Lewis Barbecue Charleston
+1 843-805-9500+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Mon
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Tue
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Wed
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Thu
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Fri
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sat
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Travellers' Choice 2023
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
Learn More
CUISINES
American, Barbecue
Special Diets
Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
features
Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?
Details
CUISINES
American, Barbecue
Special Diets
Gluten Free Options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Free off-street parking, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Cards
Contribute
4.5
982 reviews
Excellent
766
Very good
162
Average
33
Poor
13
Terrible
8
Scrappydoo2014
Bradford West Gwillimbury100 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
This bbq location was recommended by one of the locals as a lunch stop. When you pull up to this place you have to accept it for what it is (nothing fancy). The building is a multi-function building so it is long and not fancy. You can sit outside in the warmer temperatures or inside when it is a bit cooler. When you finally figure out what you would like to eat you can step up to the order counter which is maned by the person that is going to give you the meat you want. They will give you a small sample even if you don't ask for one. There are two counters that take the orders and cut your meet right in front of you. They have big warmers right behind them where the meat is being kept in. We ordered the brisket. No disappointment with that. We had a brand new slab pulled out of the warmer and unraped. They cut it in half and we were asked lean or fattier? After choosing we moved down the line to the cash register where we were given our meal on a big 18 inch by 18 inch wax paper that serves as your plate. You can sit at tables or in booths or a big huge large table with stools. The utensils are plastic and you can cut the meat with the fork alone. Don't think you are going to some fancy restaurant when you go there just go for the fantastic bbq.
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Baronaroundtown
Baltimore31 contributions
Mar 2020 • none
This is a quick service restaurant we Ubered from downtown Charleston on a recommendation from a local. WOW!!!! they have each item temperature controlled and give a nice portion. The food was delicious and was served on craft paper with pickled onions and other condiments. The place was immaculate and had a retro vibe.
Written 12 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph Robba
Charlotte2281 contributions
May 2020 • none
We stopped here on an absolute whim on our way out of Charleston from a quick beach trip for the weekend. Glad we did!
My wife ordered on the website, which was pretty easy to do. We both got the Chopped brisket sandwich with queso. Really enjoyed the brisket, it was tender, moist and delicious. We also got the mac and cheese which was a touch salty, but also very tasty.
My only complaints here, the sandwiches were a little pricey for the size of them (about $13) and my biggest issue was they didn't give us any bbq sauce for the sandwiches, which was definitely a bummer. The brisket was delicious, but you still need a little dab of some sweet bbq sauce on top to finish it off.
Overall, this is a really good spot to grub, no dount.
Written 16 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather L
Kingsport35 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
This place has great tasting bbq . However the process of getting the food and beverage is a very chaotic and stressful dinning experience, especially if you have younger children, have any special needs or prefer a more relaxed dining experience. The order of getting food and then your drink is not very well planned. Once you get your food you have to work your way back through the food line to get your beverage. There is no table service so you have to work your way through this line to get a refill as well. Which by the way has a long line as well because the one small drink station is not sufficient enough to serve the restaurant based on large capacity capabilities. If this restaurant is even somewhat busy you are better off taking it To go. I also don’t understand why they don’t offer plates instead of paper bags to eat off of. Over all Charleston has better bbq restaurants with better experience for the cost of their bbq.
Written 15 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
beachbear8
Chattanooga255 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
Stopped here for lunch on our way out of town. Husband thought food was excellent. I thought it was ok. We are usually on the same page, so this is a big deal. Small parking lot, but no worries, parking across the road. Stand in line and order meat by the pound, choose sides, "fixins", and then go find your table and wait. Tables are socially distanced and being cleaned between guests inside. Lots of outdoor seating. Line to order food was long, so my husband got us drinks from bar, while I held our spot. Ordered full slab of ribs and 1lb of brisket, slaw, mac n chz. Fixins as they called them, pickled onions were for me the best thing on the paper to me. Tried all 3 sauces and not impressed- all vinegar based. Husband loved the brisket and thought it was tender, I felt it could have been more tender. Server checked on us, which was nice. Anyway, lots of leftovers, which he ate the next day. Very good rating is based on my husband.
Written 27 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol K
Jacksonville51 contributions
Mar 2020 • friends
The Lewis BBQ is fantastic. You buy the meat by the pound or amount you want. The beef brisket is so incredible tender you can cut it with a fork. The taste is fantastic. The runs are equally as good. The Mac-n-cheese is in the top five I have ever eaten. Great beers on tap. Prices are very very good
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brutal
Columbia117 contributions
Feb 2020 • solo
This was my favorite restaurant in South Carolina but the front of store staff are rude...this was my go to for taking people but I've stopped doing it. Third time I've dealt with rude, snarky staff up front. You folks know I'll give you an okay review even if the food is off a bit during a visit, but rude behavior will get you blasted every time. I'm actually very upset by this review...I guess it's back to Texas if I want brisket.
