Pine Level barbecue joint has popular chicken salad

I've been to White Swan in Smithfield many times, and the barbecue is some of the best in Eastern North Carolina. But I didn't realize the other locations were separate, with their own menus. And it wouldn't occur to me to order chicken salad at a 'cue joint. When I ordered, there were plenty of chicken salad choices. I went for the no-onion plate, which turned out to be a heaping helping on a bed of lettuce with fresh tomato slices and crackers. The chicken salad was smooth, not chunky, with a lot of flavor. It looks like they use a little red pepper in addition to the usual mayo, relish, celery and hardboiled eggs. I haven't tried every chicken salad in Johnston, so I can't prove Hamilton's claim, but it's definitely near the top.

Return to top