No one leaves The Original Q Shack hungry. With Western Carolina and Texas-style barbecue dishes, this Indy Week Best BBQ winner is serving up a variety of smokin' flavors. Stop by for some chili-rubbed beef brisket, St. Louis cut pork ribs, smoked chicken wings and more. All the meats are smoked in-house with a special blend of hickory and mesquite woods.
Share
Hours:
Monday: Closed Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday: Closed
If I could give it ten stars it deserves it!!! My first meal of 2025 was a well deserved treat to my stomach and soul!!
Cheems Mojos
Dec 26, 2024
5
I had an amazing experience at The Original Q Shack in Durham, NC. I went with the brisket plate, which included 1/4 lb of REAL brisket and two sides. I chose the mac and cheese and spinach—both were excellent. The plate also came with hush puppies, pickles, and onions, which were a nice touch.
The service was great, and while beer isn’t their main focus, they still had a decent selection to pair with the meal.
After finishing the brisket plate, I decided to go all in and ordered a small cup of brisket chili. It was just as flavorful and satisfying as the rest of my meal!
I’ll definitely be coming back the next time I’m in the area. Thanks for the great food and service!
Pauline F
Nov 30, 2024
5
The food is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Not super salty and not super greasy. Absolutely well seasoned. The atmosphere is Family-oriented be prepared enjoy yourself. We enjoyed the collards. They were fresh, well seasoned and not raw or overcooked. The Smash Burger owes us nothing! It was the bomb.com.
Mike Beavers
Sep 19, 2024
5
I have been in search of a good BBQ place in the area and this is it! With some help from my friends we had a wonderful experience here. When I walked in the smell of smoke was hanging thick and greeted me with sensation of goodness and joy. I overindulged trying my favorite meats.
Ribs were tender almost falling apart and smoky...finger licking good! Brisket was smoky, juicy with a nice bark that wasn't as spicy as I expected. Jalapeño cheddar sausage wasn't great but I ate it anyway. Good collards and cooked perfectly.
Overall don't stop by here, run to it and submerge yourself in treat that is experience for all your senses especially nose the mouth and your stomach will thank you too.
Robert Handel
Aug 19, 2024
5
Five of us came here for Friday night dinner and we were blown away by the value and portion sizes. We ordered one of the packages and were overwhelmed by how much food we got for the money. Everything was fresh and well prepared. We especially liked the spinach with jack cheese, and the chopped smoked pork, smoked ribs, and brisket were all tender, flavorful, and not over-smoked
Krystal Lynn
Aug 13, 2024
4
They give you a lot of good! My husband and I shared one platter.
The pulled pork, turkey, and cream spinach were fantastic! Hush puppies are hush puppies… they weren’t dry. The sausage was okay. Max and cheese was pretty bland though. Publix Gouda Mac is better.
The atmosphere was chill. There is seating inside and a lot of outdoor communal seating.
Still Standing
Jul 27, 2024
3
The food was good for the moment. Okra was cooked crispy the way I like mine. My daughter said the Mac n cheese was bland ( she loves Mac n cheese). When we walked in we was not welcomed, when I asked what two meats I could get the gentleman said any two meats- when I chose he told me I couldn’t choose the meat that I asked for- so again what two meats! Jalapeño devil eggs were pre boiled eggs that just had jalapeño slices on top- no other taste after I took the jalapeño off.
Not the best bbq I’ve ever had, but it was good for the moment.
Fred Oldenburg
Jun 19, 2024
4
Adventures in NC BBQ. Trying this place on a recommendation…it’s not on my NC BBQ bucket list. Had a three meat plate (Chopped pork, Brisket, and Sausage) with collards, Brunswick stew, and a couple of jalapeño deviled eggs. The good: great brisket, tasted like Texas style should, the deviled eggs were delicious. Loved the collards. The bad: The Brunswick stew was inedible….had some medicine-y aftertaste and was straight up horrible. Didn’t finish it. The Meh: the pork bbq was just ok for me dog…didn’t taste like traditional wood fired whole hog that I’ve come to love here. Similar experience with the sausage…the stuff I’ve had at other Texas style places is way better. Overall, I think this place is trying to be all things BBQ to all people, and it’s just mediocre as a result. I think four snouts is the most I can give here and that’s because I’m feeling generous. 🐽🐽🐽🐽. Probably wouldn’t come back…not with Picnic close by.
Douglas Layer
Jun 13, 2024
4
4 stars but really like 4.5. I treat BBQ seriously. The Good: Brisket amazing, chopped pork amazing, collard greens amazing, fired okra amazing. Standard: turkey and hush puppies were done well. The Mid: Sausage was a bit boring. But overcooked and mealy as it's cutin half rather than in medallions? The Mac n cheese was also kinda bland. The SC BBQ Sauce was incredible. The price for 3 meat platter is also a deal!
Aaron F
May 16, 2024
5
Really loved the BBQ. Particularly enjoyed the pulled pork and pork ribs. Collard greens are fantastic and vinegar forward. Macaroni and cheese very tasty not overly filling and the hush puppies were hot and crispy. Definitely my favorite BBQ in Durham