Written 28 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TammaLammaDingDing
Omaha34 contributions
Oct 2022 • couples
Excellent BBQ - PAINFULLY slow service!
We waited in line for 1 1/2 hours. We expected to wait 30-45 minutes, based on asking an employee how long he thought we’d be in line from our current position. There were about 30 people in front of us. All of this was fine, until
we got to the front of the line and could see why the wait was so long. This place doesn’t lack employees, it lacks hustle and any sense of urgency. ONE man cutting ALL the meat while 15 employees ran around NOT helping customers or working on the food line. It’s totally absurd they way they ran their business this Saturday afternoon. A restaurant that squanders employee resources is extremely frustrating. There should have been several people cutting meat and dishing up the sides. They would make more money, have more customers and you wouldn’t leave there feeling like you had an amazing lunch but wasted more than 2 hours of a day. I would definitely NOT recommend the complete and unnecessary waste of time this place serves up, even if the bbq is phenomenal.
Written 23 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jetsly
Minneapolis1708 contributions
Dec 2021 • none
Lewis Barbecue has a lofty status on this site, and it is well deserved. Classic central Texas BBQ is on full display here. $40.63 purchased two-thirds of a pound of fatty brisket, a "hot guts' sausage link, sides of green chile corn pudding, collard greens, and french fries, and two refillable soft drinks. The brisket starts with high-end meat that is beautifully trimmed and smoked. The rub is classic central Texas salt and pepper. The bark is excellent, and the fat rendered to the consistency of butter. This is a terrific bite.
The sausage enjoys great snap and flavor, and it offers a real kick on the back end of the bite.
All three sides were on point, but we especially recommend the corn pudding.
There is indoor seating, including a bar area, but families seem to prefer the large patio alongside the building. Here one can share picnic tables with other patrons, and perhaps pick up a few tips on where to eat next.
Written 5 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debra S
Austin54 contributions
Sept 2020 • couples
Beef Ribs to die for! Being from Austin Texas— everyone knows about Franklins—so when we heard that Lewis used to be the Pit Boss from Franklins we had to go. They have daily specials and Saturday just happened to be Beef Ribs day- we had to go— they were AMAZING- well worth the wait. Needless to say I didn’t eat the rest of day! Brisket was great!
Written 20 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nicole R
9 contributions
Jul 2021 • couples
We went over 4th of July weekend and stood in line for about 30 minutes. Well worth the wait!!
I have never been to Texas but fiancé has several times. He said the bbq here was just as wonderful as you can get in the heart of Texas.
Food was outstanding! Staff was beyond excellent!! They were very busy and you did not feel rushed and they did not seemed overwhelmed.
You get large portions aid perfectly smoked meat. The Mac&cheese was AMAZING!!
Highly recommend!!
Written 6 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lucycan
San Diego3564 contributions
May 2021 • none
We stopped in and had lunch for two. I had a 1/2 lb of fatty brisket (they asked if I wanted lean or fatty - as any self respecting BBQ should) and it was excellent. Top 10 perhaps in the US including most of Texas. Wife had the pulled pork sandwich which was also good. Brisket fairly priced at like $11 for half pound. Sides we had were fries (very good) and mac-n-cheese, also very good. Lots of places to sit and might be even more fun if you are drinking.
Written 26 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosedr25
Charlotte300 contributions
Nov 2021 • couples
If you love barbecue or even like barbecue, Lewis is not to be missed if you’re in the area. Everything is made perfectly. Brisket, ribs, turkey, pulled pork all by your desired amount. Sides $3-4, hard decide which ones but the corn pudding, collards and potato salad are hard to pass up. All served in a casual atmosphere. Get your stuff and sit in or out at available tables. Banana pudding is hard to pass up. Good selection of local brews too.
Written 20 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
California_momofsix
1123 contributions
Nov 2021 • none
Our first experience with Texas BBQ and we really enjoyed it. Lewis Barbeque is located north of central Charleston, in a residential area. We doubted that we were in the right area until we smelled the food from blocks away.
The restaurant has both inside and outside seating and wasn't too busy when we arrived on a late weekday evening. The giant head of a crowned cow painted on the side of the building added to the atmosphere and made me smile. Staff was pleasant.
Customers are expected to line up at the counter to order. The menu consists of a number of barbecued meats, which you order by the pound. You can also order fractions of a pound. After ordering meat, you move down the counter to order sides and drinks. We tried the sliced and the chopped brisket, both were soft, juicy and delicious. I also enjoyed the macaroni and cheese, very rich and creamy, but I felt the potato salad had too much relish, which overpowered the potatoes.
Overall worth the trip, would recommend.
Written 17 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AZwanderlust
Gilbert136 contributions
Apr 2021 • none
Brisket: Really good
Beef Rib: Crazy good
Mac & Cheese: Crazy good
Sauces: Good and really good
Went at 4pm on a Saturday so we could get a beef rib. The wait was only about 15 minutes. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the lovely weather.
Written 2 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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