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The South's Best Barbecue Joint In Every State 2025

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These are the 2025 South's Best barbecue joints in every state, as voted on by Southern Living readers.

6 Barbecue Trends You'll See Around The South In 2025

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Discover the top barbecue trends for 2025. From innovative grilling techniques to new flavor combinations, these are our barbecue editor's top predictions.

The Harlow showcases the best of neighborhood dining, one burger and oyster at a time

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The James Island restaurant, located near Coastal Crust and Odyssey Bottle Shop, serves burgers, oysters and more.

The Archer hits the bullseye with eclectic style and lots of unexpected flavors

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The Archer is the second Charleston, SC, restaurant from Marc and Liz Hudacsko, the couple behind Berkeley’s. It opened in August in the Meeting Street Lofts.

The former Macintosh Is now Maya. Here's where it misses the mark.

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Mexican restaurant Maya in Charleston, SC is owned by the Indigo Road Hospitality Group, proprietors of O-Ku, Oak Steakhouse, Indaco and Brasserie La Banque.

This seafood restaurant has been flying under the radar. We're not sure why.

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Charleston counts several quality seafood restaurants, including 167 Raw, Chubby Fish, Royal Tern and Leon's Oyster Shop. Add The Establishment to that list.

Malagón takes diners on a tour of Spain

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A reviews of Malagón, a Spanish tapas restaurant with a robust wine menu and standout dishes like tortillas, racks of lamb and more.

These Are The South's Best New Barbecue Joints Of 2024

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Contributing Barbecue Editor Robert Moss selects his top 22 new barbecue joints for 2024. The list represents the best new barbecue in the South this year.

After 30 years of serving Charleston, does Slightly North of Broad still deliver?

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A review of Slightly North of Broad (SNOB), which opened in downtown Charleston in 1993 and is now owned by Hall Management Group (High Cotton, Halls Chophouse.)

Porchetta Shop adds more global flavors to a dynamic Charleston dining neighborhood

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Caitlin and Michael Toscano, the owners of Italian eatery Le Farfalle, opened Da Toscano Porchetta Shop at the corner of President and Cannon streets in 2023.

20 Best Restaurants In Charleston, SC

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Charleston’s restaurants offer a vibrant blend of old and new, embracing the region’s unique culinary traditions but looking outward around the globe for fresh inspiration, too. Here are 20 must-try restaurants for your next visit.

Lowcountry restaurant’s beguiling bites stray from the fish camp format. Does it work?

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Sullivan’s Fish Camp on Sullivan’s Island is owned by Basic Projects, the hospitality group behind Post House in Mount Pleasant and Basic Kitchen in Charleston.

How does a new Charleston BBQ restaurant stack up against the competition?

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Charleston's top BBQ restaurants include Lewis BBQ, Rodney Scott's BBQ, Swig & Swine and Home Team. Count newcomer Palmira Barbecue among them.

James Beard Award-winning chef's new restaurant sits between luxury and comfort

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New Jason Stanhope restaurant Lowland is located in The Pinch hotel, where the James Beard Award-winner serves biscuits, quail, fresh pasta, steaks and more.

Bearcat's chefs take big swings. Does it lead to home runs at the Charleston restaurant?

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Bearcat serves an American menu in the Avondale neighborhood of Charleston, SC. The restaurant’s chef cooked in multiple Michelin-starred kitchens in Chicago.

Bintü Atelier is a restaurant deeply rooted in Charleston. Here's why.

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West African food like crab rice is served at Bintü Atelier in Charleston, SC. The owner, of Senegalese and French descent, previously cooked at Chez Nous.

The South's Best Barbecue Joints In Every State (2024 Edition)

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Southern Living's annual South's Best issue is back, includes the round up of the South's best BBQ joints in every state as voted on by our readers (and written up by me.)

Restaurant Review: Ma'am Saab

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Ma'am Saab pushes global flavors toward the heart of Charleston's tourist district

King BBQ in North Charleston shines with a modern style unlike any other in the country

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A Review of King BBQ, which specializes in Chinese- and Carolina-inspired barbecue, like ribs and pork.

7 Joints Making Raleigh-Durham the Meat-Smoking Capital Of NC

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The Raleigh-Durham area has started to make a name for itself in the Carolina BBQ world. Check out the joints that are making Raleigh-Durham a meat-smoking mecca.

Holy City Spirits: A look at a decade of dedicated growth among Charleston distillers

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The future is bright—and smells like whiskey

The Year in Restaurant Reviews: A critic's take on Charleston restaurants in 2023 and beyond

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A look back at 2023 reviews, including Sorelle, 167 Raw, The James, Lola Rose, and Rancho Lewis.

Restaurant review: Beautiful South delivers an energetic presentation of Chinese fare

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Beautiful South is the second Charleston venture from David Schuttenberg and Tina Heath-Schuttenberg, the owners of Kwei Fei.

