Barbecue King Drive-In in Charlotte, North Carolina was the kind of place that sounded ready-made for early Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Featured in Season 1, Episode 5, this old-school stop brought barbecue and fried chicken into an episode built for smoke, crunch, and comfort food that does not bother with subtlety.
Though Barbecue King Drive-In has since closed, it still feels like one of those original Triple D joints that helped give the show its backbone. A drive-in serving barbecue and fried chicken is not trying to be polished. It is trying to feed people well, and that kind of straight-ahead appeal always plays.
Quick Facts:
Restaurant Name: Barbecue King Drive-In
City: Charlotte
State: North Carolina
Cuisine: BBQ / fried chicken
DDD Season: 1
DDD Episode: 5
Episode Title: BBQ
Original Air Date: May 28, 2007
Address: 2900 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208
Phone: 704-399-8344
Status: Closed
Barbecue King Drive-In had the kind of setup that already tells the story. A name like that is all business: smoke, fried chicken, and a roadside feel that does not need dressing up. It fit the early run of Triple D because it sounded like a place with its own groove, the kind of stop where the parking lot and the takeout window were part of the experience.
Even closed, it still holds onto that early-show charm. This was the type of restaurant that gave the series its first stretch of road-trip credibility, built around regional flavor, everyday hunger, and food that probably arrived with a little extra swagger.
What Kind of Food to Expect
Barbecue King Drive-In was known for barbecue and fried chicken, which is a combination that does not exactly whisper. This is the world of smoky meats, crisp coating, rich sides, and plates that show up ready to take over the table.
That mix gave the place plenty of pull in the Triple D universe. Some stops lean on one signature lane. This one had two comfort-food heavyweights working side by side, and that is more than enough to make a spot stick in people’s memory.
Visit Info
Address: 2900 Wilkinson Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28208
Phone: 704-399-8344
Status: Closed