JB’s Smokeshack
3406 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island, SC, 29455
JB’s Smokeshack Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Johns Island for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Johns Island for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Johns Island for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
3406 Maybank Hwy
Johns Island, SC, 29455 - Phone (843) 779-9779
- Website https://jbssmokeshack.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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David B.
down home; damn good!
(3)Mike G.
Best BBQ near Charleston. It's a little bit of a drive but it's totally worth it. Odd hours so call before you head over there. I try to make a point of stopping there as often as my diet will allow.
(5)Ben w.
Great food and friendly people.
(5)Robbie E.
Hands down, without a doubt the best BBQ I've ever had. Super delish, smoked on premises all you can eat buffet in a completely unpretentious venue for just $11. Oh and that includes all the tea (iced) that you can handle, plus desert.
(5)Tiffany G.
This place is awesome... Alllll of the food and the desserts are delicious .. Buffet style and the price is great too, I pay more for a buffet on the west coast and it doesn't even touch this.
(5)john g.
We just got some takeout pulled pork from here... not a huge fan of food from a buffet and they were out of ribs and a few other key items. Pork was intensely smokey... one of the smokiest smells and flavors I've ever had. It was chopped very fine (a common way to serve it in this area, from my limited experience), and was thus a bit dry. You definitely cannot eat it without sauce (unless you like pork insanely dry), despite the slogan "the flavor's in the meat, sauce is on the side" (or something like that). Tried both the vinegar and the mustard-based sauces. Both were nicely done, and once added to the meat, cut the smoke flavor a bit and added some much-needed moisture. As usual, the vinegar sauce was the winner. In sum, I wouldn't go out of my way to get JB's, but since I frequent John's Island, I will probably be back.
(3)Jeff C.
We ordered take-out, and I've gotta give these guys kudos for putting good grub in the bags. The beef brisket was very good, smoked chicken excellent, sides very good. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(4)Main R.
great atmosphere and i think JB is great! the food is typical road side BBQ, yummers!
(3)ashley l.
Being from the heart of North Carolina and born and raised with good BBQ - I was shocked when I moved to SC at 16 and the drastic change of opinions of good BBQ. Contrary to those bad bbq places (Melvins, Dukes, etc) JB's is the for real deal. Awesome smoked chicken, chopped bbq, mac n cheese, collards, green beans, slaw, corn fritters, fried chicken, rice and hash, and a salad bar are all included on the all you can eat bar. Smoked sausage and smoked tenderloin frequent the side specialty meat carving station. I love this place. It's country, small, and your options of beverages are water, sweet tea and unsweet tea: As how all bbq restaurants should be. I love the little couple that owns and runs this place. There are several other employees that are always there and great too. Te bbq sauces are awesome. I am partial to mixing the vinegar and sweet bbq sauce. I love it and am grateful to live down the street!
(4)Aaron H.
This is one of those places that you can easily drive past. If your hungry, if your not hungry, if you like food, if you love food, or if you hate food but are willing to give it a shot-- do yourself a favor and DON'T JUST DRIVE BY. These guys know how to make BBQ and that's all there is to it!!
(5)Graham M.
My wife, daughter, and I arrived to a pretty crowded (and very cozy) restaurant on a Saturday around 12PM or so. You order at the counter and then seat yourself at a table and serve yourself at their relatively small buffet. But, don't let the small size of the buffet deter you. Their food is very good. The pulled pork (unsauced) and fried fish were right up there with the best I've had. The collards, green beans, and mac and cheese were all good. The cold salads again very good. The desserts were pretty good too. The price was excellent, $9 for the buffet and drink. I wouldn't hesitate to eat there again.
(4)Claire P.
Best BBQ in Charleston (area) hands down. I have to say I'm surprised to read some of these other reviews that don't shout from the rooftops about their love for this place. Country, yes, and filled with country folks. That's the point. It's a BBQ restaurant. Their buffet for lunch is delicious, and with their slogan of "flavor's in the meat, sauce is on the side" of course, the sauces are at the table for you to choose from. All the sides you can think of: collards, black eyed peas, corn fritters, etc. The best thing there may be the baked beans though. I don't know what's in there but they are the best I've had. Go give this place a shot. Pay before you go through the line. Don't miss the banana pudding.
(5)Michelle M.
Hands down, my favorite BBQ. I love the smoked pork, especially. Whenever I'm in Charleston, I make a point to go there.
(5)Brandon W.
JB's is a small BBQ joint that offers a nice atmosphere and good BBQ at a reasonable price. We had the BBQ buffet for $8 and walked away happy. It's what you would expect from a South Carolina roadside restraunt. I recomend the fried chicken, pork ribs, mac n' cheese, catfish (Friday & Saturday) and baked BBQ beans. Wash it down with they're sweet tea and call it a day. Just remember to ask for more ice from the employee behind the counter instead of just grabbing another cup!
(3)Kennedy C.
The food was so good that we came back for dinner. Yes you read that right, we ate there twice in one day. The food was that darn good. And the service was amazing, such nice people work there. Also they have the best bbq sauce I have ever tasted. I wish I could give this place more than five stars
(5)Susan D.
The buffet offered a wonderful variety of main and side dishes. The baked beans, pudding, fried chicken, collard greens, tomato-cucumber salad, and green beans were among our favorites. The owners welcomed us warmly like we were in their own home.
(4)Bruce A.
The idea of a bbq buffet excited me a lot and I drove half an hour past many other bbq places to eat here. But I was very disappointed. First, the buffet is mostly sides and vegetables. There were only three meats: chicken, pulled pork, and beef brisket. The brisket was excellent, the chicken and pork forgettable. Apparently they only have either ribs or brisket and I went on a brisket night. No sign of sausage anywhere. Wide selection of sauces at least.
(3)P P.
I had the highest of hopes for JB's Smokeshack and it had the outward look of a great BBQ place: a rickety shack that could burn to the ground at any time. While there were good aspects of the place, it could not climb to 5 star status in my book. The ribs were smoky pink inside and tasted great, but they were a little on the fatty side, so 4.5 stars there. The pulled pork sandwich was very good and not at all fatty, 4.5 stars for the sammy. The sauces were fine, I liked the Mama's Sweet & Spicy as well as the "Hotshot". I was really craving a spicy mustard based sauce, but JB's is plain-Jane, so only 3 stars. (Bessinger's Spicy Mustard is 5 stars in my book). They have a small buffet at a decent price and the meats include fried chicken, pulled pork and a smoked sausage of some sort. The buffet included the standard comfort foods: mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, hash, etc. For an extra $4.99 you get two ribs and some brisket with your buffet. But when I eat BBQ, I don't want to waste my time with the sides so I stuck with the a la cart order. They were also missing a BBQ chicken, which is what my wife would required if she were to go. Not sure why you would put fried chicken on the menu instead of BBQ chicken, but I guess it is a lot easier, especially for a buffet. I really hoped they could beat Bessinger's so I could have a great place close by, but they couldn't. I will still go again for a quick pulled pork sandwich and maybe some ribs. It is still good stuff and worth trying to form your own decision. (They have added some outdoor picnic tables which is a nice touch) I later noticed on my bill that they had "accidentally" changed by $3 tip to an $8 tip (on a $20 to go order). I have been trying to call them ever since and they do not pick up the phone. I don't need th $5, but it is annoying.
(4)Sean P.
Our group's last stop on the folly beach trip was this small restaurant located in a remote area. Having 10 of us in our group, we had to wait a bit before we could get a table. The staff was extremely friendly, almost reminiscent of a big thanksgiving dinner environment. Once we actually sat down, we were in for a treat. Every single dish available was absolutely amazing. The crispy chicken was the best I've ever had, pulled pork and the pork chops danced gently on my tastebuds. I'm not even sure how many plates I ended up getting! This place is hands down a MUST-VISIT in South Carolina. I would come back to this town just to eat here again.
(5)Keli T.
The pulled pork was like "butta". Melt in your mouth... You don't need sauce but the mild sauce was amazing! Next the mac n cheese is light, not greasy and full of flavor. We added baked beans that were full of flavor and chunks of delish meat (pork maybe). We also had black eyed peas which had great flavor and hints of pepper. I plan on going back for the buffet so I can sample more goodness.
(5)Amanda H.
I was brought by a friend to have lunch at this location. I must admit, I in no way love BBQ. It's just not my thing. However, I know what it good BBQ and what is not. This, my friends, is not. I dont' eat fried chicken, which is apparently a big deal here, so feel free to go and try that. It's just not my thing. My rice was hard, my hash was mush with what seemed like giant onion chunks in, my pork was dry, the mac and cheese was a flavorless mushy generic macaroni, and the other sides were either too gross looking to try or just not worth even mentioning. Their mustard sauce is about the only thing going for them. I don't know what is going on with the drink situation, but I only found tea and water. Not a huge deal, but offering lemonade wouldn't kill them. And if they do offer it, having it out where I could find it would be great. The seating is cramped and small. I have gotten spoiled to other restaurants closer to home and can't see eating BBQ anywhere like this again. Overall - a major disappointment.
(1)Brandon H.
I'm a BBQ fanatic. Really. I consider myself a connoisseur of the BBQ buffet. JB's has a buffet crammed into the tiny shoebox of a restaurant. Seriously, I think that this place has seating for maybe 50 people, if you are willing to share the tables with total strangers. On to the food. It is pretty good, but far from amazing. Be warned: the ribs you see in the pictures are NOT included on the buffet. They are a separate line item. A good selection of vegetables with solid mac and cheese. Actually, I think the mac is the best side on the buffet. Everything else is fairly generic, with the exception of the potato salad, that is also wonderful. The pulled pork is on the dry side. Not bad dry, but a dry smokey bbq with a rich wooden flavor. I liked it, but didn't love it. I couldn't enjoy it dry, but adding one of their 5 flavors of sauce really livened up the flavor while still allowing the smoke to come through. I liked the mustard based the best. It was pleasant and not overly tangy. Great sweetness. The fried chicken is where this place shines. Light and crispy coating a moist chicken that is cooked so well that the bones are nearly edible (actually they are because I ate some of them just to see if I could). If I wanted the best fried chicken around, I would come back here. Overall a decent hole-in-the-wall place that is likely known more for the ribs than the pulled pork.
(3)Erin D.
