The Can’t-Miss Food In North Carolina: The Daily Meal

NORTH CAROLINA — From a coastal seafood delicacy to a hearty Midwestern sandwich, each state, including North Carolina, has that one iconic food every local loves and every visitor should try.

The Daily Meal recently compiled its list of the one can’t-miss food in each state. To determine which delicacy made the cut, staff at The Daily Meal looked through local and regional publications, focusing on discussions of food and restaurant recommendations. It also combed through restaurant reviews to narrow down contenders according to deliciousness, availability outside the state and how beloved the food is by locals.

In North Carolina, pork barbecue is that one food that’s just not as good in other states, according to The Daily Meal.

Here’s what the Daily Meal says about our state’s barbecue:
“North Carolina actually has two main regional barbecue styles, but they both revolve around the pig. In the east, it’s all about whole hog, smoked low and slow, chopped and doused in a spicy vinegar-based sauce (B’s in Greenville and The Skylight Inn in Ayden are both must-visits). And in the west, it’s pork shoulders that are smoked, sliced or chopped and tossed with a vinegar-ketchup “dip.” This is called Lexington-style barbecue and it’s best exemplified at Lexington Barbecue in Lexington and Stamey’s in Greensboro.”

Do you agree with The Daily Meal’s choice? What do you think is the most iconic food in North Carolina? Sound off in the comments.

Here’s a list of the six best barbecue spots around Lake Norman, according to Visit Lake Norman:

• City Barbeque, 15425 Hodges Circle, Huntersville
• Lancaster’s Eastern NC Style BBQ, 9230 Beatties Ford Road, Huntersville
• McCraws Barbecue, 114 S. Old Statesville Road, Huntersville
• Midwood Smokehouse, 16710 Birkdale Commons Parkway, Huntersville
• Cowboy Steak, Chicken, Ribs, 9615 Bailey Road, Cornelius
• Mac’s Speed Shop, 19601 Liverpool Parkway, Cornelius

See the full list of top foods in each state on The Daily Meal’s website.