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

[texas booster]

We often hear that the world of Southern barbecue moves slowly, sticking stubbornly to its time-worn traditions. That may have been the case a few decades ago, but here in 2025 tastes and trends seem to be shifting at a faster and faster pace.

It’s been just two years since we released Southern Living’s last list of the Top 50 BBQ Joints in the South, but this year’s rankings look quite different than they did in 2023. The economics of barbecue are increasingly challenging, and the past few years have seen a half dozen former Top 50 restaurants close their doors for good. Other former luminaries are still in operation, but their brightness has begun to fade as they begin to show their age.

But hope springs eternal when it comes to barbecue, and there’s been no shortage of new, ambitious players entering the business and making a splash on the scene. Some are steeping themselves in traditional ingredients and cooking techniques, while others are brashly striking out to forge creative new styles. The best have a foot in both camps, embracing the lessons of the past while looking to the future. They’re simultaneously rooted in their specific geography and local traditions but also look around the South—indeed, around the globe—for inspiration.

A definite theme of this year’s list is expansion or continuous improvement. One well-regarded barbecue operation after another has updated its offering or moved to a new location over the past few years. In many cases these improvements have pushed an existing Top 50 restaurant higher up in the rankings or put a new restaurant on the list for the first time.

There’s plenty of top notch ribs, chopped pork, brisket, and chicken to be found at the Top 50 joints, but there’s so much more to be discovered, too. Lamb chops, pit-smoked steaks, smashburgers, barbacoa tacos, and pork steaks are among the most memorable bites from the arduous research undertaken to compile this list.

I’m often asked how the entries are chosen and what criteria are used to rank them. I would like to say that I employ an elaborate, sophisticated, and completely empirical algorithm. Something, perhaps, based upon a sliding 63-point scale of credits and debits. Serve slaw on your sandwiches by default? Add two points. Line longer than 30 minutes? Deduct three. Located in Texas? Minus 15! (I kid. I love Texas. I do.)

In the end, when it comes to picking the best barbecue, you have to go with your gut.

What informs the selection more than anything else is the overall impression taken away from the full dining experience. That starts with the quality and flavor of the meats, of course, and of the side dishes, too. It extends to the overall ambience of the setting, the “wow” factor of something new and unexpected, and all the little finishing touches. I’m not saying that hanging a taxidermied cow’s head on the dining room wall is enough to put a restaurant in the Top 50, but if that cow is wearing a stars-and-stripes top hat and has a toothpick in its mouth . . . well, that surely counts for something.

In the end, when comparing one joint to the next, it comes down to this question: If I could eat right now at just one of these places, which would I choose? These are not easy decisions to make, especially considering the rich diversity of styles and techniques found across the South. How do you compare an old-school whole hog joint in the Carolinas with a creative, beef-centric new joint in Texas? At some point, you’ve got to just make the call and stand by it.

Here, then, ordered from number 50 down to number one, are my picks for the Best BBQ Joints in the South in 2025.

[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.