Brunswick stew is one of those North Carolina side dishes that can start a friendly argument at almost any barbecue table. Some folks want it thick with butter beans and corn, while others care most about the pepper, the tomato base, or how well it pairs with a hush puppy.
The good news is that you can still find a proper bowl at barbecue joints from the mountains to the eastern plains. This list covers seven spots across the state where the stew earns its place next to the pork, chicken, and cobbler.
Some are decades-old family operations, and others bring a newer smokehouse style to the table. Each one has its own reason to be on your radar, whether you are planning a road trip or just hunting for a better lunch.
Save this one, share it with your barbecue-loving friends, and start picking your first stop.
1. Stamey’s Barbecue, Greensboro, NC
Few barbecue names in Greensboro carry as much family history as Stamey’s. The business has been handed down through several generations, and the restaurant on West Gate City Boulevard still runs on classic plates and old-school sides.
The Brunswick stew here is the kind that reminds you what the dish is supposed to be. It comes loaded with butter beans, corn, potatoes, and field peas, which gives every spoonful some real substance.
Pair a bowl with the chopped pork barbecue plate or the chopped pork and quarter chicken plate. Collard greens, hush puppies, and fries round things out, and the peach cobbler with ice cream makes a strong closing argument.
I like this stop for a weekday lunch, since mornings and midweek hours tend to be calmer than Saturday afternoons. It is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and it has a drive-through, curbside pickup, and plenty of parking.
Bring the kids too. High chairs and a kids’ menu are available.
2. Parker’s Barbecue, Wilson, NC
Wilson is Eastern Carolina barbecue country, and Parker’s sits right on US-301 as one of its best-known tables. The setup is no-frills, with food served family-style or a la carte.
Family-style is the fun way to go. Fried chicken, pork barbecue, Brunswick stew, slaw, potatoes, hush puppies, and cornbread sticks keep coming to the table.
Fair warning for the heat-shy crowd. The stew here leans hard on black pepper, so it has a noticeable kick compared with sweeter versions around the state.
The menu also stretches past barbecue with fried shrimp and chicken wings, which helps if someone in your group wants seafood. Expect to spend about $10 to $20 per person.
Parker’s opens daily at 9 AM and closes at 7 PM, so plan for an earlier dinner. Weekday afternoons are usually easier than Saturday or Sunday, and the restaurant accepts reservations for groups.
3. The Redneck BBQ Lab, Benson, NC
Cornbread dunked straight into Brunswick stew might be the smartest move you can make in Benson. The Redneck BBQ Lab serves both, and the combination is a big part of why this rustic spot made the cut.
The menu goes well beyond whole-hog tradition. Brisket, burnt ends, ribs, turkey, sausage, and pulled pork all come off the smoker, and the Pick 2 Meats option lets you sample more than one.
Sides pull their weight here. Collard greens, baked beans, BBQ potatoes, and jalapeño mac and cheese sit next to the stew, and quarts of green beans and BBQ potatoes are available to take home.
Portions run large, and the sauces lean sweeter, including a Texas Hot Mess Sawse sold by the pint. Service is counter-style and fast, though a wait is common.
Hours start at 11 AM daily, with later closing times on Friday and Saturday. Dogs are welcome outside, which is handy on a road trip down NC-210.
4. Luella’s Bar-B-Que, Asheville, NC
Mountain towns are not usually the first place people look for Brunswick stew. Luella’s on Merrimon Avenue in north Asheville gives the western part of the state a solid claim.
The stew here is on the thinner, tomato-forward side, so fans of a chunky, spoon-standing version should know that going in. It works well as a filling side with a chopped pork sandwich, and hush puppies come with almost everything.
The rest of the menu is where Luella’s shows its range. Brisket, ribs, smoked chicken wings, deviled eggs, fried okra, and burnt ends mac and cheese all have a following.
Families get a nice perk, since the kids’ menu includes a Kids Brunswick Stew. That is a rare find on a children’s menu.
Luella’s is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, with outdoor seating and dogs allowed outside. Weekend evenings get busy, so a weekday lunch is the easier play.
5. Gary’s Bar-B-Cue, China Grove, NC
Ask around China Grove about local claims to fame and Gary’s comes up fast. The restaurant sits on US-29 just off I-85, which makes it an easy detour between Charlotte and the Triad.
Step inside and the vintage accents set a nostalgic tone before the food even shows up. The space is pared down, but it carries plenty of history.
The Brunswick stew is the reason many people pull off the interstate. Hot food, quick service, and good sauce keep the rest of the meal moving.
Gary’s also covers the diner side of the menu. The Big G Burger and the hamburger steak sandwich share space with pork, ribs, hushpuppies, onion rings, baked beans, and potato salad.
Plan around the schedule, since Gary’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM and closed Sunday and Monday. Curbside pickup is available if you need to eat on the go.
6. Stephenson’s Bar-B-Q, Willow Spring, NC
Brunswick stew is not a sidekick at Stephenson’s. It is listed right in the restaurant’s core identity alongside barbecued chicken, and the menu even offers a Pig and Brunswick Stew Combo.
This simple sit-down spot on NC-50 in Willow Spring serves classic Eastern NC vinegar-based pulled pork. A pitcher of sweet tea on the table sets the tone for an unhurried meal.
The side lineup is a love letter to old-fashioned country cooking. Boiled potatoes, spiced apples, collards, fried okra, liver, and gizzards all make appearances, along with hushpuppies sold by the dozen.
I would save room for the banana pudding. It is a fitting finish after a plate of pork and stew.
Stephenson’s opens Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM and closes on Sunday. There is a drive-through for takeout, and a to-go order of stew makes an easy dinner at home.
7. Hursey’s Bar-B-Q, Burlington, NC
Pit-cooked barbecue and vintage country decor give Hursey’s a long-standing feel on South Church Street in Burlington. It is the kind of place people happily drive an hour to reach.
The Brunswick stew is full of flavor and pairs naturally with the chopped BBQ plates and trays. Hush puppies here are small, crisp bites that disappear quickly.
Broasted chicken is another big draw, and it gives Hursey’s a different angle from the pork-only crowd. Seafood fans can go for the flounder shrimp combo or a fish sandwich.
Curious eaters should look for the gravy sandwich and pork skins. Homemade desserts like cobbler close things out.
Hursey’s is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM and closed Sunday. It accepts reservations, has a drive-through, and Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest times.
Seven stops, seven styles of stew. The only real way to crown a winner is to try a bowl at each one.
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