It was mind blowing. Came with a party of 6 on a Saturday, was able to find seats right away. The crispy chicken was ... I can't even describe it. You have to try it yourself. I think this place ruined all other fried chicken for me. Not sure what I'm going to do with my life now. Yea, it was that good.
(5)Kennedy C.
The food was so good that we came back for dinner. Yes you read that right, we ate there twice in one day. The food was that darn good. And the service was amazing, such nice people work there. Also they have the best bbq sauce I have ever tasted. I wish I could give this place more than five stars
(5)Julia S.
Tasty food, great value for the price, fun place to eat if you go with the flow and focus on the food. Outside decor is cute.
(4)Lynn R.
Great thin seasoned pork chips & fried chicken, pulled pork. Try the pork hash w rice. Great sauces!!
(5)Laura K.
Only place we've been to where we turned right around and walked out. One glance at the greasy carb laden buffet with no signs of life - fresh veggies or fruit and we couldn't justify sitting down - zero ambiance.
(1)Max S.
Great BBQ , always a must stop on my trips to the Holy City. They have weird week day times and dont open till Wednesday so make sure you plan accordingly. Make sure to bring a belt with an extra notch.
(5)Berlin S.
The food was Ok and the tea was awesome customer service was ok but the atmosphere was great
(3)Justin L.
Adorable pig logo on the sign outside; cute swine decor inside. JB's Smokeshack on Johns Island serves up some simple barbecue with subtle smoke at cut-rate prices. The lunch buffet is only $8 including tax and tea! As good of a deal as it was, we just weren't that hungry, so we ordered a large sampler plate to share ($10.95 or so), which included three types of meat (we chose pulled pork, brisket and ribs), two sides (mac n' cheese and collard greens) and hash (some kind of Brunswick stew-like mixture over white rice). The pork ribs were succulent and tender, nicely smoked and meaty. The brisket was very thinly sliced and had a thick layer of fat, with a deeper smoke flavor - also delicious. The pulled pork was the least enjoyable: too dry, too pulled, tasted a bit funny. The collards were a bit too plain (would be nice if they were cooked with some kind of smoke meat to impart some depth) and the mac n' cheese was okay. As john g. commented on 1/1/2010, I wouldn't go too much out of my way for JB's Smokeshack. Some of the buffet items looked rather tired and they didn't seem to have all the meat options out. But, if I'm in the area, I'd definitely go back for more ribs or nibble at the buffet for such a bargain price.
(3)Joe R.
Old school traditional bar b que. I had the brisket which was awesome. Good sauces. A hair better service and less fried foods and this gets five stars. Worth a stop
(4)Bruce A.
The idea of a bbq buffet excited me a lot and I drove half an hour past many other bbq places to eat here. But I was very disappointed. First, the buffet is mostly sides and vegetables. There were only three meats: chicken, pulled pork, and beef brisket. The brisket was excellent, the chicken and pork forgettable. Apparently they only have either ribs or brisket and I went on a brisket night. No sign of sausage anywhere. Wide selection of sauces at least.
(3)Erin M.
Best fried chicken EVER. All fried chicken will now pale in comparison now. Dammit!!!
(5)P P.
I had the highest of hopes for JB's Smokeshack and it had the outward look of a great BBQ place: a rickety shack that could burn to the ground at any time. While there were good aspects of the place, it could not climb to 5 star status in my book. The ribs were smoky pink inside and tasted great, but they were a little on the fatty side, so 4.5 stars there. The pulled pork sandwich was very good and not at all fatty, 4.5 stars for the sammy. The sauces were fine, I liked the Mama's Sweet & Spicy as well as the "Hotshot". I was really craving a spicy mustard based sauce, but JB's is plain-Jane, so only 3 stars. (Bessinger's Spicy Mustard is 5 stars in my book). They have a small buffet at a decent price and the meats include fried chicken, pulled pork and a smoked sausage of some sort. The buffet included the standard comfort foods: mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, hash, etc. For an extra $4.99 you get two ribs and some brisket with your buffet. But when I eat BBQ, I don't want to waste my time with the sides so I stuck with the a la cart order. They were also missing a BBQ chicken, which is what my wife would required if she were to go. Not sure why you would put fried chicken on the menu instead of BBQ chicken, but I guess it is a lot easier, especially for a buffet. I really hoped they could beat Bessinger's so I could have a great place close by, but they couldn't. I will still go again for a quick pulled pork sandwich and maybe some ribs. It is still good stuff and worth trying to form your own decision. (They have added some outdoor picnic tables which is a nice touch) I later noticed on my bill that they had "accidentally" changed by $3 tip to an $8 tip (on a $20 to go order). I have been trying to call them ever since and they do not pick up the phone. I don't need th $5, but it is annoying.
(4)Sean P.
Our group's last stop on the folly beach trip was this small restaurant located in a remote area. Having 10 of us in our group, we had to wait a bit before we could get a table. The staff was extremely friendly, almost reminiscent of a big thanksgiving dinner environment. Once we actually sat down, we were in for a treat. Every single dish available was absolutely amazing. The crispy chicken was the best I've ever had, pulled pork and the pork chops danced gently on my tastebuds. I'm not even sure how many plates I ended up getting! This place is hands down a MUST-VISIT in South Carolina. I would come back to this town just to eat here again.
(5)Keli T.
The pulled pork was like "butta". Melt in your mouth... You don't need sauce but the mild sauce was amazing! Next the mac n cheese is light, not greasy and full of flavor. We added baked beans that were full of flavor and chunks of delish meat (pork maybe). We also had black eyed peas which had great flavor and hints of pepper. I plan on going back for the buffet so I can sample more goodness.
(5)Amanda H.
I was brought by a friend to have lunch at this location. I must admit, I in no way love BBQ. It's just not my thing. However, I know what it good BBQ and what is not. This, my friends, is not. I dont' eat fried chicken, which is apparently a big deal here, so feel free to go and try that. It's just not my thing. My rice was hard, my hash was mush with what seemed like giant onion chunks in, my pork was dry, the mac and cheese was a flavorless mushy generic macaroni, and the other sides were either too gross looking to try or just not worth even mentioning. Their mustard sauce is about the only thing going for them. I don't know what is going on with the drink situation, but I only found tea and water. Not a huge deal, but offering lemonade wouldn't kill them. And if they do offer it, having it out where I could find it would be great. The seating is cramped and small. I have gotten spoiled to other restaurants closer to home and can't see eating BBQ anywhere like this again. Overall - a major disappointment.
(1)Brandon H.
I'm a BBQ fanatic. Really. I consider myself a connoisseur of the BBQ buffet. JB's has a buffet crammed into the tiny shoebox of a restaurant. Seriously, I think that this place has seating for maybe 50 people, if you are willing to share the tables with total strangers. On to the food. It is pretty good, but far from amazing. Be warned: the ribs you see in the pictures are NOT included on the buffet. They are a separate line item. A good selection of vegetables with solid mac and cheese. Actually, I think the mac is the best side on the buffet. Everything else is fairly generic, with the exception of the potato salad, that is also wonderful. The pulled pork is on the dry side. Not bad dry, but a dry smokey bbq with a rich wooden flavor. I liked it, but didn't love it. I couldn't enjoy it dry, but adding one of their 5 flavors of sauce really livened up the flavor while still allowing the smoke to come through. I liked the mustard based the best. It was pleasant and not overly tangy. Great sweetness. The fried chicken is where this place shines. Light and crispy coating a moist chicken that is cooked so well that the bones are nearly edible (actually they are because I ate some of them just to see if I could). If I wanted the best fried chicken around, I would come back here. Overall a decent hole-in-the-wall place that is likely known more for the ribs than the pulled pork.
(3)Erin D.
It was mind blowing. Came with a party of 6 on a Saturday, was able to find seats right away. The crispy chicken was ... I can't even describe it. You have to try it yourself. I think this place ruined all other fried chicken for me. Not sure what I'm going to do with my life now. Yea, it was that good.
(5)Ryan H.
Oh.... My..... God! Some of the best BBQ ribs and potato salad I've ever had in Charleston. Scratch that. Best I've had in life. After tasting moonshine and wine at the nearby distillery and winery, JB's Smokeshack hit the f*ckin spot!!! So good!
(5)Cole S.
You better come hungry and ready to eat! Being a very small place, you may have to wait for a table to open up but do yourself a favor and do NOT leave! It is certainly worth the wait! They offer a BBQ buffet but also offer sandwiches and plate style meals. I recommend the buffet so you can try a little bit of everything (or in my case, A LOT of everything ). I couldn't help myself, everything was absolutely delicious. The ribs and the fried chicken were my favorites. They were unbelievable! They also offer a great spread of sides that includes collard greens, stuffing, squash casserole, rice, potato salad, beans, macaroni and cheese, and more! In addition to variety of tasty food, the service was impeccable! JP's is the epitome of southern hospitality. We arrived in a large group, and they were so accommodating! They moved around the tables so we could all sit together, and seemed genuinely happy to help us! One employee specifically said that she didn't want anyone to go hungry and they certainly made sure that didn't happen! Overall the experience was amazing. The food and the friendly service made even us out-of-towers feel at home!
(5)Marcus S.
Bring an appetite. The staff really makes you feel at home and the combination of the sweet tea and the picnic-style tabletops make it feel like you're at home, except home has some delicious bbq. I mean, it's an all you can eat southern barbecue place, and it's everything you want it to be and more.
(5)rick r.
This place is awsome! We really love going there, but I have to wait until tourist season slows down a bit. It gets really busy with tourist. The word must have gotten out.
(5)Rachel C.
This is the ultimate place to experience good southern food. The fried chicken is AMAZING, so moist but crunchy with a thin layer of perfectly flavorful crust. The only complaint is that they didn't have enough chicken to go around at the buffet. The bbq pork was perfectly smoked and moist as well, one of the best bbq pork dishes I have had ( sorry hubby ). The service was friendly, as all Southern hospitality is. I really enjoyed the different bbq sauces at the table. The dessert bar needs work. It was evident that not much effort was put into the desserts. Overall, highly recommend this place to experience many authentic Southern dishes.
(5)Elizabeth M.
Adorable place, best fried chicken. It's buffet style and you will likely be sitting close to strangers so come in with a smile! We come all the time!
(5)Deick J.
