This place is a landmark!!! The most delicious burgers & variety menu! We get a Carolina Burger, every time! Chili cheeseburger, add slaw and no onions. OMG! Such a nice crew. Been going here for over 10 years, and the quality hasn't changed! read more

Updated Menu.. Prices have changed, but still good food! 2026. Must try if you're in the downtown area. read more

Mack's Cash Grocery - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Nice mom and pop feel, burgers were awesome and for the prices you can really fill yourself up! Homemade onion rings are the bomb! Lovely ladies took our order and made it within 5 minutes, will definitely be back. read more

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A spot all people in the Columbia should try ! Great breakfast sandwiches and burgers. This place has been here a long time. read more

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The best old-school service and atmosphere in Columbia. Burger was classic and delicious. I don't know why you would go anywhere else for lunch. read more

Have had many breakfast and lunch meals from this location. Food and service are always the best. I will continue to go to Mack's in the future. read more

One of the off the path Columbia restaurants that an old Columbian usually has to introduce. Unassuming outward appearance often times looks closed but is full of customers inside. Another time capsule of past times as the interior hasn't been touched ever. The cheese burgers are what people come for. Unique ordering set up you order your sandwich at back of line and your sides once you make it to cashier. Used to walk here as a kid from my Dad's office practicing my order because they used to have an aggressive ordering system. Things have mellowed with time and much more friendly to the first timer. read more

Excellent seevice and the food was fantastic. It's one of Columbia's little gems. This is definitely on the list of favorites. read more

Mack's Cash Grocery - Slaw dogs with onion rings. - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Excellent food and fantastic customer service!!!! Everyone is kind and the food is amazing!

This place is amazing! I've never had a negative experience. Friendly service, amazing burger, quality sides and efficient order system. They make you feel like they've known you their whole life. Go in the back door if you are ordering in person. Highly recommend the onion rings!! read more

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I read all of the reviews before going and so glad that I did. One reviewer said to make sure you enter the restaurant in the back door and exit out the front. Best advice EVER! Every customer does this but you can tell they are regulars. Lots and lots of customers - good sign for sure. So I will rate them on my scale: 1-5 (1 being not good to 5 being exceptional) Service - 5 - The employees are very very nice with a down home feel that you can tell they enjoy being there and they love their job. Ladies & gentlemen if you work there and reading this - loved the vibe you gave off and you made my day brighter. I just loved this! Hamburgers/cheeseburgers- 5 - really good, did need a little salt but I don't mind adding that myself. When you first bite into it you can taste freshness and that the ingredients are good quality from the lettuce and tomato to the beef and hamburger bun. The buns also had sesame seeds on them which I liked. Hot dog - 4 - I had a chili dog which included (this is the standard dress if you ask for a chili dog - dog, chili, mustard, onion & bun) that's how I normally order anyway do I was perfectly fine with that. Chili was great! It's not as meaty as some I have tried but great flavor and complemented the hot dog perfectly. One change and this is why I gave it a score of 4 is that the hot dog bun was hard and really needed to be steamed. If it was steamed definitely over a 5 then. Fries - 3 - I didn't have any but ordered for the other quests at my table. They were too salty and greasy for my taste. I will skip this item next time Fried onion rings - 5 - homemade, great taste and just the right amount. You could tell they were homemade and the flavor was great - reminded me of the fair Sweet ice tea - 5 - very good tea, nice, sweet and refreshing and thirst quenching The bad - there really is no bad but one thing I would change is the location of where you get drink refills. The waiting line is right in front of it so you cannot get to it. I walk with a cane (yes, I'm young but have a muscle problem in my legs) so getting to this area was really hard for me. Would be great if it was on a table close to the front entrance so you can refill when you walk out. read more

Great burgers with very fair prices... just like the old days! Atmosphere is loud during the peak of the lunch hours, and the decor is bare bones and clean. Love this place! read more

Food is hot and fresh every time. Friendly staff and great service, nice ambiance and just like home and comfy dining.

Always have the best experience even if there is a wait during the rush hours food is always worth it. Haven't found something I don't like and the price is always a plus. read more

Fun people and great chili cheeseburger! Just remember to go in the back door and out the front.

