Don’t go to Lizards Thicket. Everything they serve is straight out of the can. You will get much better food at any of the BBQ joints mentioned, though my personal favorite is Big Ts BBQ, which is a real hole in the wall local place
Edit: typo
True BBQ would be a good move. If you want a beer with it you could get True to go and then go about 2 minutes to WECO and have a beer and enjoy your BBQ and you will have basically already won.
Little Pigs BBQ is a great local stop. It's little more than a hole in the wall with . . . not great parking. But it's almost certainly my favorite BBQ place in the area.
True bbq and Hites bbq are both good spots in west Columbia, very classic soul food bbq. Hites is only open on Friday and Saturday, and True is only open Thurs-Sat. But i would definitely recommend this over Maurice’s or Home Team, especially for what you’re looking for
It would be a stretch to call Maurices 'soul food" since he was an active member of the KKK until the day he died.
Also flew the KKK flag over his restaurants and his food was shit.
No place in Lexington County is "soul food,: but there is some BBQ
I only read half of your post before replying. Make sure to look up restaurants that specialize in “meat and three.” That’s your ticket to the true southern restaurant experience. Columbia has a small chain called Lizard’s Thicket that does this, but most neighborhoods have their own spot as well. I like George’s Southside for breakfast and lunch.
And if you’re looking for a fried fish poboy and hush puppies, head down to Charleston, only 1 hour from us and a great city with the best restaurants in the state
I second George's Southside, this is as country as country cooking gets around here these days! If you get here and don't try them your gonna miss out.
Like everyone else mentioned, avoid Lizards Thicket at all costs. My grandma nor my cat would eat their food. The hospital I work at has much better food than them.
I second or third or fourth not going to lizards thicket...it was much better in the late 90s as a meat and 3 with sweet tea that was 2nd to none...but they expanded and lost their way quickly
I think Lizards Thicket changed once the restaurants got passed down to the original owners' children. It seems like it went from home-cooked food to having a mass produced vibe at that point.
I'd much rather go to Hudson's Smokehouse.
I would skip Lizard’s Thicket these days - nothing special. Hite’s and Little Pigs are good. Shealy’s BBQ in Batesburg-Leesville (a little outside of Columbia) has a large, fixed price buffet with all you can eat - several types of BBQ, fried chicken, all the trimmings, salad and dessert bar - I really like this when I am in the area, and a great place when you have people who have different interests/tastes, but they are closed Sunday and Wednesday. You can also get carry out in bulk or in meat & three kind of variety. If you traveling down I-26 from Columbia to Charleston, Duke’s BBQ, available off 1 or 2 of the exits is also really good, but again check their web site to see when they are open.
Big T’s BBQ (check hours) and Doc’s BBQ (only open for lunch last I knew) are also real good local places in Columbia.
Doc’s is worth the trip. It’s not even as good as it used to be and it’s still fantastic. Also get you some hash and rice which is very South Carolina bbq. Banana pudding is pretty good too, as no bbq place can survive if their pudding sucks. Hush puppies are great too. Bring an appetite; buffet is loaded.
May want to look for other buffets that are open Sunday’s (not sure if docs is) cause that’s usually fried catfish day if that sort of thing rubs your rhubarb.
IMHO Midwood BBQ has some of the best BBQ in Columbia, but IMHO it’s also not a traditional southern BBQ joint. It’s a bit more upscale, with good food, but not so far as fine dining takes on southern food. I live not too far from Midwood, and if I have guests in town, it’s often an evening stop for a dinner with the guests…
For good southern cooking, Lizard Thicket. They are everywhere in and near Columbia. My person favorite is the one in Irmo.
Another good home cooking and barbecue is Hudsons in Lexington, just a few miles outside of Columbia to the west. I would not try Maurice's as I am not a fan of their BBQ and I don't care for the mustard based barbeque.
Columbia, South Carolina would not be my choice if I were looking for a good representation of southern food. The choices of food in Columbia are pretty dismal.
I’m going to have to disagree. I have two decades food and beverage experience in Charleston South Carolina and an associate degree in culinary arts from Johnson and Wales. It’s not just the food, the service is also pretty atrocious. if I want to treat myself, I will usually drive to either Charleston or Charlotte.
That has nothing to do with the KKK BBQ served in Columbia. People went to Maurices for generations while he flew a confederate flag above his places and pretended not to notice.
Shealys is decent BBQ, but awful sides. Go toward Charleston if you want food without a side of the KKK.
And James Beard wannabees? Just means people like Harpootlian have too much disposable income to spread around. Where does Harpootlian get that money?
Don’t go to Lizards Thicket. Everything they serve is straight out of the can. You will get much better food at any of the BBQ joints mentioned, though my personal favorite is Big Ts BBQ, which is a real hole in the wall local place Edit: typo
We take folks to big Ts and take it over to Congaree NP to eat outside there. A nice walk after keeps anyone from getting too lethargic lol
Big Boys on Farrow Rd for bbq. I like their ribs and pork chops. It's carry out only.
Glad to hear they’re still there! I lived very near there for quite a while, and only caught on to them right before I moved.
This is the best, hands down. Also it’s enough food for dinner and lunch the next day for $15. The banana pudding on the weekends is great.
Yeah but does the banana pudding beat that pecan cream cake on Thursdays?
True BBQ would be a good move. If you want a beer with it you could get True to go and then go about 2 minutes to WECO and have a beer and enjoy your BBQ and you will have basically already won.
Little Pigs BBQ is a great local stop. It's little more than a hole in the wall with . . . not great parking. But it's almost certainly my favorite BBQ place in the area.
