Bullock's Bar-B-Cue

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3330 Quebec Dr
Durham, NC 27705

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(919) 383-3211
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Bullock's Bar-B-Cue - Durham, NC
Reviews
( 26 )
( 23 )
( 7 )
( 2 )
( 7 )

Best

These folks are good! Especially Tommy Bullock, the owner/manager. I recently made a special order by phone from the Richmond area. First, my call was personally returned withi...

Worst

The Q is average at best. The tea is quite good. Slaw is fair. Pups are good when not overcooked. The real reason to eat here is not the Q, but the other things on the menu. ...

never again 11/6/2008

We planned ahead and arrived before the lines (5:15), but despite this it took 1:30 to get our food from our incompetent waitress who was flustered by the simple request for a check. Eating with 2 kids is never easy, but this long wait was unbearable, and for what? The food was nothing better than any of the other places in town and more expensive. Q-shack is a better all around experience. The woman at the cash register is clearly unhappy with life, as is every member of the wait staff as far as you can ather from the frowns all around. There is no reason to waste your time on this place. more
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Great BBQ and service! 10/20/2008

If you are looking for some good BBQ you should try Bullocks! They have been around forever (that's because they are so good!). They have many sides to choose from to go with that BBQ plate!! The waitresses and super friendly! Excellent Prices! more
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Best BBQ in the 919 10/10/2008

No trip to Durham is without a visit to this temple of North Carolina barbecue. Fast for 24 hours and then bring your A-game as the friendly waitstaff at Bullock's serves up the best pulled pork, fried chicken and hush puppies your taste buds have ever encountered. Go with the family dining option when you are in a large group. more
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Bullock's Barbecue 9/17/2008

Thanks to the kitchen staff, Bullocks is one of the best bbq resturants in the area. The chopped barbecue is excellent. The hushpuppies are made without onions; just the way I like them. more
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The long lines at the door should be a clue. 9/14/2008

I've been eating at Tommy Bullcok's since I was a kid. The poster below has obviously signed in under several different names to unfairly bash this Durham landmark. Bullocks is a slice of Durham. A great example of "down east" style, vinegar based pork barbecue. The service is excellent and the people are friendly. People are lined up outside the door every day before the doors are even open. That should be enough of a clue that this place is special. more
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Catering, Eat In or Take Out Champions 9/8/2008

North Carolina style barbeque at its finest and much, much more. The ribs simply melt in your mouth. And of course there's chicken - every style - seafood, chops, burgers, you name it. The vegetables are cooked to perfection. (I think they are all fresh. They taste fresh if they're not.) We love everything about the place except the fact that they don't accept debit/credit cards - unheard of in 2008. more
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Old Reliable, well, is getting 8/7/2008

If you are on a low sodium diet, you had better eat somewhere else. The salt shaker flies freely here. The fried chicken is pretty good if it is fresh. I hear "Old Man" Bullock likes to hang out in the back cooler and dunk the older chicken in clorox in a 5-gallon bucket, so he doesn't have to throw it away. This is a known fact. Employees have caught him doing it. Hear that Durham Health Dept.? Pros: Great service from the waitresses, even the gay dude! Cons: Some of the food is just too salty, a menu revamp is needed. more
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You've lost that loving feeling Tommy..... 6/1/2008

Bullocks was the ONLY place our family would eat BBQ for over 20 years but something is wrong and it needs to be fixed.... The service has gotten lousy, the BBQ has become so vinegary that it can take your breath (probably an effort to make it go further) and they are almost always out of chicken breasts and wings on the family style. We never minded standing in line when it was at it's peak but the last 5 times we have gone, it has become increasingly more disappointed. So, off to the chain of Smithfields BBQ and Chicken, who do still have consistently good food for the money. Pros: Used to be the Best BBQ in the Triangle, What's happened???? Cons: Lousy service, no longer consistent in food , lines too long, do not take credit cards more
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Great Food, Not Great Atmosphere 5/14/2008

I've been eating at Bullocks for over 20 years and it for a long time was my family's standby "in a hurry" restaurant as we lived about 10 minutes away. The food was and is consistently delicious, no problems there. However, since I started college (in 1999), every time I go the service and atmosphere seems to be getting worse and worse. Pros: Consistently good food Cons: Rude service, Slow service, food sometimes served cold, long waits more
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This is THE Barbeque place in Durham 5/7/2008

Bullocks has been there behind the Coca Cola plant on Hillsborough Rd for decades.\r \r They make their barbeque on site to their recipe and have great southern sides like green beans, mashed potatoes and hush puppies.\r \r All served with that traditional southern charm. Friday & Saturday nights usually have a line around the building waiting to get in (no reservations).\r \r Also, see how many of the celebrities (movie stars, atheletes and politicians) pictured on the walls you know. They all have eaten here when they are in town for the Duke Children's Golf Classic. more
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Great Food and Service 4/5/2008

Great Food. Food was like my moma cooked it. Kids enjoyed the food. The service was out of this world. Pros: Good Food Great Service Cons: Thought is was going to more of a BBQ Joint not a Country Cooking more
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great 'cue 12/29/2007

