Delivery
No
Payment
Credit Cards Accepted
Parking
Parking Lot
Good for Kids
Yes
Attire
Casual
Alcohol
No
Reservations
No
Cuisines:
Barbecue
Price Point
$
$ - Cheap Eats (Under $10)
$$ - Moderate ($11-$25)
$$$ - Expensive ($25-$50)
$$$$ - Very Pricey (Over $50)
WiFi
No
Outdoor Seats
No
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03/22/2024 - MenuPix User
02/05/2024 - MenuPix User
01/22/2024 - MenuPix User
12/30/2023 - MenuPix User
12/27/2023 - MenuPix User
12/13/2023 - MenuPix User
12/10/2023 - MenuPix User
06/21/2023 - BB
We have been going to Jackson's and loving it. We went recently. It is not the same. My husband had the barbecue, baked beans and brunswich stew. The barbecue was not good at all. It had a different taste than normal and was much hotter with spices. He likes hot and couldn't eat it. The brunswick stew was unrecognizable except for the butter beans in it. Needless to say, all he ate was the baked beans. On the other hand, I had barbecued chicken, collards and black eyed peas. The chicken was not the same as it is usually. It didn't look the same. The taste was still very good. The veggies were good. We are wondering if they have changed hands again. We have been loving it. This trip may make us change our minds. Sometimes when a restaurant tries to change things, it is not always for the good!
06/04/2022 - MenuPix User
Never in my life have I gone to a barbecue place and not gotten barbecue sauce it's absolutely absurd and ridiculous to tell me after I get home with my meal that I had to request barbecue sauce that's absurd it ruined our meal and we were from out of town visiting our family
05/06/2022 - MenuPix User
I find it hilarious that the people who complain and speak of "real bbq" are clueless to the fact that bbq originated in North Carolina in the 1600s and all other imitators are variations thereof...............or not.
09/18/2021 - MenuPix User
Nothing like Jackson’s bbq and fried chicken!
09/10/2021 - Elizabeth Dowdy
It is with great sadness that I write this review. I have gone to Jacksons for years. Nothing better than a cup of ice with Sun Drop, a BBQ sandwich no slaw and hushpuppies. Sometimes we would get take out and sometimes eat in. Love their candid yams, collards and fries. Well today no Sun Drop. Told me they had switched to Pepsi because it was cheaper. Well I was raised on Coke and Sun Drop because my dad was the supervisor at the Coca Cola plant. They told me there wasn't any difference. Pure insult to me so I got tea because I had to have something to wash those delicious hush puppies down on the way home. What have you done to them? They were awful. They tasted like they were not done. So dry I ate a half one and no more. They were lumpy like they weren't mixed well and not much taste to them. Have you gone to cheaper on them too? The BBQ as usual was delicious but I am very disappointed in the changes after all these years and for the reason.
08/19/2021 - MenuPix User
Meat & 3
Outstanding
11/18/2011 - Rory Pender
This a GOOD example of Eastern North Carolina Barbeque. I've eaten at most all of the North Carolina Barbeque Restaurants. I have the cholesterol to prove it unfortunately. Not since Skinner & Daniels or Pender's Barbeque have I tasted good North Carolina Barbeque in Wilmington. This barbeque is an acquired taste. Just as Marice's is in Columbia, South Carolina. I'll be back time and again for this Eastern North Carolina Barbeque. I LOVE IT !!!!
05/04/2011 - JASON
WE EAT AT JACKSONS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. THERE
BBQ IS VERY GOOD, EVEN FUTHER WEST OF HERE IN
NC BBQ IS MADE DIFFERENT. EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT
TASTE.
04/07/2011 - RonT
The previous poster is spot on... This might be genuine NC BBQ, but it sure is bland! There is an overwhelming aroma of boiled pork bones too... Not a flavor that suits BBQ. I was immediately searching my fridge for something to "Kick it up" a bit. Salt was a good start! :) I'm usually pretty omnivorous, but I think I'll give NC BBQ a pass next time!
02/27/2011 - Ben D.
The folks that rated this place "5 Stars" must not have had real BBQ. The reason that I didn't give it "1 Star" is because they give you big portions. Taste, on the other hand...BLAND. The BBQ sauce was very vinegary, compared to other NC BBQ restaurants I've visited. The ribs had a unseasoned, boiled taste and seemed to have been 'dipped' into the sauce rather than basted with it. To me, the vegetables were not seasoned well, either. But hey, it's my opinion. No return visit from me.
01/17/2011 - rw price
went to the internet menu and prices...ordered 2 plates of bbq....when i got there the prices were much higher than on the web menu....when i questioned the lady at register she informed me that they were old prices....she would not honour the prices on net and charged me higher prices...i think she should have at least honoured the prices they had on the internet menu....food wasnt good after all that...i do not plan to return there...if you want good bbq go to smithfields in any city....i call this baiting and switch...i thought that only happened in the car business...be aware of their prices....a concerned business owner in wilmington..
11/08/2010 - Su Melton
"BBQ" means different things in different parts of the country, which explains a lot of the previous reviews. If you walk in expecting Memphis or Texas BBQ, you will be disappointed. This is Eastern Carolina pork bbq, and some of the best you'll ever eat. It is vinegary, very much so and it is supposed to be.
Even within North Carolina, there are two distinctive styles of BBQ, one called Lexington-style, which is sweeter, and Eastern-NC style like they have at Jackson's.
To each his own!
