11 Foods North Carolinians Crave As Soon As They Leave Their State
Ever watched a North Carolinian pack their bags for a trip? Between the socks and sunscreen, there’s usually a gnawing worry about what they’ll eat while away from home.
Our state’s unique flavors become part of our DNA, creating food memories that haunt us the minute we cross state lines.
These 11 beloved North Carolina foods cause serious homesickness when we’re forced to go without them.
1. Lexington-Style Barbecue
Red-tinged, vinegar-kissed pork shoulder that makes taste buds dance! Lexington-style barbecue isn’t just food, but a religion with devoted followers who argue its superiority with evangelical fervor.
I once watched my uncle smuggle a vacuum-sealed bag of this smoky goodness through airport security. The TSA agent, a fellow North Carolinian, just winked and waved him through.
Served chopped or sliced with that signature red slaw, this barbecue represents generations of pit-smoking tradition.
2. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Nothing compares to snagging a hot dozen when that red neon sign glows. Founded in Winston-Salem in 1937, these pillowy rings of heaven have become international superstars, but they just taste better in their home state.
The melt-in-your-mouth original glazed doughnuts create traffic jams whenever the “Hot Now” sign lights up. North Carolinians develop a sixth sense for detecting when fresh batches emerge from the glazing waterfall.
First-timers often make the rookie mistake of eating just one.
3. Cheerwine
Cherry-red bubbly magic in a bottle! This wild cherry soda born in Salisbury in 1917 remains a North Carolina treasure that puzzles outsiders with its name—no, there’s no alcohol despite what tourists think.
Growing up, my grandmother kept her pantry stocked with Cheerwine. Summer afternoons meant sitting on her porch swing, condensation-covered bottle in hand, watching thunderstorms roll across Carolina skies.
The deep burgundy color and bold cherry flavor make this fizzy drink instantly recognizable to homesick Tar Heels.
4. Bojangles’ Cajun Filet Biscuit
This breakfast-lunch-dinner-anytime masterpiece causes serious withdrawal symptoms once you venture beyond Bojangles’ territory.
The seasoned chicken filet’s kick paired with that scratch-made biscuit creates flavor harmony that chain restaurants elsewhere can’t replicate. Road-tripping North Carolinians plan their routes around Bojangles’ locations.
Many a college student has survived exam week fueled solely by these portable packets of Southern comfort.
5. Livermush
Don’t let the name scare you! This Cleveland County delicacy—a pork liver and cornmeal loaf sliced and fried to crispy perfection—divides even native North Carolinians into love-it-or-hate-it camps.
My boyfriend’s family served livermush at Sunday breakfast. Watching them slather grape jelly on these crispy slices seemed bizarre until I tried the sweet-savory combination myself. Mind. Blown.
Western North Carolina breakfast tables aren’t complete without this humble food that outsiders eye with suspicion.
6. Calabash-Style Seafood
Lightly breaded, flash-fried seafood that practically floats off your plate! This coastal treasure from the tiny fishing town of Calabash has spawned countless imitators, but nothing matches the original.
The delicate coating allows the fresh-caught seafood flavor to shine through rather than drowning it in heavy batter. Plates arrive heaped with shrimp, flounder, oysters, and scallops still sizzling from their quick dip in hot oil.
Hushpuppies on the side aren’t optional—they’re essential for sopping up every last bit of flavor.
7. Carolina-Style Hot Dogs
“All the way” means something special here! Our hot dogs come topped with chili (no beans, thank you), onions, mustard, and that signature red slaw that makes Yankees scratch their heads in confusion.
Back in high school, we’d scrape together lunch money for Skynard’s hot dogs downtown. The owner knew every regular’s order by heart and would start making mine—two all-the-way dogs—the moment I walked through the door.
The flavor combination might sound strange, but one bite converts most skeptics into believers.
8. Pepsi-Cola
Born in New Bern in 1893, this cola isn’t just a drink—it’s part of our heritage! North Carolinians feel personally offended when restaurants only serve “the other cola.” We want our hometown brew.
The original formula, created by pharmacist Caleb Bradham, was called “Brad’s Drink” before becoming Pepsi-Cola. Today’s version still carries that distinctive caramel sweetness that tastes like home to North Carolina natives.
Some local restaurants even cook with it, creating Pepsi-glazed ham that’ll make your taste buds sing.
9. Mount Olive Pickles
Crunchy, tangy cucumber perfection from the pickle capital of North Carolina! Mount Olive Pickle Company has been jarring up happiness since 1926, creating pickle products that make expatriate North Carolinians weep with longing.
The bread and butter chips, kosher dills, and those little sweet pickles grandmothers serve at holiday meals represent home in a jar. Nothing matches that distinctive Mount Olive crunch and flavor balance.
Their annual New Year’s Eve Pickle Drop attracts thousands who watch a glowing pickle descend at midnight.
10. Pimento Cheese
This orange-hued spread of sharp cheddar, mayonnaise, and pimentos creates instant happiness whether slathered on crackers or melted into grilled cheese sandwiches.
Every North Carolina family guards their recipe like Fort Knox. Some add jalapeños for kick, others swear by extra mayo for creaminess. The debates over proper texture can get heated at church potlucks.
Store-bought versions exist, but homemade pimento cheese, preferably made by someone’s grandmother using Duke’s mayonnaise, reigns supreme in the Tar Heel hierarchy of foods.
11. Moravian Cookies and Sugar Cake
Paper-thin spice cookies and sticky-sweet breakfast cake from Winston-Salem’s historic Moravian settlement! These traditional treats from the Old Salem bakeries represent North Carolina’s unique cultural heritage in delicious form.
The cookies, so thin you can almost see through them, come packed with ginger, clove, and molasses flavors. Meanwhile, the sugar cake features a pillowy potato-dough base topped with melted butter and brown sugar puddles.
During holidays, North Carolinians ship these treats to homesick relatives across the country.