Smiley's Lexington BBQ

We have been looking for good barbecue since we moved back to the Piedmont from the NC Coast which is the land of Eastern NC Barbecue and a number of wonderful barbecue places. While Smiley's is not Eastern NC barbecue, it is moist with a wonderful smokey flavor. It is moist without being wet and the sauce or dip as they call it has no ketchup in it thankfully. I have eaten at most of the barbecue restaurants on the NC Barbecue Trail. Smiley's is as good or better than many of them. I think it is better than some of the famous ones. The place does not look like much from the outside but inside it is very clean and well maintained with a high sanitation rating The service is excellent and we felt like members of the family by the time we left. I had the chopped plate. I brought home half of it. The peppery slaw is very good as are the fries and the fried okra. The hot-from-the-fryer hush puppies were great. We will be going back and hauling some home to serve to friends. I am pleased Smiley's is only 25 minutes from my house. If you take the time to look, you will see the pile of wood by their smoker. I was also pleased to see they serve Pepsi products with their barbecue which is as it should be in North Carolina.

This is an excellent example of Lexington NC style BBQ. The restaurant looks small but packs a punch. Once again I want to reiterate how good the bbq is. Not to mention the red slaw and the hush puppies. I would love to write more but it's 11:45 am and I've worked up an appetite writing this review plus I've got a 90 minute drive to get to Smiley's. If you're smart you'll meet me there.

Our first time here....Was traveling and a close friend suggested this BBQ place to me! She said the food was great! My Hubby and I tried a number of food items...BBQ Chicken, the Pulled Pork, Red Slaw, Corn Sticks, Hushpuppies, Baked Beans, Sweet Tea, and Homemade Banana Pudding! Was NOT dissappointed! Was absolutely DELICIOUS! Stop in and Taste for Yourself! YUMMY!!!

I love this little restaurant. They have some of the best BBQ chicken I’ve had. The pork bbq is very good as well. Friendly staff and good service. Best bbq Chicken I have had in a longtime!!

The best BBQ! We stopped in Sunday for a late lunch and were greeted by the sweetest waitress. It was our first time so she explained the menu and answered our questions and more. The service is great, our food came out quickly. The food is amazing! Hush puppies were a favorite and the BBQ Coleslaw. We will be back!

Fantastic family friendly restaurant. The staff here are very friendly. It was very nice to see the owner of the business there being active and ensuring customers were having a good time. I enjoyed the food; Well cooked, home style, a real family experience for loved ones and get togethers. The service I received was outstanding. Welcoming smiles and showings of interest in the customers is what made my family get together great.

Ever since my parents moved to Lexington I’ve been wanting to visit and go get some authentic Carolina bbq. We
found it at Smiley’s! Bbq is excellent along with everything else to include red slaw, hush puppies and even the fries! The service is also outstanding! Highly recommended!!!

My first time having North Carolina BBQ and this place was great. BBQ was great and so was slaw and fries. Also got some carrot cake that was amazing. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Great little place. Staff were friendly. BBQ chicken was excellent. Everything was hot and fresh. Recommended!

Did the BBQ plate chopped with skins and red slaw. Very tasty and a lot of bang for your buck.

Sliced pork bbq and pork skin. I would eat here everyday if I could. A box of pork skin is a great takeout before watching a game or going for a long drive.

When Pigs Fly! This place is gooood. Do not be deceived by the look of the restaurant or by all of the bikes parked outside the place. It can be intimidating for first timers but the food is delicious and everything is very affordable.

Great BBQ, great service, and low prices for lunch. The service here is incredible and they are so very nice... I will be going back for sure

Had someone get me a Pulled Chicken sandwich from here on their way back to NJ. I wanted to drive back to Tennessee to get another one! If I’m ever in the area I’m going there without question.

Nice little place. Great employees. Clean, smells nice. We received our food in under 5 minutes and it tasted great! The amount of food for their "plate" combos is amazing. Even my 6'5" 300lbs husband couldn't finish it. It was so good we ordered extra to take home to Winston.

Our food arrived quickly, and was excellent. My pulled pork, and 1/4 smoked BBQ chicken platter was a feast! The homemade brownie with ice cream for dessert. Our service was top notch. Highly recommended.

On a visit to NC, stopped by Smiley's. Great NC BBQ joint. Authentic hickory wood smoked bbq. (Logs stacked up out back). Chicken and chopped pork were fantastic. BBQ sauce served in little steel cups. My wife would have said they were very cute. Very good sized portions at very reasonable prices. Extremely friendly staff ensuring you have everything you need. Definitely recommend!!!

Between Smiley‘s and Skylight inn, my two favorite North Carolina Lexington style barbecue places.... so far. Chopped pork has a wonderful subtle hickory smoke flavor. Fried okra and smoked chicken also terrific. Yes it’s a hole in the wall and I love it. Great service and great prices, come get some.

Stopped in for a quick lunch. Place wasn't to busy, got a seat within 2 minutes. Waitress explained the specials and her favorites. We went with her recommendations and was pleasantly surprised. The BBQ was great, lunch serving size could easily have been a dinner portion. Desert options were home made and what would thought of as comfort food. This was our first visit of many to follow

Yum! The waitress was very nice. Helped me choose what to get to bring home, so that we'd get a good idea of their specialties. Loved the dessert too. It was some kind of frozen pie that had pineapple in it, had a goofy name but can't remember it. Will go there again if ever in the area.