I have no idea if the establishment is still there, & it lost some of its traffic
when the remaining section of I-65 between Gardendale & Morris was finally completed
in the mid-'80s.)

euclid-
Sweatman's is not all that far away from I-95.  But, the place can be difficult to find and it is only open on Fridays and Saturdays.  Oh, and I am also a big fan of Dixie Crossroads!

Al-
Thanks for the truck/bbq cooker picture.  That is a real classic!

One thought that's always made me ponder was how could these pigs be smiling and dancing knowing their fate of how they're going to end up??

 

wanderingjew


One thought that's always made me ponder was how could these pigs be smiling and dancing knowing their fate of how they're going to end up??

 

Already done this in the professional sect. suicide food  I find this good free advertising
http://suicidefood.blogspot.com/2008/09/doctor-of-bbq.html

outstanding!  Thanks

  BB - oh man! I can't take it. All those beautiful piggy-laden signs and buildings. Your photos are making me SO hungry! I'm sorry to say that I've only been to one of these places ( Bob Sykes ), so I've got some real work ahead of me. At least next month's RF event will take care of Leonard's. One down, many to go.......                     Bob

I almost  lived at Bob Sykes in Jasper Alabama when I lived in Jasper and worked in  Pelham Alabama.  It was a major tragedy when it burned down.

Some other fabulous BBQ joints down South can be found in:

http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Belly-Ultimate-Lovers-Companion/dp/1565125479?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189451891&sr=8-1

BB - Terrific.  Been to a few of these like The Pink Pig and Sweatman's.  The place in Mobile is one I really want to get to..Brick Pit.  Read about a lot of these....

Have you been to Big Bob Gibsons?  First rate.  When you get to So. Florida..Tom Jenkin's.

Fantastic pictures!!Do you remember Hot Lick's in Pittsburgh in East Liberty?

Baah Ben-
I never ate at the Hot Licks in East Liberty, but I did make it to the one that was in Carnegie.  The most memorable thing about it was that a famous Pittsburgher was at another table and displayed the absolute worst table manners I have ever seen.  And yet, this person is revered here.  Ridiculous.

I have never eaten at Big Bob Gibson's before, although I know there are a lot of fans on here.  The Brick Pit is worth a special trip for.  Fantastic ribs!  How was The Pink Pig?  It was closed while I was taking the photos and I am very curious about the place.