It’s not difficult to find good BBQ in South Carolina, but to find it in an atmosphere that’s wholeheartedly welcoming, casual, and downright homey… well that’s a little more challenging. If you love to stuff your face with delicious South Carolina BBQ in a spot where everyone else is doing the same without a pretentious bone in their body, then head to one of these seven hole-in-the-wall, best BBQ restaurants in South Carolina – where you can just be yourself (heck, lick your fingers if you want!) and enjoy the meal.
- Scotts - Hemingway
Google / maps streetview
Google Local/Cecile Kelly For the quintessential South Carolina backroad BBQ experience, look no further than Scotts Bar-B-Que in Hemingway. More than just the best BBQ in the state, a visit to Scott’s is the whole nine yards and people drive from all over the region to get at this flavorful and tender, meaty meal. It’s only open Wednesday from 9:30 am to 6 p.m and Thursday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. Address: 2734 Hemingway Highway, Hemingway, SC, 29554
- Hog Heaven - Pawleys Island
TripAdvisor/ChrisK
TripAdvisor/AlyssaSaturley Visitors and locals alike rave about the buffet at Hog Heaven, which happens to include all-you-can-eat pulled pork. Find sauces and more on the side to flavor it just how you like, plus plenty of other country cookin’ to load up your plate with delicious flavors. It’s open seven days a week from 11:30 am to 9 pm. Address: 7147 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, SC, 29585
- Choo Choo BBQ - Bluffton
Google/Kelly Mc Andrews
Google Local / Lea T Most notable to locals and visitors for the red caboose where the magic happens, Choo Choo BBQ has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating for guests to enjoy their scrumptious BBQ selections. Also notable: their creamy mac and cheese — it’s the best you’ve never had. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm. Address: 129 Burnt Church Road, Bluffton, SC, 29910
- Pop Pops Pit BBQ - Myrtle Beach
TripAdvisor/Jay P
TripAdvisor/LloydDob89 Whether you want your Pop Pops BBQ on a giant, soft roll or dropped in a huge scoop so you can eat it with a fork, it’s sure to make your mouth water, even before the first bite. Be sure to try their coleslaw, too. It’s a fave! Open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm. Address: 8724 SC-707, Myrtle Beach, SC, 29588
- Southern Belly BBQ - Columbia
TripAdvisor/Jeff M
TripAdvisor/FrankL3333 Scarf down tender BBQ at this little hole in the wall that’s sure to win you over not only for the BBQ, but also for their delicious bread choices. I’ll have mine piled high on Texas toast, please! The Harden Street location is open seven days a week from 11 am to 9 pm, except on Sunday when it closes at 8 pm. Address: 819 Harden Street, Columbia, SC, 29205
- The Spotted Pig - Fair Play
TripAdvisor/KimberlyR734
TripAdvisor/KimberlyR734 This roadside gem has a sampler plate perfect for two that includes four meats and five sides all at an affordable date-night price that won’t empty your wallet. It’s open Thursday through Sunday at 11 am and closes at 8 pm on Thursday, 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 4 pm on Sunday.Address: 15491 S Highway 11, Fair Play, SC, 29643
- Carolina BBQ - Spartanburg
Google Local/TOM KIM
TripAdvisor/MarkAGriffin Don’t judge a book by its cover, especially when there is Lexington-style BBQ awaiting inside! You’ll love the pig-themed decor in this family-friendly locale almost as much as their BBQ offerings. And the prices are even better! It’s open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 am to 8 pm (extended to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday). Address: 7119-A Lone Oak Road, Spartanburg, SC, 29303
Did we leave out your favorite hole-in-the-wall BBQ joint? Feel free to add it to the list in the comments, because… (in our humble opinion) you can never have too much BBQ!
Google / maps streetview
Google Local/Cecile Kelly
For the quintessential South Carolina backroad BBQ experience, look no further than Scotts Bar-B-Que in Hemingway. More than just the best BBQ in the state, a visit to Scott’s is the whole nine yards and people drive from all over the region to get at this flavorful and tender, meaty meal. It’s only open Wednesday from 9:30 am to 6 p.m and Thursday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm. Address: 2734 Hemingway Highway, Hemingway, SC, 29554
TripAdvisor/ChrisK
TripAdvisor/AlyssaSaturley
Visitors and locals alike rave about the buffet at Hog Heaven, which happens to include all-you-can-eat pulled pork. Find sauces and more on the side to flavor it just how you like, plus plenty of other country cookin’ to load up your plate with delicious flavors. It’s open seven days a week from 11:30 am to 9 pm. Address: 7147 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, SC, 29585
Google/Kelly Mc Andrews
Google Local / Lea T
Most notable to locals and visitors for the red caboose where the magic happens, Choo Choo BBQ has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating for guests to enjoy their scrumptious BBQ selections. Also notable: their creamy mac and cheese — it’s the best you’ve never had. It’s open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm. Address: 129 Burnt Church Road, Bluffton, SC, 29910
TripAdvisor/Jay P
TripAdvisor/LloydDob89
Whether you want your Pop Pops BBQ on a giant, soft roll or dropped in a huge scoop so you can eat it with a fork, it’s sure to make your mouth water, even before the first bite. Be sure to try their coleslaw, too. It’s a fave! Open Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm. Address: 8724 SC-707, Myrtle Beach, SC, 29588
TripAdvisor/Jeff M
TripAdvisor/FrankL3333
Scarf down tender BBQ at this little hole in the wall that’s sure to win you over not only for the BBQ, but also for their delicious bread choices. I’ll have mine piled high on Texas toast, please! The Harden Street location is open seven days a week from 11 am to 9 pm, except on Sunday when it closes at 8 pm. Address: 819 Harden Street, Columbia, SC, 29205
TripAdvisor/KimberlyR734
This roadside gem has a sampler plate perfect for two that includes four meats and five sides all at an affordable date-night price that won’t empty your wallet. It’s open Thursday through Sunday at 11 am and closes at 8 pm on Thursday, 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, and at 4 pm on Sunday.Address: 15491 S Highway 11, Fair Play, SC, 29643
Google Local/TOM KIM
TripAdvisor/MarkAGriffin
Don’t judge a book by its cover, especially when there is Lexington-style BBQ awaiting inside! You’ll love the pig-themed decor in this family-friendly locale almost as much as their BBQ offerings. And the prices are even better! It’s open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 am to 8 pm (extended to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday). Address: 7119-A Lone Oak Road, Spartanburg, SC, 29303
For more bucket list places to enjoy a casual meal in South Carolina, keep reading here for our burger bucket list!
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