There's no polite way to say it: something fundamental has been lost at Old South BBQ…read more On a recent sunny afternoon, a friend and I--both barbecue enthusiasts--set out to try Old South after hearing it had reopened under new management. I had never been, but my friend spoke of it with near reverence, describing a once-legendary roadside joint steeped in South Carolina barbecue tradition. And that tradition matters. In South Carolina, barbecue isn't just food--it's history. Proper whole-hog or pulled pork is defined by slow cooking over hardwood coals--hickory or oak--for upwards of 8 to 12 hours. The state proudly claims all four major regional sauce styles, from the iconic mustard-based "Carolina Gold" to vinegar, light tomato, and heavy tomato sauces. It's a place where technique and patience are inseparable from authenticity. Old South still looks the part. The atmosphere is classic and charming: a casual, no-frills roadside spot with a nostalgic 1950s picnic scene, complete with indoor seating and outdoor tables. It's family-friendly, dog-friendly, and on the surface, exactly the kind of place you want to love. The menu hits all the expected notes--pulled pork, baby back ribs, chicken--and the house-made sauces are genuinely enjoyable. But then the food arrives. The wings, ribs, and pulled pork were all missing the one thing that defines barbecue: smoke. Not subtle smoke--none. It tasted as though everything had been cooked in a gas oven. Yes, the food was tender and even flavorful in places, but without that slow-smoked backbone, it feels hollow. If smoke isn't part of the process, can it really be called barbecue? Curious--and increasingly skeptical--we walked over to the smokehouse. It looked abandoned. No lingering wood aroma, no signs of recent use, not even a stray log in sight. When I asked our server about the pitmaster, she casually mentioned he usually comes in around 4 p.m.--a surprising detail, considering authentic barbecue is an all-day (and often all-night) process. At that point, the analogy felt unavoidable: if you put a Hyundai engine in a Porsche 911, is it still a Porsche? My friend and I left with the same conclusion--Old South BBQ may still carry the name and the look, but it's lost its soul. The bones of something great are still there, but without the craft and care that once defined it, it feels like a tribute rather than the real thing. To be fair, our server was friendly and attentive, and that effort didn't go unnoticed. But good service can't replace what's missing from the pit. For a place once remembered as a cornerstone of South Carolina barbecue, that's a tough rib to swallow.

I haven't been to Old South BBQ since it was bought out and reopened by new owners. The place was…read morealways excellent with great BBQ featuring nicely smoked ribs, chicken, wings, dogs and chopped BBQ. Their sides were also top notch. I heard they reopened and me and my barbecue loving buddy decided to make a lunch time stop. The place was similar but had more outdoor seating, a fresh coat of paint and some work done to the smoke house. The menu also changed with the additions of various smash burgers. We decided to sit outdoors where the waitress gave us a menu and took our order. We opted for the BBQ dry rub wings for an app, a half rack of ribs and some pulled pork. Sides included red and white slaw, collards and onion rings. The four wings came out first and had the BBQ rub on them. They were nice and crispy but lacked flavor. My buddy put some salt on them and I reached for the Carolina gold BBQ sauce to dip them in. They were OK with the additional sauce and the salt. Next the mains were brought out. The ribs had a nice bark, but were dry and very bland with zero smoke flavor and none of the "pink" ring you see in top quality smoked meats. Again, we added some sauce(my friend used Carolina vinegar, while I went for the house tomato based BBQ) to try to kick up the flavor. They were marginal at best. We then started in on the pulled pork which was moist but also had zero smoke flavor. We sauced it up and it was a bit better. We then hit the sides. The onion rings were as good as I remembered with a nice crust and flavor. The white slaw was good also. Although I didn't taste it, my friend liked the red slaw. The collards were cooked tender but lacked any flavor. I used a combo of the Carolina vinegar sauce(which I found too sweet) and some Texas Pete's to give it a bit of zing...it was passable. Overall, I was disappointed as it used to be one of the better BBQ joints on the strand. I probably won't be going back as there are at least two others near by that I find much better.

A consistent standout in NMB for high-quality barbecue. Bar-B-Que House has been a local staple…read moresince 2005, offering expertly hickory-smoked meats including ribs, chicken, and brisket. The service is notably fast and welcoming. I particularly appreciate the variety of regional sauces (the Eastern vinegar is a must-try) and their excellent selection of ice-cold tap beers. The restaurant is clean and colorful with comfortable booths and seats. It's easy to see why they're frequently voted 'Best Barbeque' on the Grand Strand.

Our server was very helpful with suggestions and information. They were unfortunately out of ribs…read more But the rest of the food was pretty good.