Went to the barbecue place and have the fried chicken on the buffet it was real good everybody enjoyed it so friendly people and I would go back again next time that I'm in town
(3)Wesley T.
OK its a small hole in the wall, with maybe 10 or 11 tables, so dont be all agasp if a stranger sits at the table with you "big city sorta thing!" stand out is for sure the fried chicken, it is the most savory breading season, and perfectly cooked, the Mac & Cheese homemade and super awesome, the hash was great, it does have some onion pieces in it but its fantastic over the rice, the collards were good, corn nuggets were tasty, now the BBQ is not got any sauce you add sauce yourself, the meat was a little on the dry side, but had a great smokey flavor, i tried the house mild sauce, it was ok i liked the mustard better, next time ill try the vinegar! The fried flounder was ok, the other sides were run of the mill. they also a a salad bar and some pudding desserts, we did not try that. its a great little buffet place for a $10.00 lunch till 5pm then it goes to dinner i think its a few bucks more. Do not miss Angel Oak while you are here, o wait thats probly why you are here to start with!
(5)Basil L.
We met up with some friends and we're immediately offered the buffet. We opted in since it all sounded great--pulled pork, meatloaf, pork chops and friend chicken. The fried chicken was ridiculous. It was "put your face on the back of a milk carton" good. Everything else was average to above average. The meatloaf was pretty tasty. The pulled pork was pretty good--nice strong smoked flavor to it. I didn't try the pork chop since I was pretty stuffed. I wasn't a fan of the cole slaw but give them props for doing something different. We really enjoyed this place and would be back with our family.
(4)Millison W.
Disgusting. Canned. Meat was dry and chewy. Everything was such a letdown. Eeew.
(1)Robert H.
Pulled pork was good, pork chops were fried to a crisp, the mac n cheese was runny and the Cole slaw was bland. Thank goodness for Dukes bbq.
(3)Kevin P.
Simple execution of a southern food buffet with friendly staff and super delicious food. I go for the fried cream of corn alone! Great fried chicken and nice selection of different style bbq sauces!
(4)Bekah B.
Southern hospitality and BBQ at their finest. The all you can eat buffet is full of fried deliciousness, and there's a second buffet bar with some assorted salads. I didn't make my way over there ;) The fried chicken and fried corn nuggets really stood out. It can't be overstated how juicy the chicken was on the inside, while crispy, crunchy on the outside. Really impressive. The corn nuggets are little fried nuggets with creamed corn in the middle. Simply magical. The pulled pork had lots of crunchy pieces in it, and was extra tasty with the sweet & spicy sauce on the table. What really stood out, though, is the southern hospitality. I thought, simple buffet, throw away your own paper plates, no need for service, right? We were there with our 10-month old son, and a cook from the back brought out ribs we ordered and was so interactive with our son. While refilling the salad/dessert bar, he made a to-go container of pudding for our son. That was so sweet, and the perfect start to our vaca! Stop by and enjoy!
(5)Brittany C.
I was pretty excited to try JB's for the first time. I had heard many good things about their bbq from many people. We went for lunch and i enjoyed the VERY casual atmosphere. It was appropriate for the type of image they were trying to convey; home-y backyard bbq feel. You pay for your buffet and they hand you your cup of ice and direct you to the styrofoam plates. So far so good. I loaded my plate up with a little bit of everything and knew I was going to be at least partially disappointed by the food. When I went to put the pulled pork on my plate I could immediately see how dry the meat was. We're talking dried out edges and hard to swollow. I tried to move past it and douse the pulled pork with bbq sauce but even that couldn't salvage it. The bbq sauce was fine, not bad but nothing too spectacular, but i just couldn't get over how dry the meat was. I moved on to other things: the hash was your typical southern hash, mac n cheese was dry and flavorless, black eyed peas and beans had no flavor or even salt on them, and the mashed potatoes were out of a box (aka potatoe flakes). The catfish was ok, but again, nothing special. The breading on the fried chicken was phenomenal, but sadly the chicken itself was so dry it was inedible. I wouldn't recommed JB's to anyone. Save yourself a drive and go elsewhere. There are many great bbq places in Charleston, don't waste your time on this one.
(1)Michael B.
My friend turned me on to JB's back in 2002 and I still crave it to this day. There are a couple things this place does that are the best ever. Spicy BBQ sauce, pork right off the smoker, the Hash is amazing!!! Then they do a number of other things right but I'm addicted to those in particular. For years and years I would come here at least once a week. Don't sleep on the Brunswick stew or the Mac pie either they are delicious!
(5)Kelly G.
I am giving 3 stars based PURELY on the quality of the bbq. On the day I dined here it was very dry and seemed old. It was also finely chopped (I am a pulled bbq fan). However, I would go here again and give it another try. The atmosphere is in the name: a shack. Very informal and laid back. I liked the vibe. Buffet style is the way to go here. There were plenty of options. The baked beans were my absolute favorite on the buffet. I can't describe, you just have to try them for yourself! The corn nuggets were awesome. They have a cold bar too featuring desserts and salad type items. The staff is very friendly here.
(3)Jim S.
Went with my two kids, 12yo daughter and 14yo son. We all had the buffet dinner. The barbecued pork was great, there was 5 types of sauce on the table. The chicken was great too, tasty breeding and nice tender white meat, also liked the corn puff thingies. People in there were real nice too. Place is very basic. Would def go back!
(4)Janet C.
After a long trip down south, my family was tired and hungry. This place was on point. Buffet provided immediate satisfaction and it was really good. Fried chicken was excellent - one of the best I've ever eaten, pulled pork was super tasty with Momma's sweet and spicy sauce, corn nuggets were a nice surprise, and most sides were yummy (some not my favorite but not short of other options). Service was friendly and everything was very reasonable. Certainly NOT fancy, just good southern comfort food.
(4)Susan D.
The buffet offered a wonderful variety of main and side dishes. The baked beans, pudding, fried chicken, collard greens, tomato-cucumber salad, and green beans were among our favorites. The owners welcomed us warmly like we were in their own home.
(4)Sydney G.
Seriously some of the best 'cue in Charleston, and that sweet tea can't be beat! Had the squash casserole for the first time- DIVINE. My favorite things: Black eyed peas- yummmmmm Baked beans- chock full of meat SO GOOD Macaroni - varies by visit... sometimes it's awesome, some times it's just ok... but I guess that's how you know it's homemade! Collards- SO GOOD. Brisket- some of the best I've ever had Smoked turkey- SO GOOD OH GOD THE CORN NUGGETS- these should be illegal, they're so good and of course PULLED PORK - Best in the south, if you ask me. I'm usually only a fan of the mustard based sauces, but that mama's sweet and spicy is TO DIE FOR. If you're thinking about stopping here for dinner, definitely consider not eat for at least 24 hours to prepare yourself, because you're definitely not going to want to stop after one plate. Also, to Jimmie B- You must be from the north, you're not used to the southern way. Also, what buffet have you ever been to that you pay AFTER the meal? None. And nothing about this place tastes canned. I think somebody must've spit in your cheerios. This is why tourists should just stick to the fake hospitality of restaurants like Hymans and Jim N NIcks.
(5)Nancy L.
Down and dirty BBQ. The interior is old, the place is funky and the food is superb! Local place that a buffet old authentic food that is really well done! The fried chicken is amazing.
(5)Shira S.
Simply put, the best smoked chicken I have ever had!!! The rest of my family also really enjoyed their brisket and pulled pork. Also JB is probably one of the nicest people I have met in a long time. Upon learning my brother is entering a bbq competition, he went on to discuss concepts and ideas as well as share some tips with him on how to present food to the judges as well as cooking strategies. My only regret is that we couldn't purchase his sauces or vinegar as we were flying home - big bummer!
(4)Kayla J.
Seriously, I cannot stop myself from making the 20 minute drive out here for the best BBQ in town. Lunch buffet is from like 11-5pm and dinner 5- I'm not sure when. I'm pretty sure they are not open sundays or mondays but dont quote me on that. The buffet is the best bang for your buck. Today I had mashed potatoes, gravy, fried chicken, pulled pork, fried okra, black eyed peas, pickled okra, and green bean casserole on my plate and that wasn't even half of the selection. And the buffet is about 8.50-9 bucks, I cannot remember exactly. Their different sauces to put on the food are all through the roof. If you want the best BBQ in town this is the spot.
(5)Michael M.
JB's Smoke Shack is a gem and we are so happy we found it. The ribs are excellent and the pulled pork and home made sauces are awesome. They have a ton of sides to complement their smoked meats and very generous portions. The staff was extremely friendly and very accommodating. We had enough pulled pork left over to add to my breakfast frittata. This was our first, but certainly not our last visit. Keep on smokin!
(5)Francesca D.
Legit southern style BBQ. Don't let the drive up fool you, it's one of the best meals you will have. The fried chicken is the best I've ever had. Baked beans are slow roasted with pulled pork...incredible. Cheap and easy dining. They also do pick up for catering, perfect for the casual summer BBQ.
(5)Sarah F.
Food was alright. The chicken was extremely good, Mac and cheese was decent, but the rest was either under seasoned, over seasoned (mostly over salted) or dry. The puddings are obviously made with water versus milk. The sauces were good but thin. The employees were very friendly though. I would say the cost is not worth the money.
(3)Nicole N.
The best BBQ. Baked beans are heavenly. Banana pudding is soooo yummy and it's all complete with fresh brewed sweet tea :-)
(5)Bobby W.
We have a second home on Johns Island. Every time we are in town, JB's is must go to place. Everything is good on there buffet!
(5)Karen F.
We had a blast. The food was wonderful. Especially the corn fritters! They were creamy bites of heaven! The staff were friendly and helpful. The place was busy the whole time we were there. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Andy Z.
The fried chicken is so good it makes me curse. It's painfully good. The pork is good... it's dry so you've gotta add sauce if you want it. Personally I prefer it that way, just know what you're getting into. Other items are pretty good, but my god that fried chicken. Best I've ever had. 25 stars.
(5)Charlie G.
This is a side of the road BBQ place with the food being the only draw. Don't come here for the decor. come for the food. $12,50 all you can eat is a great value. Tasty fried chicken!!
(4)Heather C.
