BBQ in Lexington, NC

I stopped here when I was in NC last March and I read in one of my guidebooks that the area was well known for a different type of BBQ. Vinegar based sauce I think it is. Anyway, there are supposed to be a ton of BBQ places there, and I expected I would have no problem finding one. I didn't see a single one however, and was getting frustrated until I saw a policeman parked in a parking lot. I pulled up next to him and asked him where I could find some of the bbq I had read about. He laughed and gave me a police escort to one of the bbq places! It was great, but of course, I don't remember the name of the place. It was white and was up a slight hill if I remember right. I will admit, I didn't care for it at first, but when I ate some of the leftovers, I found myself craving the stuff!

Anyway, I'm looking for some thoughts about who has the best bbq in Lexington, NC. I plan on driving through when I go on vacation and want to pick up some to take along with me to a cottage I'll be renting. Thanks!

The place that has been traditionally held up as the leading example is Lexington #1, formerly (and still occasionally) known as "Honey Monk's". Could not say whether it is currently the best or not...

You said formerly known as. What is it's current name?

I'll quote JimInKy from another thread in answer to your question:

JimInKy wrote: "Incidentally, the locals never knew who I was talking about several years back when I asked directions to Lexington Number 1; they all know it as Lexington Barbecue or "Honey Monk's", after the owner's nickname."

It is named "Lexington #1", but referred to as "Lexington Barbecue" or "Honey Monk's" locally...

Oh, that helps! I will check that one out then. Thanks so much!

Lexington #1 (aka Lexington Barbecue and Honey Monk's) is the white restaurant on a slight hill that you describe. Obviously, the policeman who escorted you there knew what he was doing. You are right that this stuff is downright addictive.

Oh great! The policeman told me that that one always was crowded. He acted like he wasn't familiar with the different places didn't know which ones were good, he must have been putting me on!

Here's a link to a complete list of the Lexington BBQ joints:

http://www.ibiblio.org/lineback/bbq/jnts-il.htm

I've been to about half of them.

My favorites are Lexington BBQ, The BBQ Center and Cooks.

A lot of folks like Speedy's and Smokey Joes but I don't care for them as much.

Thanks! I guess what I should do is get a supply of bbq from Lexingtons #1 and then get a small order elsewhere just to compare!

quote:

Originally posted by Rapunzll

Thanks! I guess what I should do is get a supply of bbq from Lexingtons #1 and then get a small order elsewhere just to compare!

Ask for a small sampling of "lean brown" chopped Q at Lexington # 1. They cook over wood coals, and the lean brown is the outside meat, VERY heavily smoked. It is an acquired taste, is not listed on the menu, and you won't be served that meat unless you ask for it specifically.

"Honey Monk" is Wayne Monk's nickname, and the restaurant is locally and regionally known as "Honey Monk's" or "Lexington Barbecue". It is the standard by which all other Lexington style Q is judged. The Monk's got their start in BBQ working at "Stamey's" in Greensboro.

We always load up on their sauce (not sold anywhere except at the restaurant, and they won't ship it) when we are by. They will also pack a supply of Q in ice for you if you are traveling by.

quote:

Originally posted by Rapunzll

Oh great! The policeman told me that that one always was crowded. He acted like he wasn't familiar with the different places didn't know which ones were good, he must have been putting me on!

Lexington, N.C. has more barbecue restaurants per capita than any city anywhere. In any given year, there will be 16 to 19 barbeque establishments open and serving. And several are quite good. Lexington folk are loyal to their favorite, to the point some won't allow that any of the others are particularly good. I do believe the police officer was putting you on.

I met a young, up and coming writer last summer who hails from Lexington. All afternoon I tried to wheedle him into telling me his 2nd or 3rd favorite Lexington barbeque joint. He wouldn't budge. It was Honey Monk, period! With each new effort, he just stubbornly offered up another Honey Monk testament.

I've seen Wayne Monk busy in the kitchen on a Saturday night but have never had the pleasure of meeting him. The place has huge lines on Friday and Saturday evenings; diners don't relax long after finishing their meals, knowing others are waiting in that long line.

