The Best Barbecue in Charleston

The smoke reaches King Street before the building does, which is all the orientation you need. Rodney Scott's is a counter-service whole-hog BBQ shop where the pulled pork arrives soft enough to dissolve on contact, doused in a vinegar-and-lemon sauce with real bite. A Michelin Bib Gourmand, and the mac and cheese earns its place on the tray. Order before you reach the counter; nobody here has patience for deliberators.

1. Time Out Rod’s Original Whole Hog Pork Sandwich · The 18 best sandwiches in the world right now
2. AAA Approved
3. Eater 18 Best Restaurants in Charleston

A mural of a steer over the parking lot reads "All Hail the King," which tells you everything about the mood inside this Texas-style BBQ shop in Charleston. John Lewis made his name at LA Barbecue in Austin, and the brisket he slices to order at the counter explains why. Picnic tables on a gravel patio, firewood stacked ceiling-high, and a permanent haze of smoke round out the scene. The Michelin Guide gave it a Bib Gourmand.

1. AAA Approved
2. Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
3. Eater 18 Best Restaurants in Charleston

Pitmaster Hector Garate smokes whole hog and beef cheeks through a Puerto Rican lens, and the result is a barbecue joint that feels like its own category. The beef cheek tacos landed on a New York Times list of the year's best dishes across the country, and the Chuleta Kan-Kan, a tomahawk pork chop, makes a strong case for its own recognition. Bring friends, bring an appetite, and don't plan anything strenuous afterward.

1. AAA Approved
2. The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Charleston
3. Condé Nast Traveler 40 Best Restaurants in Charleston