Stopped here while looking for a non-chain restaurant to eat at while we were waiting for some paint to be mixed at the store down the street. We were pleasantly surprised with everything! We love small local places and this fit the bill....I think there's like 36 seats in the place total. We ate the buffet, which is small but stocked with goodies! The pork was good and the flavor was good...I tried all the sauces and they were yummy, definitely something for everyone with 5 options. The fried chicken was amazing...crispy and flavorful on the outside and juicy inside. Didn't try all the sides, but the things we did try were yummy. The best was the squash casserole and the corn nuggets though...oh my those corn nuggets were a tasty bite of heaven! The tea was good and the service was great....the woman who was working g the register/filling ice cups was so sweet and personable! Will definitely go back if we're in the area!
(5)Bojan D.
This place was amazing. I stopped by but they were already closed. I told the lady there I was from California and asked if I could try a sample. She goes into the bank and made me a page of fixings, pulled pork, collard greens, some type of gumbo. I tried to pay and leave a tip but she wouldn't let me. Southern hospitality at its finest. The food itself was some of the best most tasty bbq I had in my life and I know good bbq from living in Texas. Do yourself a favor and go I'm an get something authentic tasty bbq.
(5)Jeff W.
Yuk! Both the food and atmosphere were tasteless. My kids ate pickles and rice. Only the ham was good. Oh, and the sauces. The smoked chicken was dry and tasted like an ashtray.
(1)Sarah O.
A little hole in the wall place, seat yourself style. Staff were warm and inviting. We ate from the buffet closer to closing time. Food was decent, a good variety of items but the food didn't seem hot/cold enough for a buffet.
(3)Derek M.
As good, authentic and unpretentious as they come. I was visiting from NY with girlfriend and was not going home without eating southern BBQ. This place is housed in a small red barn like building on the side of the road (does it get more authentic than that?). All I wanted was pulled pork and carolina style mustard sauce to go with it. The pork was delicious: smokey and moist. The sides were ok but that is not what I came for. I was greeted by an older gentleman who could not have been more courteous. I bought 2 24 oz bottles of the mustard sauce. After the man learned I was traveling back to NY, he insisted on packing the sauce in ice for me. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Jimmie B.
Yelp! That's what I said after my experience there. I created a Yelp account just so I could write a review. Upon walking in the door, we were welcomed with a bark to shut the door to keep the air in. Great first impression for a tourist to the area. First trip here so we didn't know you have to pay to first before going through the buffet. Any cordial employee would let folks know that instead of pointing to a sign and acting sarcastically as though we can't read. We weren't given an option to order from the menu...probably because the guy I'm assuming is the manager didn't want to have to cook anything. Another customer spilled het drink and the worker who came out to clean up commented that he had already done this once today. Really? Accidents happen. Please don't ask for a refill on ice either. The same "friendly" greeter grumbled that he had just sat down. The food...this is where it gets bad. Yes it's cheap, but you get what you pay for. Pulled pork is dry but is very good when used with their sauces. Smoked chicken was dry. Slaw was dry (how can slaw be dry?!). Potato salad...oh that's right! Never got refilled for the 30 minutes we were there so I can't say. Veggies need seasoning and are bland unless you prefer the canned taste. I would go for the tea...and if you are in need of a laxative because it does the trick. On vacation now and have spent the majority of it in the bathroom. Thanks, JB's for reminding me that customer service doesn't always have to mean there IS service...and good food. One star because I have to give a rating.
(1)Janice G.
Just plane ol' good southern cooking. I haven't tried anything there I didn't like. I love the large selection of fresh vegetables, locally grown when in season. Another good thing is they aren't covered in oil / grease like so many other places. Worth the drive wherever you are.
(5)Wesley T.
OK its a small hole in the wall, with maybe 10 or 11 tables, so dont be all agasp if a stranger sits at the table with you "big city sorta thing!" stand out is for sure the fried chicken, it is the most savory breading season, and perfectly cooked, the Mac & Cheese homemade and super awesome, the hash was great, it does have some onion pieces in it but its fantastic over the rice, the collards were good, corn nuggets were tasty, now the BBQ is not got any sauce you add sauce yourself, the meat was a little on the dry side, but had a great smokey flavor, i tried the house mild sauce, it was ok i liked the mustard better, next time ill try the vinegar! The fried flounder was ok, the other sides were run of the mill. they also a a salad bar and some pudding desserts, we did not try that. its a great little buffet place for a $10.00 lunch till 5pm then it goes to dinner i think its a few bucks more. Do not miss Angel Oak while you are here, o wait thats probly why you are here to start with!
(5)Basil L.
We met up with some friends and we're immediately offered the buffet. We opted in since it all sounded great--pulled pork, meatloaf, pork chops and friend chicken. The fried chicken was ridiculous. It was "put your face on the back of a milk carton" good. Everything else was average to above average. The meatloaf was pretty tasty. The pulled pork was pretty good--nice strong smoked flavor to it. I didn't try the pork chop since I was pretty stuffed. I wasn't a fan of the cole slaw but give them props for doing something different. We really enjoyed this place and would be back with our family.
(4)Millison W.
Disgusting. Canned. Meat was dry and chewy. Everything was such a letdown. Eeew.
(1)Robert H.
Pulled pork was good, pork chops were fried to a crisp, the mac n cheese was runny and the Cole slaw was bland. Thank goodness for Dukes bbq.
(3)Michael M.
JB's Smoke Shack is a gem and we are so happy we found it. The ribs are excellent and the pulled pork and home made sauces are awesome. They have a ton of sides to complement their smoked meats and very generous portions. The staff was extremely friendly and very accommodating. We had enough pulled pork left over to add to my breakfast frittata. This was our first, but certainly not our last visit. Keep on smokin!
(5)Francesca D.
Legit southern style BBQ. Don't let the drive up fool you, it's one of the best meals you will have. The fried chicken is the best I've ever had. Baked beans are slow roasted with pulled pork...incredible. Cheap and easy dining. They also do pick up for catering, perfect for the casual summer BBQ.
(5)Janet C.
After a long trip down south, my family was tired and hungry. This place was on point. Buffet provided immediate satisfaction and it was really good. Fried chicken was excellent - one of the best I've ever eaten, pulled pork was super tasty with Momma's sweet and spicy sauce, corn nuggets were a nice surprise, and most sides were yummy (some not my favorite but not short of other options). Service was friendly and everything was very reasonable. Certainly NOT fancy, just good southern comfort food.
(4)Janice G.
Just plane ol' good southern cooking. I haven't tried anything there I didn't like. I love the large selection of fresh vegetables, locally grown when in season. Another good thing is they aren't covered in oil / grease like so many other places. Worth the drive wherever you are.
(5)Graham M.
My wife, daughter, and I arrived to a pretty crowded (and very cozy) restaurant on a Saturday around 12PM or so. You order at the counter and then seat yourself at a table and serve yourself at their relatively small buffet. But, don't let the small size of the buffet deter you. Their food is very good. The pulled pork (unsauced) and fried fish were right up there with the best I've had. The collards, green beans, and mac and cheese were all good. The cold salads again very good. The desserts were pretty good too. The price was excellent, $9 for the buffet and drink. I wouldn't hesitate to eat there again.
(4)Claire P.
Best BBQ in Charleston (area) hands down. I have to say I'm surprised to read some of these other reviews that don't shout from the rooftops about their love for this place. Country, yes, and filled with country folks. That's the point. It's a BBQ restaurant. Their buffet for lunch is delicious, and with their slogan of "flavor's in the meat, sauce is on the side" of course, the sauces are at the table for you to choose from. All the sides you can think of: collards, black eyed peas, corn fritters, etc. The best thing there may be the baked beans though. I don't know what's in there but they are the best I've had. Go give this place a shot. Pay before you go through the line. Don't miss the banana pudding.
(5)Tiffany G.
This place is awesome... Alllll of the food and the desserts are delicious .. Buffet style and the price is great too, I pay more for a buffet on the west coast and it doesn't even touch this.
(5)Michelle M.
Hands down, my favorite BBQ. I love the smoked pork, especially. Whenever I'm in Charleston, I make a point to go there.
(5)Brandon W.
JB's is a small BBQ joint that offers a nice atmosphere and good BBQ at a reasonable price. We had the BBQ buffet for $8 and walked away happy. It's what you would expect from a South Carolina roadside restraunt. I recomend the fried chicken, pork ribs, mac n' cheese, catfish (Friday & Saturday) and baked BBQ beans. Wash it down with they're sweet tea and call it a day. Just remember to ask for more ice from the employee behind the counter instead of just grabbing another cup!
(3)Jeff C.
We ordered take-out, and I've gotta give these guys kudos for putting good grub in the bags. The beef brisket was very good, smoked chicken excellent, sides very good. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(4)Ryan H.
Oh.... My..... God! Some of the best BBQ ribs and potato salad I've ever had in Charleston. Scratch that. Best I've had in life. After tasting moonshine and wine at the nearby distillery and winery, JB's Smokeshack hit the f*ckin spot!!! So good!
(5)Cole S.
You better come hungry and ready to eat! Being a very small place, you may have to wait for a table to open up but do yourself a favor and do NOT leave! It is certainly worth the wait! They offer a BBQ buffet but also offer sandwiches and plate style meals. I recommend the buffet so you can try a little bit of everything (or in my case, A LOT of everything ). I couldn't help myself, everything was absolutely delicious. The ribs and the fried chicken were my favorites. They were unbelievable! They also offer a great spread of sides that includes collard greens, stuffing, squash casserole, rice, potato salad, beans, macaroni and cheese, and more! In addition to variety of tasty food, the service was impeccable! JP's is the epitome of southern hospitality. We arrived in a large group, and they were so accommodating! They moved around the tables so we could all sit together, and seemed genuinely happy to help us! One employee specifically said that she didn't want anyone to go hungry and they certainly made sure that didn't happen! Overall the experience was amazing. The food and the friendly service made even us out-of-towers feel at home!
(5)Marcus S.
Bring an appetite. The staff really makes you feel at home and the combination of the sweet tea and the picnic-style tabletops make it feel like you're at home, except home has some delicious bbq. I mean, it's an all you can eat southern barbecue place, and it's everything you want it to be and more.
(5)rick r.
This place is awsome! We really love going there, but I have to wait until tourist season slows down a bit. It gets really busy with tourist. The word must have gotten out.
(5)Rachel C.
