An Asheville Institution Marches On – A review of Little Pigs BBQ 

An honest review of Little Pigs BBQ

Located in Southern Asheville, not far from where the Pisgah Mountains rise to the west, sits an institution that has stood the test of time. It is a place of solid masonry, where traditions run deep, and royalty adorn the walls. And it’s only about a half mile from the entrance to Biltmore. 

What is Little Pigs BBQ?

It is a living juxtaposition of everything that Biltmore stands for, proof that happiness and excellence and joy don’t have to come packaged in ornate China purchased with the leavings of a robber baron’s fortune. It is proof that in America, success comes in all sorts of varieties and flavors. 

Back in April of 1963, Joe and Peggy Swicegood founded the Little Pigs BBQ across from his old high school. Joe – who played football at UNC and served in the military – purchased franchise rights and set up shop across from his alma mater. Just down the road from the Biltmore Estate.

The menu back then wasn’t that different than today. Sure, it had burgers and TASTY FISH back then, but the hickory-smoked BBQ sandwich was there. Same with the hot dogs, beans, and slaw, and the classic Bar-B-Que plate with cole slaw, beans, and hush puppies for $.97. Hot Dogs were a quarter, as were the milkshakes.

It’s hard to imagine such down-home value so close to the height of American opulence. But there it was, and there it remains, in the old brick building without a single ounce of gilding anywhere to be seen. 

Not too long after he bought in, the larger franchise ceased to exist. However, individual franchises carried on. Swicegood passed ownership down through the family, though today it is independently operated.

Does it have anything in common with Biltmore?

Not really, but the walls are adorned with portraits of family members and royalty, as though the royals at Little Pigs had actually visited. There are pictures of some of the famous folks who have dined there, like Michael Jordan, Yogi Berra, and more. Some of the pictures are autographed, and others just recognize those whose taste in hickory-smoked BBQ is immaculate. 

What should we eat at the Little Pigs?

At a BBQ place, it’s always a good idea to get the barbecue, and the meat at the Little Pigs is well prepared. Your basic barbecue sandwich comes with hickory-smoked pork, slaw, and sauce. It’s $6.85 and worth every penny. The BBQ Tray with BBQ, slaw, and three hushpuppies is up to $7.95 from the old days. They also serve Baby Back Ribs – in a sweet Western Carolina style sauce – as well as broasted chicken, Nathan’s hot dogs, and a variety of fixins’. The Nathan’s slaw dog is a tempting option as well. 

They also offer bulk carry-out and family meals. The BBQ Family pack feeds four for $34, roughly the same price as breathing anywhere inside the Biltmore. The chicken meal – 8 pieces of broasted chicken and fixins – feeds four people for $33. 

Dessert options? There can be only one. It’s the Lemon Meringue Pie, and it’s a classic available by the slice or the whole pie.

Can I try to visit Biltmore and eat at Little Pigs on the same day? 

We did, we visited Biltmore in the morning. As an alternative, we could have gone down to Antler Village and dined – there are good options, of course. But we made the last-minute decision to head off to the estate and see how Asheville’s other half lives. 

Look, I’m not opposed to Biltmore. In fact, I’m quite fond of it. I’m thrilled it still exists, a monument to what is possible in art and architecture and landscaping and beyond. It is an important piece of our history. Also, it is quite beautiful – except for the pool, which is haunted and creepy. But I myself have never really been part of the landed gentry, the aristocracy, or the hoi polloi. So, while I’m seeing just how opulent the upper crust can be, there’s a part of me – I assume from the Old World Immigrants who came over here with nothing – whose back stiffens with all the talk of royalty and accumulated wealth. 

In fairness to the folks at the current version of Biltmore, there are references to the ruthless business practices of the robber baron “Commodore” Vanderbilt.

While I bristle when I focus too hard on how much money was spent to make Biltmore a reality, I can’t ignore the absolute beauty that wealth created. However, it is right to go directly from the Biltmore grounds to a place like Little Pigs. As a result, we can remind ourselves that those of us in steerage can create a legacy of our own. And while it is different than the one in the gilded halls of Biltmore, it is – at least in some ways – just as important. 

Is the Little Pigs BBQ worth it?

A good BBQ sandwich for under $7, perfectly prepared baked beans, and slaw? A family meal for under $35? I don’t know how many places in the mountains are as worth it as Little Pigs. 

Have you tried Little Pigs BBQ? Let us know what you think in the comments and on the socials!