Located just minutes from the old Air Force base turned industrial park, Bucky’s BBQ at Donaldson Center brings the same slow-smoked tradition to one of Greenville’s most distinctive neighborhoods. While its surroundings may have shifted over the years—from fighter jets to factories—this Bucky’s location keeps things grounded in familiar, Southern comfort.
Whether you’re a local worker grabbing a plate on your lunch break or a longtime fan making the drive for ribs and banana pudding, the Donaldson Center Bucky’s delivers real-deal barbecue with no shortcuts and no gas in the pits.
You’ll find other locations on Roper Mountain Rd. and in Fountain Inn.
(Of course, South Carolina’s barbecue scene is packed with legendary joints and hidden gems. See more BBQ restaurants in SC to discover where to go next in the state or find other great BBQ joints around Greenville.)
Owner and pitmaster Wayne Preston didn’t set out to build a barbecue business—he just wanted to make good food with care and integrity.
A Greenville native, Preston started smoking pork on weekends using a makeshift pit crafted from an old propane tank, parked under a tent beside Wade Hampton Boulevard. Working a full-time job in addition to manning the smoker overnight, he relied on hand-painted signs and word of mouth to draw customers. The gamble paid off.
As lines grew, Preston doubled down on his passion, eventually opening his first brick-and-mortar location and expanding into additional sites like the one at Donaldson Center. Despite the growth, he’s held tight to his original principles: cook with wood, keep it homemade, and treat people right. It’s that grounded approach that continues to shape Bucky’s to this day.
Bucky’s at Donaldson Center serves the same full menu as its sister locations, anchored by hickory-smoked pulled pork and rounded out with smoked chicken, sausage, ribs, and—when it’s available—sliced brisket. You’ll find BBQ sandwiches, meat-and-two-style plates, combo platters, and sides that are scratch-made.
The sides deserve equal billing, with options like collard greens, mac and cheese, baked beans, sweet potato crunch, and slaw. Banana pudding and peach cobbler bring it all home.
The house mustard-based sauce honors the state’s barbecue roots, though other sauces are available for those who prefer a different flavor profile.
Thanks to its location near industry and aviation, the Donaldson Bucky’s sees plenty of weekday traffic, especially around lunch. But it’s also well-equipped for larger orders and catering. Whether you’re planning a business luncheon, family reunion, or special event, this location offers Bucky’s full catering menu—including delivery and setup upon request.
Among the many Google Reviews, Local Guide “Sherm Life” shares his personal favorite at Bucky’s:
Bucky’s is a great BBQ spot here in Greenville that should satisfy any urge you might have for some good pulled pork, chicken or ribs. You really can’t go wrong with any of the menu items.
The ribs are my personal favorite and the sweet potato crunch is worth the price of the meal itself generally. Not gonna be blown away by the ambiance, but if you are a foodie, you will walk right in and say “yeah, its gonna be good” lol.
This location has limited hours, but be sure to catch any of their other locations. They are very consistent across the board.
Over on Yelp, Sarah S considers herself lucky to have a Bucky’s nearby:
Bucky’s is one of the few restaurants near where I work but I also think it’s the best BBQ in the upstate so I’m happy to go here a few times a month. Portions are heavy, prices are great, and the sauces are delicious. I still haven’t figured out what the piece of bread is for.
The sweet potato crunch side is heaven, baked beans are sweet, and the Mac and cheese is better than what I’ve seen in other small places in the upstate. The cheese is actually melted into the pasta rather than just on top.
Their credit card reader accepts tap payments now which always makes me feel like a baller. The tables are kept pretty clean during lunch which is impressive with the amount of people that come through. Self service sweet tea and lemonade means I can resist refilling on the way out.
Yeah, ok…sure. You can pull positive reviews from a website, but what do they know about BBQ? What about the folks who train the judges for BBQ competitions in South Carolina? What do they think?
The SC BBQ Association deems Bucky’s to be 100-Mile BBQ, barbecue worth driving 100-miles for.
Here’s an excerpt from their review:
The barbeque is very good, smoked for many hours over wood and it comes off very tender and juicy. I’ve watched them prepare it, trimming off any extra fat, and while watching those wonderful juices flow on the cutting board I could hardly keep myself from reaching over and snagging a piece as they were fixing it. This barbeque is, by any standard, a barbeque that one will drive out of their way to get.
The ribs, on the other hand, are even better than that; they are some of the best in the state.
Read their full review.
Note: Menu prices and options are subject to change over time. Contact the restaurant for the most up-to-date information.
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| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
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