The No. 1 BBQ Joint In The South Is In South Carolina—See The List Of Top 50

Southern Living ^ | Septt 17 2025 | Robert F Moss

[9422WMR]

South Carolina? They probably have Texas Pete bottled BBQ sauce on the table.
That kinda takes away the SC bonafides if they use TX bbq sauce for the flavoring.
And let me guess, it’s pulled pork.
( say pledge pin 4 times fast)

[Wayne07]

I’m skeptical of Texas BBQ that isn’t in Texas, but this brisket (from the #1 place in SC) looks pretty darn good.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DMVSbqUsT4r/

[smokingfrog]

Pfffttt!
Everyone knows TX has the best BBQ.

[Tommy Revolts]

Spot on.

All the BBQ around here is done in my own backyard.

[Tommy Revolts]

Kansas City is not the south. Wouldn't be fair to the south.

Q39 is fairly new to the scene and is good BBQ, but not the best in Kansas City.

And for the record, Arthur Bryant's Barbeque sucks and so does Gates Bar-B-Q!

[Resolute Conservative]

There is a place in Durango that is run by Texas transplants (”Serious Texas BBQ”), but I found it not especially better that the Rudy’s crap down here and $$$.

[Deepeasttx]

Stanley’s in Tyler, Texas

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Ditto. My go-to place when I’m in town. Worth the wait in those long lines. Lunch is especially hectic with 2 hospitals up the road. Most blue scrubs you’ll ever see, unless one eats themselves into the ER!

[Tommy Revolts]

I’m skeptical of Texas BBQ that isn’t in Texas

Try the Brisket from Shaffer's in Summertown, TN.

One of the best I've had. The owner is from Texas.

[FrankRizzo890]

Here’s the list for your convenience:

50. Charlie Vergos Rendezvous (Memphis, TN)
49. 2Fifty Texas BBQ (Riverdale, MD)
48. Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q (Atlanta, GA)
47. Smitty’s Market (Lockhart, TX)
46. Hurtado Barbecue (Arlington, TX)
45. Redemption BBQ (Henrico, VA)
44. King BBQ (Charleston, SC)
43. Cattleack Barbeque (Dallas, TX)
42. Blood Bros. BBQ (Bellaire, TX)
41. Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ (Charleston, SC)
40. Dayne’s Craft Barbecue (Aledo, TX)
39. Melvin’s BBQ (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
38. Micklethwait Barbecue (Austin, TX)
37. Goldee’s Bar-B-Q (Ft. Worth, TX)
36. Elliott’s BBQ Lounge (Florence, SC)
35. Allman’s BBQ (Fredericksburg, VA)
34. Home Team BBQ (Charleston, SC)
33. McCabe’s Bar-B-Q (Manning, SC)
32. Peg Leg Porker (Nashville, TN)
31. Burnt Bean Co. (Seguin, TX)
30. Prime Barbecue (Knightdale, NC)
29. Sam Jones BBQ (Raleigh, NC)
28. Barbs BQ (Lockhart, TX)
27. Truth Barbeque (Houston, TX)
26. Cozy Corner BBQ (Memphis, TN)
25. Old Hickory Bar-B-Q (Owensboro, KY)
24. Stamey’s Barbecue (Greensboro, NC)
23. Southern Soul Barbeque (St. Simons Island, GA)
22. Hite’s Bar-B-Que (West Columbia, SC)
21. Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q (Decatur, AL)
20. Franklin Barbecue (Austin, TX)
19. Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue (Tomball, TX)
18. Archibald’s BBQ (Northport, AL)
17. A & R Bar-B-Q (Memphis, TN)
16. Palmira Barbecue (Charleston, SC)
15. Panther City BBQ (Ft. Worth, TX)
14. Grady’s Bar-B-Q (Dudley, NC)
13. Kreuz Market (Lockhart, TX)
12. Scott’s Bar-B-Que (Hemingway, SC)
11. Dreamland Bar-B-Que (Tuscaloosa, AL)
10. Lexington Barbecue (Lexington, NC)
09. Mama Jean’s Barbecue (Roanoke, VA)
08. B.E. Scott’s BBQ (Lexington, TN)
07. Lewis Barbecue (Charleston, SC)
06. Skylight Inn BBQ (Ayden, NC)
05. LeRoy and Lewis Barbecue (Austin, TX)
04. Louie Mueller Barbecue (Taylor, TX)
03. Fresh Air Bar-B-Que (Jackson, GA)
02. Snow’s BBQ (Lexington, TX)
01. City Limits Barbeque (West Columbia, SC)

[PJ-Comix]

#12 Scott's Bar-B-Que, Hemingway, SC

I've heard of this place before and seen videos about it. I've always wanted to check it out. Anybody out there ever been at Scott's?

[texas booster]

Thank you!

I was planning to post that list tonight when I got back from work. Just didn’t have enough time this morning.

[Responsibility2nd]

Any list without Franklin’s in Austin is worthless.

[Responsibility2nd]

Ooops. Disregard. Franklin’s is at 20.

[musicman]

BMFL

[decal]

What’s this “sauce” stuff you speak of?

Oh, that stuff you use to cover up your mistakes.

[Resolute Conservative]

Correct. A well-prepared and cooked piece of meat should stand on its own (maybe a little S&P) if you desire.

[nesnah]

South Carolina? They probably have Texas Pete bottled BBQ sauce on the table.
That kinda takes away the SC bonafides if they use TX bbq sauce for the flavoring.
And let me guess, it’s pulled pork.
( say pledge pin 4 times fast)

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Texas Pete is made at the TW Garner Food Company, in Winston-Salem, NC, and has been since 1929.

It is THE best hot sauce in the Galaxy.

It has nothing to do with Texas, other than the name.

[StAnDeliver]

The original Rudy's (Leon Springs)

Also-rans:

Rendezvous (Beale Street)

Truth (Houston)

[Lockbox]

I think the publication is confused, Texas is not Southern, Texas is Texas!

[9422WMR]

“ It is THE best hot sauce in the Galaxy.

It has nothing to do with Texas, other than the name.”
Good to know. I was in SC a decade or so ago and the locals took us to a BBQ place for pulled pork and that’s where I ran across the Texas Pete bbq sauce.
Have to admit as my first time to try pulled pork it was good, with the Texas Pete bbq sauce.
I’m from Texas and they don’t sell Texas Pete in Texas.