Excellent BBQ !!! Probably one of the best BBQ brisket I have ever had ... cannot wait to bring…read moreothers to try his fare

I asked for the brisket dinner for $16. They charged me five dollars for a container of sauce and…read morefive dollars for my side of coleslaw. I got one piece of brisket and two other pieces of meat that I don't even know what they are and a dish that had sauce in it, pickles in it and onions in it and it was nasty. I recommend you never go to this place cause I hate getting ripped off by people.

The food is amazing. We started with pork rinds and pork hush puppies. Both absolutely amazing. We…read moreordered different sides to try each others. Mac & Cheese 10/10 Potato salad 10/10 Brunswick stew (spicy) 10/10 Brisket sandwich 10/10 Smoked Turkey 10/10 Smash burgers 10/10 But the food isn't the only star the attentiveness of our server Debbie was amazing not a single empty cup not a question left in answered. I wish I lived closer to eat here everyday. The wife and I will be back before we leave to get some pork rinds for the road.

Great service Food was amazing we did the $80 family…read moreplatter. - Smoked turkey was good - Sausage was good as well - Smoked pork belly was amazing - Ribs were tender and had a lot of flavor. - Pulled pork had a good smoke flavor and juicy - Brisket was fork tender and tasted fantastic - Wings don't sleep on these, probably the best wings I've ever had (dry rubbed) Sides were good Mac n Cheese is home made with real cheese not a bunch of milk. Corn pudding was also good. Greens were on the sweet side so not what you would expect. And the little side of pickles were great. For dessert we had banana pudding it was really good. Real banana flavor not the artificial kind.

The cornbread wasn't cornbread... it had no flavor. The potatoes were instant mashed potatoes. Mac…read moren cheese was great as were greens. Fried chicken was great. Honestly get what you're getting for 15$ buffet with drink included. Not many options and kinda bland without salt and pepper and sauces. BBQ cooked well but the sauce was odd. Staff was very friendly and vibe was very country-based.

After landing at Myrtle Beach International Airport, my friend and I headed straight to Simply…read moreSouthern Smokehouse for lunch--and it was the perfect way to experience Southern hospitality. If you're looking for authentic Southern comfort food rather than another seafood buffet, Simply Southern Smokehouse is one of Myrtle Beach's best-known local favorites. The restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring a wide variety of home-style classics in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. One of its most charming traditions is that the staff periodically break into song, creating a warm, welcoming experience that's uniquely Southern. The buffet changes daily, but during our visit it featured an impressive selection including crispy fried chicken, fried pork chops, pulled pork barbecue, smoked chicken legs, collard greens, green beans, cornbread, banana pudding, soft-serve ice cream, and peach cobbler. The fried chicken was outstanding--crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside--and the pulled pork was tender and flavorful. Personally, I tend to prefer barbecue with a deeper, smokier profile, so while I enjoyed the pulled pork, this is better described as a traditional Southern buffet than a destination for smoked barbecue. The homemade desserts, especially the peach cobbler, provided the perfect ending to the meal. The value is exceptional, especially considering the variety and quality of the food. The staff was genuinely friendly, and the singing added a fun, memorable touch that made the restaurant feel more like a community gathering than just another buffet. I also appreciated the thoughtful gesture of complimentary pocket New Testament Bibles available for guests near the entrance. If you're visiting Myrtle Beach and want to experience classic Southern cooking at a reasonable price, Simply Southern Smokehouse is well worth a visit. Come hungry, expect hearty comfort food rather than competition-style barbecue, and you'll likely leave satisfied.

Update: The Shack is one of my favorite restaurants for home…read morecooking. We got there around 1 pm and waited for over 30 minutes for a table. That's how popular the restaurant is! I got the chicken and dumplings with three sides: one side was peanut butter pie which was delicious. The lunch meal also includes a beverage and bread corn bread or a store bought cold roll. Get the corn bread! It's so tasty! Service was good, and the restaurant was busy.

