News Summary
City Limits, a popular barbecue restaurant in West Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized as the best BBQ joint in the South by Southern Living. This commendation highlights the restaurant’s dedication to quality and innovation in barbecue. From its beginnings as a food truck to a vibrant eatery, City Limits offers a diverse weekend menu featuring Texas-style dishes and traditional South Carolina BBQ. With exceptional food quality and unique offerings, City Limits has solidified its reputation as a premier barbecue destination, attracting enthusiasts from all over.
City Limits Named Best BBQ Joint in Southern Living’s Top 50 List
South Carolina’s City Limits, a popular barbecue restaurant located in West Columbia, has earned the title of the best BBQ joint in the South according to Southern Living’s annual Top 50 list. This recognition highlights City Limits’ dedication to quality barbecue and innovative cooking techniques, positioning it as a standout in the competitive Southern barbecue scene.
Transformation from Food Truck to Established Eatery
City Limits began its journey as a food truck, serving customers for seven years before establishing a permanent location in a unique compound dubbed “Smoky Hollow.” The transition to a brick-and-mortar establishment has allowed the restaurant to expand its operations and create a vibrant dining experience featuring an indoor dining room and a second-story eating porch.
Weekend-Only Counter Service
The restaurant operates a weekend-only counter service, with a menu that changes based on the day. Saturdays feature Texas-style barbecue, including favorites such as brisket, beef ribs, and house-made sausages. Sundays offer a distinctive menu with pit-smoked hot dogs made from fresh-ground brisket and traditional South Carolina-style whole hog BBQ served once a month.
Signature Dishes and Unique Offerings
City Limits is celebrated for its exceptional food quality. The restaurant’s brisket stands out with a deep red smoke ring, while the beef ribs are known for their tenderness and flavor. A particularly unique menu item is the pork shoulders prepared using a “burn-barrel” style over direct heat, complemented by a Pee Dee-style “chop sauce.” Other notable offerings include a slow-simmered hash featuring black and red pepper, finished with mustard sauce, and contemporary dishes such as brisket corndogs and beef ‘n queso sandwiches made from pit-smoked prime rib.
Commitment to Quality and Flavor
City Limits prides itself on its commitment to quality, which is evident in the homemade sides they offer, including pickled onions, candied jalapeños, and charro beans. The spareribs are cooked over hardwood coals and seasoned only with salt, allowing the pronounced smoky flavor to shine through, emphasizing the restaurant’s philosophy of let the quality of ingredients speak for itself.
Recognition and Industry Insights
Robert Moss, Southern Living’s Contributing Barbecue Editor, curates the annual Top 50 list based on personal visits and qualitative experiences, focusing on the restaurant’s overall culinary experience rather than a scoring system. This year’s recognition for City Limits showcases the successful blend of traditional South Carolina barbecue practices with innovative flavors and techniques.
Conclusion
In summary, City Limits has solidified its reputation as a premier barbecue destination in the South, transforming from a food truck into an acclaimed restaurant that draws barbecue enthusiasts from all over. With a diverse menu, a commitment to quality, and a unique dining atmosphere, it is no wonder that it has achieved such high praise from Southern Living, highlighting the evolving barbecue culture in South Carolina.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Southern Living: Top BBQ Joint
- Wikipedia: Barbecue
- New York Times: North Carolina Barbecue
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Barbecue
- 247Sports: South Carolina BBQ
Author: STAFF HERE MYRTLE BEACH
The HERE Myrtle Beach Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Myrtle Beach community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Myrtle Beach Our team includes lifelong Myrtle Beach residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent developments along the Grand Strand, Myrtle Beach’s tourism and hospitality industry, and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Coastal Carolina University programs). Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
