BBQ Guides
Interstate road guides
Choose the interstate you’re driving and find South Carolina BBQ joints within 10 miles of an exit, usually closer, with just a few options per exit so you can decide fast.
South Carolina barbecue hash
What it is, what’s in it, how styles vary around the state, and where to find it, with a statewide hash map, city directory, and hash recipes for SC’s regional styles.
Best BBQ in SC guide
Our picks for some of the best BBQ across South Carolina, with links to individual city guides to help you find a great meal close to home or farther down the road.
Use this page when you want a fuller guide, not just a quick calculator, map, or recipe. These articles help you understand where to go, what to order, how barbecue works, and how to plan a better cook.
Choose your path
Shortcuts to our road guides, hash guide, best BBQ picks, and home-cooking help.
Backyard cooking guides
Use these guides to plan portions, dial in timing and temps, and fix the common problems that show up when you’re cooking for other people.
Need exact numbers?
Some guides explain the decision. When you need a specific amount, timeline, or salt percentage, use the calculators in the BBQ Tools hub.
Fire and smoke basics
Start here for steady heat and clean smoke, from lighting charcoal to setting up zones and holding a long burn.
Smoking woods and smoke flavor
Start with the overview pages, then pick a wood based on how strong you want the smoke to be.
- Hardwoods in BBQ: Flavor, Uses & Smoke Profiles →
- Fruitwoods for BBQ: Apple, Cherry, Peach & More →
- Oak: BBQ Smoking Wood Guide →
- Hickory Wood for BBQ: Flavor, Heat & How to Use →
- Pecan Wood for BBQ: Flavor, Uses, and Pairings →
- Apple Wood Smoking Guide: Best Uses & Flavor Tips →
- Cherry Wood for BBQ Smoking: Complete Flavor & Use Guide →
- What is Mesquite Wood? Complete BBQ Smoking Guide →
- See all wood terms in the BBQ Glossary →
For the best smoke flavor for your chosen protein, try our BBQ Wood Selector →
Chicken wing guides
A short run of reads that covers planning, buying, cooking, serving, and saving leftovers.
Turkey planning and timing
The planning basics that keep you on schedule, from sizing and thawing to safe temps and cook times.
BBQ history
A little background on where barbecue came from, and why South Carolina’s story matters.
All guide articles
Browse everything in our Guides category in one place, newest to oldest.