I grew up in the land of sweet tomato-based sauce bbq, Kansas City. The first time my Carolina-born husband brought me here, I didn't have a very open mind about the vinegar pork. I urge those unfamiliar with Eastern Carolina bbq to try Bullock's! The chopped pork with the hot sauce is sooo good. I even eat the slaw on top of it to cut the heat of the sauce and add a tiny bit of crunch. I dislike coleslaw, but theirs is so finely chopped, that it acts more like a thick sauce or chutney. The hushpuppies are great with the honey butter and my in-laws swear by the Brunswick stew (I haven't really gotten into the stew.) If you're hungry, get a plate with a couple Southern sides (all are good.) Our service has always been cordial and prompt. The carry out is speedy and you can get large quantities. It is a great value! My hasband and I can eat there for under 10 dollars and be full to the brim. Pros: bbq, "wall of fame," Southern sides and hospitality Cons: ambience more
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Good food 6/9/2007

I ordered the chopped barbeque platter. The small portion (especially with a side and the hush puppies) was definitely enough for a lunch. The food was delicious and everyone in our group seemed to like it. A few hours later, several members of our party were feeling the lunch in their stomachs but I was fine. The restaurant is insanely huge so they can accommodate a lot of people. My only problem was the service. While our waitress was very nice, it took her ages to take our order and took a relatively long time to get the food. We spent nearly an hour and a half there which is too long for a work day lunch. It should have taken about twice that. But, overall, it was a good meal and I plan on going back. Pros: Tasty food Cons: Slow service more
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Great food, Great service, Friendly waitstaff.....BUT Not real Barbecue in my opinion. 5/8/2007

Being from the midwest, I am more familiar with the Kansas City/Memphis style BBQ, not the vinegar based Eastern North Carolina style. So, when I found I'd be in the area, I did my research, and found what appeared to be the best examples of the style. Pros: Great Food - Freindly Service - Nice Atmosphere - Cons: If it isn't smoked, it isn't true barbecue - more
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Great choice for BBQ 2/4/2007

Certainly one of the best choices for BBQ in the Triangle, and the best in Durham. Portions are large (not huge), prices are just right, service is quick and friendly, parking abundant. Certainly not a romantic or upscale place, but who cares? Pros: Great BBQ, easy parking, even long queues move quickly Cons: None I can think of more
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For Home cooking Lovers 6/9/2005

They not only have some of the best BBQ and brunswick stew but their fried chicken and veggies are outstanding as well. Pros: excellent food, nice staff, just plain yummy Cons: crowded, closed on mon more
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AWESOME Southern cooking at its best! 6/9/2005

With so many fakes out there today claiming to be "true" southern cooking, it's refreshing to visit Bullock's where it's all real. The green beans are cooked with bacon and the hush puppies have just a little sugar in them. The sweet tea is really sweet, like it's supposed to be and the macaroni & cheese is homemade and to die for. Desserts are yummy and the sliced barbecue is my favorite. Enjoy! Pros: delicious food, quick service, endless hush puppies Cons: long line @ peak time, ordinary setting, somewhat noisy more
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Once in a while... 12/27/2004

Once in a while, I'll get a craving for Bullock's BBQ and nothing else will suffice. The chopped BBQ is traditional for this area and served in plentiful portions with down-home cooked side dishes and hush puppies. But, I have to say that fighting the crowds to eat inside surrounded by mediocre decor is not my idea of a good time. I would recommend calling your order in and picking it up - try the chopped BBQ, the brusnwick stew, the sweet tea and any of the veggies for a Southern treat. Pros: great BBQ, tasty hush puppies Cons: , long lines more
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Wonderful Place 3/25/2004

Bullock's Barbecue is one of the old southern type babecue places left in this area. I believe the restaurant gives everyone a since of the way people socialized with each other over a great meal. I have tried other barbecue places around the Triangle and no one can even come close to the authentic taste of Bullock's Southern Barbecue. Pros: Inexpensive, Friendly more
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Bullock's is about a C+ 5/22/2003

The Q is average at best. The tea is quite good. Slaw is fair. Pups are good when not overcooked. The real reason to eat here is not the Q, but the other things on the menu. The fried chicken is excellent, as are most of the other meats and veggies you will find. Even the seafood is very good. There are many reasons to eat at Bullock's. Good Q is NOT one of them. Pros: menu variety, tea, price Cons: Pork, crowded more
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Menu for Bullock's Bar-B-Cue


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We specialize in Pig Pickings and Catering for large or small parties

Owner Message

  • Bullock's BBQ - Bullock's BBQ has been a family owned and operated fixture in Durham, NC since 1952. Glen Bullock started offering his delicious BBQ in the 1940's, cooking pigs on the weekends for friends and neighbors. Eventually people wanted more so they had to grow. Glen's wife and son, Tommy helped run and build the business through the years, and Tommy has been owner with he and his family operating the restaurant since 1965. The business has changed locations as it has grown (it is the longest continuous running restaurant in Durham ) and has been in it's current location since 1970.We are proud to have served many celebrities over the years, as displayed on our "wall of fame" when you enter the dining room. We also cater for major area sports teams and TV crews when they are in town for the big game. Don't worry, we serve "normal" folks too, so come visit us or call us for your catering needs today!. Pig Pickings and Catering Southern BBQ

Editorial

  • In Short
    There's a line out the door, always. The interior is more like Shoney's than an authentic barbeque joint. The patrons are local hipsters, old-school beehivers and...

  • 7/6/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM
  • Payments: Cash
  • Neighborhoods: Watts Hospital-Hillandale
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