4 editor picks in Charleston.
4 american bbq places in Charleston we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Charleston | American Bbq across every city.
Charleston barbecue runs along two lines: the local whole-hog and Carolina tradition, and the central-Texas brisket style that newer pitmasters brought to town. The Upper Peninsula has become the center of that Texas wave, where Lewis Barbecue fires brisket and hot-guts sausage on Nassau Street. Home Team BBQ keeps a Williman Street smokehouse going in Upper King, and Palmira Barbecue layers Puerto Rican accents onto Texas-Carolina wood smoke out in West Ashley.
Home Team BBQ in Charleston runs pulled pork, wings and brisket from a Williman Street smokehouse since 2006. Located in Upper King. Priced at $$.
OrderThe pulled pork plate with two sides, plus a half-pound of smoked wings.
TipOpen until midnight; full menu late. Live music nights draw a crowd.
John Lewis's Lewis Barbecue in Charleston runs central-Texas-style brisket and hot-guts sausage from a Nassau Street smokehouse since 2016. Priced at $$.
OrderA quarter-pound of fatty brisket and a hot-guts link, plus the green chile corn pudding side.
TipOrder at the counter. Brisket runs out by 19:00 most nights; arrive earlier for the full menu.
Palmira Barbecue in Charleston runs wood-fired Texas-Carolina barbecue with Puerto Rican accents from a West Ashley strip-mall counter since 2023.
OrderThe beef cheek barbacoa, a guava burnt-end side.
TipCounter ordering, no reservations. Meats sell out by 19:00 on weekends; arrive by 17:00 for the full menu.
John Lewis's central-Texas pit fires brisket and sausage every morning at the Nassau Street counter. Located in Upper Peninsula. At 464 N Nassau St.
OrderBrisket sandwich, sausage plate with two sides
TipOrder at the counter, sit at the picnic tables. The brisket sandwich at lunch is the move when the full plate is too much.
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