Answer Woman: Are barbecue restaurants open July 4? When to preorder?
ASHEVILLE - Today’s burning question is about barbecue restaurants serving meals for the Fourth of July. Got a question for Answer Man or Answer Woman? Email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at [email protected] and your question could appear in an upcoming column.
Question: Where can I get barbecue for the Fourth of July? Do I have to order beforehand, or can I walk in and eat in the restaurant?
Answer: Many amateur and practiced home grillers will pull out the grill for a full day and night of revelry on July 4. The wafting aroma of charred meats and other smoked treats will no doubt permeate the air of neighborhoods across the United States of America next week.
In Asheville, plenty of professional pitmasters are primed to do the work for you.
Local barbecue shacks put their flair and unique techniques into their collection of briskets, pulled pork, smoked chicken and slabs of ribs — nowadays, many are taking care of the nonmeat eater by offering barbecue-style plant-based dishes, too.
Preorders are recommended, particularly if planning to feed large groups, as this is a high-traffic holiday for barbecue joints.
Don’t forget to stock up on plenty of side dishes and desserts.
Check the website and social media accounts or call your favorite eatery ― at least 24 hours in advance ― to find out the deadline for placing preorders and catering requests, and for holiday hours for dine-in on July 4.
Bryan King, co-owner of 12 Bones Smokehouse, said the River Arts District location will be open with regular hours but the South Asheville restaurant and brewery will close one hour earlier on July 4 at 7 p.m.
He advises customers to consider placing a to-go order online or via phone for quicker service if lines at the restaurants are long.
If you’re looking for a barbecue provider, consider old-time favorites and newer businesses on the block taking on traditional recipes and serving smoked vitals with a contemporary twist.
More: Where to see July 4th fireworks and enjoy festival fun in WNC
Established barbecue restaurants locals love include Little Pigs BBQ, Luella’s Bar-B-Que, Moe’s Original BBQ, 12 Bones Smokehouse, Big J’s Bubba-Q and Luella’s Bar-B-Que.
Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, Daddy Mac’s Down Home Dive, Black Bear BBQ and Juicy Lucy’s offer diverse menus of barbecue familiars, signature dishes and more.
Find more hearty plates at area eateries like Doc Brown’s BBQ, Smokey & the Pig and Okie Dokies Smokehouse.
Chow down on a plate from Iron & Oak Brisket while sipping a cold craft beer at Riverside Rhapsody Beer Co.
Spend a day at Biltmore Estate and dine at The Smokehouse food truck in Antler Hill Village.
Taste international and global fusion barbecue styles at places like Master BBQ food truck at Zillicoah Beer Co. for Filipino dishes, Huli Sue’s BBQ & Grill for Texas-meets-Hawaiian-inspired fare, Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse for Japanese-American barbecue-inspired bites and Stone Bowl Korean Restaurant for Korean barbecue straight off the grill.
The choice for how to celebrate freedom in the U.S.A. is yours.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Barbecue restaurants prepare for Fourth of July crowds in Asheville