Restaurant Review: Lola Rose delivers high-quality coastal Mediterranean cuisine

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From the owners of The Grocery comes Lola Rose, located in north Mount Pleasant in the Bend at the Carolina Park

Restaurant Review: Southbound sets the bar high. The food doesn't consistently clear it.

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Southbound in downtown Charleston makes a dramatic first impression . . . until the food arrives.

15 Minutes with Vinson Petrillo

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Chef Vinson Petrillo shares a sneak peek at Costa, a new southern Italian spot in The Jasper

Restaurant review: Kultura presents a parade of colors and vibrant Filipino flavors

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The menu at Kultura in downtown Charleston puts creative twists on traditional Filipino preparations.

Restaurant Review: The James

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With prime rib and Parker House rolls, The James, the latest venture from Charleston’s Neighborhood Dining Group, is a throwback to an earlier era.

15 Minutes With: Sarah O’Kelley

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One of Charleston’s favorite wine pros shares what’s next in her formidable career. Learn about her intriguing culinary path and her new venture, Grape to Table

Restaurant Review: Hannibal's Kitchen

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The side dishes star at Hannibal's Kitchen, and crab rice remains a can't-miss specialty.

These Are The South's Top 50 Barbecue Joints Of 2023

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Contributing barbecue editor Robert Moss selects his top 50 Barbecue Joints for 2023. The list, which includes old standbys and brand new winners, represents the best barbecue in the South.

Restaurant Review: FIG

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20 years in, FIG remains as impressive and relevant as ever. I lucked into a seat in the dining room on the very night it was announced that executive chef Jason Stanhope would soon be leaving after 15 years in the kitchen.

Restaurant Review: Pink Bellies

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On Upper King Street, Pink Bellies' daring, unexpected twists delight . . . when they land

Meet The Women Reinventing BBQ In Texas

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Texas is known for their barbecue, and these women are making a name for themselves in the competitive world of Texan BBQ. Read more about their stories and food that is putting them on the map.

Charleston Barbecue, Generation Next

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All about the evolution of Holy City barbecue with a focus on of what local pitmasters are serving up next . Explore local barbecue history ranging from the last century’s mustard-sauce migration to the modern craft ‘cue boom

Restaurant Review: El Molino is a promising place for satisfying tacos, tortas and more

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At two locations in Charleston, El Molino Supermarket serves savory tacos on soft corn tortillas, hefty tight-wrapped burritos, tortas on warm fluffy rolls and more.

Restaurant review: Does new Charleston hot spot Sorelle live up to its high expectations?

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Amid a lot of gaps, Sorelle shines best not with the big, brash plates nor with the produce of the Lowcountry but rather with expensive ingredients sourced from far away,

The True Story of Hushpuppies, a Genuine Carolina Treat

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No barking dogs required

Restaurant Review: 167 Sushi Bar

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At 167 Sushi Bar in Charleston, veggies and small plates are as much in the foreground as raw fish, and they’re really impressive, too.

Restaurant Review: La Bonne Franquette

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Save room for dessert at West Ashley newcomer La Bonne Franquette. Over the years its building has been home to a range of restaurants, but perhaps the location was destined to be a French café?

Restaurant Review: The Longboard

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Long on sleek beachy style, The Longboard isn't short on bright bites

Restaurant Review: Lenoir

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At Vivian Howard's Lenoir, inside the Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel, the plates pair Lowcountry notes with international flourishes

Restaurant Review: Charleston Grill

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The Southern accent may be more muted, but the Charleston Grill still shines with luxurious flavors and pitch-perfect hospitality

Restaurant Review: Heavy's Barburgers

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Heavy’s turns it up loud with 'barburgers' and margaritas in the old Tattooed Moose space on Morrison Drive

Everything You've Heard About Toasted Ravioli Is Wrong

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Who really invented this St. Louis classic?

15 Minutes with Mike Lata

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Chef Mike Lata reflects on his acclaimed restaurant FIG’s 20th anniversary and Charleston’s evolving culinary scene

The South's Best Barbecue Joint In Every State 2023

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A state-by-state guide to the region's top-notch 'cue that's bound to make you hungry. Here are the South's best BBQ joints in every state as voted on by Southern Living's readers.

Saw's Is the Most Popular BBQ Joint in Alabama

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Discover the most popular barbecue joint in Alabama, as recommended by Southern Living's readers. Learn about the restaurant's history, menu, and more.

Restaurant Review: Vern's

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Is fine dining dead? Visit Vern's for signs of a promising future.

Restaurant Review: Husk

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Despite the remodels and chef changes, Husk seems unaltered in any fundamental way. The larger dining scene, though, has evolved and shifted around it.

Plate Tectonics: Charleston’s Expanding Culinary Scene

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Charleston's dining landscape has shifted dramatically in the last five years, with many new culinary destinations in spots that were once well off the beaten path.

