If you’re craving real-deal mountain barbecue, this Haywood Smokehouse Review will make your next meal decision extremely easy. Haywood Smokehouse is the exact kind of BBQ spot you want after a day in the North Carolina mountains — casual, smoky, and serving big portions with absolutely no tourist fluff. We visited the Waynesville location (they also have one in Dillsboro), and it instantly became one of those places you think about long after you leave.
Early in your planning, you can also see my full review of Weekend in Bryson City & Dillsboro, NC if you want to build an entire itinerary around good food and mountain views.
Haywood Smokehouse is locally owned by two brothers who do all the smoking themselves, which explains why everything tastes so intentional. The brisket is the standout — a shockingly tender, lean brisket that somehow keeps all the flavor without the weird chewy fat situation I normally hate. The whole place has that relaxed, mountain-town vibe where nobody rushes you, the portions are generous, the sides taste homemade, and the food actually lives up to the hype.
Both locations feel unpretentious in the best way. You walk in and immediately smell the smoke — not the artificial kind, but the “we’ve been tending this fire all day” kind. It’s casual, welcoming, and clearly popular with locals. Families, hikers, travelers, and groups all fit right in. It’s the type of spot you’d happily return to after a long day of exploring Western North Carolina.
If you’re staying in the area or doing a little mountain-town hopping, this fits perfectly with nearby restaurants, scenic drives, and outdoor activities. It pairs especially well with a laid-back afternoon in Dillsboro — their downtown is adorable, and if you’re planning to shop, check out my post on Shopping in Dillsboro, NC for the best boutiques and local stores.
This is where Haywood Smokehouse shines. Everything we ordered was tender, smoky, and full of flavor, but here’s what I’d order again without hesitation:
The star of the entire menu. Western North Carolina isn’t usually known for brisket, but theirs is shockingly good. The lean cut is insanely tender with no chewy fat — my ideal brisket. This would be my number one recommendation for this Haywood Smokehouse Review.
Yes, you can get the ribs fried. They’re crispy, smoky, and different from anything you’ll get at typical BBQ spots.
Add bacon and cheese. Trust me on this one. It’s rich, indulgent, and worth the extra napkin.
Get the baked beans — actually, get two. They’re sweet, smoky, and easily some of the best beans I’ve had anywhere.
Desserts are made fresh daily, and they do not skip steps.
Banana pudding — classic, creamy, comforting.
Bourbon chocolate pecan pie — the chocolate takes it to another level. This was amazing and absolutely worth saving room for.
They even go big for Thanksgiving, typically smoking over 200 turkeys. If you’re ever visiting during the holidays, this would be an incredible local option.
Haywood Smokehouse has a full lineup of sauces, and choosing one feels a little like choosing your alter ego. Here's the breakdown:
Sweet Red – Brown sugar and molasses. Sweet, safe, and dependable — delicious on everything.
Hot Red – Sweet Red’s spicier cousin who shows up uninvited and somehow makes everything better.
Sweet Carolina – Sweet, mild, and gentle. Zero attitude, all charm.
Georgia Fire – Sweet at first, then a little burst of heat that sneaks in at the end.
East Carolina – Tangy, peppery, and classic. Locals will argue endlessly about this style, and that alone tells you it’s legit.
Strawberry Chipotle – The unexpected superstar. Sweet, smoky, and surprisingly balanced.
S.O.B. – Habanero + jalapeño. Bold, hot, and a little chaotic in a fun way.
Chipotle Ranch – Creamy, smoky, and perfect when you want flavor but not full drama.
Pro tip: Mix Sweet Red + Georgia Fire for the perfect combo.
Haywood Smokehouse is the kind of place you walk into hungry and walk out planning your next visit. The food is consistently good, the sauces are genuinely fun to experiment with, and the atmosphere makes you feel like you’ve been eating there for years. Whether you’re staying in Waynesville, visiting Dillsboro, or exploring the surrounding mountain towns, this belongs at the top of your food list.
If you’re building a food-focused trip or just want more great spots to eat nearby, learn more in my post about Where to Eat in Bryson City, NC for additional breakfast, pastry, and coffee options that pair perfectly with a smoky BBQ dinner.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
