If You’re an 80’s North Carolina Kid, You Definitely Miss These 10 Foods

Growing up in North Carolina in the 1980s meant humid summers, college basketball rivalries, and food that made you feel right at home. Whether you were grabbing a barbecue plate after church, stopping for hush puppies at a fish camp, or cooling off with a Cheerwine, every meal was packed with Southern charm. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the iconic foods that every 80s North Carolina kid loved—and probably still craves today.

1. Carolina-Style Barbecue (East vs. West Debate Included)

You weren’t just eating barbecue in North Carolina—you were picking a side. Eastern-style meant whole-hog with a vinegar-based sauce, while Western (or Lexington) style had a tomato-kissed kick. No matter where you stood in the debate, every 80s kid knew that real BBQ came with coleslaw and hush puppies, and no plate was complete without arguing over which was better.

2. Cheerwine

North Carolina’s own cherry-flavored soda was the drink of choice for 80s kids. Whether you were sipping it at a cookout or pairing it with a Bojangles’ biscuit, it was fizzy, sweet, and pure nostalgia in a bottle. And if you ever made a Cheerwine float with vanilla ice cream? Peak childhood happiness.

3. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (When the Hot Light Was On!)

There was nothing better than seeing that glowing “Hot Now” sign at Krispy Kreme. Biting into a warm, melt-in-your-mouth glazed doughnut was an experience that every 80s North Carolina kid cherished. If your parents pulled through the drive-thru on a Saturday morning, you knew it was going to be a good day.

4. Cookout Trays with Every Side Imaginable

Even though Cook Out didn’t explode in popularity until the 90s, every 80s kid would have loved the concept of a $5 tray filled with a burger, a corn dog, and a Cheerwine float. The closest thing back then? A backyard cookout with a plate piled high with barbecue, slaw, and baked beans.

5. Hush Puppies

No North Carolina fish fry or barbecue plate was complete without these golden, deep-fried cornmeal bites. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and best when dipped in butter or tartar sauce, hush puppies were the side dish that stole the show. You always ate too many, but never regretted it.

6. Bojangles’ Cajun Chicken Biscuit

Bojangles’ was more than just a fast-food stop—it was a way of life. That flaky, buttery biscuit paired with crispy Cajun-seasoned fried chicken was the breakfast of champions. And let’s not forget the legendary Bo-Berry Biscuit, covered in sweet icing and filled with blueberries.

7. Livermush (Or, If You Were Fancy, Liver Pudding)

Western North Carolina kids grew up on livermush, a fried, crispy-on-the-edges pork and cornmeal concoction. You either loved it or swore you’d never touch it, but it was a staple of Southern breakfast tables. Served with eggs or slapped on white bread with mustard, it was an acquired taste—but a true classic.

8. Lexington-Style Red Slaw

Unlike traditional mayonnaise-based coleslaw, red slaw was a tangy, vinegar-based version that was a must-have in Western North Carolina barbecue joints. Piled on top of a pulled pork sandwich or served as a side, it was a game-changer. If you didn’t like red slaw, well… you probably just didn’t tell anybody.

9. Pimento Cheese Sandwiches

Known as the “caviar of the South,” pimento cheese was a lunchtime favorite. Whether it was homemade or straight from a tub of Star Foods pimento cheese spread, it was creamy, cheesy perfection on white bread or crackers. If your grandma made it from scratch, you knew you had it good.

10. Muscadine Grapes and Scuppernong Wine

If you grew up in North Carolina, you knew muscadine grapes were their own special breed—big, juicy, and with a thick skin that took some getting used to. Whether you ate them straight off the vine or saw your parents sipping on sweet Scuppernong wine, these Southern grapes were a taste of home.

The 80s in North Carolina were a time of firefly-lit evenings, backyard BBQs, and food that made life just a little sweeter. These dishes weren’t just meals—they were part of the traditions, road trips, and family gatherings that defined childhood in the Tar Heel State. Here’s to the 80s North Carolina kids—may your barbecue always be smoky, your Cheerwine ice-cold, and your Krispy Kreme doughnuts forever warm. Bless your heart, and pass the hush puppies!

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