Smokehouse BBQ

“Roadside smoke and cold beer on Maybank Highway”

Smokehouse BBQ on Johns Island is the kind of place regulars would rather you not write about — a small, unassuming roadside joint on Maybank Highway turning out steady pulled pork and ribs at prices that feel pulled from another decade. There is no concept and no marketing, just a pitmaster working hickory and oak and a counter that moves at island speed. It is honest cooking for people who live nearby and want good barbecue without a production around it. The pulled pork sandwich is the bargain of the menu: piled high on a soft bun with slaw and a splash of vinegar sauce, it does more than its price suggests. The ribs come off with a clean smoke and a satisfying chew, and the smoked chicken holds its own. Coleslaw rounds the plate. There are no gimmicks here and none are needed — the whole appeal is a Johns Island counter cooking over real wood for people who found it and kept it to themselves.