Besides cooking great que, I think Mister Monk is very well liked in Lexington. His que is a bit more to my liking than some of the others. I've eaten at 3 Lexington pits, but given a choice when passing nearby next time, I would just as soon revisit Lexington Barbecue as try another one.

I love Lexington Barbecue's sauce, or Lexington Dip, as its called. It is quite spicy and complements the chopped pork perfectly. The Dip at one of the other Lexington places tasted like diluted ketchup to me; it had little flavor and added nothing to the meat.

quote:

Originally posted by Howard Baratz

Lexington #1 (aka Lexington Barbecue and Honey Monk's) is the white restaurant on a slight hill that you describe. Obviously, the policeman who escorted you there knew what he was doing. You are right that this stuff is downright addictive.

Howard is absolutely correct. Lexington Barbecue does sit up on a slight hill and is housed in a sprawling white building. Lexington Barbecue is the only place around that fits Rapunsll's story.

Hillbilly knows his North Carolina que and is right on about Lexington Barbecue setting the standard for Lexington-style barbecued pork (barbecued shoulders and a sauce that is vinegar based, but laced with ketchup or tomato product).

Rapunzll, You might also want to pick up some barbecued slaw at Lexington Barbecue. I wasn't crazy for this style slaw the first time I had it (which was at another Lexington barbecue shop), but have since grown to love it. It's very good at Honey Monk's. Had I first eaten it there, I think I would have enjoyed it.

Many of the great North Carolina barbecue establishments make stunningly delicous hush puppies (Stamey's and Bridges Barbecue Lodge are favorites), but I am not fond of the ones made at Honey Monk's. They are fried dark brown and are very crusty. If you like a crusty, crunchy, thinner hush puppy, you might prefer this version. They are okay, just not what I most enjoy.

JimInKy: I will be in a meeting in Charlotte in a few weeks and I plan on making a stop in Lexington. Please advise of the three best que places and I will stop there. Lexington BBQ will be my first stop.

Thanks
Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Actually, Wayne Monk learned the art of barbecue from a man named Warner Stamey who was well known in Davidson County for his pig cookin' abilities. Warner Stamey founded Stamey's Barbecue in Greensboro which is now operated by his family. Stamey also taught Red Bridges who opened Bridges Barbecue Lodge in Shelby. Stamey himself learned from Jess Swicegood. Swicegood and Sid Weaver sold barbecue from competing tents across from the courthouse in the 1910s.

Other good joints in Lexington include Bar-B-Que Center, Jimmy's, Smokey Joe's, Cook's, Smiley's and Whitley's. Among places that no longer cook traditional Lexington barbecue are Speedy's, Lexington-Style Trimmings, John Wayne's and Henry James. Avoid 'em and support the folks who still practice the difficult and costly art of real wood-cooked barbecue.

Y'all are making me so hungry for this stuff and I won't be down there till the end of April! JimInKy, thanks for the tip about the hush puppies. I'll see if I can find one of the places you recommended and pick some up! I'll also make sure I get some of their coleslaw at Lexington BBQ.

I'm going to have to print all this info up so I can take it along with me!

quote:

Originally posted by Rapunzll

Y'all are making me so hungry for this stuff and I won't be down there till the end of April! JimInKy, thanks for the tip about the hush puppies. I'll see if I can find one of the places you recommended and pick some up! I'll also make sure I get some of their coleslaw at Lexington BBQ.

I'm going to have to print all this info up so I can take it along with me!

Rapunzll, one day after our exchange about hush puppies at premier North Carolina barbecue restaurants, Michael Stern posted a new review of Stamey's in Greensboro. The review has a great picture of a typical barbecue plate with fresh, hot hush puppies. It's a terrific review with several good photos. That's the main Stamey's, across the street from the Greensboro Colliseum (an easy on-off from Interstate 40). I've eaten at that que palace at least a dozen times. Everything is fresh and delicious. His barbecue slaw is my favorite in the state - quite spicy like the Lexington Dip served with the que.

