Terry's Tasty Shoppe — Restaurant in Goldsboro

There’s something sacred about a place like Terry’s Tasty Shop in Goldsboro, North Carolina. It’s not chasing trends. It’s not catering to foodies snapping selfies. It’s doing what it’s always done—serving up the kind of food that makes you stop, take a breath, and remember why simple is so damn good.

Terry—yes, she’s the boss—is the kind of woman who’s not just running a grill; she’s running an institution. She’s the heartbeat of this place, and you feel it in every plate that slides across that well-worn counter. There’s no BS here. Just burgers, dogs, shakes, and the kind of soul-soothing classics that could bring a grown man to tears on a rough day.

Start with the Big Tee Burger. It’s not trying to impress you—it just does. Juicy, messy in all the right ways, and served with chips that crackle like the 4th of July. The Bright Leaf hot dogs? A Carolina classic, done proper. No frills, no gimmicks—just that signature snap and nostalgic flavor that hits somewhere deep in your memory.

And then there’s the slaw. Good God. It’s not just good—it’s transcendent. Cool, crisp, with just the right balance of tang and cream. It’s the kind of slaw that makes everything it touches better. On one of Terry’s hot dogs, it’s practically a holy experience—like heaven itself created a topping just for this purpose. It doesn’t sit on the dog—it belongs there.

You want comfort? Get the hamburger steak, smothered in onions and rich gravy, with enough heart to carry you through the worst kind of weather. Come winter, the vegetable beef soup shows up like a warm hug in a Styrofoam cup. And don’t sleep on the chicken wings—crispy, seasoned, and not afraid to bring a little heat.

And the soft-serve? The milkshakes? This is the stuff kids grow up on, and grown folks come back for. It’s Americana in a cone, thick with nostalgia and just enough sugar to make you smile without shame.

One note for first-timers—don’t be surprised if your burger is interrupted by the roar of F-15s overhead. The shop sits close to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and jet noise is just part of the soundtrack here. It might make you jump at first, but after a few visits, it starts to feel like home—like flavor and freedom shaking the sky together.

Terry’s doesn’t care about Michelin stars or Yelp elites. It’s feeding people the way food is supposed to be served—hot, honest, and full of love. It’s a roadside gospel of greasy-spoon glory, and if you can’t appreciate that, you’ve lost touch with what food is really about.

Goldsboro’s lucky. Places like this don’t come around often. And once they’re gone, you don’t...

It’s giving a lil racist if you ask me . I had to park my rig up the road bout a mile to walk here . I was super excited until I got here the lady at the window (she took my payment tonight) Don’t know her name but she looks older and talks loud . Well to me, she talked very loud to me . OMG so rude to me . Then while standing in the cold, I heard her say I guess she’s going to stand there and look at us . The young man also said I guess she is . I got her attention and said I’m staying here because I parked my rig about a mile up the road . She ended up marking me saying a rig like the big truck rig. I said yes . This place is really small I had no idea there was a walk in until the lady offered me to come inside but I was so taken by the way she talked about me I declined the offer and stood in the cold to wait on my food . By the way the lady who refilled my sweet tea and asked if I needed ketchup. Thank you for your kind gesture....

It was really good the corn things I forgot what they were called... I'll try to explain lol they look like chicken nuggets but instead of chicken on the inside it's sweet creamy corn. Oh man they are sooooo ooo ooo good!! Want to go back just to get a side of those!!!! The hanburgersteak was a little charred burnt my side didn't like it but I like the burnt taste. Only thing is normally hamburger steak comes with either rice or mashed potatoes and it didnt.... but you get 2 sides if I'd known that I would have looked to see if they were side options... fried okra was really good too but those corn things man they were so good good enough I want to go back and get some more of...