Barbecued chicken, Brunswick stew & other Southern specialties served in a simple sit-down eatery.
Hours
| Friday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM–8 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM–8 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 11964 NC-50, Willow Spring, NC 27592
Phone: (919) 894-4530
Website: https://stephensonsbarbq.shop/
Menu Photos
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Review of Stephenson’s BBQ in Willow Spring, North Carolina
Stephensons BBQ in Willow Spring rarely disappoints. Their barbecue is flavorful and tender. the fried chicken is great as well. Their sides are …
Stephenson’s Bar-B-Q, Willow Springs, North Carolina
Stephenson’s is a legitimate contender for the top spot in the East. The slaw was good, as always seems to be the case in North Carolina.
Stephenson’s Bar-b-q | Authentic Barbecue in Willow Spring, NC
Stephenson’s Bar-b-q, located at 11964 NC-50 in Willow Spring, North Carolina, is a beloved destination for authentic Southern barbecue that has earned a loyal …
Reviews
Daniel Griffin
This was my first visit to this recommended place. As I approached the restaurant I noticed the smoke billowing up supposedly from cooking the barbecue. It is a super nice rustic setting and the staff is very friendly and accommodating to a first-time visitor. I wanted to sample as much as I could but they did not have collard greens this day. Show the plate that I got was a combo barbecue and Brunswick stew play with two sides and hush puppies. The sweet tea was very good and was delivered quickly and then came a little basket of six round hush puppies. And then the meal arrived shortly after that. I can tell you right now that the hush puppies were hard and much denser than they should have been. When the meal came the first thing I tried was the Brunswick stew. It was thin and had a strange taste and very few vegetables in. Also there was no discernible meat which any good Brunswick stew has to have. Then I tried the barbecue pork and it was minced so fine that there was nothing to chew and there was no smoke flavor. I had to douse it in that vinegar and red pepper table sauce to get it down. The baked beans were straight from a can. There were no peppers or anything in those beans to make me believe otherwise. And the flavor was very ho-hum. And of course the steamed cabbage was just that and nothing special. The last thing I tried was the barbecue chicken breast and although it was cooked properly it had no flavor at all. There was some thin sauce supposedly a barbecue sauce I suppose but it was miniscule. I was really pumped going into this place because a gentleman was waiting for his order in his Jeep outside and he said I was in for a treat. I’m really hoping that I caught them on a bad day because I would hate to think that they served this kind of food everyday. I know my friend who recommended this place will be sorely disappointed but I have eaten at many top-notch North Carolina barbecue restaurants and this one is not even close to the top. As I said the location is great and the service is wonderful. I paid $18 for the meal bumped up by the chicken breast. I cannot say it was worth the money.
… moreKierstyn Myers
If you’re looking for classic Southern comfort food in a laid-back, no-frills setting, Stephenson’s BBQ hits the mark. I recently stopped in and tried the combo chicken and BBQ plate with French fries and green beans, and rounded it out with a side of banana pudding.
The BBQ itself was tender and had good texture, but I found it could’ve used a bit more flavo, adding the table sauce probably would have made a noticeable difference but I didn’t. The chicken, on the other hand, was pretty good: crispy skin, just the way it should be.
Sides were solid; housemade French fries were hot and satisfying, and the green beans were nothing special but I love some green beans. As for the banana pudding, it was just okay. I never thought I’d say this, but there were too many Nilla wafers in the mix. A little more pudding would’ve balanced it out better and softened those crunchy cookies.
Service was warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere is what you’d expect from a true Southern BBQ join, unpretentious and cozy. Stephenson’s isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they’re just serving up straight-ahead BBQ with Southern charm. I’d come back, especially for that chicken, and next time, I’ll reach for the sauce a little sooner.
… moreThe BBQ itself was tender and had good texture, but I found it could’ve used a bit more flavo, adding the table sauce probably would have made a noticeable difference but I didn’t. The chicken, on the other hand, was pretty good: crispy skin, just the way it should be.
Sides were solid; housemade French fries were hot and satisfying, and the green beans were nothing special but I love some green beans. As for the banana pudding, it was just okay. I never thought I’d say this, but there were too many Nilla wafers in the mix. A little more pudding would’ve balanced it out better and softened those crunchy cookies.