I don't recall who first did it, but one of the state's leading barbecue operators decided to try a new approach to making hush puppies. Thinking an electric donut making machine could be used, he modified a fitting so the machine would squirt out the cornmeal batter in a usuable shape. Ergo, the half moon shape of hush puppies in barbecue parlors all across the state.

Dearfolk,
When I lose some more weight, I plan a roadtrip to Lexington to eat in EVERY barbecue place there and in the surrounding territory - Thomasville, Asheboro, wherever. This takes in 25 to 30 places, all in all, and when my weight approaches 220, I will be up for the task.
It's amazing to me that people in that area actually have a LESS THAN NORMAL occurrance of heart trouble. It's not uncommon there to talk to people who eat barbecue seven days a week, which is not at all difficult to do in Lexington.
Thanks to you, JimInNC, for mentioning who uses a real pit and who uses smokers. The late, lamented City Barbecue used a pit: I wonder if it's been recycled, as it were.
Singing Lexingtonally, Ort. Carlton in Melodic Athens, GA.

Where is Greensboro? I don't have much time to travel through NC this time, as my actual destination is GA, but if it's not too far away, I might be able to swing by!

quote:

Originally posted by Rapunzll

Where is Greensboro? I don't have much time to travel through NC this time, as my actual destination is GA, but if it's not too far away, I might be able to swing by!

Greensboro is about 35 miles NNE of Lexington. There's no need to visit Greensboro for barbecue on this trip if you're going to Lexington. Stamey's will be there for another time; they are well established and likely to be around for a long, long time.

I'll make a point of checking out Stamey's at a later date. I'm planning on moving south in a couple of years, so I'll have plenty of time to check out BBQ places then.

I on my trip in a week and a half. Any last thoughts?

quote:

Originally posted by Ort. Carlton.


The late, lamented City Barbecue used a pit: I wonder if it's been recycled, as it were.

City Barbecue was absolutely terrific. I guess they've been gone for ten years or so. The building is vacant and the name is still on the door. I can just taste the chopped tray (with outside brown, of course) and those great hushpuppies. Lack of parking and the hidden location (behind the courthouse) likely did 'em in.

Jim

The Sundancer will be doing Stameys and Lexington BBQ #1 in just a few days. I will enjoy both.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Hi Paul! When will you be there? I'll be at L#1 sometime on Thursday. I can hardly wait, it's gonna be a great way to start my vacation!

The Sundancer is gonna be there sometime on 5/9/04 which I think is on a Saturday.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

The Sundancer is gonna be there sometime on 5/9/04 which I think is on a Saturday.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer,
We will be h-u-n-g-r-i-l-y awaiting your report. This is one thread that we need to keep reasonably active... so, as that band from N. C. named it so well, Let's Active.
Thinking Porcine Wishes (I'm Not That Fat; I Just Want A Plate Of Pig For Later, And There Isn't Any Within Walking Distance), Ort. Carlton in Piteously-Lacking, Smoker-Filled Athens, Georgia.
P. S. I'll have to check out Jot-'Em-Down Store & BBQ, a new place on Whitehall Road here in Athens that reportedly cooks on a newly-built pit. How the health folks let them do it is anyone's guess... maybe they make do with a 76 health rating because of it or something. I'll post elsewhere on this one.
P. P. S. Hillbilly, thanks for the tip about the "lean brown" outside meat at The Honey Monk! I can't wait for a plateful... or two... or three!
P. P. P. S. JiminNC, thanks for the remembrance of City Barbecue. I think the proprietor died is what happened (I was told and have forgotten), and his family just kept the building intact. It does have an adjacent pit, by the way.

Ort: I will Keep you in tune. I will be there in a couple of weeks. Why don't you meet me and we will enjoy toghether.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

hi all,
I was in Charlotte for the first time last year, and made a trip to Lexington the cornerstone of my Saturday layover before flying back north. Lexington #1 did not disappoint. In fact, I went there for lunch, then drove to Winston-Salem, then back to Lexington #1 for an early dinner. Worth the trip.

Does anyone know the hours for Lexington #1?

I was supposed to leave on my trip last night but had to have brake work done and am leaving later. I want to make sure I am going through when they are open!