What a nifty little place! I'm sorry I traveled past it 1 million times and didn't know it was there. Great burgers and fries and I had a hotdog the other day and it was good as well; however, I don't know if anything else is good because I don't want to order anything but the cheeseburgers! They are great! The people that work there are very nice and accommodating. They always act like they appreciate my business! read more

Want a good fried bologna sandwich then you've come to the right place! It's so good and made to order. When I want to skip the breakfast drive thrus I know I can come here. Their burgers are simply delicious. It is a small place; think mom and pop restaurant. What they don't have in decor they make up for with the good people and food. They do have limited hours - only con. read more

Mack's Cash Grocery - Bologna sandwich on a bun. - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Great food, extremely reasonable prices. I've been coming here for years. Never disappoints.

One of the best burgers I've had in years. Opted for the double cheeseburger all the way with extra mayo. Did not disappoint. Totally would come back. It's an old building and nothing fancy but that's more than fine. Can't say a lot for the chili dog or onion rings but the burgers are where it's at. read more

Solid burger and onion rings. We stopped by for lunch today. I ordered the double pimento cheese burger and onion rings. They were great. I loved the 40s vibe and the service was spot on. read more

Great burgers and dogs as well as onion rings. Friendly staff and an eclectic customer base. Everyone welcoming and friendly.

This place has everything you want in a local dive and after a few visits, they will remember your order when you walk in. Get there before the lunch crowd begins otherwise you'll be waiting in a long line. The breakfast is spot on as well. read more

Mack's is one of those places you probably wouldn't stop at if you were driving by. If you *did* pull into the parking lot, though, you'd find a line leading all the way out the back door. Don't worry, they do an impressive job of moving that line along in quick order. You know you're on something good when you're surrounded by diners that range from high school kids, blue collar workers & PD/FD to politicians and power brokers. The burgers (I favor the pimento cheese, naturally) are the greasy gut-bombs you'd expect from a dive like this and, oh, are they so good (if there's a complaint to be filed here, it's just that they're a bit heavy with the mayo). But the hidden gem, in my opinion, are the onion rings. Daggone! And the sweet tea is on the money, too. The seating is a little limited but the turn-around is pretty fast and seats just seem to come available every time someone needed one. And the line separating the seating area from the order cook makes picking your plate up a little tricky, but it's not that bad. read more

Mack's Cash Grocery - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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There's something to be said about places that found their mojo and stayed true to it for years and years. Mack's is no exception. The food from this place never fails to disappoint. Although it's a small little place without the glamour and glitz, the food makes up for it as well as southern hospitality. They get you in and out FAST...and somehow I have never felt rushed. Their pimento cheeseburger is one that you have to save your diet cheat day for! Also their breakfast sandwiches served on hamburger buns are great! I love this place. Edit: I forgot to mention: The prices are GREAT! read more

Mack's Cash Grocery - Macks breakfast sandwich on sesame seed bun with sausage. The lettuce and tomatoes may throw you off, but you MUST try it. - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

OMG! Mack's on Laurel has the best pimento cheese, I've ever had! Let me tell you something about Mack's, there isn't some secret to their success quick food, friendly people, and of course great food. There isn't much more that I could say other than Mack's is one of the best resturant in town, and personally one of the best burgers I've had anywhere... And definitely the best pimento cheese! (I wish I could buy a pint of it.) The only negative I can think of is maybe the chili might be to sweet. (Look, I'm from Ohio, and Ohio has the best chili in the country, period.) With that said the chili is still good, but now that I think about it Mack's could use a higher quality hot dog. I'll be coming back a lot! read more

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Solid Cheese Burger! Gotta make sure you get the double because the patties are smash style and the buns are nice and steamed before served. I would also recommend going in for breakfast here too! Been in a business a long time and for a reason. read more

Outstanding burgers, great vibe. I personally get too much indigestion to eat here as often as I'd like, but it's great.

