This place is awesome! It's not the cheapest BBQ place, but it is delicious! The meat is so delicious I usually don't even put sauce on it, and the sides are just as tasty. I definitely recommend this place, and their daily specials are always amazing too. read more

Turkey wings can't miss! Also get the kale and collards combo. It's a great side with green beans and cornbread. Been coming here for years almost weekly and don't plan on stopping. read more

What a fantastic joint. Smaller place but came at the right time. Seating was wide open. You order at the counter and then grab a table. They then bring the food out. We staggered our order and they worked with us in that. Just kept a tab open like at a bar. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Started with the brisket mac and cheese. A bit pricey ($6.99) given the size - think a large ice cream scoop - but was amazing. I got the L&C with brisket and pork. Green beans and spicy kale for sides. Everything was delicious. They could bottle that spicy kale and sell large scale!! Highly recommend. read more

Railroad Bbq - The L&C - with brisket, pulled pork, spicy kale and green beans - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Native Texan and blown away by their brisket. This is the first brisket I have found since coming to Columbia that is like home. Perfectly smoked and amazing flavor without sauce, tender and moist without having to ask for it. If you need sauce, the vinegar based sweet and spicy complimented without overpowering. The sweet cornbread is made in cast iron individual wedges style pan and worth the cheat day! Service was on the spot and helpful, not overbearing. Great music and ambience, love the artwork and history on the walls read more

Great variety of bbq at a decent cost. You have to place your order at the register then you sit down and and your food will be brought out to you. This wasn't clear to me and my group of 4 as we came for lunch, but we figured it out and enjoyed our meal. I had the Turkey wings special and it was delicious! Plentiful helping and I had enough for dinner. Highly recommend read more

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Excellent ribs, sides green-beans and Cole slaw all great. Sauces Service helpful and friendly read more

Railroad Bbq - Half rack green beans and Cole slaw - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

A wonderful family owned business in the heart of Columbia! I love how the entire restaurant is covered in Black history moments. I believe they also have representation of every college in the state. Service could be faster but everyone is kind and that just gives you more time to soak in the history on the walls. Food was all delicious. My only complaint was that they were out of ranch during my visit, but they did replace it with Carolina gold sauce for my wings. read more

What a great little bbq joint. Friendly service and very good tasting food. The collard greens were a standout, as was the fact that there was so much flavour in the brisket that I only tried the sauces as an after thought. It was also sparkling clean, always nice to see. Friendly service, lots to look at on the walls and an all-round nice time. read more

Railroad Bbq - Brisket plate with collard greens, hash & rice and cornbread. - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

They have the absolute best brisket that I've had since moving to SC. The food arrived within a reasonable time. The food was very well seasoned and they offered a variety of sauces. The staff were friendly and often checked in to ensure we didn't need anything. The ambiance was pretty cool. Lots of pictures to look at while you wait! read more

What a gem! Not only a civil rights history museum (step back in the 60"s / 70's) but wonderful food! We had tender and juicy brisket. Pulled pork was great and tender. Hash and rice was so good, I ordered more to go. Definitely will be back. Staff is so friendly too! read more

Great food options, amazing service quick also, great vibe with music and posters. Overall amazing experience definitely a hidden gem read more

Railroad Bbq - Menu - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

My first time here! Definitely will be back! Everything was flavorful! The hash and rice I love. The young man assisting us did warn it wasn't pork & mustard based like most hash. He was sweet and let us taste it before deciding. It's made with their brisket and a tomato base, kinda on the sweet side. It was really good if you like sweet which I do. My win was the collards and kale. I got mine mild and again it had a hint of sweet and a good amount of spice. Perfect combination. My hesitation to give a 5 was two things. The Texas toast wasn't buttery and the rice seemed to be the boil in a bag rice. I also had the pulled pork which was moist and smoky and really tender. I tried all 3 of the sauces but the mustard was my favorite. My wife had the ribs with Mac and cheese and baked beans all very tasty as well. Next time I'll try the brisket and other sides. The services were amazing. Everyone was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The ambiance is very sporty to our community which gives it a nice touch, I enjoyed the different pictures and pieces from different eras and times of Columbia. If you're from here they're familiar. The outdoor space was immaculate. If they take any recommendations, I definitely recommend utilizing the space for more outdoor events. Maybe some jazz on the deck. It has a lot of potential ! read more

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Service good Food pricey and awful . Disappointed in the ribs. Sugar in the potato salad. Sugar in the collards & kale. Sugar in the corn bread. The best thing in the bag were the knapkins. read more

The food was ok and the establishment was clean...We ate at lunch hour.......Two people -- Brisket sandwich, one bite of Cole slaw and a salad.......2nd order Chicken sandwich, string beans, and one bite of Cole slaw with two beverages. Ordered at the entrance and the waitress brought the food in a timely manner. #1 Expensive total with gratuity: 75.00 #2 Waitress never came by and checked on us and upon leaving no comment from the waitress.... I will not go back..........Main objection: Service........cost read more