Service was warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere is what you’d expect from a true Southern BBQ join, unpretentious and cozy. Stephenson’s isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they’re just serving up straight-ahead BBQ with Southern charm. I’d come back, especially for that chicken, and next time, I’ll reach for the sauce a little sooner.
Jason Myers
Wow. Stopped in for lunch today and certainly was not disappointed. Everything on my plate was fantastic. The chicken, the okra, the potatoes, the hushpuppies, all delicious. But man—that BBQ is the STAR. So so good. Nothing like pit-cooked whole hog eastern style Q, and Stephenson’s is some of the best I’ve had. Will definitely be back!!
… moreOmora Parker
First time visiting…. The BBQ sandwich was delicious! As far the side choices I picked (cabbage and fried okra) they did lack seasoning but the cabbage was very tender! Overall customer service was excellent!
… moreJennifer Cardena
The best ENC bbq. You have to get a bbq sandwich, brunswick stew, boiled potatoes, liver, fried okra, collards, gizzards, and obviously hushpuppies. I’ve gone to this location for years and have always had welcoming service. Highly recommend and takeout is so easy.
… moreKevin Proulx
The prices were good but the food just leaves you wanting to leave and go get something with some flavor. I got a hamburger and French fries and the burger is similar to what you get in school as a kid, small, flavorless, disappointing . My partner got the bbq pork and thought it was good but even the large size is still kinda small. They no longer sell ribs here. It is cool that when you come in they just auto bring out hush puppies.
… moreMatthew Fisher
Y’all this seriously is the best place for BBQ Chicken – get you some extra sauce cause it’s excellent! The fries are also my favorite – always fresh and delicious! Other sides veggies are also great! Wednesday special garden peas are always excellent! Thursday special chicken pastry and yams always sell out quick they are so good! Don’t forget the sweet tea with that great “snow like” crushed ice! Me and family have been fans of Stephenson’s BBQ for 30+ years – they’ve been consistently making this good country food forever y’all!
… moreJohnny Timbertree
The Q was moist and had a nice level of seasoning. Service was lightning fast. The hush puppies were spot on! Checkered table clothes gave the decor a nice feel.
… moreChip Watkins
They were #1 in NC for many years for a good reason. Q was great without sauce. Chicken was great & i really love the slaw. What a nice meal.
… moreBob T
Traditional Carolina BBQ at a fair value and quickly served. There are a lot of local patrons and they have been here for quite some time. The wait staff are friendly and attentive with very quick service and a decent amount of follow-up without being too pushy or bothersome.
The chopped pork BBQ is a pretty good example for Carolina style (vinegar base) BBQ. It was tender and succulent while not being overpowered or drowned in the sauce. The hushpuppies are also a very nice fresh treat that is an excellent compliment to the pork. They had an excellent color and crispiness with a very soft and moist interior.
The rest of the meal was standard, or maybe a little shy of standard and did not do justice to the BBQ. The chicken was a bit overcooked with the meat having an almost unseasoned boiled taste. The BBQ chicken skin tasted decent, though. The homemade fries were limp and greasy but still had a slight firmness to the interior, not the crisp outside and fluffy interior I expected. The baked beans tasted a little canned, bland with maybe a dash of the vinegar bbq sauce mixed in.
All in all, not overly impressed with the complete meal, but the chopped pork BBQ wasn’t half-bad.
… moreThe chopped pork BBQ is a pretty good example for Carolina style (vinegar base) BBQ. It was tender and succulent while not being overpowered or drowned in the sauce. The hushpuppies are also a very nice fresh treat that is an excellent compliment to the pork. They had an excellent color and crispiness with a very soft and moist interior.
The rest of the meal was standard, or maybe a little shy of standard and did not do justice to the BBQ. The chicken was a bit overcooked with the meat having an almost unseasoned boiled taste. The BBQ chicken skin tasted decent, though. The homemade fries were limp and greasy but still had a slight firmness to the interior, not the crisp outside and fluffy interior I expected. The baked beans tasted a little canned, bland with maybe a dash of the vinegar bbq sauce mixed in.
All in all, not overly impressed with the complete meal, but the chopped pork BBQ wasn’t half-bad.