In South Carolina, a barbecue plate is not finished until a scoop of hash lands on a bed of white rice. This slow-simmered side is a Palmetto State tradition that most visitors have never heard of, and locals guard it with pride.
The best place to try it is a barbecue buffet, where you can pile pulled pork right next to it and go back for seconds. Here are eight spots across the state where hash and rice share the spotlight with the pork.
1. Shealy’s Bar-B-Que, Batesburg-Leesville, SC
Three kinds of pork barbecue on one buffet line is a strong opening statement. Shealy’s Bar-B-Que, at 340 E Columbia Ave, Batesburg-Leesville, SC 29070, has built its name on exactly that kind of generous, down-home spread.
The all-you-can-eat buffet covers barbecue, fried chicken, vegetables, a salad bar, and a large dessert bar. Rice and hash sits on the menu as a traditional local specialty, alongside rice and gravy for anyone who wants both.
Drinks come with the buffet, and servers keep the sweet tea glasses topped off. Banana pudding and mac and cheese round out the comfort food lineup.
Prices run about $10 to $20 per person. The setting is casual and historic, with high chairs for little ones and plenty of free parking.
Hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, with Wednesday and Sunday off. Tuesday and Friday evenings fill up fast, so mornings are the calmer bet.
2. Sweatman’s Barbeque, Holly Hill, SC
Some barbecue joints have a building. Sweatman’s has a farmhouse, and the pork is cooked over wood-burning pits right out back.
Located at 1427 Eutaw Rd in Holly Hill, this family-owned restaurant serves all-you-can-eat barbecue in a buffet setting. The pulled pork paired with hash and rice is a standout, and the mustard-based sauce gives it a true Midlands-meets-Lowcountry identity.
Three barbecue sauces are on hand, so mixing and matching is half the fun. Banana pudding and sweet tea finish things off nicely.
The atmosphere is quiet, cozy, and historic. There is outdoor seating, curbside pickup, and a private dining room for bigger groups.
Plan around a short week. Sweatman’s opens Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM, with Saturday afternoons drawing the biggest crowds.
3. Palmetto Pig Bar-B-Q Restaurant, Columbia, SC
Right in the capital city, Palmetto Pig serves the hometown barbecue buffet in its most complete form. The restaurant sits at 530 Devine St in Columbia.
The buffet lineup reads like a checklist of Carolina classics. Rice, hash, plain pulled pork, Carolina gold pulled pork, fried chicken, green beans, mac and cheese, slaw, and potato salad all make an appearance.
Stewed okra and tomatoes, baked beans, pickle chips, and rolls join the party too. The hush puppies are a highlight, and banana pudding waits at the end of the line.
Sides and sauces are homemade, and the family-style seating area keeps things relaxed. College students, families, and tourists all find their way here.
Lunch runs Tuesday and Wednesday from 11 AM to 2:30 PM. Thursday through Saturday, the doors stay open until 8:30 PM.
4. Dukes Barbecue, Charleston, SC
Charleston is famous for seafood, but James Island holds a barbecue secret worth the detour. Dukes Barbecue at 331 Folly Rd keeps things simple and steady.
The buffet features hash with rice and red rice, plus pulled pork, fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, and green beans. Fried fish and fried okra add a coastal twist.
Hash spooned over rice with pork and okra on the side is the move here. The food tastes the same every visit, which is exactly what a regular wants.
A drive-thru makes takeout easy for beach-bound traffic. Free wi-fi and outdoor seating are bonuses.
Dukes opens Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Friday afternoons are the busiest stretch.
5. Dukes Bar-B-Q, Orangeburg, SC
Orangeburg is often called the cradle of the Dukes barbecue tradition, and this hole-in-the-wall spot keeps the formula honest. Find it at 789 Chestnut St in Orangeburg.
All-you-can-eat pulled pork, hash, and rice is the heart of the meal. Slaw and tea come along for the ride.
The buffet is made from scratch and stays generous. Barbecue chicken, fried chicken, mac and cheese, and green beans fill out the spread.
The room is casual and quiet, with no table service and no fuss. A drive-thru handles quick orders.
Hours are short, so timing matters. Doors open Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
6. Farm Boy’s Barbecue, Chapin, SC
Country decor and a long-running reputation set the tone at Farm Boy’s Barbecue, 525 Columbia Ave in Chapin. It is the kind of enduring joint the Lake Murray area leans on.
The buffet goes beyond pulled pork with pork chops, fried chicken, and barbecue chicken. Hash, rice, and a salad bar sit right alongside.
Portions of chopped barbecue, hash and rice, and mac and cheese are famously large. Hush puppies, vegetables, cabbage, and banana pudding keep plates crowded.
The staff is kind and the line moves quickly. Table service and a drive-thru both make appearances.
Farm Boy’s runs Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM. Saturday evening is peak time, while Thursday lunch stays easygoing.
7. Dukes Bar-B-Que Aiken, Aiken, SC
Fried chicken may be the specialty, but the hash and rice here deserves equal billing. Dukes Bar-B-Que Aiken sits at 4248 Whiskey Rd.
The Southern sides list is long. Collards, cabbage, mac and cheese, squash casserole, green beans, okra and tomatoes, and sweet potatoes all show up.
Ribs, drummettes, and fresh barbecue join the fried chicken. Freshly made pork skins are a fun local extra.
A salad bar, dessert, and sweet tea complete the meal. Unlike most spots on this list, Dukes Aiken accepts reservations and has a private dining room.
Hours run Wednesday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM. Sunday afternoons get lively after church.
8. Schoolhouse Bar-B-Que, Scranton, SC
Pee Dee barbecue has its own personality, and Schoolhouse Bar-B-Que teaches it well. The restaurant is at 2252 US-52 in Scranton.
Pulled pork comes with a vinegar sauce, true to the region. Liver hash and rice gives this stop a distinct twist from the rest of the list.
Chicken bog and chicken and dumplings bring regional flavor. Fried chicken, barbecue chicken, chicken gravy, potato salad, and macaroni salad fill out the line.
Desserts include banana pudding, and the sweet tea is a local favorite. The cozy, historic setting suits a long Sunday lunch.
Hours are Thursday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 2 PM. Sunday afternoon is the busiest time, so arrive early for the best pick.
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