Food & Drink · Restaurants
Danny’s Bar-B-Que
About
Danny’s Bar-B-Que: Hickory-Smoked North Carolina Barbecue in Cary
In the Ashworth Village shopping center off Ashville Avenue, Danny’s Bar-B-Que has been serving hickory pit-smoked barbecue to Cary for more than thirty years. It’s a homegrown, family-run barbecue joint that grew from a local passion into a Triangle favorite.
A Barbecue Born of Necessity
Founder Danny Thompson relocated to the Triangle from Jacksonville, Florida when his employer moved north—and couldn’t find the hickory-pit barbecue he’d grown up on. He started cooking at his sons’ sporting events and fundraisers, built a following, and opened Danny’s in 1992. The restaurant moved to its longtime Ashville Avenue home in 1995 and has been a Cary staple ever since.
The Food: Pit-Smoked and Made from Scratch
Meats are slow-cooked over an open pit with hickory wood—chopped pork, beef brisket, ribs, chicken, and turkey—served with a choice of the house original sauce or traditional North Carolina vinegar sauce. House-made Southern sides like Brunswick stew, collards, and field peas round out the plates, and the banana pudding is a fitting finish.
A Family Operation
Danny’s remains family-owned and operated, with Danny’s wife and sons long involved in the business, which later added a Durham location. It’s an unpretentious, counter-service spot focused on doing barbecue right.
Plan Your Visit
Danny’s is open Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays. A tip for rib lovers: pork spare ribs and baby backs are served Thursday through Saturday only, so time your visit accordingly.