LExington, NC

1. “Barbecue Capital of the World”

• Lexington is widely nicknamed the Barbecue Capital of the World. Its style, known as Lexington-style barbecue, is built around pit-cooked pork shoulder seasoned with a vinegar-based “dip” (a thin, tangy red sauce with ketchup, vinegar, spices).

• Unlike Eastern NC BBQ (which uses whole hog and no ketchup), Lexington’s sauce gives the pork a reddish tint and sweeter tang.

2. Barbecue Festival

• Every October since 1984, Lexington has hosted the Lexington Barbecue Festival. It’s one of the biggest food festivals in the U.S., drawing crowds of 100,000–200,000 people in a single day.

• The festival includes live music, art, crafts, and of course, endless chopped BBQ sandwiches and trays with hush puppies, slaw, and sweet tea.

3. Number of Barbecue Joints

• For decades, Lexington was said to have more than 20 barbecue restaurants, which is a ton for a town its size (population ~20,000). Locals even joke that there are more barbecue pits than stoplights.

• Famous spots include Lexington Barbecue (a.k.a. “Honey Monk’s”), Smokey Joe’s, and Speedy’s. Each has its own twist on the dip and slaw (red slaw vs. white slaw is a local debate).