This is the ultimate place to experience good southern food. The fried chicken is AMAZING, so moist but crunchy with a thin layer of perfectly flavorful crust. The only complaint is that they didn't have enough chicken to go around at the buffet. The bbq pork was perfectly smoked and moist as well, one of the best bbq pork dishes I have had ( sorry hubby ). The service was friendly, as all Southern hospitality is. I really enjoyed the different bbq sauces at the table. The dessert bar needs work. It was evident that not much effort was put into the desserts. Overall, highly recommend this place to experience many authentic Southern dishes.
(5)Elizabeth M.
Adorable place, best fried chicken. It's buffet style and you will likely be sitting close to strangers so come in with a smile! We come all the time!
(5)Deick J.
Went to the barbecue place and have the fried chicken on the buffet it was real good everybody enjoyed it so friendly people and I would go back again next time that I'm in town
(3)Kevin P.
Simple execution of a southern food buffet with friendly staff and super delicious food. I go for the fried cream of corn alone! Great fried chicken and nice selection of different style bbq sauces!
(4)Kelly G.
I am giving 3 stars based PURELY on the quality of the bbq. On the day I dined here it was very dry and seemed old. It was also finely chopped (I am a pulled bbq fan). However, I would go here again and give it another try. The atmosphere is in the name: a shack. Very informal and laid back. I liked the vibe. Buffet style is the way to go here. There were plenty of options. The baked beans were my absolute favorite on the buffet. I can't describe, you just have to try them for yourself! The corn nuggets were awesome. They have a cold bar too featuring desserts and salad type items. The staff is very friendly here.
(3)Bekah B.
Southern hospitality and BBQ at their finest. The all you can eat buffet is full of fried deliciousness, and there's a second buffet bar with some assorted salads. I didn't make my way over there ;) The fried chicken and fried corn nuggets really stood out. It can't be overstated how juicy the chicken was on the inside, while crispy, crunchy on the outside. Really impressive. The corn nuggets are little fried nuggets with creamed corn in the middle. Simply magical. The pulled pork had lots of crunchy pieces in it, and was extra tasty with the sweet & spicy sauce on the table. What really stood out, though, is the southern hospitality. I thought, simple buffet, throw away your own paper plates, no need for service, right? We were there with our 10-month old son, and a cook from the back brought out ribs we ordered and was so interactive with our son. While refilling the salad/dessert bar, he made a to-go container of pudding for our son. That was so sweet, and the perfect start to our vaca! Stop by and enjoy!
(5)Joe R.
Old school traditional bar b que. I had the brisket which was awesome. Good sauces. A hair better service and less fried foods and this gets five stars. Worth a stop
(4)Brittany C.
I was pretty excited to try JB's for the first time. I had heard many good things about their bbq from many people. We went for lunch and i enjoyed the VERY casual atmosphere. It was appropriate for the type of image they were trying to convey; home-y backyard bbq feel. You pay for your buffet and they hand you your cup of ice and direct you to the styrofoam plates. So far so good. I loaded my plate up with a little bit of everything and knew I was going to be at least partially disappointed by the food. When I went to put the pulled pork on my plate I could immediately see how dry the meat was. We're talking dried out edges and hard to swollow. I tried to move past it and douse the pulled pork with bbq sauce but even that couldn't salvage it. The bbq sauce was fine, not bad but nothing too spectacular, but i just couldn't get over how dry the meat was. I moved on to other things: the hash was your typical southern hash, mac n cheese was dry and flavorless, black eyed peas and beans had no flavor or even salt on them, and the mashed potatoes were out of a box (aka potatoe flakes). The catfish was ok, but again, nothing special. The breading on the fried chicken was phenomenal, but sadly the chicken itself was so dry it was inedible. I wouldn't recommed JB's to anyone. Save yourself a drive and go elsewhere. There are many great bbq places in Charleston, don't waste your time on this one.
(1)Michael B.
My friend turned me on to JB's back in 2002 and I still crave it to this day. There are a couple things this place does that are the best ever. Spicy BBQ sauce, pork right off the smoker, the Hash is amazing!!! Then they do a number of other things right but I'm addicted to those in particular. For years and years I would come here at least once a week. Don't sleep on the Brunswick stew or the Mac pie either they are delicious!
(5)Jim S.
Went with my two kids, 12yo daughter and 14yo son. We all had the buffet dinner. The barbecued pork was great, there was 5 types of sauce on the table. The chicken was great too, tasty breeding and nice tender white meat, also liked the corn puff thingies. People in there were real nice too. Place is very basic. Would def go back!
(4)Sydney G.
Seriously some of the best 'cue in Charleston, and that sweet tea can't be beat! Had the squash casserole for the first time- DIVINE. My favorite things: Black eyed peas- yummmmmm Baked beans- chock full of meat SO GOOD Macaroni - varies by visit... sometimes it's awesome, some times it's just ok... but I guess that's how you know it's homemade! Collards- SO GOOD. Brisket- some of the best I've ever had Smoked turkey- SO GOOD OH GOD THE CORN NUGGETS- these should be illegal, they're so good and of course PULLED PORK - Best in the south, if you ask me. I'm usually only a fan of the mustard based sauces, but that mama's sweet and spicy is TO DIE FOR. If you're thinking about stopping here for dinner, definitely consider not eat for at least 24 hours to prepare yourself, because you're definitely not going to want to stop after one plate. Also, to Jimmie B- You must be from the north, you're not used to the southern way. Also, what buffet have you ever been to that you pay AFTER the meal? None. And nothing about this place tastes canned. I think somebody must've spit in your cheerios. This is why tourists should just stick to the fake hospitality of restaurants like Hymans and Jim N NIcks.
(5)Nancy L.
Down and dirty BBQ. The interior is old, the place is funky and the food is superb! Local place that a buffet old authentic food that is really well done! The fried chicken is amazing.
(5)Shira S.
Simply put, the best smoked chicken I have ever had!!! The rest of my family also really enjoyed their brisket and pulled pork. Also JB is probably one of the nicest people I have met in a long time. Upon learning my brother is entering a bbq competition, he went on to discuss concepts and ideas as well as share some tips with him on how to present food to the judges as well as cooking strategies. My only regret is that we couldn't purchase his sauces or vinegar as we were flying home - big bummer!
(4)Kayla J.
Seriously, I cannot stop myself from making the 20 minute drive out here for the best BBQ in town. Lunch buffet is from like 11-5pm and dinner 5- I'm not sure when. I'm pretty sure they are not open sundays or mondays but dont quote me on that. The buffet is the best bang for your buck. Today I had mashed potatoes, gravy, fried chicken, pulled pork, fried okra, black eyed peas, pickled okra, and green bean casserole on my plate and that wasn't even half of the selection. And the buffet is about 8.50-9 bucks, I cannot remember exactly. Their different sauces to put on the food are all through the roof. If you want the best BBQ in town this is the spot.
(5)Erin M.
Best fried chicken EVER. All fried chicken will now pale in comparison now. Dammit!!!
(5)Sarah F.
Food was alright. The chicken was extremely good, Mac and cheese was decent, but the rest was either under seasoned, over seasoned (mostly over salted) or dry. The puddings are obviously made with water versus milk. The sauces were good but thin. The employees were very friendly though. I would say the cost is not worth the money.
(3)Nicole N.
The best BBQ. Baked beans are heavenly. Banana pudding is soooo yummy and it's all complete with fresh brewed sweet tea :-)
(5)Bobby W.
We have a second home on Johns Island. Every time we are in town, JB's is must go to place. Everything is good on there buffet!
(5)Karen F.
We had a blast. The food was wonderful. Especially the corn fritters! They were creamy bites of heaven! The staff were friendly and helpful. The place was busy the whole time we were there. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Andy Z.
The fried chicken is so good it makes me curse. It's painfully good. The pork is good... it's dry so you've gotta add sauce if you want it. Personally I prefer it that way, just know what you're getting into. Other items are pretty good, but my god that fried chicken. Best I've ever had. 25 stars.
(5)Charlie G.
This is a side of the road BBQ place with the food being the only draw. Don't come here for the decor. come for the food. $12,50 all you can eat is a great value. Tasty fried chicken!!
(4)Heather C.
Stopped here while looking for a non-chain restaurant to eat at while we were waiting for some paint to be mixed at the store down the street. We were pleasantly surprised with everything! We love small local places and this fit the bill....I think there's like 36 seats in the place total. We ate the buffet, which is small but stocked with goodies! The pork was good and the flavor was good...I tried all the sauces and they were yummy, definitely something for everyone with 5 options. The fried chicken was amazing...crispy and flavorful on the outside and juicy inside. Didn't try all the sides, but the things we did try were yummy. The best was the squash casserole and the corn nuggets though...oh my those corn nuggets were a tasty bite of heaven! The tea was good and the service was great....the woman who was working g the register/filling ice cups was so sweet and personable! Will definitely go back if we're in the area!
(5)Bojan D.
This place was amazing. I stopped by but they were already closed. I told the lady there I was from California and asked if I could try a sample. She goes into the bank and made me a page of fixings, pulled pork, collard greens, some type of gumbo. I tried to pay and leave a tip but she wouldn't let me. Southern hospitality at its finest. The food itself was some of the best most tasty bbq I had in my life and I know good bbq from living in Texas. Do yourself a favor and go I'm an get something authentic tasty bbq.
(5)Derek M.
As good, authentic and unpretentious as they come. I was visiting from NY with girlfriend and was not going home without eating southern BBQ. This place is housed in a small red barn like building on the side of the road (does it get more authentic than that?). All I wanted was pulled pork and carolina style mustard sauce to go with it. The pork was delicious: smokey and moist. The sides were ok but that is not what I came for. I was greeted by an older gentleman who could not have been more courteous. I bought 2 24 oz bottles of the mustard sauce. After the man learned I was traveling back to NY, he insisted on packing the sauce in ice for me. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Julia S.
Tasty food, great value for the price, fun place to eat if you go with the flow and focus on the food. Outside decor is cute.
(4)Lynn R.
Great thin seasoned pork chips & fried chicken, pulled pork. Try the pork hash w rice. Great sauces!!
(5)Laura K.
Only place we've been to where we turned right around and walked out. One glance at the greasy carb laden buffet with no signs of life - fresh veggies or fruit and we couldn't justify sitting down - zero ambiance.
(1)Max S.
