The 5 best restaurants in SC for 2023 are not all BBQ joints, Yelp says. Check them out
Brace yourself for a possibly mouth-watering read ahead.
For the first time, Yelp has compiled a list of the top 100 best restaurants in the Carolinas. Yelp reviewers offer their advice on the best places to eat, from South Carolina’s Lowcountry to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina.
Among the list, four of the top 10 are in South Carolina. And the five highest-rated South Carolina restaurants are all in the top 15 on the list.
To compile the list, Yelp ranked restaurants on a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews between Jan. 1, 2021 and March 31, 2023.
Here are the five best South Carolina restaurants in 2023, according to Yelp.
10/Fold Biscuits, Myrtle Beach
Coming in second on Yelp’s overall list is 10/Fold Biscuits in Myrtle Beach. Like it’s name implies, the restaurant makes a point of serving top tier biscuits. Customers can order biscuit sandwiches loaded with fried chicken, shrimp or even smoked salmon. More breakfast-style biscuits with eggs, sausage and cheese are also available.
“Loved this little breakfast spot! The biscuits are huge and delicious …The Low Country BLT was perfectly balanced with arugula, pimento cheese, and fried green tomatoes,” Jill C. wrote in a Yelp review.
Lewis Barbecue, Charleston
Following directly behind 10/Fold Biscuits is Lewis Barbecue in Charleston. It also happens to be the highest-rated BBQ joint on the list for the Carolinas. Pit master John Lewis founded the restaurant in 2016 once he moved to the Holy City after living first in Texas, then in Denver.
“Hand-cut slabs of brisket, spare ribs and other meats (sold a la carte by weight) may be the draw, but fans also drool over the Texas Hot Guts Sausage, a snappy smoked tube of beef and juicy pork featuring great flavor and spice,” Yelp states.
Railroad BBQ, Columbia
Another BBQ joint, Railroad BBQ in Columbia, takes the fifth overall spot on the list. The restaurant was founded by Kevin Gray, a longtime civil rights activist who died earlier this year.
Railroad BBQ offers Carolina-style food at its finest, from the variety of well-smoked meats to the tangy sauces and generously-portioned sides. The restaurant building itself is an attraction, built in a former gas station, with its walls inside covered with pictures, posters and other artifacts that recognize South Carolina’s place in history.
“I love a BBQ joint that gets the meats and sides right, and this place is it! The pork was well seasoned, and I was able to put on as much sauce as I wanted,” Jennifer B. Wrote in a Yelp review.
Tacos Nayarit, Columbia
Tacos Nayarit is the second Columbia restaurant to make the list, coming in eighth overall. The restaurant began life as a food truck but has since grown to be a go to spot for tasty tacos in the city. Traditional street tacos are among the restaurant’s most popular offerings, but customers also enjoy other dishes, such as the Tacos de Birria y Consome, which provides griddled beef and cheese tacos and a full-bodied soup for dipping, Yelp states.
Pita House, Greenville
Pita House finds itself at the respectable 13th place on the list. The Greenville restaurant offers a host of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, including pita sandwiches, falafel, chicken shawarma and gyros.
Yelp reviewer Melissa A. wrote that there is a reason why there is always a line out the door to get into the small restaurant.
“I have been going here for the last 20 years and the food is always delicious and consistent. If you want a lot of food at a great price, go here. The falafel is crisp, the meats have a great flavor, and the pita bread is made fresh onsite everyday,” Melissa A. wrote.
