Restaurants & Dining
Food Dude’s Top 5 Barbeque Restaurants near Myrtle Beach
The Food Dude loves his barbecue, but not very often. Part of what makes the taste of smoked meat so special is that it's for special occasions, like the Fourth of July, the Sixth of August, the 17th of September, days that end in “y.”
But by making it a monthly treat, the flavor never gets old. It's sort of like changing the fluids in your car every 3,000 miles, and I was running about a quart low on BBQ pork about a month ago when the unthinkable happened:
Little Pigs
6102 Frontage Road, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
”Sorry, Closed Due to Smoke Damage” read the hand-written note on the door of Little Pigs Bar-B-Q in Myrtle Beach, my favorite BBQ hot spot on the Grand Strand.
“It can’t be,” I thought, tugging at the door handle just to make sure it wasn’t a sick joke. “Isn’t a BBQ joint supposed to smell like smoke?”
But the owners weren’t just blowing smoke. A small fire forced the popular barbecue shack in a small strip mall just off the corner of 62nd Avenue North and Highway 17 Bypass, leaving locals who swear by the hickory infused chopped pork shoulder.
I tried satisfying my BBQ jones elsewhere, but once you have your mind, heart and gut set on the North Carolina-style variety, nothing else will do. I decided to put the urges on hold and wait for the Little Pigs’ chimney to start smoking again, like a fairy tale come true.
So it was a real treat Monday when the Food Dude and Food Daughter happened by the YMCA and smelled the sweet aroma of hickory wafting through the neighborhood. Either Little Pigs had reopened, or it was on fire again. Either way, we were on the way.
The good news is nothing has changed. It’s the same melt-in-your mouth meat, pulled, chopped and topped with vinegar-based sauce and slaw we fell in love with long ago, plus the same tasty side items, desserts and sweet tea. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
But in case of another fire, here’s the rest of the Food Dude’s Top 5 BBQ restaurants so you can get your barbecue fix in case of emergency:
Prosser's Bar-B-Q
This family-owned and operated eatery has been serving sweet barbecue and country cooking since 1953, and for good reason.
Not only does Prosser’s do barbecue the good ol’ Southern way – slow smoked over hickory coals to perfection – it also serves some of the best country cooking on the Grand Strand.
Fried chicken, country-fried steak and the Lowcountry favorite dish of chicken bog join barbecue and ribs on the buffet amid a sea of home-style vegetables and desserts. Try to save room for some ‘naner puddin’.
Damon's Oceanfront
Excellent ribs with an ocean view? You haven’t died and gone to heaven, but it can’t be very far away.
Damon’s serves big, meaty ribs char-grilled and slathered in a tantalizing sauce, and offers a view that other off-the-beaten path BBQ joints can’t touch.
Damon’s offers a well-rounded menu of prime rib, steaks, barbecued chicken, juicy burgers and tasty salads, so it’s a great place to take a party that’s divided over barbecue because everyone will love the scenery.
Hog Heaven BBQ
Serving Lowcountry barbecue at it’s best, Hog Heaven is a small, stand-alone shop on a secluded stretch of highway just north of Georgetown, and people come from miles around the check out this unique eatery.
Families gather around the picnic tables and feast on the smoked pork, ribs and other S.C. favorites, including fresh seafood. Oyster roasts are held regularly while in season and fresh-catch specials are available if you’re lucky enough to show up on the right day.
Big KT's BBQ
This great little barbecue and beer joint in North Myrtle Beach is famous for its ribs but also gets a shout-out for its outstanding side items.
Featuring Brunswick stew, Tomato Pie and other Southern classics on the menu, you can fill up on more than just barbecue at KT’s, and wash it all down with an ice-cold beer.
Editor’s note: This article has been edited to correct an error about the ownership of a second Little Pig’s location. It is not affiliated with the Little Pig’s on 62nd Avenue North.