I've been driving by this spot for years and it's always been packed... not regular packed but…read morepeople parked in the street and the road trying to get in packed. This Thursday I was heading up with the wife to buy some fish and we decided to go for it. Of course there was zero parking with a parade of cars in the parking lot waiting to pick up food, when my wife noticed a pick up truck right in front of the place about to exit. She sped right next to the spot and jumped in before anyone realized it. We're in...or so I thought. We strolled up and there were about 35 people sitting on benches and rocking chairs under a tent right in front of the place all waiting to get in. I figured this is not going to be easy. I went up to the hostess station and asked how long for a table for two and she said 35 minutes or so. I looked at my wife and gave her my name. I had to find out what all the hub bub was about. In about 30 minutes they shouted my name and I sprinted to the front door...I wasn't about to lose my table. In we went and we're shown a nice size table in the middle of the place. It kinda reminded me of a beachy mom and pop diner. The friendly waitress came to the table right away, gave us our menus, showed us the specials board and took a drink order. The menu was simple but had some choices on it. While we were thinking, she came back with our drinks and we quickly ordered an appetizer. In this case, onion rings. A few minutes later my wife settled on a crab cake app and a salad which she asked to be combined. I went for the soup of the day(NE clam chowder) and one of the specials...pork chops(I took my grilled not fried) with 3 sides, Lima beans, okra & tomatoes stewed and green beans. The meal came with a choice of cornbread or roll. I opted for the cornbread. In a flash, the onion rings came out followed by the soup. Now I do love me some onion rings and these were fantastic. Crispy, flavorful and not stringy. The soup was home made. Creamy with bits of clam and chunks of potato. No salt or pepper was needed as it came out steaming hot and perfect. It was a meal in itself and I ended up taking 3/4 home with me(something rarely do). After a few minutes, the main course came out. My wife dug into a very large homemade crab cake, chock full of crab meat and very flavorful. She loved it. The salad was fresh and crisp. My pork chops came out and the size of the plate shocked me. Now, I almost never talk about price but my plate was $12.49 and I got two large perfectly prepared, juicy pork chops with a healthy helping of the best okra and stewed tomatoes I ever had plus absolutely delicious green beans and tasty lima beans. What a deal! The only thing that wasn't above average was the corn bread which was a tad dry and plain. Most of the regulars opted for the home made roll(and the fried chicken which was being served at every table!). I was stuffed and had trouble finishing my plate. My wife who said she was full, managed to save enough room for dessert. Now everyone was eating the homemade peach cobbler so I suggested that. My wife never had it before and was thinking about the Oreo pie, but I persuaded her and she was glad I did. Instead of the usual whip cream she wanted vanilla ice cream with it and it was a fantastic combo. The cobbler came out piping hot and crumbly with sweet chunks of peaches that paired well with the cold vanilla ice cream. She attacked it so fast that I couldn't get a picture. I broke my own rules and dipped in for a few spoonfuls and I'm glad I did. It was heavenly. The bill came and I couldn't believe how reasonable it was. Now I know why you can't get into the joint. We paid our bill and gave the super friendly waitress a nice tip and were on our way. We will absolutely be back and will try to time it a bit better so we can find parking...or we'll take an Uber...it was that good.

The service was top notch!! I've never had Any better…read moreBar-B-Q!! Delicious and super moist chicken and pork!! Mac n cheese was just like my mom's!!!!

I stopped here a few days ago for the first time. It's a small , family owned bbq place beside a…read moregas station like you would find in a small town in the South. The employees were nice and I heard the cashier telling someone it was her family's business. It's not decorated fancy , but the dining room is clean and has honest bbq. I got the Pulled Pork Plate with 2 Sides and a Sweet Tea. I also ordered an extra side. If you're a Veteran like me , your drink is free. The Pulled Pork was tasty and a good portion and they give you a bun even though you didn't order a sandwich you have bread to go with it. I ordered Hush Puppies as my bread , but still ate the top bun with my meal. Hush Puppies were pretty good when warm , my last one when it cooled down then tasted a little oily so eat them while they're hot. Usually I get a Pulled Pork Sandwich instead of a platter and have Slaw on it. Well I got a side of Slaw and it was Mayo style , not Vinegar style and I didn't like it. The young lady let me replace them with the Beans and they were very good. Potato Salad was average , I like a little more mustard in mine. Now for the BBQ Sauces. They have 5 BBQ Sauces which is a good variety to have. I liked the Hot , Vinegar , and Rob Sauce the most. For Pulled Pork I found if you mix the Hot and Vinegar Sauces it worked the best. If I would've had Brisket then the Rob Sauce would be my pick for it. The Mild was okay , but I prefer more of a kick. The Mustard Sauce was weak and not tangy enough and I usually like a good mustard sauce sometimes on pulled pork , but prefer the vinegar. Sweet tea ok , not too sweet like some places. Overall it's a well rounded bbq place. My total with tax was $19.70 with my free Veteran's drink , pulled pork platter and 3 sides. I would like to come back and try the Brisket next time. I would recommend you giving it a try and support a local family business.

Quaint, family-owned seafood and burger restaurant with a charming "Mom and Pop" feel. After…read moreplacing your order at the outside window, you can choose either indoor or outdoor seating, which adds to the relaxed coastal atmosphere. I ordered the senior oyster plate, which included a beverage. Before ordering, I asked about the size of the oysters because I was a little hesitant. The cashier kindly showed me an order that was ready to go to another table, which helped me decide. Even though oysters are currently out of season, they were absolutely delicious! I can hardly wait to visit the coast again, and I will definitely return to Bennett's for oysters!

Very good food, service and super nice people! If you haven't ate her, you definitely should!read more