A cute little 'hole in the wall' sort of burger shack, surface was super fast (5-7 minutes for three people's orders), and super cheap prices. Friendly servers, an older burger restaurant theme going on, and great food! Though the patties are pretty thin the burger itself filled me up along with a few onion rings (best I've had in a while!). Regular burger, fries, hot dogs are great too. Will definitely come back next time I'm in the area! read more

Mack's Cash Grocery - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Great food. We came at like 8:30 AM and they can make breakfast or lunch items! It's completely up to you! I had the pimento cheese burger and my hubs had a plain egg biscuit! Safe to say, pretty good food! Moreso a lunch vibe than breakfast! My burger was legit, GREAT! read more

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Doesnt look like much.. just a hole in the wall with a great burger done right. Great for lunch, was quick in and out. Parking is not an issue and the customer service is second to none. High recommendz read more

I'd give this place 10 stars if I could. I've been coming here since I was little girl as my mom worked near by. Now at 25, this place is just as good as it was when I was 5. It's what you'd consider "a hole in the wall" because it's simplicity and old decor but the food and southern hospitality is sure to make up for that. My favorite is the chicken filet with cheese, onion rings, and peach punch. It's always very filling. I moved and came back and it's nice to see most of the same faces working here. I love this place, it's truly a Columbia gem. read more

The best dive diner in Columbia. They are always friendly when I call in my orders and have no issues with special requests. I have never had a bad meal or experience. read more

Stop, just stop you had me at Mack Cash Grocery. This place hits all my pleasure buttons. Off the beaten path, neighborhood joint, nostalgic, good, regional food. Hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, sweet tea. Columbia is known for pimento cheese on burgers and dogs, so Mack Cash Grocery is the perfect place to try it. I can see me driving straight there any time I'm passing through. Looks like only open Monday thru Friday. Closing in the afternoon. read more

Mack's Cash Grocery - Pimento Cheese Burger - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Mack's is known by a few names, based on how long you're been around. The Laurel Street Grocery. Mack's Cash Grocery. Cash Grocery. Or simply plain ol' Mack's. Mack's was a once a corner grocery that served the neighborhood around Barnwell and Laurel Streets. While the block has changed from houses to businesses, Mack's is still there serving up the masses. Mack's is family-owned. While Mack's son, J.C. Patrick, works the busy lunches these days, Mack still works behind the counter many afternoons. At 73, Mack finally cut back life-long 13 hour days but he's still missing those extra hours with Mack's long-time customers. The Adams Group has been fans of Mack's steak biscuits (and cheeseburgers) for years. At Mack's, hot dogs come in a few flavors: cheese, chili and slaw. A straight-up hot dog is served with chili, mustard and onions. Add slaw to all that and you have yourself a slaw dog. Or skip the slaw, add a slice of American cheese for a cheese dog. You get the picture. Mack's makes their chili and coleslaw by hand every day and the buns are made fresh for them. The first thing you need to know about Mack's is the line starts at the back door. Order your food, step ahead. Order a drink, step ahead. Order your sides (try the onion rings) and pay. If you get nervous ordering at The Beacon or The Varsity, this is a good place to practice. Or, just call in your order to go. Mack's is reliably tasty and a great value (super, super cheap). How the Dog Fight went down Amy: Dog 1: Cheese Jeff: Dog 1: Slaw Dog 2: Cheese Russell: Dog 1: Slaw Dog 2: Chili Cheeseburger* Tim: Dog 1: Slaw Dog 2: Cheese Julie: Dog 1: Cheese, no onions Dog 2: Slaw, no onions Dean: Dog 1: Slaw Dog 2: Chili Karis: Dog 1: Chili The Asterisk Miss it? Look up there on Russell's order, right next to the words chili cheeseburger. Here's how a cheeseburger made it into Dog Fight. Russell says one cannot truly judge a restaurant's hot dogs without sampling their cheeseburger, too. So he did and he wants you to know they are goooood. Really, he probably just wanted a cheeseburger with his dog. And who doesn't? The Dogs Amy took one bite a declared the hot dog as good as the ones she had at the skating rink. High praise indeed, Mack. Tim thought the wiener itself was very lame - bad color, no taste, no snap. Jeff agreed, wagging his finger at the weak link in this hand-food. The Toppings Jeff said the toppings on his lunch complemented each other very well. He tasted a bit of spice in the chili and said the slaw tasted very fresh with just enough sweetness. Julie scooped up her dog's slaw droppings so a single bite of that slaw didn't get away from her. Tim and Dean thought the toppings were good although Tim declared the bun "meh" while Dean was too distracted by all of the old wall "art" to comment. The Verdict After last week's trip to Jimmy's Mart where we ingested 16 hot dogs because they were so dang good, Mack's, bless its heart, had an uphill battle to win some Dog Fight love. But it did. According to Jeff, Dog Fight Director of Math and Spreadsheet Maintenance, Mack's extreme value and great dogs scored a respectable 21.21 pummeling Edna's even further down on the rankings. The bottom line? Mack's is like the Bon Jovi you sneak on your iPod: nostalgic, tasty and always makes you feel good inside. If you want to see all reviews with pictures check out www.facebook.com/theadamsgroup and click the Dog Fight Tab. read more

