America’s Best States for a Top-Level BBQ Experience

3. North Carolina

Not only will you find a unique style of barbecue in North Carolina, but you'll also discover different types from one side of the state to the other. Like Tennessee, North Carolina barbecue centers its expertise on whole hog barbecue and distinctive "mop" sauces, which are brushed onto the meats as they cook. In the eastern part of the state, pitmasters prefer a clear, vinegar-based sauce that enhances the fattier cuts carved out from the hog. But in the western sections, most restaurants serve a Lexington-style BBQ, smothering pork shoulder with a sauce made from ketchup, pepper sauce, and vinegar.