Four types of barbecue sauce are found throughout the U.S., and South Carolina is home to all of them.
“These four, in order of historical emergence, are Vinegar and Pepper, Mustard, Light Tomato and Heavy Tomato,” said the South Carolina Barbeque Association.
However, Carolina Gold ―the Palmetto State’s signature, mustard-based sauce dripping with tangy, traditional flavor ― is what makes cookouts in the state hard to compete with.
USA TODAY just dropped its lineup of the 10BEST standout Carolina-style spots, and two of them are in the Palmetto State. Here’s where to visit if you’re looking for barbecue restaurants that will make you get in line for seconds.
Orchid Paulmeier, founder, executive chef and managing partner of the One Hot Mama’s chain, is competing against other culinary and grilling experts this season on Food Network’s BBQ Brawl.
No. 6: One Hot Mama’s BBQ (Hilton Head)
Summer might be over in South Carolina, but there are other reasons why traveling to the coast might be worth your while. Year-round, you can still enjoy outdoor activities like fishing and horseback riding on the beach. You can also explore the area’s flourishing dining scene, bursting with traditional offerings.
At One Hot Mama’s BBQ, expect to be served “authentic Carolina-style barbecue with bold flavors and Southern charm,” per USA TODAY. The Hilton Head Island restaurant promises a good time for the whole family, and generous portions of food to keep customers’ bellies satisfied.
“Led by Food Network star and SC Chef Ambassador Orchid Paulmeier, the restaurant features fall-off-the-bone ribs, pulled pork, and award-winning wings.” USA TODAY said.
No. 10: Brown’s Bar-B-Que (Kingstree)
If you can’t quite map where Brown’s Bar-B-Que is in Kingstree, USA TODAY says to “watch for the old-fashioned sign with the smiling pig and you’ll know you’re in the right place.”
For 40 years, the family-owned business has been serving locals and visitors to the area, who flock to the restaurant’s buffet to load their plates up with “smoked ribs, pork, and turkey” during lunch and dinnertime.
Before you pork out, make sure you arrive at this BBQ joint on an empty stomach. According to one Tripadvisor review, “Make sure you bring your appetite as pretty much everything is very filling and quite tasty.”
Orchid Paulmeier, founder, executive chef and managing partner of the One Hot Mama’s chain, is competing against other culinary and grilling experts this season on Food Network’s BBQ Brawl.
USA Today’s Top 10 standout Carolina-style BBQ spots of 2025
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Carolina Brothers BBQ (Ashburn, Virginia)
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Sam Jones BBQ (Winterville, North Carolina)
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Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge (Shelby, N.C.)
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B’s Barbeque (Greenville, N.C.)
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Skylight Inn BBQ (Ayden, N.C.)
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Lexington Barbecue (Lexington, N.C.)
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Stamey’s Barbecue (Greensboro, N.C.)
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The Pig (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her via email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Two SC barbecue joints make list of top Carolina-style in U.S.
