5 great places to get North Carolina barbecue in the Triangle

There are plenty of places to get barbecue in the Triangle but who stands out above the rest? Here are five terrific places to get Eastern NC-style barbecue.

1. Sam Jones BBQ

Why it stands out: Sam Jones is owned by the family of the late Pete Jones, founder of the legendary Skylight Inn restaurant.

Address: 502 W Lenoir St., Raleigh

Hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 11am-8:30pm.

2. Picnic

Why it stands out: Picnic serves barbecue with classic southern appetizers like deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, pickle fries, and pimento cheese with saltines.

Address: 1647 Cole Mill Rd., Durham

Hours: 11am-8pm Monday and Wednesday-Sunday (closed Tuesday).

3. Clyde Cooper's

Why it stands out: With just a $50 loan from his brother-in-law, Clyde Cooper opened this Eastern-style barbecue restaurant in Downtown Raleigh in 1938.

Address: 327 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11am-3:30pm.

4. Ole Time Barbecue

Why it stands out: Another old-school joint that's been a favorite of Raleigh for decades. It also has a great breakfast.

Address: 6309 Hillsborough St., Raleigh

Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 6am-8pm, closed on Sunday.

5. Backyard BBQ Pit

Why it stands out: It's a south Durham classic that has gotten plaudits in Southern Living. The signature dish is its chopped pork shoulder.

Address: 5122 NC Highway 55, Durham

Hours: Monday-Friday 12pm-730pm, Saturday-Sunday closed.