Where to find SC’s best fried burnt bologna sandwiches

So, dear readers, when someone who is a 2015 graduate of the University of South Carolina’s Culinary and Wine Institute weighs in on where to get a good fried burnt bologna sandwich in the Palmetto State, you know you’re on to something.

Something big. Burnt. Fried. And with a remarkable following.

John Wright’s message was simple: “Tabshaw’s ShortStop in St. Matthews, S.C.”

Thank you, John, and hold on to your hats, folks, for I have stepped on a goldmine of fried burnt bologna “sam’ich” lovers.

RELATED: This SC country store made me a fan of fried burnt bologna sandwiches

South Carolinians feel strongly about these curious comestibles with a meat that many call the “poor man’s steak,” two slices of white bread, and matter-of-fact condiments – yellow mustard, Duke’s mayo and ’mericun cheese.

“Try Jimmy’s Citco on Meeting Street in West Columbia, or the No Name Deli on Elmwood (not burnt but grilled on a flat top with a melted slice of cheese between two slices of bologna). Also, the What-A-Burger in West Columbia can do it burnt by request.” - Joe Taylor

“Try Katie’s Sandwich Shop in Sandy Run, about five miles off 1-26, Exit 119. I have taken quite a few Northern visitors there and encouraged them to try the Southern specialty and they were all pleasantly surprised.” - Todd Harris

“When in the Cayce area, try Vella’s on Knox Abbott Drive. They have a triple-layer bologna sandwich. Also, the Kingsman near the bowling alley. They have the thickest.” – Mike Flowers

“There is a place called The Lunch Box in Elgin that serves fried bologna sandwiches. It’s located on Highway 1. Icy’s resale shop is on the right and The Lunch Box sign is across the road on the left where the place sits on a side road. They have great breakfasts. A lot of contractors eat there.” – Linda Parsons

“Seriously, you just ate your first fried bologna sandwich? We grew up on them and they were a regular in our brown bag lunches. You can get ’em at Mack’s on Laurel Street across from the fire station. Your choice of bread or biscuit ‘n toppings. Ask for a Baby Bologna plus cheese. Wash it down with some sweet tea and enjoy.” – Shari Hustus

“My wife always orders a bologna sandwich when we visit Dairi-O at 551 Thompson Boulevard in Union. She always orders it ‘burned’.” – Al Stoddard

“We have a cafeteria at the S.C.D.O.T. headquarters building and the ladies have thick-cut fried bologna on the breakfast line. It is awesome on white toast with egg, cheese and mayo!” – Duncan Smith

“The Kwik Way in White Rock does a quality fried bologna sandwich. Nice people too.” – Barry Johnson

“The GET-N-GO in Hilton, between Chapin and White Rock.” – Lora Whittle

“We recently read of your newfound affinity for the delicious fried bologna sandwich. No search would be complete without trying ours at Drakes Duck-In.” – Drake’s staff

“Go to Vella’s on Knox Abbot in Cayce. They will fix you up, decorated and cooked your way.” – George Lesesne

“Powell’s Grocery and Grill. Coward. This old country store has fried bologna sandwiches.” – Nicole Key

“Nobody serves them up better than Ike’s Korner Grille in Spartanburg. Lots of mayo, and tomato if you wish.” – Cibby Krell

“In Columbia, you go to Mack’s Cash Grocery. It’s on Laurel Street. They only serve them in the morning. Tell April to burn it. The other favorite is Gene Kelly’s in Winnsboro. He sold it a couple of years ago but the ladies that bought it still cook it like Gene. It’s next to the highway department on Kincaid Bridge Road.” – Rudi Laub

“Try Vella’s in Cayce, DiPrato’s in Columbia and Crossroads Café, Fairview Crossroads.” – Ruth and Paul Donahue

“Wiz’s Eatery in Batesburg-Leesville had a great FRIED BURNT BOLOGNA SANDWICH. One is enough for two people to have as a meal. Mom and Pop’s in Leesville has a great one also.” – Tim Thompson

“Fried bologna sandwich from Wiz’s Eatery in Batesburg-Leesville. Jim ‘Wiz’ Wiszowaty is the owner. Wiz is a story in himself, with how he got here and what he has done for the community since moving here in 1989.” – Will Clark

“Here are a couple of spots that have fried bologna sandwiches. The first place is Kwik Karry in Batesburg. The second place is at Carolina Dragway in Jackson.” – Dana Stone

“Burky’s Grill in Myrtle Beach is a 50s-style fast food joint. The fried bologna (sandwich) is awesome.” – Lindsey Rankin

“A great place to get a fried bologna and cheese sandwich is at Yogi Bear’s Honey Fried Chicken Restaurant in Hartsville. It gets rave reviews and is served on a hamburger bun.” – Robin Atkins

“Just Us Café in Cayce. Ask for fried bologna on Texas toast with egg and cheese. You’ll be glad you did! Tell ’em Harold sent you.” – Harold Hirsch

