If there’s one thing North Carolinians take seriously, it’s our bar-b-que. Most of us have a local place to which we are loyal to a fault. But we’ll still venture out of our comfort zone to check out the Q in other parts of the state.

The Pik N Pig, located in the small town of Carthage (population approximately 2,500), slow cooks their BBQ all night long over a natural wood fire — and trust us: it’s worthy of however far you have to drive to sample the goods.

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Cooked fresh daily, the savory pulled pork, roasted chicken and smothered ribs are a sensation guaranteed to make your tastebuds go crazy.

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Come during the warmer seasons and sit out back for a free side of watching small planes land all day long at a small, private airport adjacent to the restaurant.

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Not all pit masters go to the extreme lengths as does this family-owned bar-b-que joint. The “pit” is located out back and is a sight that must be seen on any visit to this hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

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Have you had a heaping helping of the slow-cooked goodness at this North Carolina BBQ joint? We’d love to know!

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Pik N Pig is located at 194 Gilliam McConnell Rd., Carthage, NC 28327. (That’s 90 miles from Charlotte, 120 miles from Wilmington, 45 miles from Fayetteville, 60 miles from Raleigh, and 206 miles from Asheville.) It’s open six days a week: Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Learn more on the official website of Pik N Pig and on their Facebook page.

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For more hole-in-the-wall BBQ restaurants in the Tar Heel State, check out this previous article.

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