In a major win for our state, Southern Living has just named a South Carolina restaurant as the #1 BBQ joint in the South for 2025.
Southern barbecue has long been considered a slow-moving tradition, deeply rooted in history and regional technique. But according to Southern Living’s Barbecue Editor Robert Moss, that landscape is evolving quickly. In just two years since the last Top 50 list, several former favorites have shuttered, while others have declined in quality, leaving room for a new generation of pitmasters to rise.
Out of the 50 honorees in this year’s list, 11 are from South Carolina, with Charleston accounting for nearly half. Still, it was a family-run joint in the Midlands that earned the top spot.
Founded by Robbie Robinson, City Limits Q began as a roving food truck that built a devoted following across the state. In 2023, the business found a permanent home in West Columbia, transforming into what Southern Living describes as a “sprawling barbecue oasis.”
What sets it apart? Smoked brisket hot dogs, ribs grilled over hardwood coals, and creative sides like tallow-fried brisket corndogs. Editor Robert Moss praised the spot’s “obsessive passion” and declared it “the very best joint in the South.”
With this year’s title, City Limits has officially joined the ranks of barbecue royalty, setting a new standard for the South’s most beloved culinary tradition.