Smoking Butt Heads, a popular local barbecue restaurant in Spartanburg, has been named the winner of the “Best New Barbecue Joints of the South 2024” award by Southern Living, a regional magazine that covers food, living and other Southern products.
The Southern-style barbecue restaurant is located at 111 W. Main St. in downtown Spartanburg.
In a list compiled by contributing barbecue editor Robert Moss, Smoking Butt Heads appears on a list of smokehouses ranging from Texas to Virginia, naming 22 of the best barbecue restaurants below the Sunbelt.
When selecting the restaurant winners, the overall experience, the ambience, the presentation of the food, the sauces and the authenticity of the southern region were taken into account.
“First of all, most are traditionalists in some way or another. Most cook on wood fires and many have embraced and championed the long-standing specialties of their respective regions,” Moss said of the list. “At the same time, everyone is doing their own thing, experimenting with new flavors and techniques, using less common cuts of meat and drawing on family recipes and their own culinary heritage.”
Smoking Butt Heads landed at number 16 on Southern Living’s list and is joined by four other South Carolina restaurants, all located in Columbia and Charleston.
Learn more about Spartanburg’s award-winning barbecue restaurant here:
More about Upstate Dining: Here are three of the best Asian restaurants in the Upstate, chosen by readers
What is Smoking Butt Heads Barbecue in Spartanburg?
Located at 111 W. Main St. in Spartanburg, Smoking Butt Heads specializes in competition-style barbecue and made-from-scratch sides like mac and cheese, baked beans, leafy greens and coleslaw, and more.
Opening in August 2023 in Spartanburg’s historic Greenewald’s Building, Smoking Butt Heads brings nationally renowned barbecue, alcoholic beverages, live entertainment and more to the downtown food and hospitality scene.
The owner is Todd Smith. With over 10 years of barbecue competition experience, he has competed in the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) and won at least four regional and national competitions since 2014.
What’s on the menu at Smoking Butt Heads?
Smoking Butt Heads’ most popular smoked meats include St. Louis-style ribs, prime burger ends, pork medallions, hot links and brisket. Their biggest draw is The Judge’s Plate, where you can try any of the above award-winning meats along with homemade cornbread and a side.
The appetizer menu includes a spring roll with beef brisket and chicken wings, but homemade banana pudding and peach cobbler are also popular dessert options at Smoking Butt Heads.
Everything about Smoking Butt Heads: Downtown Spartanburg: Smoking Butt Heads BBQ opens and revitalizes historic Morgan Square location
Which South Carolina barbecue restaurants are on Southern Living’s list?
#1 Palmira BBQ – Charleston, SC
#4 City Limits Barbecue – Columbia, SC
#5 King BBQ – Charleston, SC
#14 Rancho Lewis – Charleston, SC
#16 Smoking Buttheads — Spartanburg, SC
List of the best BBQs in South Carolina 2024
In early 2024, Henry’s Smokehouse in Greenville, 240 Wade Hampton Blvd., was named South Carolina’s Best BBQ of 2024 by Southern Living.
Check out the full list: And who else made the list of the best new barbecue joints in the South for 2024?
– AJ Jackson covers the food and restaurant scene, as well as arts, entertainment and downtown culture for The Greenville News. Reach him via email at [email protected] and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @ajhappened. This reporting is only possible with the support of our readers. Sign up for a digital subscription today.
