This barbecue joint ranks No. 1 in South Carolina. What makes it so special?
A South Carolina barbecue joint serves the unexpected — and fans love it.
Now, Lewis Barbecue ranks as the No. 1 best place to eat barbecue in the Palmetto State, according to results published Tuesday, March 11.
To determine the top barbecue restaurant in the state, the magazine Southern Living said it worked with researchers at Proof Insights from July 10 to Aug. 21. They surveyed more than 10,000 magazine readers, and the winner earned a South’s Best Award, a spokesperson told McClatchy News via email.
What makes the restaurant special?
Lewis Barbecue, which has a presence in Charleston and Greenville, focuses on smoked meats with Texas flair. That means it serves beef ribs, brisket and other dishes that might not typically be on South Carolina menus.
“John Lewis moved east from Austin in 2016 to open a Texas-style barbecue joint in the heart of downtown Charleston, and in 2022 he added a second location in Greenville,” the magazine wrote in its report. “The prime brisket is as good as any in the South, and so are the spicy hot guts sausages and meaty spareribs. Hatch chile corn pudding and green Hatch chile barbecue sauce add a few accents from Lewis’s hometown of El Paso.”
Lewis Barbecue isn’t a stranger to recognition. In 2023, the review website Yelp named the restaurant the state’s favorite place for barbecue. That same year, Southern Living said it was impressive that Lewis “won over a bunch of pork-eating Carolinians with the allure of slow-smoked beef.”
“The pitmaster’s cult-like following can be attributed to his unerring dedication to barbecue — from welding his own custom-designed smokers to waking up at 4 a.m. to tend to the fire, he takes his meat seriously,” the restaurant wrote on its website.
While the menu includes Lewis’ “legendary beef brisket,” the restaurant also serves pork ribs and pulled pork. Traditionally, barbecue in the Palmetto State has been characterized by different sauces, but only one type of meat reigns supreme.
“Of course, barbecue in South Carolina means pork and only pork,” the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism wrote on its website. “Other things, such as beef and chicken, can be barbecued, but only pork is referred to as barbecue.”
Southern Living didn’t reveal the runners-up on the 2025 list. Last year’s winner was Henry’s Smokehouse in Greenville, The State reported.
The South’s Best Awards also considered the top cities, beaches, hotels and other regional attractions.
This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM with the headline "This barbecue joint ranks No. 1 in South Carolina. What makes it so special?."
