These 15 Restaurants Serve The Best BBQ In South Carolina (2024)

FAQs

What is South Carolina known for BBQ? ›

Mustard-based barbecue sauce is common in the central part of South Carolina, and is style of barbecue is most strongly associated with South Carolina. It is sometimes called "Carolina Gold". It may have originated in the French and German immigrant community that arrived in South Carolina in the 18th century.

Texas is the best state for BBQ. It's home to three of the top 12 best BBQ cities in America: San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas.

The Carolinas BBQ

This BBQ style has two camps: North and South Carolina. Proponents of both styles favor pork as the main meat. In North Carolina, the pork is typically brushed with a spice-and-vinegar mop as it's cooking. It's then portioned out and served with a ketchup-based sauce on the side.

As sure as the pit master's day is long, opinions on barbecue's birthplace are endless. But make no mistake, this isn't about choosing sides. It's about being right, and the roots to this sacred Southern dish are buried deep - five centuries deep - right here in South Carolina.

Nestled in the heart of central Texas, the region's barbecue is known for smoked briskets, ribs, and sausage treated with a dry rub and smoked over mesquite, oak, or pecan wood.

Last year Food & Wine magazine crowned “Austin and the surrounding hill country” as America's best barbeque. In fact, Food & Wine's top three destinations were in Texas, with Dallas at #2 and Brownsville #3. Two Missouri cities, Kansas City and St. Louis round out Food & Wine's top five.

Myron Mixon (born May 31, 1962) is an American celebrity chef and competitor on the competitive barbecue circuit. He is a five time barbecue World Champion and appeared as a judge on Destination America reality television show BBQ Pitmasters.

Carolina BBQ Style

Pork is the name of the game here – specifically pulled pork. The Carolina's love their Brunswick Stew and have a tender place in their heart for the Lexington Barbecue joint (if you're there, you'd understand).

Did BBQ start in South Carolina? ›

The true barbeque aficionado can not say that he has completed his barbeque quest without a visit to South Carolina where the art of barbeque was invented and where it is still practiced in both its purest tradition and its most diverse styles.

Carolina BBQ sauces are best known for a combination of tang and spice. This unique flavor profile comes from the prevalent use of vinegar and pepper based sauces in some areas of the region, while other areas include mustard.

Anthony Bourdain gets a taste of Rodney Scott's famous barbecue - Charleston City Paper.

The key things to know about the Palmetto State's long, proud barbecue tradition. Some have argued that barbecue was invented in South Carolina, but the historical evidence on that point that is rather slim.

American barbecue as we know it was born in the south. Southerners used pigs, because they needed less space and could be let loose when feed was scarce to wander and eat. Because these wandering pigs were leaner, they needed the slow cooking method of BBQ to tenderize.

History. North Carolina barbecue benefits from a wide variety of influences, from Native Americans, to European settlers, to African Americans, and to modern influences, such as newer equipment and methods to cook the meat.

For example, Kansas City BBQ typically features a sweet tomato-based sauce with a tangy taste. There are many different barbecue styles, but two of the most popular are Kansas City and Carolina. Carolina BBQ typically is spicier and uses vinegar as a base for their sauces.