South Carolina’s barbecue scene sizzles with tradition, smoke, and saucy secrets.
Three standout spots elevate this Southern staple, blending time-honored techniques with bold regional twists.
From peppery dry rubs to tangy vinegar-kissed masterpieces, each pitmaster’s craft tells a story—one best served with crispy hushpuppies and a side of local pride.
♨️ Lewis Barbecue Charleston
Charleston’s smoke scene just got hotter 🔥, and Lewis Barbecue is the fiery MVP.
Think melt-in-your-mouth meats, saucy vibes, and a crowd that cheers for seconds.
With portions bigger than a southern sunset 🌅 and flavors bold enough to make a Texan blush 🤠, this spot turns BBQ into a full-contact sport.
Pro tip: unbutton your jeans first.
Food Highlights
- Sliced USDA Prime Beef Brisket: The star 🏆—tender, smoky, and Central Texas-approved. Order it fatty, lean, or mixed.
- Texas Hot Guts Sausage: A beef-pork blend with a spicy kick 🌶️—smoked in-house and best enjoyed with a cold beer.
- Green Chile Cheddar Sausage: Cheesy, porky, and packed with roasted chile flavor—like a flavor fiesta 🌵.
- Pork Spare Ribs: Glazed, meaty, and fall-off-the-bone perfection. Rib lovers, this is your holy grail 🍖.
- Mac & Cheese: Creamy, decadent, and the ultimate sidekick to smoky meats.
Atmosphere
Industrial meets BBQ playground 🏭. Communal tables, a bustling open kitchen, and the aroma of oak-smoked meats set the scene.
Watch pitmasters work magic while sipping local brews 🍻.
Laid-back, loud, and unapologetically fun—it’s where food comas and new friends collide.
Why It’s One of the Best in South Carolina
Lewis Barbecue doesn’t just serve food—it throws a smoke-filled party 🎉. From flawless brisket to crowd-pleasing sides, every bite screams authenticity.
Add a lively bar, hearty portions, and a vibe that’s pure Charleston charm, and you’ve got a must-visit pit stop.
Address: 464 North Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403
♨️ McCabe’s Bar-B-Q
Hold onto your napkins, BBQ lovers! McCabe’s Bar-B-Q in Manning, South Carolina, isn’t just a restaurant—it’s a smoky pilgrimage site for pulled pork perfection. 🔥
Families, road-trippers, and sauce enthusiasts flock here for old-school pit-cooked magic that’ll make your taste buds line-dance.
With limited hours and a cash-only policy, this tiny joint serves big flavors and even bigger hospitality. 🍗👪🍯
Food Highlights
- Pulled Pork: Tender, smoky, and bathed in a tangy vinegar-pepper sauce that’s so good locals drive 100 miles for it. No sauce-on-the-side nonsense here—this pork is marinated in flavor.
- Fried Chicken: Crispy, juicy, and legendary. One reviewer called it “the best fried chicken in the world,” and the buffet line clears fast when a fresh batch drops.
- Hash & Rice: A South Carolina staple, this savory hash simmers for hours with meaty depth. Spoon it over rice for a must-try Lowcountry combo.
- Turnip Greens: Seasoned to perfection by 90-year-old matriarch Jessie McCabe, these greens are a vegetable revelation (yes, really).
- Hush Puppies: Golden, pillowy, and never sweetened—just pure cornbread bliss.
Atmosphere
Step into a cozy, no-frills haven where the walls hum with chatter and the scent of oak-smoked pork.
Don’t expect fancy décor—just hearty laughs, pitchers of sweet tea, and a vibe that screams “y’all come back now.”
Why It’s One of the Best in South Carolina
McCabe’s sticks to tradition: whole hogs cooked over real wood pits, homemade sides, and a sauce recipe that’s stood the test of time.
It’s earned spots on “100-Mile Barbecue” lists and fueled beach trips for decades.
Come for the pork, stay for the fried chicken frenzy, and leave planning your next visit—before they sell out.
Address: 480 N Brooks St, Manning, SC 29102
Hours: Thursday–Saturday 11:00 AM–2:00 PM (cash only!).
♨️ Scott’s Bar-B-Que
Hold onto your napkins, barbecue lovers—Scott’s Bar-B-Que in Hemingway, SC, is where smoke meets soul! 🔥🍖
This no-frills, cash-only legend slings whole hog magic from a wood-fired pit that’s been flaming since 1972.
Think: sticky fingers, picnic tables, and sauce-stained smiles. 🚜💨 It’s a backroads treasure where the pork’s the star and the vibe’s as real as the smoke curling off the pits.
Food Highlights
- Pulled Pork Plate: Coarsely chopped, pepper-kissed strands piled high on soft white bread—carry-out perfection that’s juicy, buttery, and begging for a splash of their vinegar-pepper sauce.
- Whole Hog BBQ: A 12-hour wood-smoked masterpiece with crackling skin and melt-in-your-mouth meat—the holy grail of Carolina ’cue.
- Smoked BBQ Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone tender with a caramelized crust, best enjoyed sauce-free to let the smoky flavor shine.
- Half Smoked BBQ Chicken: Juicy, smoky, and seasoned with decades of pitmaster wisdom—finger-licking fuel for any road trip.
- Baked Beans & Coleslaw: Classic sides that play backup singer to the meaty headliners—simple, tangy, and just right for palate cleansers.
Atmosphere
Step into a time capsule of Southern barbecue history. The setup? Part convenience store, part smokehouse, all charm. 🛒🌳
Cracked linoleum floors, framed magazine clippings, and the hum of screen doors set the scene.
Watch pitmasters tend glowing pits out back, then grab a styrofoam box and feast at picnic tables under the pines.
Why It’s One of the Best in South Carolina
Scott’s nails the holy trinity: wood-smoked meat, generational know-how, and zero pretense.
It’s earned shoutouts from Southern Living and Thrillist—and once you taste that hog, you’ll know why.
Come for the $14 pork-and-sides combo, stay for the unfiltered SC backcountry vibe.
Address: 2734 Hemingway Hwy, Hemingway, SC 29554