Restaurant Review: Rancho Lewis

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The bold flavors of the border — hatch chiles, beef back ribs, mesquite smoke — are prominent and compelling at Rancho Lewis, John Lewis's El Paso-inspired restaurant.

8 Restaurants That Prove Arkansas Barbecue Is Here To Stay

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Arkansas often gets skipped in discussions of Southern barbecue—and unfairly so, for the state has plenty of smoky treasures to share.

Restaurant review: MOMO satisfies with hearty plates at the edge of Riverfront Park

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MOMO Riverfront Park is not your typical park concession.

The Secret History of Celery

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How the crunchy stalks went from Victorian centerpiece to ubiquitous football snack.

9 Simple Questions About Hopping John

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Restaurant Review: Bar George

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Bar George opened in the summer of 2020, bringing the passion and focus of the downtown scene out to James Island, and its bar fare twists are filled with high notes

Restaurant Review: Malika Canteen

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The Lowcountry's only Pakistani restaurant blends street fare with sit-down flair

Restaurant Review: Chubby Fish

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Small in size and scope, Chubby Fish is bucket list restaurant material

South Carolina's Hash & Rice Might Be Having a Moment

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South Carolina's traditional barbecue side dish dates back to the 19th century, and now it's starting to migrate into neighboring states and beyond.

15 Minutes With: Hannah and Zachary Welton

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Catching up with Husk alums Hannah and Zachary Welton, who opened a brick and mortar bakeshop on Upper King after traveling from Charleston to Mexico and back.

Restaurant Review: Savi Cucina + Wine Bar

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Savi's culinary reboot delivers uneven experience, except at the bar

Restaurant Review: Bistronomy By Nico

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Downtown Charleston's Bistronomy By Nico is upscale fine dining for sure, but is it looking forward or glancing backward? Conservative plates outshine the avant-garde.

Restaurant Review: Gillie's Seafood

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In a single visit to Gillie's Seafood you can check off half your bucket list of classic Lowcountry dishes: purloo, she crab soup, shrimp and grits, red rice, okra soup. and more

The South's Top 50 Barbecue Joints

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The bar for top-notch Southern barbecue has only gotten higher, and it shows in this year's Top 50 list, which blends old-school icons and impressive newcomers.

Restaurant Review: Berkeley's

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Berkeley’s dishes seem simple, but behind the scenes someone has put a lot of thought into each element and took the time to really dial it in.

Restaurant Review: Coterie

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Coterie experiments with inserting upscale Indian flavors into a casual Lowcountry environment, and the playful, genre-bending aesthetic carries over from kitchen to bar.

15 Minutes With Dano & Bethany Heinze

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Meet the husband-and-wife duo behind new Cannonborough-Elliotborough restaurant Vern’s

Restaurant Review: Palmira Barbecue

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Palmira signals a new era in Charleston's barbecue scene

Restaurant Review: Post House

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In Mt. Pleasant's Old Village, bold Post House plates cause the more timid ones to pale in comparison

Restaurant Review: Chasing Sage

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Chasing Sage is at its best with fresh produce front and center alongside a strong but not overwhelming dose of spicy heat, with fresh herbs adding a fragrant accent.

Restaurant Review: Bexley Fish & Raw Bar

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Bexley's local plates in Summerville take flavors in unexpected directions

Restaurant Review: Maya del Sol

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At Maya del Sol, chef/owner Raul Sanchez's made-from-scratch sensibility straddles comfort food, fine dining

Restaurant Review: Nick's German Kitchen

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Nick’s German Kitchen stands out with unapologetically German comfort cuisine

Restaurant Review: Laurel

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Laurel’s larger plates are the most impressive, with due in large part to the charcoal heat from a big Spanish-made Josper oven.

How Camp Stew Became a South Alabama Icon

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Unless you've spent time in south Alabama, you've probably not heard of camp stew, but a bowl of it might look familiar if you're a fan of the savory dish that Georgians call Brunswick stew.

The Story Behind the "Rendezvous Special" Plate

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Memphis classic, Rendezvous, has been serving their "Rendezvous Special" even longer than they've been serving their famous ribs.

Restaurant Review: Brasserie la Banque

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The fare at Brasserie la Banque shines brightest when it steps out of the familiar groove and delivers a few bold twists. The offering is billed as “authentic and familiar,”

The South's Best Brewery 2022: Palmetto Brewing Company

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Our readers' favorite brewery in 2022 was the brainchild of two friends who discovered microbrewing in Oregon and brought it home.

The Tradition Behind Virginia Tech's Smoked Turkey Legs

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"Touchdowns, Tailgates, Turkey Legs"

The South's Top Spots for Tailgate Takeout

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While tailgates don't require home cooking, you do need to know the best spots for takeout.

The South's Best Tailgate Spreads

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These two universities top the pack year in and year out.

7 Must-Visit BBQ Joints in Memphis

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Memphis is one of the few Southern cities that can claim its own widely recognized barbecue style.