South Carolina is famous for barbecue; so famous that a select group of barbecue restaurants in South Carolina are dubbed 100-Mile Barbecue Restaurants; in other words, people would drive 100 miles, just to enjoy their barbecue. Among the best of the best, here are some to enjoy as you drive particular routes in the state of North Carolina. Hint, double check when these are open, since some have limited hours.
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South Carolina BBQ Restaurants Along I-95
I-95 North to South offers a selection of barbecue places for those who are making the trip to and from Florida, and shorter jaunts as well. There is no better way to break up the drive than a good meal at one of these 100-mile barbecue places:
Shuler’s Bar-B-Que in Latta, owned by Lynn and Norton Hughes, offers a 20-plus item buffet featuring home-style BBQ ribs, pulled pork and chicken, and sides like cornbread and biscuits from their Grandma Loraine’s original recipes. Also, if you are a dessert lover, Shuler’s is the place for you, with their home-made deserts and the bread pudding, home-made custard, peach and apple cobbler, banana pudding, chocolate, red velvet and pound cake. Plus it comes with a great atmosphere, a cabin style space with a waterside deck. Open Thursday – Sunday, 11:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
McCabe’s Bar-B-Que in Manning – Some folks call this The Original 100-Mile Barbecue. The pulled pork, hush puppies, greens, rice with sausage, sweet potato patties, and tomatoes with okra are all five star selections. Diners rave constantly about their coleslaw, and recommend you have their extra, extra sauce. Open only three days each week, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 11-3.
Maurice’s Piggie Park BBQ in Santee – Santee is a favorite stopping point for many long distance drivers along I-95. Those of you who make the drive often have some favorite lodging and dining spots in Santee. If you can, next time you are there, head for Maurice’s. Have a “Little Joe,” Maurice’s basic pulled-pork sandwich served with the establishment’s traditional mustard-based sauce. Or opt for the bbq pork platter with two sides, and their Carolina mustard sauce. Sides include sweet potato fries, hushpuppies, and hash. As noted below, there are other Maurice’s locations throughout S C.
South Carolina BBQ Restaurants Along I-385 and I-26
I-385 and I-26 North to South takes you through the heart of South Carolina. Start in Greenville and end up at the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way you will find many fine 100-mile barbecue places to savor:
Henry’s Smoke House in Greenville, prepares their top choice meats in open BBQ pits with hickory logs and cooks them to perfection at low temperatures. Henry’s cooks its pork butts for 12 hours and its ribs for over 8 hours. Henry’s chefs hand-pull the pork butt servings from the bone to select only the juiciest of portions. You can also visit the other Henry’s Smoke House in Simpsonville, just south of Greenville.
Bucky’s Barbecue in Greenville. This is one of four Bucky’s locations. The barbecue and the ribs are all cooked at one location, and then delivered to the others. The sides include homemade slaw , sweet potato crunch (a creamy sweet potato base covered liberally with a crunchy pecan praline topping), mac and cheese and sweet baked beans. Save room for the banana pudding. You can also stop at the Bucky’s in Fountain Inn, along this drive.
Cannon’s Barbecue in Little Mountain is an out-of-the-way, best-kept-secret barbecue place. Don’t let the modest exterior prevent you from venturing inside. You will be glad you did. Go for the slow-cooked, wood smoked, mustard style barbeque, ribs, and hash.
Melvin’s Legendary Barbecue in James Inland and Mt Pleasant. Melvin’s is known for the great dry-rub ribs, cooked with wood, low and slow, the same way he cooks his barbeque. There’s also brisket and smoked turkey. The sides include cole slaw, French fries,. baked beans, and sweet potatoes, all delicious.
Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ can be found in Charleston and out at Sullivan’s Island. Both locations offer barbeque, ribs, and chicken wings then add gourmet mac and cheese, collards, Brunswick stew, slaw and six different sauces, served in a tavern-y setting. The menu also features Sliders, BBQ tortilla chips, pork rinds with pimento cheese, and chili.
South Carolina BBQ Restaurants Along US 1
Along US 1, the old north to south route, you can find a cluster of some of the above mentioned restaurants in the Columbia area, as well as these others:
Ronnie’s Ribs, in Elgin, is take-out only, and they have just one table outside for the lucky ones who get there first. Go for the magnificent ribs. Ronnie’s hours are Monday-Friday, 11:00 – 8:00; Saturday 11:00 – 9:00pm.
Hudson’s Smokehouse, in Lexington, serves real, homemade Southern barbecue, with lunch and dinner buffets, plus an à la carte menu, all in a modern-rustic digs. Their buffet specialties include fabulous hash, rice, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, chicken livers, green beans, and cole slaw. Their deep fried yeast rolls are awesome.
Belly’s Southern Pride, in Lexington, is a takeout-only place, and it is open only 11 am to 7 pm, on Friday and Saturday. If you time it right, you’ll understand why it is one of the 100-mile places in South Carolina. Many say they have the best ribs in the state. There are a few outdoor tables, if you want to dine on the premises.
Jackie Hite’s Barbecue, is in Batesburg-Leesville. Their claim: “If you’ve missed the skins at Jackie’s you’ve missed the best skins in the state.” The barbecue is cooked in sand-lined pits over hard wood coals. The buffet includes barbeque chicken, fried chicken, and banana pudding. As a special bonus, Jackie’s has a Pig Pickin’ every Friday night.
Then to complete your US 1 barbecue route, swing down 278 to Carolina Bar-B-Que in New Ellenton, which began in 1968. Is said to have the largest BBQ cult following in the state. The buffet is constantly refilled with pit cooked and smoked barbecue, mustard or spicy sauce, slaw, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, homemade potato salad, rolls and pickles, and endless hushpuppies. They’re open Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
