Hursey's Bar-B-Q

Hursey's Bar-B-Q in Graham, North Carolina, stands as a beloved institution of Southern barbecue tradition, serving mouthwatering pit-cooked barbecue since 1949. Founded by Sylvester Hursey and his wife Daisy, who perfected a secret sauce recipe in 1945, this family-owned restaurant has grown from humble backyard beginnings to become one of the most celebrated barbecue destinations in the Carolinas. The Hursey family still operates the original method of smoking meats over hickory coals the old-fashioned way, cooking over 1,200 shoulders per week at their state-of-the-art facility. Charles Hursey, the older son who joined the family business in 1960, has personally chopped more barbecue than anyone in North Carolina history—an estimated 70 million sandwiches spanning 386 miles if placed end-to-end. Hursey's Pig Pickin' Bar-B-Q won top honors at the North Carolina and South Carolina Bar-B-Q Cook-Off in Washington, D.C., and Charles earned the National Golden Chicken Award for his famous broasted chicken. The Graham location on South Main Street offers the authentic experience that has drawn four U.S. Presidents, several governors, senators, athletes, and celebrities through their doors. With four locations across North Carolina and a full catering operation, Hursey's continues the legacy of quality that began over 75 years ago.