CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Red coleslaw, known as red slaw, is a staple in Lexington-style barbecue.

At Sweet Lew’s BBQ in Charlotte, it's the only option on the menu.

Owner Lewis Donald said its acidity and sweetness go well with chopped pork. At his restaurant, the pork sandwich is usually topped with red slaw.

Donald starts making red slaw by putting chopped cabbage in a bowl and adding sugar and salt to it.  

After waiting a few minutes, he adds vinegar and a ketchup based sauce.

“I feel it gives you a better bite every time you take a bite of the sandwich,” Donald said.

There’s more involved in the perfect bite. For Donald, it starts with the meat, which is smoked with wood only.

“All smoke, no wrap,” Donald said.

He’s proud of his smoked meats and the red slaw he serves.

“The pork is nice and soft and juicy and then [the red slaw] comes in and it has a little acidity, sweetness and it’s just little chunks of crisp,” Donald said.

Donald opened his restaurant in 2018 to bring the North Carolina tradition to Charlotte.

“I wanted to capture that and give that to Charlotte of ‘hey, we have pork chopped barbecue, red slaw and buns all day long,'" Donald said.

Sweet Lew’s BBQ also offers boiled peanuts, which are another North Carolina favorite.

The restaurant is open from Tuesday through Sunday.