South Carolina BBQ Takes Top Spot | Columbia News

Southern Living just crowned South Carolina’s Elliott’s BBQ Lounge in Florence as the nation’s top new barbecue spot — a tiny 2025 newcomer already racking up accolades. Mastermind Elliott Moss, a James Beard-nominated chef with roots in Asheville and stops at Chick-Fil-A and The Whig, smokes whole hogs over pecan wood in a backyard pit, serving pasture-raised ribs and smoked salmon alongside Seminar Brewing’s craft brews. Meanwhile, Bordertown BBQ in Beaufort nails 15 with a Tex-Mex twist on Central Texas classics, complete with a massive smoker and rustic charm. As barbecue trends blend and costs soar, these spots prove that passion, innovation, and grit can still carve out a place in the smokehouse game. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article317239892.html#storylink=mainstage_card More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0105bf553979022e Report issues to [email protected].