Press
Press & Reviews
Coverage confirmed via BBQ King's own site and independent research.
The Latest
Queen City News · by John Le · August 31, 2026
‘Still hollerin’’: Former employees yell orders at Lincolnton restaurant to mark business’s 55th year
For the 55th year on East Main Street, Queen City News came back to the counter where orders have been hollered to the kitchen since 1971. Former employees returned to call them out one more time: Lisa Parker, who barked orders through the ’80s and ’90s, and Lisa Lail, a fixture here for some 25 years.
The story sits down with the whole family keeping the flame -- founders Steve and Becky Abernethy, their daughter Stephanie, manager Jordan Smith, and part-owner Keith Smith -- along with Kendra Cobb, who hollers the orders today.
“If you need anything, just holler.”
— how the article sums up five-plus decades
Written Coverage
- Bar-B-Q King, Lincolnton, North Carolina: The 2025 Western NC Tour
John Tanner's Barbecue Blog · September 2025
A return stop on the blog's 2025 tour of western North Carolina barbecue, four years after its Historic Barbecue Trail visit.
- Lincolnton BBQ landmark has been hollerin' orders for 52 years
QC News · 2023
Queen City News' first visit to the counter, filed for the restaurant's 52nd year -- the story their 55th-anniversary piece returns to.
- Lincolnton barbecue restaurant keeps traditions alive
Spectrum News · April 2022
Spectrum's Charlotte newsroom on how a 1971 institution keeps doing things the way it always has.
- Bar-B-Q King, Lincolnton North Carolina, on the North Carolina Historic Barbecue Trail
John Tanner's Barbecue Blog · October 2021
The blog's stop at Bar-B-Q King as part of the North Carolina Historic Barbecue Trail.
- North of Charlotte, Bar-B-Q King is still feeding crowds what they crave after 50 years
The Charlotte Observer · 2021
CharlotteFive's 50th-anniversary look at what has kept the crowds coming since 1971.
- Bar-B-Q King Celebrates 50 Years This September
Barbecue Bros · August 2021
The Charlotte-based barbecue blog on the run-up to the 50th anniversary.
- Pitmaster Profiles: Jordan Smith of Bar-B-Q King
Barbecue Bros · February 2020
A sit-down Q&A with second-generation pitmaster Jordan Smith for the blog's Pitmaster Profiles series.
- Re-Review: Bar-B-Q King, Lincolnton NC
Barbecue Bros · January 2020
A return visit and fresh review, three years after the blog's first write-up.
- Bar-B-Q King
Lincoln Times-News · 2019
The hometown paper's own profile of the restaurant.
- The Best Barbecue in 2017 So Far
Barbecue Bros · July 2017
A mid-year photo roundup of the blog's best plates of 2017, Bar-B-Q King among them.
- Bar-B-Q King, Lincolnton NC
Barbecue Bros · January 2017
The blog's first full review of Bar-B-Q King.
- Decades of juicy business
Gaston Gazette · August 2016
The Gazette's profile of the family business as it closed in on its 45th year.
- Barbecue is all in the family at Bar-B-Q King
Lake Norman Publications
A profile of the family behind the restaurant.
- Bar-B-Q King
Good Q and Eats
A visit and review from the barbecue blog Good Q and Eats.
Video Coverage
Watch these on our Videos page.
- Lincoln County BBQ staple known for hollerin'
Queen City News
The broadcast segment on the hollered-order system.
- 50th Anniversary: Owners of popular BBQ spot in Lincolnton hope you come to the restaurant's birthday party
WBTV · 2021
WBTV's invitation to the restaurant's 50th birthday party.
- Cooking with BBQ King, Lincolnton NC (video series)
WBTV
Multiple cooking segments filmed with WBTV.
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