Carolina-Style BBQ in Central Florida

Carolina-style BBQ centers on pulled pork, usually whole hog or shoulder, smoked low and slow over wood or wood-and-charcoal and then chopped or pulled by hand. What separates it from other regional styles is the sauce and the emphasis on the pork itself: vinegar-based in the eastern Carolina tradition, or a thinner mustard-based "gold" sauce common to South Carolina. You won't typically find heavy tomato-based sauces smothering the meat here. Sides tend to follow suit, with hush puppies, coleslaw (often vinegar-dressed rather than creamy), collard greens, and cracklins showing up alongside the standard mac and cheese or baked beans.

We've listed 46 businesses in Central Florida working in this style, ranging from smokehouses that pit whole hogs overnight to counter-service places that turn out pulled pork sandwiches by the hundred at lunch. Quality varies a lot in this category, so pay attention to how the pork is cooked (wood-fired versus gas-assisted), whether the bark and smoke ring are real, and whether the sauce is made in-house or poured from a bottle.

Our rankings weigh food quality, consistency, service, and value, drawing on real customer feedback and details specific to this style like sauce authenticity and smoking method. Read more about how we score and rank on our methodology page.