12 North Carolina BBQ Buffets Where Fall Plates Feel Like Pure Comfort
Ah, autumn! The crunchy leaves, the pumpkin spice… yawn. My favorite part of fall? It’s when my internal comfort-food radar screams “BBQ buffet!”
There’s something about that chilly air that just begs for a plate piled high with pulled pork, collards, and hushpuppies. I’ve scoured North Carolina, sacrificing my waistline (and a button or two), to bring you the definitive list of 12 places where fall plates aren’t just food; they’re an experience, a warm blanket for your soul.
You’re welcome.
1. Casey’s Buffet – Wilmington
Soul food lovers have been flocking to this Wilmington gem for years, and one taste explains why. The steam tables stay loaded with pit-smoked pork that falls apart at the touch of your fork, alongside crispy fried chicken that rivals grandma’s Sunday dinner.
Collard greens simmer with just the right amount of seasoning, while sweet potato casserole and mac and cheese round out your plate. Save room for the banana pudding because it has earned legendary status among regulars.
The all-you-can-eat format means you can go back for seconds without guilt. On cool fall evenings, this place fills up fast with families and friends seeking that warm, stick-to-your-ribs comfort only a proper buffet can deliver.
2. Fuller’s Old Fashioned BBQ – Fayetteville/Pembroke Area
Traditional pit cooking meets endless comfort at this Fayetteville-area favorite where the lunch and dinner buffets keep hungry diners happy. Slow-smoked meats take center stage, prepared the old-fashioned way over wood coals that impart that authentic smoky flavor you cannot fake.
Hot plates arrive loaded with tender pulled pork, tangy coleslaw, and buttery cornbread that crumbles just right. I stopped here last October after a long drive, and the buffet spread felt like a warm hug after miles of highway.
The rotating sides include everything from green beans to hush puppies, ensuring every visit offers something different. Fuller’s proves that sometimes the best comfort food comes from places that stick to time-tested recipes and generous portions.
3. Fred Chason’s Grandsons/Chason’s Buffet – Fayetteville/Hope Mills
Recently reorganized under new ownership, this local favorite continues serving the ribs and BBQ chicken that made it famous throughout the Hope Mills area. The buffet line stretches with options that celebrate Southern cooking at its finest, from smoky meats to vegetables prepared with care and tradition.
Tender ribs glisten with sauce while BBQ chicken emerges from the pit with crispy skin and juicy meat underneath. Regulars appreciate how the new management maintained the recipes that built this spot’s reputation over decades.
Classic sides like baked beans, potato salad, and fried okra complement the main attractions perfectly. When fall weather rolls in and you need a hearty meal that satisfies both stomach and soul, this buffet answers the call with plate after generous plate.
4. Dan’l Boone Inn – Boone
Forget self-serve lines because this legendary Boone establishment brings endless family-style platters straight to your table instead. Three different meats arrive alongside multiple vegetables and fluffy biscuits, all served in heaping portions meant for sharing and savoring.
The servers keep bringing more food until you wave the white flag, making it perfect for fall road-trippers who worked up serious appetites in the mountains. Fried chicken, country ham, and roast beef typically anchor the meat selection while green beans, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw fill out the vegetable roster.
The communal dining style creates a warm atmosphere where strangers become friends over passed platters. Mountain air and hearty food combine to create the ultimate comfort experience when autumn leaves paint the Blue Ridge in gold and crimson.
5. Granny’s Kitchen – Cherokee
Mountain comfort dishes rotate through this cafeteria-style spot that serves breakfast through dinner with generous portions and honest cooking. The buffet line changes daily, offering BBQ-style meats alongside country favorites that reflect Cherokee’s mountain heritage and Southern traditions.
Biscuits and gravy start mornings right while smoked meats and hearty vegetables fuel afternoon adventures through the Smokies. My cousin swears by their fried catfish and green beans, which she orders every single visit without fail. The casual atmosphere welcomes everyone from families with hungry kids to hikers needing serious fuel after trail time.
Prices stay reasonable despite the all-you-can-eat format, and the home-cooked flavors taste exactly like something Granny actually would make. Fall visitors appreciate the warm refuge after chilly mountain explorations, with plates that stick to your ribs properly.
6. The Fireplace – Asheville
Special BBQ buffet evenings at this family-run Asheville spot create the perfect excuse to load up a plate when temperatures drop and comfort food calls your name. The owners schedule these buffet nights strategically, knowing that chilly mountain evenings demand serious sustenance and communal dining experiences.
Smoked brisket, pulled pork, and fall-off-the-bone ribs share space with classic sides that complement the smoky main attractions beautifully. The intimate setting feels more like eating at a friend’s house than a restaurant, with attentive service and recipes passed down through generations.