Great BBQ , always a must stop on my trips to the Holy City. They have weird week day times and dont open till Wednesday so make sure you plan accordingly. Make sure to bring a belt with an extra notch.
(5)Berlin S.
The food was Ok and the tea was awesome customer service was ok but the atmosphere was great
(3)Justin L.
Adorable pig logo on the sign outside; cute swine decor inside. JB's Smokeshack on Johns Island serves up some simple barbecue with subtle smoke at cut-rate prices. The lunch buffet is only $8 including tax and tea! As good of a deal as it was, we just weren't that hungry, so we ordered a large sampler plate to share ($10.95 or so), which included three types of meat (we chose pulled pork, brisket and ribs), two sides (mac n' cheese and collard greens) and hash (some kind of Brunswick stew-like mixture over white rice). The pork ribs were succulent and tender, nicely smoked and meaty. The brisket was very thinly sliced and had a thick layer of fat, with a deeper smoke flavor - also delicious. The pulled pork was the least enjoyable: too dry, too pulled, tasted a bit funny. The collards were a bit too plain (would be nice if they were cooked with some kind of smoke meat to impart some depth) and the mac n' cheese was okay. As john g. commented on 1/1/2010, I wouldn't go too much out of my way for JB's Smokeshack. Some of the buffet items looked rather tired and they didn't seem to have all the meat options out. But, if I'm in the area, I'd definitely go back for more ribs or nibble at the buffet for such a bargain price.
(3)Jeff W.
Yuk! Both the food and atmosphere were tasteless. My kids ate pickles and rice. Only the ham was good. Oh, and the sauces. The smoked chicken was dry and tasted like an ashtray.
(1)Sarah O.
A little hole in the wall place, seat yourself style. Staff were warm and inviting. We ate from the buffet closer to closing time. Food was decent, a good variety of items but the food didn't seem hot/cold enough for a buffet.
(3)Jimmie B.
Yelp! That's what I said after my experience there. I created a Yelp account just so I could write a review. Upon walking in the door, we were welcomed with a bark to shut the door to keep the air in. Great first impression for a tourist to the area. First trip here so we didn't know you have to pay to first before going through the buffet. Any cordial employee would let folks know that instead of pointing to a sign and acting sarcastically as though we can't read. We weren't given an option to order from the menu...probably because the guy I'm assuming is the manager didn't want to have to cook anything. Another customer spilled het drink and the worker who came out to clean up commented that he had already done this once today. Really? Accidents happen. Please don't ask for a refill on ice either. The same "friendly" greeter grumbled that he had just sat down. The food...this is where it gets bad. Yes it's cheap, but you get what you pay for. Pulled pork is dry but is very good when used with their sauces. Smoked chicken was dry. Slaw was dry (how can slaw be dry?!). Potato salad...oh that's right! Never got refilled for the 30 minutes we were there so I can't say. Veggies need seasoning and are bland unless you prefer the canned taste. I would go for the tea...and if you are in need of a laxative because it does the trick. On vacation now and have spent the majority of it in the bathroom. Thanks, JB's for reminding me that customer service doesn't always have to mean there IS service...and good food. One star because I have to give a rating.
(1)ashley l.
Being from the heart of North Carolina and born and raised with good BBQ - I was shocked when I moved to SC at 16 and the drastic change of opinions of good BBQ. Contrary to those bad bbq places (Melvins, Dukes, etc) JB's is the for real deal. Awesome smoked chicken, chopped bbq, mac n cheese, collards, green beans, slaw, corn fritters, fried chicken, rice and hash, and a salad bar are all included on the all you can eat bar. Smoked sausage and smoked tenderloin frequent the side specialty meat carving station. I love this place. It's country, small, and your options of beverages are water, sweet tea and unsweet tea: As how all bbq restaurants should be. I love the little couple that owns and runs this place. There are several other employees that are always there and great too. Te bbq sauces are awesome. I am partial to mixing the vinegar and sweet bbq sauce. I love it and am grateful to live down the street!
(4)Aaron H.
This is one of those places that you can easily drive past. If your hungry, if your not hungry, if you like food, if you love food, or if you hate food but are willing to give it a shot-- do yourself a favor and DON'T JUST DRIVE BY. These guys know how to make BBQ and that's all there is to it!!
(5)john g.
We just got some takeout pulled pork from here... not a huge fan of food from a buffet and they were out of ribs and a few other key items. Pork was intensely smokey... one of the smokiest smells and flavors I've ever had. It was chopped very fine (a common way to serve it in this area, from my limited experience), and was thus a bit dry. You definitely cannot eat it without sauce (unless you like pork insanely dry), despite the slogan "the flavor's in the meat, sauce is on the side" (or something like that). Tried both the vinegar and the mustard-based sauces. Both were nicely done, and once added to the meat, cut the smoke flavor a bit and added some much-needed moisture. As usual, the vinegar sauce was the winner. In sum, I wouldn't go out of my way to get JB's, but since I frequent John's Island, I will probably be back.
(3)Main R.
great atmosphere and i think JB is great! the food is typical road side BBQ, yummers!
(3)Mike G.
Best BBQ near Charleston. It's a little bit of a drive but it's totally worth it. Odd hours so call before you head over there. I try to make a point of stopping there as often as my diet will allow.
(5)Ben w.
Great food and friendly people.
(5)Robbie E.
Hands down, without a doubt the best BBQ I've ever had. Super delish, smoked on premises all you can eat buffet in a completely unpretentious venue for just $11. Oh and that includes all the tea (iced) that you can handle, plus desert.
(5)David B.
down home; damn good!
(3)Bruce A.
The idea of a bbq buffet excited me a lot and I drove half an hour past many other bbq places to eat here. But I was very disappointed. First, the buffet is mostly sides and vegetables. There were only three meats: chicken, pulled pork, and beef brisket. The brisket was excellent, the chicken and pork forgettable. Apparently they only have either ribs or brisket and I went on a brisket night. No sign of sausage anywhere. Wide selection of sauces at least.
(3)Erin M.
Best fried chicken EVER. All fried chicken will now pale in comparison now. Dammit!!!
(5)Sarah F.
Food was alright. The chicken was extremely good, Mac and cheese was decent, but the rest was either under seasoned, over seasoned (mostly over salted) or dry. The puddings are obviously made with water versus milk. The sauces were good but thin. The employees were very friendly though. I would say the cost is not worth the money.
(3)Nicole N.
The best BBQ. Baked beans are heavenly. Banana pudding is soooo yummy and it's all complete with fresh brewed sweet tea :-)
(5)Bobby W.
We have a second home on Johns Island. Every time we are in town, JB's is must go to place. Everything is good on there buffet!
(5)Joe R.
Old school traditional bar b que. I had the brisket which was awesome. Good sauces. A hair better service and less fried foods and this gets five stars. Worth a stop
(4)Janet C.
After a long trip down south, my family was tired and hungry. This place was on point. Buffet provided immediate satisfaction and it was really good. Fried chicken was excellent - one of the best I've ever eaten, pulled pork was super tasty with Momma's sweet and spicy sauce, corn nuggets were a nice surprise, and most sides were yummy (some not my favorite but not short of other options). Service was friendly and everything was very reasonable. Certainly NOT fancy, just good southern comfort food.
(4)Susan D.
The buffet offered a wonderful variety of main and side dishes. The baked beans, pudding, fried chicken, collard greens, tomato-cucumber salad, and green beans were among our favorites. The owners welcomed us warmly like we were in their own home.
(4)P P.
I had the highest of hopes for JB's Smokeshack and it had the outward look of a great BBQ place: a rickety shack that could burn to the ground at any time. While there were good aspects of the place, it could not climb to 5 star status in my book. The ribs were smoky pink inside and tasted great, but they were a little on the fatty side, so 4.5 stars there. The pulled pork sandwich was very good and not at all fatty, 4.5 stars for the sammy. The sauces were fine, I liked the Mama's Sweet & Spicy as well as the "Hotshot". I was really craving a spicy mustard based sauce, but JB's is plain-Jane, so only 3 stars. (Bessinger's Spicy Mustard is 5 stars in my book). They have a small buffet at a decent price and the meats include fried chicken, pulled pork and a smoked sausage of some sort. The buffet included the standard comfort foods: mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, hash, etc. For an extra $4.99 you get two ribs and some brisket with your buffet. But when I eat BBQ, I don't want to waste my time with the sides so I stuck with the a la cart order. They were also missing a BBQ chicken, which is what my wife would required if she were to go. Not sure why you would put fried chicken on the menu instead of BBQ chicken, but I guess it is a lot easier, especially for a buffet. I really hoped they could beat Bessinger's so I could have a great place close by, but they couldn't. I will still go again for a quick pulled pork sandwich and maybe some ribs. It is still good stuff and worth trying to form your own decision. (They have added some outdoor picnic tables which is a nice touch) I later noticed on my bill that they had "accidentally" changed by $3 tip to an $8 tip (on a $20 to go order). I have been trying to call them ever since and they do not pick up the phone. I don't need th $5, but it is annoying.
(4)Sean P.
Our group's last stop on the folly beach trip was this small restaurant located in a remote area. Having 10 of us in our group, we had to wait a bit before we could get a table. The staff was extremely friendly, almost reminiscent of a big thanksgiving dinner environment. Once we actually sat down, we were in for a treat. Every single dish available was absolutely amazing. The crispy chicken was the best I've ever had, pulled pork and the pork chops danced gently on my tastebuds. I'm not even sure how many plates I ended up getting! This place is hands down a MUST-VISIT in South Carolina. I would come back to this town just to eat here again.
(5)Keli T.
The pulled pork was like "butta". Melt in your mouth... You don't need sauce but the mild sauce was amazing! Next the mac n cheese is light, not greasy and full of flavor. We added baked beans that were full of flavor and chunks of delish meat (pork maybe). We also had black eyed peas which had great flavor and hints of pepper. I plan on going back for the buffet so I can sample more goodness.
(5)Amanda H.
