Bens Backdraft Barbecue

09/21/2026

We’ve had a lot of new faces following us lately, so we wanted to take a minute to introduce the family behind Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue!

I’m Ben—the pitmaster, owner, and a full-time firefighter with Woodfin Fire Department.

My wife, Bayley, is a part-time nurse, a full-time mom, and the person who handles all of our catering needs. If you’ve booked an event with us, there’s a good chance you’ve talked with her!

Then we have Hayes, our energetic 5-year-old future pitmaster, and Maggie Rose, the newest member of the crew at 5 months old.

Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue is truly a family business built around faith, family, serving others, and cooking real wood-fired barbecue. When you eat with us or trust us to cater your special event, you’re supporting our family—and we’re incredibly thankful for every one of you!

From our family to yours, thank you for supporting Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue. ❤️🔥

09/18/2026

So excited to be there!!!!!!

09/18/2026

Sold out of wings for the day!!!

09/17/2026

https://decorhint.com/these-new-school-north-carolina-barbecue-joints-are-smoking-their-way-onto-the-south-s-best-lists-8646010a/?utm_source=nc

Waynesville, y’all helped make this happen! 🙌

Being included alongside these North Carolina barbecue joints means a whole lot to us. Behind every plate is a hardworking crew—and behind our business are folks who keep showing up, bringing friends, and telling people about us.

Thank you for helping a small business get noticed. We’re grateful to be part of this community and proud to represent it.

Check out the list, and come hungry! 👇

Meet the North Carolina barbecue joints bringing a younger generation of pitmasters into the Southern food spotlight.

09/16/2026

09/14/2026

Going on right now at the restaurant there is a fundraiser. I forgot to share it earlier, but better late than never.!!! 

09/14/2026

🔥 WE’RE HIRING — BUT WE’RE NOT LOOKING FOR JUST ANYBODY.

We can teach you barbecue. We can teach you the smoker, the kitchen, the trailer, catering and how we do things at Ben’s Backdraft.

What’s harder to teach is work ethic, attitude and caring about the people standing beside you.

Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue isn’t your typical restaurant job. We’re a small, locally owned business built around wood-fired barbecue, family, faith, first responders and serving our community.

Some days we’re serving folks right here in Waynesville. Other days we’re loading the trailer and feeding thousands of people at an event.

We work hard. We have fun. We get slammed. We help each other. And when it’s time to get after it, everybody gets after it.

You don’t need a fancy résumé or years of barbecue experience.

👉 If you’re dependable
👉 If you’re willing to learn
👉 If you take pride in your work
👉 If you want to be part of something we’re trying to BUILD

We want to talk to you.

🔥 Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue
📍 Waynesville, NC

Share this with somebody who needs to see it.

09/11/2026

Today, we remember.

September 11th is a day our country will never forget — the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the first responders who ran toward danger when everyone else was running away.

At Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue, the fire service is more than a theme. It’s part of who we are.

We believe in serving others, honoring tradition, supporting first responders, and giving back to the communities that support us. We try to operate with faith, gratitude, and the same spirit of service that means so much to us.

Today especially, we remember the firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, military members, civilians, and families affected by September 11, 2001.

May we never forget their sacrifice.
May we never forget how our country came together.
And may we never stop looking for ways to serve one another.

🇺🇸 NEVER FORGET 🇺🇸

— Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue

#911

09/10/2026

2 NC BBQ restaurants rank among South’s best new spots, Southern Living says

09/10/2026

This one means a lot to us.

Ben’s Backdraft Barbecue was featured by Southern Living as one of the new barbecue joints to know in 2026. 🔥🐷

What started with a love for wood-fired barbecue, long nights around the pit, and a desire to serve our community has turned into something we’re incredibly proud of.

We’re thankful for every customer who has walked through our doors, booked us for an event, followed us to a festival, shared a post, or told somebody about our barbecue. Y’all are a huge part of this.

We’re just getting started.

Thank you, Southern Living, for recognizing what we’re building here in Waynesville, North Carolina.

🔥 All wood-fired.
🚒 First responder owned.
❤️ Built on faith, family, community, and good barbecue.

Come see us in Waynesville!

BBQLife WNC Pitmaster