North Asheville
Luella’s Bar-B-Que
North Asheville’s barbecue house: smoked meats, big sides, a patio.
Five barbecue joints around Asheville, Arden and Swannanoa, in Ashe’s order. Smoked meats, big sides, long tables.
Ashe says Asheville barbecue is its own thing — a little Carolina, a little everywhere else. My five.
Arden
12 Bones Smokehouse
The ribs a sitting president drove out for — now in Arden, with a brewery attached.
Downtown
Huli Sue’s BBQ and Grill
Hawaiian-leaning barbecue in the Grove Arcade — get the huli huli chicken.
Swannanoa
Okie Dokies Smokehouse
Swannanoa’s smokehouse, worth the drive out Highway 70.
South Slope
Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue
Kansas City-style on the South Slope, burnt ends included.
Run a shop that belongs on this list? Tell Ashe — listings are free. Checked 2026-10-28.