Cowboy’s Famous Ribs & Chicken in Darlington keeps things grounded in Pee Dee tradition: pulled pork, ribs, and chicken, plus a couple of house sauces that give the menu its own personality. Run by the Gordon family, it’s a place built on consistency, made-to-order plates, and the kind of local following that comes from feeding neighbors well.
“Cowboy’s Famous Ribs & Chicken was founded in 2017 as a BBQ food truck in the Pee Dee area by the Gordon Family.” The move from truck to brick-and-mortar kept the same focus: familiar South Carolina barbecue, done the Gordon family’s way.
“What started as a brainchild of Robert Gordon, the patriarch of the Gordon family, was made into a reality with the assistance of his wife, Kim Gordon, and daughter, Ciera Gordon.” If you’re wondering about the name, the family says “Cowboy is the nickname of owner and pit master, Robert ‘Bob’ Gordon.”
The menu centers on pulled pork, ribs, and chicken, with the pork coming from “butts and hams.” At Cowboy’s, they focus on made-to-order plates, so your barbecue comes out fresh instead of sitting on a buffet line.
Cowboy’s also keeps the hardware part of the story simple. “Our pit comes equipped with custom-made gas grills.” On the menu, the restaurant notes that it is common for smoked meats to have a pink tint, but that the cook all meat for a minimum of four hours” and often longer depending on the cut. Bottom line: pink coloring (aka the smoke ring) is normal on smoked meats.
Cowboy’s caters to two familiar Carolina flavors, both homemade. “We make both sauces in-house with a unique flavor typically found in this region of SC. The vinegar-based sauce has a bit of a kick. The mustard sauce is a great blend of tang and sweetness.”
On the menu, those show up as an “Original” vinegar-based sauce and a Carolina Gold mustard option, with the Gold described as “Cowboy’s spicy gold mustard.”
If you like to start with the basics, you’ll find pulled pork, rib, chicken, and pork chop options, offered as sandwiches and as boxed plates. The pulled pork sandwich comes “topped with slaw,” with “No slaw upon request,” which is the kind of small detail regulars notice.
Beyond the core, Cowboy’s leans into plates that don’t feel like an afterthought. Braised BBQ oxtails come served over rice with sides, smoked turkey wings are available in different sizes, and chicken bog shows up as its own plate, not just a side note.
For folks who want variety without overthinking it, combo plates let you mix and match. There’s a “pick two” option built around ribs, wings, leg quarter, and pulled pork, and a house sampler called “The Cowboy” that brings all three meats together.
The sides lineup hits the standards, plus a few that fit the Pee Dee: sweet potato fries, slaw, baked beans, pasta salad, potato salad, mac and cheese, candied yams, cabbage, and a “Veggie of the Day.” In a Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce post about the restaurant, the Chamber notes that Cowboy’s selects a
“fresh veggie…every day with some options coming directly from the Pee Dee Farmers Market.”
A couple of house touches show up across the menu. “All boxes come with one Hawaiian roll and cracklin’,” and the restaurant offers party pans for groups.
Desserts keep it simple and rotating: sliced cake, a dessert of the day, and a sweet potato cup when available.
Cowboy’s has built a name in the Pee Dee through both service and repetition. It is the kind that turns first-time customers into regulars. The Gordons won “Best Food Truck” in SC Now Best of the Pee Dee. They’ve also picked up multiple Pee Dee Post & Courier Readers’ Choice awards. These include Best Ribs, Best Lunch, Best New Restaurant, Best Chef, and Best Barbecue.
If you like clear Carolina sauce choices, Cowboy’s is worth a stop. The pulled pork gets top billing. And the menu stretches from ribs and wings to oxtails and turkey wings. Put Cowboy’s Famous Ribs & Chicken on your short list.
Among the many Google Reviews, Local Guide “Ron,” a former manager of a different BBQ restaurant, shared this:
Man… I’m telling you, I’ve eaten at most BBQ restaurants in SC and definitely in Florence. I was blown away by the BBQ here. Best by far…then I ordered a rib sandwich… thinking this is a misprint…I normally would never order ribs! My mind was blown. I was a GM of a big BBQ chain in Columbia for years, and this beats everything I have had. Thanks for the feast!
Over on Facebook, Diamonique Brunson wrote that, “Cowboy’s gives me back yard BBQ vibes in every bite! The customer service is always great! 100/10 highly recommend!” Meanwhile, Dana Lee Blackman shared that “The food is fantastic and the people are great! You won’t be disappointed!”
Note: Menu prices and options are subject to change over time. Contact the restaurant for the most up-to-date information.
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | |
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| Sunday | Closed |
Cards and Cash, Light Tomato Sauce, Mustard Sauce
What I liked most about the cookbook was the bbq sauces – this took a lot of hard work. It’s worth the money. Buy the cookbook, you won’t find one any better. I have tried a couple of the sauces – they were real good!
