Smokey Joe's Barbecue
“A 1972 South Main pit with a big menu and Wednesday/Friday ribs.”
Order a chopped pork plate with red slaw, then chase it with the ribs on the days they run and a slice of homemade pie. Dine-in, takeout and curbside; open Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday.
Know Before You Go
- Price
- Mid-range ($$)
- Don't miss
- Chopped Pork Plate, Red Slaw, and Baby Back Ribs
What to Order
Why It Stands Out
Founded by Joe Perry Cope in October 1972, Smokey Joe's serves pit-cooked Lexington-style pork alongside barbecue chicken and a wide roster of homemade vegetables, casseroles and desserts. Its peppery, vinegary baby back ribs are a local draw.
Quick Facts
- Address
- 1101 S Main St, Lexington, NC 27292
- Phone
- (336) 249-0315
- Website
- www.smokeyjoeslexington.com
- Price Range
- $$
Smokey Joe's Barbecue — Frequently Asked Questions
What should I order at Smokey Joe's Barbecue?
Regulars point to Chopped Pork Plate, Red Slaw, Baby Back Ribs, and Hush Puppies.
Is Smokey Joe's Barbecue expensive?
Smokey Joe's Barbecue is mid-range ($$).
What kind of barbecue does Smokey Joe's Barbecue serve?
Smokey Joe's Barbecue serves Lexington-Style barbecue — Lexington (or 'Piedmont') barbecue is built on pork shoulder rather than whole hog, cooked low and slow over hardwood coals until it can be chopped or sliced. It is dressed with a thin, tangy tomato-and-vinegar sauce known locally as 'dip,' and the same dip flavors the region's signature 'red slaw' (also called barbecue slaw), which uses no mayonnaise. The style traces to tent cooks like Sid Weaver and Jess Swicegood on the Lexington courthouse square in the early 1900s and was codified by pitmaster Warner Stamey. Davidson County calls itself the 'Barbecue Capital of the World.'