Dukes BBQ

“Overnight whole hog and a check that never tops $15”

Dukes BBQ on Rivers Avenue is North Charleston barbecue stripped to its essentials: whole hog cooked overnight on open pits, pulled by hand each morning, and set out on an all-you-can-eat buffet. Thursday through Saturday only, cash preferred, and a room where construction crews, families, and out-of-town pilgrims share long tables. You eat until you are done, and the check rarely clears fifteen dollars. The pork is the base, but the supporting cast is what regulars talk about. The hash and rice is exceptional, dark and savory the way whole-hog hash should be, and the cracklins rank among the best in the state, crisp shards pulled straight from the skin. Lima beans, slaw, and banana pudding fill out a plate that costs less than a fast-food combo and delivers a tradition that combo will never touch. Go hungry; the value is the whole point.