Was in Columbia for training and decided to stop in with a few coworkers. Few got the bbq, since I am a smoker myself I went with a burger suggested by the man at the front counter. The staff was nice and helpful. The restaurant was okay. Nice decor and somewhat clean. A bit small and tight. Food was average. My burger was just okay. Price point was a bit high for what appeared to be a frozen burger. One of our coworkers liked their bbq and the other didn't finish theirs. I guess it is a matter of opinion. I apologize for not taking a pic of my food. read more

The southern bbq we were looking for! Legendary ambiance with iconic political and cultural decor; service was sincerely hospitable and flavor of food truly delectable. Truly the best chicken wings I've had and all the sides were on point. Only wish to have had the banana pudding but it says a lot that it was sold out! Cheers to this memorable dining experience! read more

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The place had a casual, laid-back vibe that fits a BBQ joint perfectly, and the staff were friendly and efficient even when it got busy.

Good food, cool venue, attentive service! Had lunch here after touring USC, it delivered. The wings are a must try app, smoked then flash fried, they're awesome. We had the mustard based BBQ sauce on them. Delicious! BBQ was good, potato wedges were tasty, mac n cheese was good and the fried bologna sandwich was tasty. If we're back in Columbia, we'll be back. read more

The food was great! The brisket was fall apart delicious! Sharon took great care of us! I also enjoyed the three sauces they had with the meal. Nice to try a variety. The walls were covered with history and important events. It was really fun to just look at the walls and see what you could see. read more

Solid restaurant and I would definitely visit again! We ordered two of the platters which included the brisket and pork ribs, and for sides we did cornbread, yellow rice and coleslaw. We also got a side of wings with Carolina gold sauce. The meats are fantastic. Super tender, fresh and well seasoned. The sauces were all very tasty too. The sides were generally decent, the cornbread was really good but a small portion, the coleslaw was very generic and the yellow rice was quite bland. Additionally, there was a mixup when we first ordered and we had to wait a bit for us to get our wings but the restaurant was kind and made it up to us, but in our second platter we only got 3 ribs instead of 4. read more

Railroad Bbq - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Wayne was amazing!!! Super friendly and all of his recommendations were credible. I came in on a Friday afternoon. The place was about 65% packed and luckily I got to order before a huge party. I waited less than 15 min for my food and everything was delicious. Come try it for yourself!! The ribs were delicious. I had to add on fried okra, perfectly crispy! I got a half and half drink. Great mix between sweet and tangy. They have 3 different bbq sauces, all distinct flavors! Soooo i mixed all three and boom, you dont have to decide!!! Parking lot is tight, but plenty of street parking. Come check out this place. Ask for Wayne and tell them Mo sent you! read more

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So the disclaimer is that I ordered this from Doordash. It's about a 20 min drive to my home, so I'll ignore the temperature of the food. I ordered ribs, brisket, and pork; with potato wedges and hash rice. The ribs and pork were pretty dry, but not bad. The brisket was moist, but really needed some kind of seasoning-as did the pork. Hash and rice were solid-I've never had it before so wasn't sure what to expect. The potato wedges were not great-tough and no seasoning. Couldn't finish them. Probably won't order here again. Seems like the overriding flavor was smoke, and while that's good in bbq, it shouldn't be to the exclusion of other seasonings. read more

Truly the best BBQ in Columbia, SC. There isn't anything on the menu that isn't fresh, tasty, and unique... in a VERY good way. Service is prompt and attentive if dining in, but usually VERY busy so it's best to get your order to go. Unfortunately, no military discount is offered. read more

Stellar food from Railroad BBQ, and a very cool interior dining area that's filled with all sorts of sports and historical memorabilia. My absolute favorite was the pulled pork, and that's saying something for someone who generally prefers beef and chicken to pork. But this pulled pork, combined with Railroad's Carolina mustard BBQ sauce is *chef's kiss*! Good portion sizes, and friendly staff on top of the everything else. I'd definitely come back! read more

Railroad Bbq - Brisket and Pulled Pork - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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Amazing bbq! The serving sizes were filling and the service was awesome! There is lots of seating with nice indoor and outdoor options!

This was the most delicious Bbq we've had in a very long time. We had brisket and pulled pork with a side of green beans and potato wedges that were off the charts. Don't forget the corn bread! Yum. This spot is a very worthwhile diversion off I26. The service and hospitality made for a warm and memorable experience. read more

We had a party of 5 and shared the Tubman (all four meats + 3 sides & cornbread) and a 15 piece of their smoked chicken wings - BOMB! The brisket and ribs were so tender and the wings are crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. The cornbread, potato salad, fried okra, and Mac & cheese are also really good. Everyone left full and satisfied! The service and ambience of the place are also top tier, Southern hospitality at its finest. read more

Railroad Bbq - The Tubman, 15 Smoked Wings, Mac & Cheese, Fried Okra, Potato Salad - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

