Okie Dokies Smokehouse

Tom, Ashton and I are currently on a road trip through the American South, driving from DC to Oklahoma City with stops in Asheville, NC; Nashville, TN; Eureka Springs, AR and more. We’ll be posting in-depth about each location over the next several weeks. Hope you enjoy!
We made it to Asheville on Thursday night, way past our bedtime. So it wasn’t until Friday afternoon that we got a chance to explore the area. We had a lot on our agenda, but the first order of business was obviously to track down some good Carolina barbecue. After thoroughly researching our options, we landed on Okie Dokies Smokehouse.
This no-frills BBQ joint is located just outside of Asheville in nearby Swannanoa. We took the pup with us and sat outside on the spacious deck patio, complete with mountain views.

Although Texas brisket holds a dear place in my heart, I’ve always had an affinity for Carolina-style barbecue sauce. I love anything tangy, so the vinegar-based version is my go-to. I was excited to finally try it from the source, on top of a pulled pork salad. It was the perfect combination, and definitely up there as some of the best pulled pork I’ve ever had. Okie Dokies cooks their meat low and slow for up to 18 hours, resulting in an incredible depth of flavor.
As an Oklahoma girl, I had to order a side of fried okra. These little nuggets are hard to come by in DC, and Okie Dokies does them exactly right. They also provided a side of ranch sauce for dipping, which is an absolute must.
Tom ordered the “little” combo, which came with a choice of two meats and two sides along with jalapeño hushpuppies – not all that little.
He chose dry-rub ribs and pulled pork for his meats with white slaw and cheese grits on the side. According to Tom, it was “exactly what I hoped Carolina BBQ would be”. The rib meat fell off the bone, and he agreed that the pulled pork was top-notch. Although he liked the sauces, he didn’t feel they were necessary with so much flavor cooked into the meat. I’m all about the sides when eating BBQ, so I couldn’t stop sneaking bites of his grits – pure Southern comfort.
With amazing food, fantastic service and great views our road trip was off to an epic start. Stay tuned for more restaurant reviews and other adventures from Asheville!