I was brought by a friend to have lunch at this location. I must admit, I in no way love BBQ. It's just not my thing. However, I know what it good BBQ and what is not. This, my friends, is not. I dont' eat fried chicken, which is apparently a big deal here, so feel free to go and try that. It's just not my thing. My rice was hard, my hash was mush with what seemed like giant onion chunks in, my pork was dry, the mac and cheese was a flavorless mushy generic macaroni, and the other sides were either too gross looking to try or just not worth even mentioning. Their mustard sauce is about the only thing going for them. I don't know what is going on with the drink situation, but I only found tea and water. Not a huge deal, but offering lemonade wouldn't kill them. And if they do offer it, having it out where I could find it would be great. The seating is cramped and small. I have gotten spoiled to other restaurants closer to home and can't see eating BBQ anywhere like this again. Overall - a major disappointment.
(1)Brandon H.
I'm a BBQ fanatic. Really. I consider myself a connoisseur of the BBQ buffet. JB's has a buffet crammed into the tiny shoebox of a restaurant. Seriously, I think that this place has seating for maybe 50 people, if you are willing to share the tables with total strangers. On to the food. It is pretty good, but far from amazing. Be warned: the ribs you see in the pictures are NOT included on the buffet. They are a separate line item. A good selection of vegetables with solid mac and cheese. Actually, I think the mac is the best side on the buffet. Everything else is fairly generic, with the exception of the potato salad, that is also wonderful. The pulled pork is on the dry side. Not bad dry, but a dry smokey bbq with a rich wooden flavor. I liked it, but didn't love it. I couldn't enjoy it dry, but adding one of their 5 flavors of sauce really livened up the flavor while still allowing the smoke to come through. I liked the mustard based the best. It was pleasant and not overly tangy. Great sweetness. The fried chicken is where this place shines. Light and crispy coating a moist chicken that is cooked so well that the bones are nearly edible (actually they are because I ate some of them just to see if I could). If I wanted the best fried chicken around, I would come back here. Overall a decent hole-in-the-wall place that is likely known more for the ribs than the pulled pork.
(3)Erin D.
It was mind blowing. Came with a party of 6 on a Saturday, was able to find seats right away. The crispy chicken was ... I can't even describe it. You have to try it yourself. I think this place ruined all other fried chicken for me. Not sure what I'm going to do with my life now. Yea, it was that good.
(5)Ryan H.
Oh.... My..... God! Some of the best BBQ ribs and potato salad I've ever had in Charleston. Scratch that. Best I've had in life. After tasting moonshine and wine at the nearby distillery and winery, JB's Smokeshack hit the f*ckin spot!!! So good!
(5)Cole S.
You better come hungry and ready to eat! Being a very small place, you may have to wait for a table to open up but do yourself a favor and do NOT leave! It is certainly worth the wait! They offer a BBQ buffet but also offer sandwiches and plate style meals. I recommend the buffet so you can try a little bit of everything (or in my case, A LOT of everything ). I couldn't help myself, everything was absolutely delicious. The ribs and the fried chicken were my favorites. They were unbelievable! They also offer a great spread of sides that includes collard greens, stuffing, squash casserole, rice, potato salad, beans, macaroni and cheese, and more! In addition to variety of tasty food, the service was impeccable! JP's is the epitome of southern hospitality. We arrived in a large group, and they were so accommodating! They moved around the tables so we could all sit together, and seemed genuinely happy to help us! One employee specifically said that she didn't want anyone to go hungry and they certainly made sure that didn't happen! Overall the experience was amazing. The food and the friendly service made even us out-of-towers feel at home!
(5)Marcus S.
Bring an appetite. The staff really makes you feel at home and the combination of the sweet tea and the picnic-style tabletops make it feel like you're at home, except home has some delicious bbq. I mean, it's an all you can eat southern barbecue place, and it's everything you want it to be and more.
(5)rick r.
This place is awsome! We really love going there, but I have to wait until tourist season slows down a bit. It gets really busy with tourist. The word must have gotten out.
(5)Rachel C.
This is the ultimate place to experience good southern food. The fried chicken is AMAZING, so moist but crunchy with a thin layer of perfectly flavorful crust. The only complaint is that they didn't have enough chicken to go around at the buffet. The bbq pork was perfectly smoked and moist as well, one of the best bbq pork dishes I have had ( sorry hubby ). The service was friendly, as all Southern hospitality is. I really enjoyed the different bbq sauces at the table. The dessert bar needs work. It was evident that not much effort was put into the desserts. Overall, highly recommend this place to experience many authentic Southern dishes.
(5)Elizabeth M.
Adorable place, best fried chicken. It's buffet style and you will likely be sitting close to strangers so come in with a smile! We come all the time!
(5)Deick J.
Went to the barbecue place and have the fried chicken on the buffet it was real good everybody enjoyed it so friendly people and I would go back again next time that I'm in town
(3)Wesley T.
OK its a small hole in the wall, with maybe 10 or 11 tables, so dont be all agasp if a stranger sits at the table with you "big city sorta thing!" stand out is for sure the fried chicken, it is the most savory breading season, and perfectly cooked, the Mac & Cheese homemade and super awesome, the hash was great, it does have some onion pieces in it but its fantastic over the rice, the collards were good, corn nuggets were tasty, now the BBQ is not got any sauce you add sauce yourself, the meat was a little on the dry side, but had a great smokey flavor, i tried the house mild sauce, it was ok i liked the mustard better, next time ill try the vinegar! The fried flounder was ok, the other sides were run of the mill. they also a a salad bar and some pudding desserts, we did not try that. its a great little buffet place for a $10.00 lunch till 5pm then it goes to dinner i think its a few bucks more. Do not miss Angel Oak while you are here, o wait thats probly why you are here to start with!
(5)Basil L.
We met up with some friends and we're immediately offered the buffet. We opted in since it all sounded great--pulled pork, meatloaf, pork chops and friend chicken. The fried chicken was ridiculous. It was "put your face on the back of a milk carton" good. Everything else was average to above average. The meatloaf was pretty tasty. The pulled pork was pretty good--nice strong smoked flavor to it. I didn't try the pork chop since I was pretty stuffed. I wasn't a fan of the cole slaw but give them props for doing something different. We really enjoyed this place and would be back with our family.
(4)Millison W.
Disgusting. Canned. Meat was dry and chewy. Everything was such a letdown. Eeew.
(1)Robert H.
Pulled pork was good, pork chops were fried to a crisp, the mac n cheese was runny and the Cole slaw was bland. Thank goodness for Dukes bbq.
(3)Kevin P.
Simple execution of a southern food buffet with friendly staff and super delicious food. I go for the fried cream of corn alone! Great fried chicken and nice selection of different style bbq sauces!
(4)Bekah B.
Southern hospitality and BBQ at their finest. The all you can eat buffet is full of fried deliciousness, and there's a second buffet bar with some assorted salads. I didn't make my way over there ;) The fried chicken and fried corn nuggets really stood out. It can't be overstated how juicy the chicken was on the inside, while crispy, crunchy on the outside. Really impressive. The corn nuggets are little fried nuggets with creamed corn in the middle. Simply magical. The pulled pork had lots of crunchy pieces in it, and was extra tasty with the sweet & spicy sauce on the table. What really stood out, though, is the southern hospitality. I thought, simple buffet, throw away your own paper plates, no need for service, right? We were there with our 10-month old son, and a cook from the back brought out ribs we ordered and was so interactive with our son. While refilling the salad/dessert bar, he made a to-go container of pudding for our son. That was so sweet, and the perfect start to our vaca! Stop by and enjoy!
(5)Brittany C.
I was pretty excited to try JB's for the first time. I had heard many good things about their bbq from many people. We went for lunch and i enjoyed the VERY casual atmosphere. It was appropriate for the type of image they were trying to convey; home-y backyard bbq feel. You pay for your buffet and they hand you your cup of ice and direct you to the styrofoam plates. So far so good. I loaded my plate up with a little bit of everything and knew I was going to be at least partially disappointed by the food. When I went to put the pulled pork on my plate I could immediately see how dry the meat was. We're talking dried out edges and hard to swollow. I tried to move past it and douse the pulled pork with bbq sauce but even that couldn't salvage it. The bbq sauce was fine, not bad but nothing too spectacular, but i just couldn't get over how dry the meat was. I moved on to other things: the hash was your typical southern hash, mac n cheese was dry and flavorless, black eyed peas and beans had no flavor or even salt on them, and the mashed potatoes were out of a box (aka potatoe flakes). The catfish was ok, but again, nothing special. The breading on the fried chicken was phenomenal, but sadly the chicken itself was so dry it was inedible. I wouldn't recommed JB's to anyone. Save yourself a drive and go elsewhere. There are many great bbq places in Charleston, don't waste your time on this one.
(1)Michael B.
My friend turned me on to JB's back in 2002 and I still crave it to this day. There are a couple things this place does that are the best ever. Spicy BBQ sauce, pork right off the smoker, the Hash is amazing!!! Then they do a number of other things right but I'm addicted to those in particular. For years and years I would come here at least once a week. Don't sleep on the Brunswick stew or the Mac pie either they are delicious!
(5)Kelly G.
I am giving 3 stars based PURELY on the quality of the bbq. On the day I dined here it was very dry and seemed old. It was also finely chopped (I am a pulled bbq fan). However, I would go here again and give it another try. The atmosphere is in the name: a shack. Very informal and laid back. I liked the vibe. Buffet style is the way to go here. There were plenty of options. The baked beans were my absolute favorite on the buffet. I can't describe, you just have to try them for yourself! The corn nuggets were awesome. They have a cold bar too featuring desserts and salad type items. The staff is very friendly here.
(3)Jim S.
Went with my two kids, 12yo daughter and 14yo son. We all had the buffet dinner. The barbecued pork was great, there was 5 types of sauce on the table. The chicken was great too, tasty breeding and nice tender white meat, also liked the corn puff thingies. People in there were real nice too. Place is very basic. Would def go back!
(4)Sydney G.
Seriously some of the best 'cue in Charleston, and that sweet tea can't be beat! Had the squash casserole for the first time- DIVINE. My favorite things: Black eyed peas- yummmmmm Baked beans- chock full of meat SO GOOD Macaroni - varies by visit... sometimes it's awesome, some times it's just ok... but I guess that's how you know it's homemade! Collards- SO GOOD. Brisket- some of the best I've ever had Smoked turkey- SO GOOD OH GOD THE CORN NUGGETS- these should be illegal, they're so good and of course PULLED PORK - Best in the south, if you ask me. I'm usually only a fan of the mustard based sauces, but that mama's sweet and spicy is TO DIE FOR. If you're thinking about stopping here for dinner, definitely consider not eat for at least 24 hours to prepare yourself, because you're definitely not going to want to stop after one plate. Also, to Jimmie B- You must be from the north, you're not used to the southern way. Also, what buffet have you ever been to that you pay AFTER the meal? None. And nothing about this place tastes canned. I think somebody must've spit in your cheerios. This is why tourists should just stick to the fake hospitality of restaurants like Hymans and Jim N NIcks.