This place has been on my list to try for a while now. My family was in town to visit so we decided to give it a shot. We moved here from Texas and have struggled to find any BBQ here that is remotely close. Railroad BBQ nailed it! The food was delicious, the staff were super friendly, and the atmosphere was awesome. It's not a very big place and there is some outside seating. However, we didn't have any trouble getting a seat. I had the pulled pork sandwich with potato wedges. It was soooooooo good. We even tried a banana pudding and a strawberry cheesecake for dessert. You absolutely have to try! Both were mouth watering. We will be back for sure! read more

Railroad Bbq - Pulled Pork Sandwich with Potato Wedges - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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I'm Terrified to tell people how amazing this restaurant is. It is hands down the best bbq in Columbia. I was blown away by the quality, the service, the atmosphere, the attention to detail, the family feel, and the food. The corn bread could change your religion!!! I will be back over and over again. However, to ensure you have the best possible experience, these are my recommendations for awareness. The seating area is small so either be patient or order to go. There is only downtown street parking so be mindful of when you go. They have unique hours so check before you head out. It's really more of a midday lunch food place. Order the Tubman...just do it!! It will change the way you see bbq. We can't wait to go back!!! read more

Railroad Bbq - Sides!!! - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

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We really wanted BBQ so we relied on Yelp to help us find the perfect place. We are a bit torn on the rating. Our rating is 3.5 stars which rounds to a Yelp 4 stars We found our experience to be similar to someone who yelped 14 days earlier. We were not greeted when we came in the door. We went to sit down but were told we needed to order at the counter. So we did. But then a couple came in, they sat down and had their order taken at the table. I ordered unsweetened tea. No big deal on the order until we were told they didn't have any more and they were not going to make anymore. But then we heard a man tell the server he was waiting for his unsweetened tea and he received it. The same server checked on us and then did bring me my drink after I asked about it. The wait staff worked as a team and checked on us pretty often. That was nice and we always had what we needed. Cheryl Lyn was fabulous!! Thumbs up to the wait staff! Even the head chef came out and asked about our meal. We did enjoy talking to them. It seemed like every inch of wall space was decorated with rich history, events and sports. Every inch!! It was quite impressive. We ordered the Tubman. $41 for a sampling of all of their BBQ. The BBQ was good. It had a decent flavor and we enjoyed all 3 BBQ sauces. The star of the show for us were the sides. The green beans were the best I think I have ever had. Lighted sautéd with a dry rub I couldn't get enough of them. The Mac and cheese was delicious. It was creamy and cheesy. Good proportion of Mac to cheese. A good balance. I'm definitely glad we had this dining experience, just not exactly sure if this was great BBQ. Don't get me wrong - It was good BBQ. The sides were exceptional. If we return, it will be more for the sides and those Oh My Gosh green beans. read more

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I definitely enjoy railroad bbq! You can't go wrong here! Small but neat & clean atmosphere! The service is good and the food portion is filling! read more

We went here after a long day at the zoo and it was fantastic! The employees were super friendly and the food was awesome. We got 2 brisket plates with beans and macaroni and cheese and everything was very good. The brisket was super tender and had great flavor. We will definitely be back. Great atmosphere. read more

The food, the service, and the ambience of the restaurant was amazing. Everyone was friendly and I'll definitely share my experience and dine there again. read more

Awesome barbeque and sides that remind me of what my grandmother used to make...delicious!

As someone born and raised in the South, I've had my fair share of good barbecue, and let me tell you--Railroad BBQ is the real deal! Since moving to Columbia, I've struggled to find food that truly hits home, but this place exceeded my expectations. The ribs were tender, smoky, and full of flavor, the pulled pork was perfectly seasoned, and don't even get me started on the mac and cheese--creamy, cheesy, and downright delicious. You can taste the love in every bite. If you're looking for authentic, mouthwatering Southern BBQ, this is it. Friendly service, great atmosphere, and food that keeps you coming back. read more

Wasn't too thrilled with the experience here. The ladies & service was great. Food tasted ok. It's just the portions, the dining room size, the tiny parking lot, etc. Bathroom was clean & smelled ok. Cool looking dining room. I just can't 5-star them. If ya had more elbow room to get in, then sure. Can't do 3 1/2, but don't wanna be rude either. read more

Railroad Bbq - Nothing extravagant, at least it tastes ok - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We got hungry so I looked up somewhere to eat and this place popped up. Upon arrival I was pleased with the establishment. We ordered the LC plater and got ribs and brisket fried okra and greens my granddaughter got a burger and fries. For the price of the platter we should have gotten more and the brisket was dry and the burger was dry the flavor was good I give it a 7/10 my husband said we will give it another shot read more

Railroad Bbq - L C Platter with ribs ,brisket , greens and fried okra - Barbeque Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Food and service was Awesome I Highly recommend this stop if you're in the area. Don't miss THIS!!!! read more

I ordered to go ribs with Mac and greens and sweet cornbread with half gallon tea. Everything was delish although they forgot my cornbread. I didn't realize it til I got home so wasn't a need to drive back another 20min for that. But all in all I enjoyed my meal . read more

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5 star. Not enough people are talking about this hidden gem. This food is served with love and history.