10 South Carolina Soul Food Buffets Worth The Trip
Y’all, there’s nothing quite like Southern soul food to warm your belly and lift your spirits. South Carolina offers some of the most mouth-watering spreads you’ll find anywhere, loaded with fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread that’ll make your grandma jealous. As a self-proclaimed soul food enthusiast who’s put on a few pounds researching this list, I’m thrilled to share these ten incredible buffets that showcase the Palmetto State’s culinary heritage.
1. Simply Southern Smokehouse
Lord have mercy on my waistline! This place has me coming back every time I’m within 50 miles of Myrtle Beach.
Their fried chicken achieves that mythical crispy-outside, juicy-inside perfection that haunts my dreams. The collards are cooked with enough pork to make a vegetarian weep, and their banana pudding? Sweet heavens!
What makes Simply Southern special isn’t just the food; it’s watching the ladies behind the counter who cook like they’re feeding their own families, not tourists looking for a quick bite.
2. Big Mike’s Soul Food
The first time I waddled out of Big Mike’s, I swore I wouldn’t need to eat for a week. Spoiler alert: I was back for lunch the next day.
Mike himself often works the line, greeting customers like long-lost relatives while piling plates with ribs that fall off the bone. Their mac and cheese should be illegal: crusty on top, creamy underneath, and cheesy enough to make Wisconsin nervous.
The red velvet cake alone is worth driving across state lines for, and I’ve met folks who do exactly that!
3. Pauline’s Dining Room
Walking into Pauline’s feels like stepping into your Southern grandmother’s dining room; if grandma could cook for an army.
The buffet here has been serving the same recipes for generations, and honey, they got it right the first time! Their fried okra converted me from a skeptic to an evangelist in one crunchy bite.
What I love most is how the elderly couple at the register remembers everyone’s name, even mine after just two visits. That personal touch, alongside their heavenly sweet potato casserole, keeps this place packed with locals every single day.
4. Fhinney’s
“You ain’t lived till you’ve tried our turkey wings,” the server told me my first time at Fhinney’s. Truer words were never spoken.
Unlike some buffets that sacrifice quality for quantity, everything here tastes like it was made minutes ago. Their black-eyed peas have converted vegetable-haters into believers, and the cornbread is so moist it barely needs butter (though I slather it on anyway).
Fhinney’s modern take on soul food classics keeps the essence while adding surprising twists; like their peach cobbler with ginger that nearly made me cry with joy.
5. Carolina Buffet
“Take your time, sugar,” advised the matron at Carolina Buffet when she saw me eyeing all thirty-plus dishes with panic. Good advice; this place demands strategic eating.
Their fried catfish has the perfect cornmeal crust that shatters gloriously with each bite. The greens swim in pot likker so good you’ll want to drink it (I’ve seen people do exactly that).
What keeps me coming back is their rotating daily specials; Thursday’s oxtail stew has a cult following, and I’ve joined that cult with zero regrets.
6. Doc’s Barbecue and Southern Buffet
The smell hit me before I even parked my car; hickory smoke that promises barbecue heaven awaits inside. Doc’s doesn’t just do great ‘cue; their entire soul food buffet deserves a standing ovation.
Their pulled pork practically melts on your tongue, but it’s the unexpected stars like their squash casserole that keep locals loyal. The butter beans are cooked with ham hocks that infuse every bite with smoky goodness.
Fair warning: save room for the banana pudding that’s topped with both vanilla wafers AND homemade whipped cream. I’ve seen fistfights almost break out when they run low.
7. Forest Buffet
Fancy it ain’t, but lordy, can these folks cook! Forest Buffet reminds me that sometimes the best food comes from the most unassuming places.
Their chicken and dumplings transported me straight back to my childhood; tender chunks of chicken swimming alongside pillowy dumplings in broth that must have simmered for days. The collard greens have just the right amount of vinegar tang.
My favorite part? The dessert section featuring homemade cobblers that change daily. The blackberry version has pieces of fruit so big and juicy they burst between your teeth.
8. Seasoned With Soul
“We put our foot in it!” proclaims the sign above the buffet at Seasoned With Soul, using that wonderful Southern expression for food made with love and extra flavor.
Their smothered pork chops fall apart under your fork, swimming in gravy that should be bottled and sold. The candied yams taste like they’ve been blessed by angels; sweet but not cloying, with hints of vanilla and cinnamon.
What sets this place apart is their willingness to experiment. Alongside traditional fare, you’ll find creations like their famous collard green egg rolls that sound strange but taste miraculous.
9. Shealy’s Bar-B-Que
People drive from three states away for Shealy’s, and after my first visit, I understood why. This isn’t just a meal; it’s a Southern institution.
Their hash and rice (a South Carolina specialty) converted me from a skeptic to an evangelist. The fried chicken has that perfect pepper-speckled crust that shatters just right. Their mustard-based BBQ sauce is so good I’ve contemplated filling my water bottle with it.
The best part? The price. For what you’d pay for an appetizer in a fancy joint, you can eat yourself into a food coma here with three trips to the buffet.
10. Blossom Buffet
Now, I know what you’re thinking; an Asian buffet on a soul food list? Trust me on this wild card. Blossom Buffet has dedicated an entire section to Southern classics that would make any grandma proud.
Their fried chicken rivals any soul food joint in town, and their collard greens have that perfect pot likker. But the magic happens when cultures cross; try the bourbon chicken that merges Southern spirits with Asian cooking techniques.
The best strategy? Load up on Southern classics, add some Asian favorites, and prepare for a flavor journey that defies categorization but satisfies every comfort food craving imaginable.