I thought I had found a website, but can't find it for the life of me now!

quote:

Originally posted by Rapunzll

Does anyone know the hours for Lexington #1?

I was supposed to leave on my trip last night but had to have brake work done and am leaving later. I want to make sure I am going through when they are open!

I thought I had found a website, but can't find it for the life of me now!

Opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 9:30 P.M., 6 days a week. NOT OPEN ON SUNDAYS! And I have found them closed on some holidays. Telephone # is 336-249-9814.

Thank You! You were just in time, I am packing the car and will be out the door! :-)

I talked to Wayne Monk at Lexington Barbecue just about two weeks ago. The night I was there, people were lined up out the door and lined up 8-10 deep to pay. Despite the chaos and the rush, though, Wayne calmly took me all through the place, including back around the pits. During the Reagan administration, Wayne prepared barbecue for a state dinner, off-site in Williamsburg, Virginia, feeding Margaret Thatcher, Francois Mitterand, and Helmut Kohl. He's a North Carolina barbecue legend but a most unassuming and affable person. Lexington Barbecue is a bit tricky to get to, if you're unfamiliar with the town. It's right off Business 85 (the offshoot of the Interstate marked by the green signs).

Fred Sauceman
Johnson City, Tennessee

quote:

Originally posted by sauceman

I talked to Wayne Monk at Lexington Barbecue just about two weeks ago. The night I was there, people were lined up out the door and lined up 8-10 deep to pay. Despite the chaos and the rush, though, Wayne calmly took me all through the place, including back around the pits. During the Reagan administration, Wayne prepared barbecue for a state dinner, off-site in Williamsburg, Virginia, feeding Margaret Thatcher, Francois Mitterand, and Helmut Kohl. He's a North Carolina barbecue legend but a most unassuming and affable person. Lexington Barbecue is a bit tricky to get to, if you're unfamiliar with the town. It's right off Business 85 (the offshoot of the Interstate marked by the green signs).

Fred, I have read your writings and I am a fan of yours.

I will be in Lexington, NC next week and I will stop at Honey Monk's

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Fred Sauceman
Johnson City, Tennessee

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7


I will be in Lexington, NC next week and I will stop at Honey Monk's

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Sundancer, When do you expect to be at Monk's?

Ms Rapunzll how is your trip so far? I grew up in Greensboro and we had Stamey's often. However, our real treat was Lex #1. I still go by there when I go to Gboro. When you get it to go they give you a pckage of white bread buns to go with! You are a lucky girl to get all this good advice! Hope you are having fun.

I am home now and had a great time. I actually have some left over BBQ from Honey Monks that I'm going to have for dinner tonite. I stopped at the Food Lion in Lexington to pick up some of the Duplin wineries scuppernong wine (you can't find it here in northern Michigan)and asked the man ahead of me how to get there and he not only gave me directions, he also told me I was in luck as it was Friday and on Friday there was a woman who did a berry dessert, dang it, the type is on the tip of my tongue and I can't remember. Anyway, I got a bit of that too and it was good! :-)

That is too great you were buying scuppernong wine! The perfect NC accompanment (read with a Frenchy accent) for Lex #1. Was the dessert cobbler?

Yes! Cobbler is the word I was looking for! It was good and supposedly only available on Friday.

I have cheap taste in wine, I like the fact that scuppernong actually tastes like grapes!

Cobbler is yummy. I am a good Southern girl and have several recipes for it. Email me at shanklemsw@msn.com if you want them.

We went directly from the Greensboro airport to Lexington # 1 to kick off our week long visit back to western North Carolina. I knew I had missed the BBQ (chopped, lean brown) but I had forgotten how good the huspuppies and the sauce laced coleslaw are. I always order the large chopped tray (just meat, coleslaw and huspuppies) and sweet tea. The plate adds fries, but gives a little less meat than the large tray. We also got a case (12 bottles) of their unique "Smokehouse" sauce (they don't ship) to give us a little taste of the Monk recipe when my wife slow cooks a pork loin in a crockpot.

I was reminded why we get to Lexington anytime we are within 100 miles. WHAT A GREAT PLACE!!

