J S Pulliam Barbeque

Reviews

• Reaves I.

  star star star star star 29 August 2026

  I've been coming here since I was a child and it is still the best hotdog around town! It may not look like much from the outside, but they are pushing out hotdog magic on the inside! I would definitely recommend this place to others!

• CJ F.

  star star star star_border star_border 26 August 2026

  We saw this place on a list of great roadside places and stopped by for a quick lunch. I think the story here is to manage expectations. In your mind, assume that this is an order window and nothing else - you technically go inside to order but there is nowhere to sit and no restroom. Service is fast and the folks are super nice. If you look at their social media they have fun videos posted. The hot dogs were ok, but too greasy to the point that the buns were soggy. Not bad, but I wanted to wash my hands and I wanted less grease.

• Ryan C.

  star star star star_border star_border 25 August 2026

  I was really torn between 3 & 4 stars writing this review. If you've read even one other review about Pulliam's, you know that it's been open since 1910 and that hot dogs are the only thing to get here. Despite the business name, the barbecue sandwich isn't that good. Maybe it was good 100 years ago when the place first opened. The hot dogs are tasty but I'm not sure if they live up to all the hype... particularly Rachael Ray's 2011 assessment that they're the best in the entire US.
  
  Today I decided to eat here for a late lunch after finishing up my business for the day in Kernersville. I had not eaten here in probably 5-6 years before today. As others have mentioned, the location is WAAAYY off the beaten path from where I typically travel in and around Winston-Salem, so it's not somewhere I'm able to visit on a regular basis. But honestly, I don't think their hot dogs are even the best in the city. In my estimation, PB's and even Kermit's have superior dogs. And believe me, I've eaten many many dogs from all three places in the last 15-20 years.
  
  However, I'm not here to slam the place. The hot dogs with chili and slaw are really really good. And I love the feeling of stepping back in time when I go in. But the fact that you can't get fries, for one thing, really affects the overall experience for me. A bag of chips just isn't the same as having hot french fries with your dog, no matter how good that dog is! I do love the buttered bun and their slaw is creamy and good. All in all, their hot dogs are worth a visit. You can make up your own mind about whether they justify the hype they have received over the years.

• Peter M.

  star star star star star 22 August 2026

  Crunch.  Snap.  Mmmm.  Repeat.  That's what eating a Pulliam's hot dog is like.   That bun, that wonderfully, buttery, crusted bun grilled on a flat top that's been searing dogs since 1910.  Heavenly.
  
  We each ordered our dogs all-the-way (is there really any other in NC)?   Both the meat sauce and slaw complimented the delicious, snappy dog with streaks of char across it's bright red exterior.  Next time I'm invited to the dance, I've found a new partner.  Sorry, Lori.
  
  The verdict:  drag your ass up to Old Walkertown Road in Winston-Salem and order up a mess of dogs all-the-way.  Your cardiologist may frown but at least you're smiling.  Trust me when I say "Give 'em a whirl."  Go here.

• Nate H.

  star star star star_border star_border 12 August 2026

  Pulliam's has been on my list of places to try for years and, even though I live in Winston, I have just never found myself over towards that part of town. You really have to venture off the beaten path to get to this little hot dog joint. Having built this place up in my mind for so long and seeing all of the accolades and high praise, I actually walked away with kind of mixed feelings.
  
  Even though Barbeque is in the name "J S Pulliam Barbeque", make no mistake, this place is a hot dog joint. With that being said, I obviously had to try the BBQ on for size as well. Pulliam's  is honestly just a little shack large enough for a couple of people to wait in line, no indoor seating, and no frills. It definitely has a lot of character, which is no surprise since it has been operating since 1910. The inside is adorned with Nascar memorabilia and other North Carolina based items.
  
  As other reviewers have made clear, this is not a sit down place. You can grab your food to go, eat in the car, or pull up a seat at the redneck picnic tables outside (Makeshift tables and stools constructed with stumps). We ordered our food and headed out for the redneck picnic tables. The service was much less friendly than I was expecting. The employees were very friendly to the regulars, who they all seemed to know by name, but we definitely weren't given anywhere near the same treatment.
  
  I ordered 2 hot dogs All the Way, a BBQ sandwich, and a glass bottle Cheerwine to wash it all down. (Sidenote: Any place with glass bottle Cheerwine and Sun Drop definitely goes up a notch in my book). I tried the hotdogs first, which actually did live up to the hype. These are classic southern red weiners with a great snap. The onions were fresh, the slaw was flavorful, and the chili was great. What brings it all together is the toasted and heavily buttered bun. I was impressed.
  
  The BBQ, however, was not even in the same weight class as the hot dog. I had been warned, but I wanted to try it for myself. They advertise their BBQ as Red Pig BBQ. I'm not sure what that means, but it is not NC BBQ. It had no smokiness and was actually kind of a tough meat. It was a taste that I was familiar with, but it took someone else trying it to nail down the flavor. The meat tasted and looked like the meat that you would find in a Brunswick Stew. I honestly couldn't even eat half of this Brunswick Stew Sandwich.
  
  Pulliam's does hot dogs very well. Their service is lacking and their BBQ is disgusting. I will probably be back here for a hot dog, but in my opinion PB's in Winston-Salem has a superior hot dog, much better service, and a better atmosphere.