The North Carolina Smokehouse Hidden Behind A Gas Station That Outsmokes Every Tourist Spot
If you’re cruising through central North Carolina and happen to stop at what seems like just another roadside gas station, you might almost walk right past one of the state’s best-kept barbecue secrets.
Tucked behind a convenience store in Benson, the Redneck BBQ Lab has quietly earned a reputation that outshines many of the more famous, tourist-heavy BBQ spots.
Despite its humble location, this gem continues to serve up mouthwatering barbecue that keeps locals and savvy travelers coming back for more. Here’s a closer look at what makes this hidden treasure so special and why it deserves a spot on your BBQ bucket list.
Location & Status Check
Redneck BBQ Lab sits near Highway 210 in Benson, Johnston County, NC, operating out of a compact facility behind a gas station. Most travelers zip past without realizing they’re missing something incredible.
Press coverage and local food blogs confirm its daily operations, sold-out meats, and award wins as recently as 2025. This isn’t some abandoned roadside legend—it’s thriving right now.
Because the operation runs small and popular, items often sell out early in the day. Showing up means catching the freshest smoke before the locals clean them out completely.
The Vibe & Hidden Gem Authenticity
Pulling in, you’ll spot a convenience-store forecourt and a somewhat plain structure. No big flashy signage, no tourist-bus parking lot—just pure, unfiltered charm that locals guard fiercely.
Footage and reports show the BBQ pit cooking away behind or adjacent to the gas station area. The lab in the name isn’t a joke; they treat BBQ like a chemistry experiment worth perfecting.
This isn’t a polished theme BBQ stop. It’s genuine, smoky, lined with wood, and run by folks obsessed with mastering their technique one brisket at a time.
What They Cook & Why You’ll Go Back
Redneck BBQ Lab specializes in smoked meats—burnt ends, brisket, turkey, ribs, pork—and sides that make you rethink everything you thought you knew about BBQ accompaniments.
Whole hog or large cuts get smoked overnight in wood and charcoal pits, delivering deep smoke flavor that clings to every fiber. Their vinegar-pepper based sauce leans into Eastern NC style with a kick that wakes up your taste buds.
Sides go beyond filler: smoke-flavored beans, rich mac and cheese, and banana pudding often steal the show. You’ll leave with smoky-linger on your clothes and memory.
What Sets It Apart From Tourist Joint BBQ
Location matters: it’s literally behind a gas station, so you’re not walking into a fancy destination BBQ palace. Fewer gimmicks, more smoke, more soul in every bite.
Authenticity runs deep here. Pitmasters treat the craft seriously with no shortcuts, no showroom polished interior—just wood, smoke, and slow cook that honors tradition.
Local respect keeps this place grounded. While many BBQ spots become tourist traps, this one retains its devoted local following. Passers-by aren’t the majority; people in the know return religiously for that fix.
Tips For Visiting
Arrive early because they often run out of key meats. Portions are generous and the cooking is slow, so once it’s gone, it’s gone until the next batch.
Go hungry. With rich smoked meats and hearty sides, you’ll want plenty of space to do justice to what’s in front of you.
Ask what’s fresh since some items may sell out, especially later in the day. Bring cash or check ahead—smaller operations sometimes have quirks in payment or menu changes. Sit back and soak in the smoke smell; the ambiance is half the experience.
Why It Might Become Your BBQ Stop
Something feels deeply satisfying about discovering a spot where the locals know, where the food isn’t built for Instagram, but for flavor that lingers long after the meal ends.
Redneck BBQ Lab offers exactly that experience. It’s humble, un-pretentious, deeply smoky, and refreshing in its total lack of pretense or manufactured charm.
If you want a BBQ experience that feels raw, real, and memorably good—this is it. No tourist trap vibes, no overpriced plates, just honest smoke and meat cooked by people who genuinely care about the craft.
Final Thought
If you’re ever driving through central North Carolina and you find yourself wondering whether to stop or keep going, pull off for this. Seriously, don’t overthink it.
In the little corner behind a gas station, the smoke stacks are working, the pit is hot, the portions are big, and the flavor hits deep in all the right ways.
It’s the kind of place you remember long after the roadside convenience stops fade from memory. Yes, the Redneck BBQ Lab is still open and delivering exactly that kind of BBQ escape worth every detour.