Can anyone tell me if there's still a place in Charlotte that served Lexington-style bbq called "Camp Greene"? Used to go there in the late 80s while working as a reporter for the Charlotte Observer. Or, we'd try to go there; he'd only open up when he felt like it, which wasn't often; he didn't have a phone; and you'd just have to drive by to see if the door was unlocked. It was located in an ancient log-cabin type deal from the 1940's in the warehouse district. I still dream about it.

I used to stop by Lexington #1 on my way home from the High Point furniture market twice a year because my husband wouldn't let me in the house without a pound or two of lean brown and a couple of bottles of sauce. I seem to remember that they also had curb service - you could pull around the side and honk for service. Am I remembering that correctly?

quote:

Originally posted by minniesales

I used to stop by Lexington #1 on my way home from the High Point furniture market twice a year because my husband wouldn't let me in the house without a pound or two of lean brown and a couple of bottles of sauce. I seem to remember that they also had curb service - you could pull around the side and honk for service. Am I remembering that correctly?

Yes, you are.

Hillbilly,

Do you know if Honey Monk's will be open on Monday (Memorial Day)? I am on my way from Chapel Hill to Charlottesville VA and heard about Lexington BBQ and want to give it a try. I could stop Saturday morning and get it to go, but I'd rather sit down and eat it Monday night if possible.

Greg

quote:

Originally posted by gbuchold

Hillbilly,

Do you know if Honey Monk's will be open on Monday (Memorial Day)? I am on my way from Chapel Hill to Charlottesville VA and heard about Lexington BBQ and want to give it a try. I could stop Saturday morning and get it to go, but I'd rather sit down and eat it Monday night if possible.

Greg

I have been out of the loop for a couple of days, but sorry I didn't get back to you before now. I don't know the Memorial Day schedule. Se my post on page 1 for their telephone number.

quote:

Originally posted by apacheplume

Can anyone tell me if there's still a place in Charlotte that served Lexington-style bbq called "Camp Greene"? Used to go there in the late 80s while working as a reporter for the Charlotte Observer. Or, we'd try to go there; he'd only open up when he felt like it, which wasn't often; he didn't have a phone; and you'd just have to drive by to see if the door was unlocked. It was located in an ancient log-cabin type deal from the 1940's in the warehouse district. I still dream about it.

That would have been Old Original Barbecue located on Camp Greene St. They were real log-burners and pretty damn good, especially for Charlotte. They closed 10-12 years ago.

Jim

We arrived home Saturday from a short trip to western NC where we spent two days and ate at four Lexington BBQ's.

Our first stop was Lexington BBQ where we forgot to ask for "outside brown" and we made the further mistake of ordering sliced pig. The large thick odd shaped chunks of pork just did not make it for us.
The "dip" was excellent -vinegary and spicy, and the red slaw was also delicious. The hush puppies tasted like they might have been made in a factory someplace and warmed up in the kitchen. But I'd go back with no hesitation the next time I'm in Lexington.

Second stop was Smokey Joe's. This was our favorite, the BBQ ws nicely chopped with a mixture of outside brown and white meat, the sauce was excellent - a little more tomato than at Lexington . the slaw was fine, red, and tasty. The hush puppies were better than at Lexington, but still not the greatest.

We had a late afternoon snack of a BBQ sandwich at Jimmy's which was also very very good. they offered two sauces, one spicier than the thinner one which I learned was just the spicier one watered down a bit. The slaw was excellent .

We drove out to Cook's, a place off the beaten path ,about five miles out of town and pretty much hidden in the woods. The chopped BBQ was delicious, the sauce was spicy without too much heat, and the slaw was the best we had in Lexington. The hush puppies were great - little round slightly larger than a grape sized nuggets of pure corn meal delight. And we had a pleasant conversation with a man and his wife who had grown up in Stone rRidge, NY , a town just over the mountain from us - small world...

We had breakfast of eggs and "livermush" at Jimmy's - the stuff is just like scrapple and I love scrapple. And the huge biscuit at Jimmy's was superior!

