Pit Stop BBQ Review: Boss Hog BBQ Sherrills Ford, NC
- Alex Ragno
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
We recently made a stop at Boss Hog BBQ in Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, a spot we’ve driven past many times but never actually visited—until now. As part of our ongoing barbecue tour, we finally pulled in, and we’re glad we did.
First Impressions
Boss Hog BBQ is located in what used to be a gas station, and the transformation is impressive. The space still carries that old-school structure, but it’s been fully renovated into a warm, inviting barbecue restaurant. Inside, the design keeps some rustic charm with cinder block-style walls and what looks like metal roofing—though on closer look, it’s actually cleverly printed wallpaper. It’s a unique touch that adds character without trying too hard.
Overall, it feels like a classic North Carolina barbecue joint: taking an old building and giving it new life.
The Menu
One thing that stood out immediately was the size of the menu. It’s big—lots of meats, lots of sides, and plenty of variety. We stuck to our usual approach so we could compare fairly across different spots:
Brisket
Pulled pork
Ribs
Sides: baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad
Plus hush puppies on the side
We also had a kid’s menu opinion from our daughter to round things out.
The Meats
Brisket
Unfortunately, the brisket was the weakest part of the meal. It was overcooked and fell apart too easily, which is usually not a good sign. While it did have a decent smoky flavor, it lacked juiciness and overall execution. This is not what we’d recommend ordering here.
Pulled Pork
The pulled pork was better, but still fairly simple. It was very juicy, which is typical for Western North Carolina-style barbecue where the meat is often chopped and mixed back with its juices. However, it was missing a stronger dry rub presence and didn’t stand out compared to other places we’ve visited.
The flavor leaned mild, with a basic vinegar-tomato style sauce that stayed true to regional tradition, but didn’t particularly wow us.
Ribs – The Star of the Show
The ribs were the clear highlight of the entire visit.
These were fall-off-the-bone tender, cleanly cooked, and packed with flavor. The meat had a nice smoke profile and worked extremely well with their sauces—especially the firecracker sauce, which was a standout.
Even before tasting them, there was buzz in the restaurant about the ribs, with customers asking if they were ready. That alone says a lot.
These ribs landed easily in the top tier of everything we’ve tried so far—likely top five overall, and arguably the reason to visit Boss Hog BBQ in the first place.
The Sauces
Boss Hog BBQ offers a few different sauces, and they all bring something slightly different:
Firecracker Sauce: The standout. Bold, flavorful, and perfect with ribs.
Gold Sauce: A mustard-based sauce with a strong black pepper kick. Would also work great on fried chicken.
Boss Hog Original Sauce: A classic sweet-style BBQ sauce, similar to Sweet Baby Ray’s with a slightly different twist.
Hog Sauce: A traditional Western NC vinegar-tomato blend. Solid, though a bit basic for some tastes.
The Sides
Baked Beans
The baked beans were solid and home-style. You could tell they were doctored-up canned beans with added ingredients like bell pepper and seasoning. Interestingly, there was also a subtle coffee-like note in the flavor, which made them stand out a bit.
Coleslaw
They offered both vinegar and mayo-based slaw. The mayo slaw was the winner—finely chopped, slightly sweet, and very classic Southern-style. Nothing overly creative, but well-executed.
Potato Salad – The Surprise Hit
The potato salad was easily one of the best items on the table.
It was creamy, well-balanced, and reminded us of a classic Southern-style recipe. It featured paprika on top, plenty of relish, and a nice texture with hints of egg and possibly onion. This was one of the standout sides of the entire meal.
Sweet Tea
The sweet tea was a bit inconsistent. The first cup was more balanced and right in the middle of sweetness levels, but later refills leaned noticeably sweeter. Still, it was enjoyable overall.
Final Thoughts
Boss Hog BBQ is a mixed bag—but with a few major highlights.
The brisket missed the mark
The pulled pork was decent but not memorable
The sides ranged from good to excellent
The ribs were outstanding and steal the show
If we had to sum it up, this is a place we’d return to—but mainly for the ribs and potato salad rather than the full spread.
