Little Pigs BBQ: Asheville’s Original Barbecue & Memories Made Over Plates

Y’all ever get one of them memories that hits just right? I remember about 30 years ago, back when I was working construction — big crews, bigger projects, Saturdays were work days, and someone always brought breakfast biscuits or something their mama cooked the night before. We’d pot-luck that breakfast before work, then bust out a few hours of sweat and sawdust… and then lunch would arrive.

That lunch? Little Pigs BBQ, baby. The combo plate: barbecue pork, “broasted” chicken, rolls, sides—everything you needed. We got salty, sweet, smoky food, long lunches, and good fellowship. It wasn’t just fuel for the body — it felt like community.

🏛️ A Piece of History

• Little Pigs BBQ was founded by Joe and Peggy Swicegood in April 1963, when Joe — then working at the phone company — bought a little Pure Oil gas station property in Asheville and turned it into a barbecue legend.

• It is Asheville’s oldest family-owned and independently operated BBQ joint. Still run by the Swicegood family.

• They opened just across from Asheville High School (then Lee Edwards High), on McDowell Street, and have held fast to simple, honest Southern barbecue & chicken. The menu hasn’t changed much over the decades. Simple, but good.

🍗 The Experience — Then & Now

Visit Little Pigs today:

• The food still stomps: broasted chicken, ribs, chopped pork, sides like slaw, beans, hush puppies. Folks love the broasted chicken especially.

• Atmosphere? No fancy frills. Just warm, familiar, comforting. Folks who walk in feel like neighbors — whether you’ve eaten there once or a hundred times.

⭐ Real Talk from Folks Who’ve Eaten Here

Here are three great reviews:

1. “Perfect North Carolina BBQ dive. Food was amazing and very well priced. Happened upon this place and so glad we did! Highly recommend!!”

2. “The broasted chicken was fantastic. The staff was friendly and helpful. And I enjoyed the simple southern atmosphere.”

3. “The BBQ and chicken were great. Especially enjoyed the hush puppies. Took me back in time with its quaint atmosphere. Visiting from Virginia but will come back next time we are in Asheville.”

🔥 Why Little Pigs Still Matters

In a town full of new BBQ joints, fancy smokehouses, and chefs pushing boundaries, Little Pigs remains the foundation. It reminds us of a time when food was simple, flavors honest, and eating together mattered just as much as what was on the plate. It taught a lot of folks what barbecue should feel like: hearty, humble, and full of soul.

👋 My Favorite

If you see me there, I’ll likely be enjoying the Broasted Chicken Breasts—juicy, golden-crusted, just right. Roll back in with some rolls, a side or two, and you’ve got a meal that whispers “you’re home.”

Prices? Fair. Staff? Friendly as all get-out. The legacy? Unshakeable.

At the end of the day, y’all, we’re just folks who love shinin’ a light on the places and people that make Western North Carolina what it is. From barbecue joints that’ve been servin’ up plates since the ’60s, to brand-new dreams just gettin’ started, every story matters.

If you’ve got a business worth buildin’ — and we know you do — don’t let it get lost in the shuffle with flat photos or cookie-cutter content. Let’s capture the flavor, the grit, and the heart that makes your story yours.

From Asheville to every back road and mountain town in WNC, we’re here to help you bring in more guests, fill your tables, grow your reach, and get your story told the way it deserves.

So if you’re ready for media that works as hard as you do — holler at us. Let’s roll up our sleeves and build somethin’ real together. 🚀