Lexington is a great little town to visit. We discovered a wonderful Arts Center, the biggest hardware store I've ever seen, and the people were universally friendly and helpful. The service in every place we went was fast and friendly, and the prices are remarkably low considering the quality of the really fine BBQ available every place we went. BTW: we were given a list of 26 BBQ in and around Lexington to choose from.

Cheers, John

You know Lexington bbq is the real deal when it poses an environmental hazard.

Quoted from the Raleigh "News & Observer":

June 15, 2004 News & Observer, The (Raleigh, NC)
Not bad air, county says, just good barbecue

Wade Rawlins Staff Writer

It seems barbecue smoke by another name -- in this case, pollution -- just doesn't smell as sweet. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says Davidson County doesn't meet a new, tighter standard for particulate matter -- pollutants that include microscopic particles of dust, dirt, soot and smoke. It has considered putting the county on the state's dirty air list, to be released this fall. Being on the list can make it difficult to recruit industry, and

The couple of BBQ's that have opened in NYC have gone thru Hell
trying to get permits because of that sweet and healthful smoke that bureaucratsjust don't understand.

cheers, John

Lexington is still on my "must do" list. Just returned home from trip to Atlanta done only to hit a few roadfood places. Will post a full trip report soon, but didn't have time to stop southbound, had to make do with Stamey's in Greensboro and passed thru nothbound on Sunday with everything closed.

Don't forget to head west on highway 64 to Asheboro (about 25 miles), and give Hop's BBQ a try. Also try Henry James BBQ , I love their coleslaw and tangy sauce

I drove by Lexington BBQ today, yes, I drove by, did not stop. it sure was tempting. I was eating a pizza I'd bought earlier. But, this place looked so neat. It was cold today and the brick building next to the restaurant ( I assume the smokehouse) was billowing out about 4 chimneys of BBQ smoke that I could smell from the road.
I wanted to try bbq on this trip but honestly, there were so many joints it would be impossible.

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

I drove by Lexington BBQ today, yes, I drove by, did not stop. it sure was tempting. I was eating a pizza I'd bought earlier. But, this place looked so neat. It was cold today and the brick building next to the restaurant ( I assume the smokehouse) was billowing out about 4 chimneys of BBQ smoke that I could smell from the road.
I wanted to try bbq on this trip but honestly, there were so many joints it would be impossible.

Too bad you missed some great "Q" in Lexington. Many will say that this is the best place in the USA for great smoked pork. Others may argue that Lexington, TN is the best. I have never visited Lexington, NC and I look forward to that great experience. You may have missed a wonderful time.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Not to worry, Paul, I'll be heading back that way again. Your earlier posts indicated you were going there and were going to give a review.

What happened was I'd order a pizza the previous night from a place in Fayetteville called Tony's Pizza which never came so I had pizza on the brain on my way home. Stopped at a neat little place in Siler City, NC called Big Daddy's Pizza and was eating that as I passed thru Lexington. NC, that is.

I had a large tray of "Lean Brown" (not on menu, just available by request) at Lexington # 1 Thursday and bought an additional 3 pounds(plus 3 pints of slaw) to take home for a gathering Friday night. What a treat!!

What does Lean Brown cost per pound?

quote:

Originally posted by carlton pierre

What does Lean Brown cost per pound?

$9.95. They don't ship, but they keep a supply of styrofoam coolers on hand to ice down your order for the trip home.

quote:

Originally posted by Hillbilly

I had a large tray of "Lean Brown" (not on menu, just available by request) at Lexington # 1 Thursday and bought an additional 3 pounds(plus 3 pints of slaw) to take home for a gathering Friday night. What a treat!!

Lean Brown is a new one to me. What does that mean?

quote:

Originally posted by brentk

quote:

Originally posted by Hillbilly

I had a large tray of "Lean Brown" (not on menu, just available by request) at Lexington # 1 Thursday and bought an additional 3 pounds(plus 3 pints of slaw) to take home for a gathering Friday night. What a treat!!

Lean Brown is a new one to me. What does that mean?

It has more of the outside meat, exposed directly to the wood smoke and direct heat. You can als ask for "outside brown" at a lot of Q joints and get similar meat. It is heavily smoked and there are some who don't particularly like it that way.