Let the funky, retro neon sign guide you off Highway 74 to Red Bridges Barbecue. Inside, cozy up in a plump, blue vinyl booth. The tell–tale whiff of hickory and oak fire laced with spice is the harbinger of tender, juicy things to come.

Order up BBQ pork and chicken by the pound, along with all your favorite sides. If you skip the hush puppies you will regret it–they were voted best in the county in 2021. Southern salad lovers might also want to get a toasted Mama B’s pimento cheese sandwich to round out this meal, washed down with house made iced tea, of course.

This family–owned and proudly run roadside BBQ joint has been delighting Cleveland County folks and travelers to western North Carolina since 1946 when Red Bridges himself—a former cook in the army—started cooking hogs and chickens over the fire in the old livestock building in Shelby.

Over the years he perfected his cooking method, firing those meats over a meticulously tended fire for 10–12 hours until the meat was juicy and perfect. The recipe for his famous ketchup and vinegar sauce, along with his other tricks of the trade, are locked up in a safe in the back of the restaurant, but his children and grandchildren carry on the tradition.

That sinus opening secret sauce? It’s available bythe bottle or half–gallon jug. You may want to grab some, ’cause this sweet, tangy, spicy liquid will ruin you for any store–bought nonsense you’ve topped your meat with in the past.

Come early. The BBQ is made fresh daily with the pit crew working through the night. All orders are filled until the BBQ is gone.