“We transferred into the Columbia area last year this time from New Jersey and had the opportunity to visit Baker’s Sports Bar and Grill on Two Notch Road. Another patron at the bar suggested their ‘Bo-log-na Fillet!’ Compared to the ‘fried bologna sam’iches’ of my childhood in Winston-Salem, Baker’s fried bo-log-na fillet is a true fillet. It was most enjoyable as was the camaraderie of the patrons and our new friends!” – Phil Brown

“Try Bernie’s on Bluff Road (in Columbia).” – Tommy Utsey

“The Circle Diner has fried bologna sandwiches. It’s at the traffic circle on Highway 378 past the lake toward Saluda. It’s a really cute place. The walls are covered in old signs and there is an old gas pump in each corner.” – Gwen Sullivan

“I read about the fried bologna sandwiches and thought I’d let you know about ours. I work at Healing Springs Country Store in Blackville and we have a bologna sandwich on our menu. People can choose to have a cold bologna sandwich or have it fried.” – Carmen Diem

“I love the fried bologna sandwich from the Rosewood Dairy Bar (in Columbia). It comes all the way with thick bologna, mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomato, on toasted bread. Yum!” – Randy Cottrell

“Robbie’s Grill on Black River Road in Camden makes a great fried bologna sandwich and they’ll cook it up just as crispy as you please.” – Emmie Lopez

“Lizard’s Thicket (in Columbia) has a good bologna sandwich. You can request it fried extra crisp.” – Maureen Spangler

“I work at the Paxville Superette in Paxville and we have the best fried bologna sandwich. You can get it anyway you want.” – Laura Tisdale

“Mom and Pop’s in Batesburg-Leesville by far has the best burnt fried bologna sandwich.” – Shannon Upton

“Oliver’s Restaurant in Conway. Bon appetite.” – Logan Chestnut

“You can get the Sawyerdale store at the intersection of S.C. Highways 3 and 394 to make you a burnt fried bologna sandwich. This store is in the western part of Orangeburg County.” – Mike Hughes

“I started eating FBBSs when I was a kid and I never turn down a chance to have one. The best one I have found in the area is in Sandy Run at Katie’s Sandwich Shop. If you go there be sure and ask for Becky.” – Charles Turner

“I have eaten a lot of ‘bologna’ sandwiches with white bread and mayo. Sometimes fried, sometimes not. Never ‘burnt’. But it does remind me of Cogburn’s Grill on Sumter Street in Columbia in about 1961. It was then, when I was first in college, that I had those wonderful steak sandwiches at Cogburn’s for the sum of 95 cents.” – Carl Shirley

“Check out Lavelle’s Diner in Lake City. See Ms. Mildred Toney and she will hook you up. My favorite is fried bologna, fried egg, mayo, toasted bread and cut into halves.” – Mayor Lovith Anderson Jr.

“There is a little place in Springdale on Platt Springs Road that has it on their menu. It is called Linda Lou’s. It is not advertised as burnt but they will cook it anyway you like it.” – Tania Padgett

“You can get a burnt fried bologna sandwich at any home (volleyball, junior varsity and varsity basketball) games at Strom Thurmond High School (in Edgefield County). – Charles Painter

“My husband, Murray O’Neal Linder, says that the bologna sandwich made at Cannon’s Bar-B-Q at Little Mountain is the very best. You must ask Mr. Ray, the cook, to scorch the bologna (must be scorched). He will know exactly how to cook it.” – Helen Lindler

“I read about (your interest) in burnt bologna sandwiches. We are a restaurant called Cooking at Rocky’s. We are located in Florence.” - Chef John F. King

“You need to check out Main Street in downtown Sumter. You can find two great fried bologna sandwiches within a couple of blocks. They have a more ‘dressed up’ version called The Brown Bag Special at SideBar on Main, and also a more traditional fried bologna sandwich at Cut Rate Drug Store’s café.” – Thomas McElveen

“You can get one at McClarrie’s Fine Food & Gifts, located inside the South Carolina Oncology Associates building off of Stoneridge Drive (in Columbia).” – William McClarrie

“I found the delicacy at the Fastrac Gas Station in Darlington.” – Lauren Manning

OK. So there’re plenty of places in the Palmetto State to get a fried burnt bologna sandwich. That’s no baloney.

But what is a little bit of baloney, at least to Susie Szasz, is the idea of going out and buying one.

“Just go to your kitchen,” she instructed, “turn on the stove and get out the iron skillet. Put in the bologna, cook a few moments, then turn it over and cook a little longer. Brown. Burnt isn’t necessary. Put mayonnaise or Kraft Salad Dressing on two slices of bread. Place the bologna in between. Never have used mustard, though it seems Mama may have done so. Tomatoes go well on this old sandwich as well. I would never have occurred to me to go out for this simple, easily-made sandwich. God bless you.”

And God bless you, Miss Susie.

And just one more thing.

“I have been eating fried bologna sandwiches all my life,” said John Trafficanti. “Let’s form a fried bologna sandwich club.”

By all means, Mr. John. I hereby nominate you to be president.

This story was originally published October 5, 2016 at 1:54 PM with the headline "Where to find SC’s best fried burnt bologna sandwiches."