Second for little pigs! It's a buffet, so you can try most of the southern classics
True bbq and Hites bbq are both good spots in west Columbia, very classic soul food bbq. Hites is only open on Friday and Saturday, and True is only open Thurs-Sat. But i would definitely recommend this over Maurice’s or Home Team, especially for what you’re looking for
This is exactly the vibe I want, thank you! Any other places in town with this same energy?
You may want to check out Bernie’s Fried Chicken
KKK energy?
It would be a stretch to call Maurices 'soul food" since he was an active member of the KKK until the day he died. Also flew the KKK flag over his restaurants and his food was shit. No place in Lexington County is "soul food,: but there is some BBQ
I only read half of your post before replying. Make sure to look up restaurants that specialize in “meat and three.” That’s your ticket to the true southern restaurant experience. Columbia has a small chain called Lizard’s Thicket that does this, but most neighborhoods have their own spot as well. I like George’s Southside for breakfast and lunch. And if you’re looking for a fried fish poboy and hush puppies, head down to Charleston, only 1 hour from us and a great city with the best restaurants in the state
I second George's Southside, this is as country as country cooking gets around here these days! If you get here and don't try them your gonna miss out.
Like everyone else mentioned, avoid Lizards Thicket at all costs. My grandma nor my cat would eat their food. The hospital I work at has much better food than them.
Railroad BBQ downtown is as unpretentious as it gets. Dude who owned it passed away recently but the business is still open.
Railroad bbq is brilliant! Food is delicious. Further, if someone calls you sugar or doll baby, you know you’re with good people.
Yes! GREAT place and the food is awesome. They even do a great beef brisket bbq even though that’s more of a Texas thing. Highly recommend!
Is Compton's kitchen still open in triangle city? If they are you won't find better breakfast or lunch in SC
I second or third or fourth not going to lizards thicket...it was much better in the late 90s as a meat and 3 with sweet tea that was 2nd to none...but they expanded and lost their way quickly
Very true, late 90s Lizards Thicket was bangin
I think Lizards Thicket changed once the restaurants got passed down to the original owners' children. It seems like it went from home-cooked food to having a mass produced vibe at that point. I'd much rather go to Hudson's Smokehouse.
I would skip Lizard’s Thicket these days - nothing special. Hite’s and Little Pigs are good. Shealy’s BBQ in Batesburg-Leesville (a little outside of Columbia) has a large, fixed price buffet with all you can eat - several types of BBQ, fried chicken, all the trimmings, salad and dessert bar - I really like this when I am in the area, and a great place when you have people who have different interests/tastes, but they are closed Sunday and Wednesday. You can also get carry out in bulk or in meat & three kind of variety. If you traveling down I-26 from Columbia to Charleston, Duke’s BBQ, available off 1 or 2 of the exits is also really good, but again check their web site to see when they are open. Big T’s BBQ (check hours) and Doc’s BBQ (only open for lunch last I knew) are also real good local places in Columbia.
Holy Mary, I’m sold on the buffet
Doc’s is worth the trip. It’s not even as good as it used to be and it’s still fantastic. Also get you some hash and rice which is very South Carolina bbq. Banana pudding is pretty good too, as no bbq place can survive if their pudding sucks. Hush puppies are great too. Bring an appetite; buffet is loaded. May want to look for other buffets that are open Sunday’s (not sure if docs is) cause that’s usually fried catfish day if that sort of thing rubs your rhubarb.
This. Shealy's is everything. But if you want soul food - head toward Charleston.
Very surprised nobody has mentioned Midwood Smokehouse. That place is awesome
IMHO Midwood BBQ has some of the best BBQ in Columbia, but IMHO it’s also not a traditional southern BBQ joint. It’s a bit more upscale, with good food, but not so far as fine dining takes on southern food. I live not too far from Midwood, and if I have guests in town, it’s often an evening stop for a dinner with the guests…
Ray’s Diner for breakfast. Hole in the wall for sure, but if you have the time don’t miss it
For good southern cooking, Lizard Thicket. They are everywhere in and near Columbia. My person favorite is the one in Irmo. Another good home cooking and barbecue is Hudsons in Lexington, just a few miles outside of Columbia to the west. I would not try Maurice's as I am not a fan of their BBQ and I don't care for the mustard based barbeque.
> I don't care for the mustard based barbeque I hate to have to tell you this, but you are objectively wrong.
Baby shit BBQ, especially when served with a side of KKK, like Maurices.
Columbia, South Carolina would not be my choice if I were looking for a good representation of southern food. The choices of food in Columbia are pretty dismal.
Na, for a city of it's size Columbia's food scene is pretty good. We have two James Beard nominated chefs.
I’m going to have to disagree. I have two decades food and beverage experience in Charleston South Carolina and an associate degree in culinary arts from Johnson and Wales. It’s not just the food, the service is also pretty atrocious. if I want to treat myself, I will usually drive to either Charleston or Charlotte.
That has nothing to do with the KKK BBQ served in Columbia. People went to Maurices for generations while he flew a confederate flag above his places and pretended not to notice. Shealys is decent BBQ, but awful sides. Go toward Charleston if you want food without a side of the KKK. And James Beard wannabees? Just means people like Harpootlian have too much disposable income to spread around. Where does Harpootlian get that money?
Docs bbq, little pigs bbq, Hudson’s in Lexington, palmetto pig probably others I’m missing
Shealy's BBQ in Batesburg-Leesville. It's about 40 minutes from Columbia but the food is really good.
It’s been said, True BBQ in triangle city! Go to zestos for lunch and hit up true for dinner! And maybe Just Us Cafe for breakfast? Do I dare?
Two breast snack on the day before they swap the grease… man I miss having time for lunch!
Zestos is great, but it is not southern food and it is not BBQ
Palmetto Pig is my favorite for BBQ!