By admin 
Charleston’s Lewis Barbecue has earned another honor, this time named South Carolina’s pick on Cheapism’s 2026 list of Good, Cheap BBQ in each state. The recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for pitmaster John Lewis, whose Central Texas-style smoked meats have drawn national attention — and whose Greenville location has been serving Upstate diners since 2022.
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Here are key takeaways:
- Cheapism called Lewis Barbecue “one of South Carolina’s premier destinations for Central Texas-style smoked meats,” with brisket as the “undisputed star of the menu.”
- Hot guts sausage, pork ribs, smoked turkey and green chile corn pudding have all built devoted followings, and reviewers praise the generous portions and standout sides.
- Pitmaster John Lewis opened the original Charleston location in 2016 after moving from Austin, Texas. He opened a Greenville location in 2022 and an Atlanta spot in 2025.
- Lewis Barbecue earned a 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand, which recognizes restaurants serving high-quality food at moderate prices.
- The restaurant also landed at No. 12 on Tripadvisor’s best hidden gems list, scoring 4.7 across 1,024 reviews — an achievement reached by just 1% of restaurants.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
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