Best BBQ in Charleston, SC: 5 Smokehouses, Ranked
Swig & Swine is the top-ranked Charleston BBQ joint, open daily 11am–9pm. Lewis Barbecue's signature brisket is $35 per pound. Melvin's BBQ has operated since 1939. Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint serves West Tennessee-style whole hog, and Poogan's Smokehouse is at 188 East Bay Street. Rankings follow how many independent local roundups list each joint - tie-broken by verified fact count - and every listing is checked against the joint's own published information.
The ranking
Swig And Swine
Swig & Swine opened in 2013 under pitmaster Anthony DiBernardo. It cooks low and slow over hickory, oak, and other hardwoods. The menu covers brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken, turkey, and sides, and an add-on full rack of St. Louis ribs runs $28. It is open Monday through Sunday from 11am to 9pm.
Lewis Barbecue
Lewis Barbecue opened in June 2016 with pitmaster John Lewis. Brisket is the signature item, with sliced USDA Prime beef brisket at $35 per pound and pulled pork at $19 per pound. The meat is smoked in massive, custom-made smokers welded by the pitmaster himself. Charleston hours are Sunday–Monday 11am–9pm and Tuesday–Saturday 11am–10pm. The menu also lists ribs, sausage, turkey, and sides.
Melvin S Barbecue
Melvin's BBQ has been open since 1939 at 925 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464. The menu centers on ribs, and it was voted Best Ribs in the Best of Mount Pleasant 2025. It is open Monday through Saturday 10:30am–9pm and closed Sundays.
Martin S Bar B Que Joint
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint opened in October 2006 and serves West Tennessee-style whole hog barbecue. Pitmaster Pat Martin smokes over local hickory wood. Signature dishes include Redneck Tacos and BBQ Nachos, and all sides are made from scratch daily. It is open daily from 11am to 9pm.
Poogan S Smokehouse
Poogan’s Smokehouse opened in 2015 at 188 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29401. House-famous ribs are the signature item, and the menu is built around slow-smoked barbecue with ribs and sides as core categories. It is open Sunday–Thursday 11am–9pm and Friday–Saturday 11am–10pm.
FAQ
What style of BBQ is Charleston known for?
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint serves West Tennessee-style whole hog BBQ. Lewis Barbecue serves Central Texas-style brisket as its most popular item. Palmira Barbecue combines techniques from Texas, Carolina, and Puerto Rico. Poogan’s Smokehouse centers its menu on ribs and sides.
Which Charleston BBQ joints smoke with hickory?
Swig & Swine smokes with hickory, oak, and other hardwoods. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint smokes over local hickory wood.
Which Charleston BBQ joints are open on Sunday?
Swig & Swine is open Monday through Sunday from 11am to 9pm. Lewis Barbecue in Charleston is open Sunday and Monday from 11am to 9pm. Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint is open daily from 11am to 9pm. Poogan’s Smokehouse is open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 9pm. Melvin’s BBQ is closed on Sundays.
Where is the best brisket in Charleston?
Lewis Barbecue describes its Central Texas-style brisket as its most popular item, with sliced USDA Prime beef brisket at $35 per pound.