11/03/2010 - mark daniels
Ive lived in southern N.C. my whole life and ive tried almost every BBQ pit in the southern states and this is hands down the best BBQ in the Carolina's if not the whole south. the skinner family and the Daniels family knew what they were doing when they made this recipe. Now the family's recipe has moved down to a new generation and they continue to make good BBQ.
09/13/2010 - New2Wilm
The most important part of BBQ is the meat. If you are not from this area (Carolinas) this is NOT what you think of as good BBQ. Meat has a boiled, watery, very vinegary taste that seems to be the standard for Carolina BBQ. If your idea of good BBQ is a smokey spiced dense flavor that you have to chew off the bone or was just pulled off the bone, don't try any BBQ around here. Some places have good sides and desserts like Jackson's but if want truly smoked Memphis or Texas type BBQ you'll have to go north or west to find you Q. Or settle for a chain like Sticky Fingers or Famous Daves.
08/26/2010 - tiffianie
to clear up everything about jacksons bbq. yes the food is cooked on site. yes we do boil the ribs. it is a wonderful atmosphere. i love working there. alot of people talk about eating at jacksons big oak bbq. if anyone asks me i say that it is a great place to eat. that is the only bbq place i will eat bbq.
08/16/2010 - DENIS B
Are you people nuts?? I have eaten BBQ in almost every BBQ region of the US and some of the most legendary places inside and outside the BBQ belt. This was hands down the worst "BBQ" I ever had. There was absolutely no smoke flavor what so ever. Actually the meat look gray like it was steamed or boiled. The sauce smelled weird and tasted nasty. Actually, the yellow slaw was the only thing that was edible. I went here off of online recommendations and was supper pissed off. This site is either fixed or you people have never tasted real BBQ. Hell, I can name 2 places in MASS. that are WAY better!!!
06/04/2010 - Carrie Atwood
I lived in NC for almost 4 years. I miss Jackson's Big Oak Barbecue. It was the best BBQ I found while I lived there. My boyfriend was just in Wilmington and I had him bring some BBQ home. YUMMM. When I get to visit NC again I will definitely visit Jackson's.
03/24/2010 - Cindy Heinly
Wow talk about friendly people, friendly and welcoming atmosphere and GREAT food!!! So much food we had to bring home leftovers!
The ribs are fall off the bone tender, the pulled pork and chicken are awesome!! The hushpuppies and cornsticks ROCK!!
The only thing I wasn't a HUGE fan of was the slaw, which is one of the things they are famous for. It has a mustard and vinegar in it and don't get me wrong, it was good, but I think it is an acquired taste. Never had slaw with mustard in it, but all in all this place is a must when you are visiting Wilmington, NC!!
03/17/2010 - Maxwill
I live in Wilmington and I have to say that this is incredible pork bbq! Their hushpuppies are addictive and their Brunswick stew is so delicious. I'm from NJ and thought that bbq was just anything cooked on the grill til I moved to NC. Once you try Jackson's once you'll be back for more!
02/05/2010 - David
My Dad lives in Wilmington and I have a brother in Alabama and a sister in Tennessee. I don't dare visit either of my siblings without taking Jackson's BBQ with me. It is the best, by far.
11/15/2009 - MenuPix User
The slaw is yellow because it is mustard based. Typical slaw is white because it is mayonnaise or myrical whip based. They do cook their foods on site including their home made banana pudding with real bananas. They also use high quality pork with little to no fat or bone material. I have never had "mush BBQ." They ribs are not boiled, they are slow cooked which makes them very tender. It is family owned-the owner is sometimes helping during dinner rush-and has the best staff.
02/25/2009 - Laura
I go to Jackson's every time I go to Wilmington! It is the best BBQ in the country!!! I've had great service and just ok service that's why I gave them an 8! Now that I don't make it to Wilmington as often as I once did, I have friends send it to me (yes it's that good)!!! Buy the sauce too, we use it on everything!!!
01/29/2009 - moneylikemagictoday.com
love it forever
09/01/2008 - MenuPix User
I'm orginally from Wilmington and i always go there whenever, i'm visiting from California. i love the BBQ because you can't find good bbq like that in California!
08/21/2008 - MenuPix User
If you like shoulder meat and not the whole hog maybe this is your place. Also you must like for your meat to be run thru a grinder of some sort because it is not hand chopped or pulled. It has the consistency of stringy mush. If you order ribs don't expect ribs that have been cooked with the hog because they don't cook whole hogs. The ribs were boiled and some sort of sauce poured on them before they put them on the plate. Not sure where they do their cooking but it isn't on site. The hushpuppies, tea, and corn dogs were good. Slaw was yellow and had a lot of vinegar. In short this is NOT Eastern North Carolina BBQ. It is Wilmington NC BBQ and you have to have eaten it all your life for it to be good to you. If you have ever visited an Eastern NC BBQ in Goldsboro, Wilson, Greenville are you would know what I'm talking about.
08/15/2008 - Marie FLoyd
We have eaten here many many times. We think the food is great.I do think it's a bit pricey so we don't eat there as often as we would like. But the food is great!! You jus't can't find real good bar b q around here!!
06/07/2008 - Leonard Jenkins
BBQ sauce was not very good. It was just brushed on the meat before serving, and was only one side. Very little flavor. Yellow cole slaw was not very good.
Not a place I would want to attend again.
11/30/2007 - Rob
Rustic atmosphere, quick food served by the friendliest people you'll ever meet. Most importantly the food is delicious. One good thing is they have a variety of side dishes. It's hard to find good barbecue places around Wilmington with healthy side items (green beans, collards, bbq potatoes, etc...)
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