If you're looking for one of the best dives in Columbia, look no further than Mack's. Most people that don't live or work downtown don't even know about this place, but it is a gem. Just make sure you're going to Mack's on Laurel, not Main. It's your basic greasy burger joint, with amazing burgers, dogs, and fries. They offer breakfast, and plenty of other sandwiches, though I always go with the burger. Prices are fantastic, you'll easily get your fill for $5. Even though this place is a complete dive, when you enter through the back door at lunch and wait in line, you'll be waiting with a range of customers from blue collars to attorneys. This has been my go to burger spot since Rockaway burned down (they've never been the same since they rebuilt). read more

Mack's on Laurel (also known as Mack's Cash Groceries and Mack's Restaurant) is the second place on our cheeseburger crawl. We call it Mack's on Laurel in an effort to distinguish it from the other Mac's that people know about (Mac's on Main in downtown Columbia, where they play jazz). Mack's on Laurel is, well, on Laurel St. a couple of minutes from downtown Columbia, between Barnwell and Gregg St., and sits across from a local firehouse. Although it's called Mack's Cash Groceries on the web, I don't know why, because there aren't any groceries within the place - I think it started out as a small market a long, long time ago, before they started making their burgers. This is definetly a local hole-in-the-wall with its own set of rules that you learn very quickly about: everyone goes through the back door of the restaurant (not pictured) to order their food, because the line starts in the back of the place. Also, don't talk on your cell phone while in line, because you will get yelled at! (They have a sign to remind you, and anyway, the telephone conversation can't be that important, can it?). This restaurant definetly has a lot of character, as Betsy noted: "It is your classic Columbia Dive, you need to be in the know: e.g. should be entering through the back door to get in line and order. Don't be talking on your cell phones! Lots of interesting photos, pictures, and knick-knacks to look at." -Everyone had a lot to say about the cheeseburger: NoName says: "Pretty standard greasy spoon burger, better than average with a sturdy, perhaps too sturdy, bun. Disappointed at the lack of pickle (personal pref.) and the "all the way" was a little heavy on the mayo. Not exactly spectacular but definitely a good burger accompanied by better than average fried accoutrements. The vintage cafeteria/diner atmosphere unchanged since 1971 along with the no nonsense staff go very well with this traditional short order burger." Flarké says: "The burger is very soft overall, but I appreciate the staff." And everyone else's comments: "The burger is a bigger burger than Palmetto Sandwich Shop. It is good, lots of flavor in the meat, but also really messy (they put a lot of mayo in it). A good classic burger. It is offered with shredded lettuce, and two well-sized tomatoes on it. No pickle. The fries were excellent -the texture and saltiness were good!" -Here are our ratings on the cheeseburger and fries: Average Rating: 3.8 For more details about the cheeseburger crawl, as well as photos of both the restaurant and some of the dishes offered here, you can visit my food blog, http://epicurious-eats.blogspot.com/ read more

Good food, fast service. When I first moved to Columbia my brother-in-law took me here and it was a favorite eating place at lunch when I worked downtown. I love their hamburgers. You won't be disappointed. read more

Long lines that move very quick! Bring Cash and a family of four can eat for under $20 (small kids) - love the diner atmosphere - bring Cash - no cc accepted. Next time in town we will be back! read more

Mack's Cash Grocery - Great Family Atmosphere don't judge it by the outside, go in! - American Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

I was very disappointed with the service from Mack's. I heard exceptional things about them so this was my first experience trying them out. I ordered my food at 12pm because my lunch break is short. I waited 30mins before going to pick it up, allowing the restaurant adequate time to have my food prepared. I arrived at 12:36 and the line was out the door and my order still was not ready. Leaving me no other choice but to return to my office WITHOUT LUNCH. If you choose Mack's please make sure you allow enough time to wait for your order to be prepared :( DO NOT CALL AHEAD it serves no purpose!!!! read more

Been going here for years and it hasn't changed. The food is good and the prices are reasonable too. One of the best burger joint in the Columbia area. I always get the same thing, burgers and fries. read more