COLUMN: Lexington’s pickiest eaters take on Southern Living’s No. 1 pick for best BBQ joint in the South 2025

Southerners pride themselves on their cooking, especially when it comes to barbecue.
Having lived in South Carolina my whole life, I’ve had my fair share of “the best” barbecue over the years. Growing up, Shealy’s was always my family’s pick, and it’s held the title of “best” in my heart for as long as I can remember.

But when Bryn, my editor at the Chronicle, shared that a local West Columbia restaurant, City Limits BBQ, had taken home No. 1 in Southern Living’s 2025 Top 50 BBQ Joints in the South, my husband and I decided to turn it into a Saturday lunch date to see what all the hype was about.

Side note: my husband, Joe, is Italian and from New Jersey. He didn’t grow up in the “BBQ and fried chicken culture” like I did. Honestly, he’s not someone who eagerly reaches for a barbecue sandwich, so I already knew it was going to be a tough sell to get him to agree that this was the best barbecue.

When we arrived, we almost drove right past the restaurant, City Limits BBQ. It’s tucked away on a side street in a tiny little building with no noticeable signage from the road, but one thing was noticeable: the line.

Once we parked, we took our place in the famous City Limits BBQ line, apparently part of the experience. I figured we’d be waiting maybe 30 minutes at most… I was wrong. We waited just over an hour, which we were told was faster than usual, but here’s what stood out: no one was complaining about the wait. That got my attention.

We chatted with the people around us, and they were all confidently saying this place was the best. “Oh, the line is worth it. I one time waited for about three hours, and here I am again.” “The BBQ is out of this world; it is not like anything you can typically get around here.” The longer we stood there, the more determined we were to try the best BBQ around. At one point, the owner, Robbie, even came out to greet the line and promised it would be worth the wait.

Robbie wasn’t lying; the wait was totally worth it!

Since the ordering style is “walk-up” and the menu is a la carte, you can sample a bit of everything, which is exactly what my hungry husband and I did. We ordered beef brisket, BBQ, macaroni and cheese, green beans and cornbread. Hands down, this was the best beef brisket I’ve ever had. As a proud sauce lover, I didn’t even need sauce; it was juicy and flavorful enough on its own. The green beans were also incredible, with a hint of sweetness that wasn’t overpowering.

And the verdict from Joe on the barbecue? He loved it. I watched him devour his with mustard sauce, and after being in each other’s lives for over seven years, I think this was the first time I’ve seen him enjoy barbecue like that. He also really enjoyed their twist on mac and cheese—"shells and cheese.” But what really won over my super-picky, Italian husband? Their cornbread. As a fellow bread enthusiast, I was also impressed. Their cake-style cornbread was sweet, perfectly moist and not too dense. It could’ve almost passed as a dessert; it was that good. Joe said it best: “This cornbread is straight fire.”

We left happy, satisfied and full. And the best part? I’d gladly wait in that line again. (Even Joe would, and that’s really saying something.)

So, what makes City Limits BBQ different from your typical BBQ joint? Their BBQ is “Texas-style,” which means the meat is prepared and cooked differently than what we’re used to here in South Carolina. I don’t know all the secrets (even after talking with Robbie), but Texans clearly know what they’re doing. Nothing was over-salted or greasy—a common issue with Southern BBQ—so it was nice to leave feeling full but not overfully stuffed.

Robbie told the line while we waited: “Sorry about the wait. Our crew is doing 120% of a normal kitchen staff. With a wait like this, the food better be worth it. I promise it is worth it.”

I also want to give a shoutout to another local barbecue joint that placed in the Southern Living contest: Hite’s Bar-B-Que, also in West Columbia. I haven’t been there yet, but several of my family members really enjoy it!

“The cornbread at City Limits BBQ is perfect. It’s soft. It’s fluffy. It’s sweet. It’s straight fire.” — Joe Barone, my husband.