Collard greens simmer with ham hocks while cornbread emerges golden from cast-iron skillets. Check their schedule before visiting since buffet nights run periodically rather than daily, but the wait proves worthwhile when you finally dig into those heaping plates of Asheville BBQ goodness.
7. McCall’s BBQ & Seafood – Goldsboro/Rocky Mount Area
Surf meets smoke at this family joint where the full buffet combines BBQ meats with Calabash-style seafood for the best of both coastal and inland traditions. Smoked pork shoulder and beef brisket line up alongside fried shrimp, fish fillets, and hush puppies that crunch perfectly on the outside.
The dual focus means everyone leaves happy, whether they crave landlocked smoke or ocean-fresh flavors. Homestyle sides bridge the gap between BBQ and seafood sections, offering mac and cheese, coleslaw, and baked beans that pair equally well with both.
The generous buffet format encourages sampling everything without commitment, so you can build a plate that mixes pulled pork with fried flounder if that strikes your fancy. Fall coastal visitors appreciate this flexibility when appetites run large and decisions feel impossible.
8. Ralph’s Barbecue – Weldon
Eastern North Carolina BBQ reaches its pinnacle at this Weldon institution famous for all-you-can-eat chopped pork that glistens with vinegar-based sauce. The buffet options showcase regional specialties like Brunswick stew, boiled potatoes, and coleslaw that locals have loved for generations.
Chopped pork arrives finely minced and seasoned with that tangy Eastern-style sauce that divides the state between east and west BBQ camps. Ralph’s has fed travelers and locals alike for decades, earning its reputation one heaping plate at a time with consistent quality and generous portions.
Cornbread and hush puppies soak up the flavorful juices while sweet tea washes everything down perfectly. When fall road trips take you through northeastern North Carolina, this buffet stop delivers authentic regional BBQ without pretense or fuss, just honest food served abundantly.
9. Keaton’s Original BBQ – Cleveland
Family recipes passed down through generations make Keaton’s a true treasure in Cleveland. The buffet line stretches with vinegar-based pulled pork that melts on your tongue, perfectly seasoned ribs that fall off the bone, and Brunswick stew simmering with rich flavors.
Cornbread comes out fresh from the oven throughout the day, filling the dining room with an irresistible aroma. Sweet potato casserole topped with pecans sits alongside collard greens cooked low and slow with just the right amount of seasoning.
The banana pudding here has earned legendary status among locals who’ve been coming back for decades. On chilly fall evenings, this place feels like eating dinner at your favorite aunt’s house, where everyone leaves happy and stuffed.
10. Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ – Asheville
Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ in Asheville brings Kansas City-style BBQ to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offering a menu filled with smoked meats and Southern sides.
Their offerings include brisket, ribs, pulled pork, and chicken, all prepared with a unique blend of spices and slow-cooked to perfection. The casual, welcoming atmosphere makes it a great place to enjoy a hearty meal with friends and family. Located at 135 Coxe Ave, it’s a local favorite for BBQ enthusiasts.
Whether you’re dining in or ordering takeout, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ delivers a flavorful experience that’s hard to beat.
11. Stamey’s Barbecue – Greensboro
Operating since 1930, Stamey’s has perfected the art of feeding hungry crowds with soul-satisfying food. Buffet showcases pork shoulder cooked over hickory coals until it reaches tender perfection, developing a smoky crust that barbecue dreams are made of.
Sliced and chopped options let you pick your preferred texture, though most regulars pile both onto their plates without shame. Black-eyed peas seasoned just right, buttery lima beans, and fork-tender cabbage round out the vegetable selection.
Don’t skip the fried okra-crispy outside, tender inside, and absolutely addictive. The sweet tea flows freely, and the chess pie provides that perfect sugary finish. During fall, this Greensboro institution becomes even more inviting as comfort food cravings intensify.
12. Hursey’s Bar-B-Q – Burlington
Since 1946, Hursey’s has been slow-cooking pork over hardwood coals, creating flavors that can’t be rushed or faked. The buffet celebrates old-school Piedmont-style barbecue with all the trimmings that make North Carolina cuisine special.
Tender pork gets chopped by hand, maintaining that perfect texture that machines just can’t replicate. Their slaw brings a vinegar punch that cuts through the meat’s richness, while baked beans offer sweetness with hints of molasses. Boiled potatoes might sound simple, but prepared the traditional way, they become surprisingly satisfying alongside the main attractions.
Pecan pie and coconut cake tempt from the dessert section, making tough decisions necessary. When fall arrives in Burlington, Hursey’s embodies everything wonderful about Southern hospitality and comfort food done right.