genxer711

Hello, we'll be in Charleston this winter for a couple of days. We have been in this city in the past but did not have any idea that South Carolina had it's own bbq version. Does anyone know what South Carolina Barbecue is and who offers the best in Charleston?
Thank you.

Gretchen

South Carolina BBQ differs only in the sauce--it is still pulled pork. SC sauce is a mustard based and you might like it (small eye roll from a western NC BBQ lover!)!!!
Personally, do it for a lunch if you do--Charleston food is too good if you are there only a few days.
You can buy the sauce in the supermarket--Maurice's after the BBQ restaurant he owns in Columbia.

fmpden

Besides the mustard based it also has a stronger vinegar flavor. Personally I prefer it over the tomato based BBQ. Unfortunately we have been in Charleston a number of times and do not recall a BBQ place but check YELP.

JanetKMR

Hometeam has good BBQ.

Gretchen

http://charleston.eater.com/maps/bes...on-restaurants

ChefsOfCarolina

Actually there is a bit of diversity in the cooking of and the sauces that pair with BBQ in South Carolina. Some BBQ is mopped with a pepper vinegar mixtur through the smoking process. Sometimes brining is employed. Sometimes hash is mixed into the meat.

As far as sauces, SC has 4. Mustard based as mentioned above, pepper/vinegar based, tomato based and ketchup based. Click on the link below and scroll down to look at a map of SC and the BBQ regions.
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/206598
That being said, while there are many BBQ joints that only do mustard based, several do many or all of these sauces. Yet, one BBQ chef in Charleston, Roland Feldman of Smoke BBQ told me that BBQ should be good enough not to need a sauce.

So my pics for BBQ in Charleston are
Smoke BBQ - http://smokebbq.kitchen
They have great catering too
http://smokebbq.kitchen/catering-information/
Lewis BBQ - http://lewisbarbecue.com
Swag N Swine- http://swigandswinebbq.com
And Home Team - http://hometeambbq.com

Gretchen

Roland Feldman of Smoke BBQ told me that BBQ should be good enough not to need a sauce.

That is true-- and one reason that sauces are served separately.

LBloom

We had Bessingers weekend BBQ buffet on Savannah Hwy. I would give it a "B". You can look it up on Yelp.

ekscrunchy

Charleston is not exactly a mecca for BBQ and you might be better off seeking that in another area of the state only because there is such fantabulous food of other types in the city that it would be a shame to miss a meal, given the plethora of superb dining choices of all stripes.

Will you be driving? There are some very highly regarded BBQ places not far from the city..can you make it to those? If you have a car and are willing to drive I think some local residents will elaborate on places like McCabes, Sweatmans, Scott's and their ilk. (I've not been yet but have read reams on BBQ in preparation for my own trips so mention those three spots that seem to come up regularly in the rankings).


http://www.destination-bbq.com/sc-bbq-map-locator/


http://top100bbq.com/

ChefsOfCarolina

Charleston as a BBQ "Mecca", maybe not like both Lexington, NC and Lexington County, SC. But I'd say Charleston is starting to hold its own. BTW Scotts is soon opening a joint in Charleston. And again Smoke, Lewis, Swig N Swine, Home Team, Cumberland Smokehouse even Poogans Smokehouse, JBs Smoke shack, Jim N Nicks and Smokey Oak are all worthy of a good to great rating. I'd say, soon, Charleston will be as big as both Lexingtons

Gretchen

Bessinger (as in Maurice's) has the "name" of SC BBQ but is basically a chain now.

And Charleston, like NYC ( lol) will jump on the BBQ bandwagon and get some servers!! But pulled pork is delicious and an important tradition in the South. Maybe Charleston can be as "big" as Lexington, but.....
Scott's is REALLY a part of that tradition

bachslunch

Agreed that Bessingers is probably your best bet. Mustard based sauce, not a bad version of this BBQ style, worth a visit.

Gretchen

Really, Really? LOL Please do not interpret my post as a recommendation for Maurice--in any way.

bachslunch

Gretchen, please -- I wasn't even thinking of your post when I wrote. LBloom had posted about his experience there upthread and I was sharing thoughts of my visit there a few years ago.

But since you asked, my understanding is that different parts of this family independently ran Bessingers and the Columbia-based Piggie Park chain and reportedly didn't have a lot to do with each other. I did go to the downtown outpost of PP some time after their highly controversial original owner died and actually found I liked the food there a little better (no way I wanted to go there when Maurice was the owner). Both do the same mustard-based style BBQ. Nowadays these places may essentially be an all-inclusive chain, though I don't know that for sure and don't want to speculate.

genxer711

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. ChefsOfCarolina, do you know if Smoke BBQ, Lewis BBQ and Swag N Swine offer the mustard sauce? I checked out their websites but they do not mention this sauce. Home Team is the only one that mentions it. Thank you.

ChefsOfCarolina

Smoke BBQ and Swig N Swine both have mustard based sauces.
Smoke BBQ also has a red and pepper vinegar saces.
Swig N Swine also has Sweet Red, Vinegar and Alabama white sauce.
I did not see mustard sauce at Lewis. I didn't use sauce on the brisket. It wasn't needed. They do have a green and red sauce though. Keep in ming Lewis is more representative of Texas than SC.

genxer711

In 1/6/17 we decided to go to the Home Team, the one located in Charleston. Their pulled pork was excellent and I never thought mustard sauce could be this good. Thank you.