Bar-B-Q King

The overview

Curb service and barbecue since 1959.

Bar-B-Q King has been a Charlotte drive-in since 1959, a car-hop institution on Wilkinson Boulevard where you order from your car and trays come to your window. The fried chicken, barbecue and thick milkshakes made it a west-side landmark, its neon sign a beacon for generations.

A classic Charlotte drive-in for over 65 years, Bar-B-Q King is the 2026 Centurion Award winner.

What they're known for

Car-hop drive-in service
Fried chicken & barbecue
Thick milkshakes

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Google Maps
Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. Bar-B-Q King cleared every one.

✓Years in operation. Operating in Charlotte since 1959 — 67 years of continuous business.
✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Charlotte.
✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Charlotte has kept Bar-B-Q King busy for 67 years.
✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Charlotte regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
✓Recognition in the local community. Named best drive-in barbecue in Charlotte for 2026 for more than 65 years of curb service, barbecue plates, and fried flounder under the neon on Wilkinson Boulevard.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2026

Best Drive-In Barbecue in Charlotte Charlotte, NC · Awarded under the 2026 evaluation

All awards for Bar-B-Q King →

Visit Bar-B-Q King

Location2900 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208

In business since1959

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about Bar-B-Q King — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

Legal / trading name: Bar-B-Q King
Category: Restaurant
Founded: 1959, Charlotte, NC
Location: 2900 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Centurion Award: Best Drive-In Barbecue in Charlotte — 2026
Record last verified: July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after Bar-B-Q King cleared the 2026 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions.

What is Bar-B-Q King?

Wilkinson Boulevard drive-in since 1959, serving barbecue and famous fried flounder straight to your car window.

Is Bar-B-Q King award-winning?

Yes — Bar-B-Q King is the 2026 Centurion Award winner for Best Drive-In Barbecue in Charlotte, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best drive-in barbecue in Charlotte for 2026 for more than 65 years of curb service, barbecue plates, and fried flounder under the neon on Wilkinson Boulevard.

Where is Bar-B-Q King?

Bar-B-Q King is in Charlotte, NC.