(5)Nancy L.
Down and dirty BBQ. The interior is old, the place is funky and the food is superb! Local place that a buffet old authentic food that is really well done! The fried chicken is amazing.
(5)Shira S.
Simply put, the best smoked chicken I have ever had!!! The rest of my family also really enjoyed their brisket and pulled pork. Also JB is probably one of the nicest people I have met in a long time. Upon learning my brother is entering a bbq competition, he went on to discuss concepts and ideas as well as share some tips with him on how to present food to the judges as well as cooking strategies. My only regret is that we couldn't purchase his sauces or vinegar as we were flying home - big bummer!
(4)Kayla J.
Seriously, I cannot stop myself from making the 20 minute drive out here for the best BBQ in town. Lunch buffet is from like 11-5pm and dinner 5- I'm not sure when. I'm pretty sure they are not open sundays or mondays but dont quote me on that. The buffet is the best bang for your buck. Today I had mashed potatoes, gravy, fried chicken, pulled pork, fried okra, black eyed peas, pickled okra, and green bean casserole on my plate and that wasn't even half of the selection. And the buffet is about 8.50-9 bucks, I cannot remember exactly. Their different sauces to put on the food are all through the roof. If you want the best BBQ in town this is the spot.
(5)Michael M.
JB's Smoke Shack is a gem and we are so happy we found it. The ribs are excellent and the pulled pork and home made sauces are awesome. They have a ton of sides to complement their smoked meats and very generous portions. The staff was extremely friendly and very accommodating. We had enough pulled pork left over to add to my breakfast frittata. This was our first, but certainly not our last visit. Keep on smokin!
(5)Francesca D.
Legit southern style BBQ. Don't let the drive up fool you, it's one of the best meals you will have. The fried chicken is the best I've ever had. Baked beans are slow roasted with pulled pork...incredible. Cheap and easy dining. They also do pick up for catering, perfect for the casual summer BBQ.
(5)Karen F.
We had a blast. The food was wonderful. Especially the corn fritters! They were creamy bites of heaven! The staff were friendly and helpful. The place was busy the whole time we were there. I will definitely be going back!
(4)Andy Z.
The fried chicken is so good it makes me curse. It's painfully good. The pork is good... it's dry so you've gotta add sauce if you want it. Personally I prefer it that way, just know what you're getting into. Other items are pretty good, but my god that fried chicken. Best I've ever had. 25 stars.
(5)Charlie G.
This is a side of the road BBQ place with the food being the only draw. Don't come here for the decor. come for the food. $12,50 all you can eat is a great value. Tasty fried chicken!!
(4)Heather C.
Stopped here while looking for a non-chain restaurant to eat at while we were waiting for some paint to be mixed at the store down the street. We were pleasantly surprised with everything! We love small local places and this fit the bill....I think there's like 36 seats in the place total. We ate the buffet, which is small but stocked with goodies! The pork was good and the flavor was good...I tried all the sauces and they were yummy, definitely something for everyone with 5 options. The fried chicken was amazing...crispy and flavorful on the outside and juicy inside. Didn't try all the sides, but the things we did try were yummy. The best was the squash casserole and the corn nuggets though...oh my those corn nuggets were a tasty bite of heaven! The tea was good and the service was great....the woman who was working g the register/filling ice cups was so sweet and personable! Will definitely go back if we're in the area!
(5)Bojan D.
This place was amazing. I stopped by but they were already closed. I told the lady there I was from California and asked if I could try a sample. She goes into the bank and made me a page of fixings, pulled pork, collard greens, some type of gumbo. I tried to pay and leave a tip but she wouldn't let me. Southern hospitality at its finest. The food itself was some of the best most tasty bbq I had in my life and I know good bbq from living in Texas. Do yourself a favor and go I'm an get something authentic tasty bbq.
(5)Jeff W.
Yuk! Both the food and atmosphere were tasteless. My kids ate pickles and rice. Only the ham was good. Oh, and the sauces. The smoked chicken was dry and tasted like an ashtray.
(1)Sarah O.
A little hole in the wall place, seat yourself style. Staff were warm and inviting. We ate from the buffet closer to closing time. Food was decent, a good variety of items but the food didn't seem hot/cold enough for a buffet.
(3)Derek M.
As good, authentic and unpretentious as they come. I was visiting from NY with girlfriend and was not going home without eating southern BBQ. This place is housed in a small red barn like building on the side of the road (does it get more authentic than that?). All I wanted was pulled pork and carolina style mustard sauce to go with it. The pork was delicious: smokey and moist. The sides were ok but that is not what I came for. I was greeted by an older gentleman who could not have been more courteous. I bought 2 24 oz bottles of the mustard sauce. After the man learned I was traveling back to NY, he insisted on packing the sauce in ice for me. I would recommend this place to anyone.
(5)Julia S.
Tasty food, great value for the price, fun place to eat if you go with the flow and focus on the food. Outside decor is cute.
(4)Lynn R.
Great thin seasoned pork chips & fried chicken, pulled pork. Try the pork hash w rice. Great sauces!!
(5)Laura K.
Only place we've been to where we turned right around and walked out. One glance at the greasy carb laden buffet with no signs of life - fresh veggies or fruit and we couldn't justify sitting down - zero ambiance.
(1)Max S.
Great BBQ , always a must stop on my trips to the Holy City. They have weird week day times and dont open till Wednesday so make sure you plan accordingly. Make sure to bring a belt with an extra notch.
(5)Berlin S.
The food was Ok and the tea was awesome customer service was ok but the atmosphere was great
(3)Justin L.
Adorable pig logo on the sign outside; cute swine decor inside. JB's Smokeshack on Johns Island serves up some simple barbecue with subtle smoke at cut-rate prices. The lunch buffet is only $8 including tax and tea! As good of a deal as it was, we just weren't that hungry, so we ordered a large sampler plate to share ($10.95 or so), which included three types of meat (we chose pulled pork, brisket and ribs), two sides (mac n' cheese and collard greens) and hash (some kind of Brunswick stew-like mixture over white rice). The pork ribs were succulent and tender, nicely smoked and meaty. The brisket was very thinly sliced and had a thick layer of fat, with a deeper smoke flavor - also delicious. The pulled pork was the least enjoyable: too dry, too pulled, tasted a bit funny. The collards were a bit too plain (would be nice if they were cooked with some kind of smoke meat to impart some depth) and the mac n' cheese was okay. As john g. commented on 1/1/2010, I wouldn't go too much out of my way for JB's Smokeshack. Some of the buffet items looked rather tired and they didn't seem to have all the meat options out. But, if I'm in the area, I'd definitely go back for more ribs or nibble at the buffet for such a bargain price.
(3)Jimmie B.
Yelp! That's what I said after my experience there. I created a Yelp account just so I could write a review. Upon walking in the door, we were welcomed with a bark to shut the door to keep the air in. Great first impression for a tourist to the area. First trip here so we didn't know you have to pay to first before going through the buffet. Any cordial employee would let folks know that instead of pointing to a sign and acting sarcastically as though we can't read. We weren't given an option to order from the menu...probably because the guy I'm assuming is the manager didn't want to have to cook anything. Another customer spilled het drink and the worker who came out to clean up commented that he had already done this once today. Really? Accidents happen. Please don't ask for a refill on ice either. The same "friendly" greeter grumbled that he had just sat down. The food...this is where it gets bad. Yes it's cheap, but you get what you pay for. Pulled pork is dry but is very good when used with their sauces. Smoked chicken was dry. Slaw was dry (how can slaw be dry?!). Potato salad...oh that's right! Never got refilled for the 30 minutes we were there so I can't say. Veggies need seasoning and are bland unless you prefer the canned taste. I would go for the tea...and if you are in need of a laxative because it does the trick. On vacation now and have spent the majority of it in the bathroom. Thanks, JB's for reminding me that customer service doesn't always have to mean there IS service...and good food. One star because I have to give a rating.
(1)Janice G.
Just plane ol' good southern cooking. I haven't tried anything there I didn't like. I love the large selection of fresh vegetables, locally grown when in season. Another good thing is they aren't covered in oil / grease like so many other places. Worth the drive wherever you are.
(5)Graham M.
My wife, daughter, and I arrived to a pretty crowded (and very cozy) restaurant on a Saturday around 12PM or so. You order at the counter and then seat yourself at a table and serve yourself at their relatively small buffet. But, don't let the small size of the buffet deter you. Their food is very good. The pulled pork (unsauced) and fried fish were right up there with the best I've had. The collards, green beans, and mac and cheese were all good. The cold salads again very good. The desserts were pretty good too. The price was excellent, $9 for the buffet and drink. I wouldn't hesitate to eat there again.
(4)Claire P.
Best BBQ in Charleston (area) hands down. I have to say I'm surprised to read some of these other reviews that don't shout from the rooftops about their love for this place. Country, yes, and filled with country folks. That's the point. It's a BBQ restaurant. Their buffet for lunch is delicious, and with their slogan of "flavor's in the meat, sauce is on the side" of course, the sauces are at the table for you to choose from. All the sides you can think of: collards, black eyed peas, corn fritters, etc. The best thing there may be the baked beans though. I don't know what's in there but they are the best I've had. Go give this place a shot. Pay before you go through the line. Don't miss the banana pudding.
(5)Tiffany G.
This place is awesome... Alllll of the food and the desserts are delicious .. Buffet style and the price is great too, I pay more for a buffet on the west coast and it doesn't even touch this.
(5)Michelle M.
Hands down, my favorite BBQ. I love the smoked pork, especially. Whenever I'm in Charleston, I make a point to go there.
(5)Brandon W.
JB's is a small BBQ joint that offers a nice atmosphere and good BBQ at a reasonable price. We had the BBQ buffet for $8 and walked away happy. It's what you would expect from a South Carolina roadside restraunt. I recomend the fried chicken, pork ribs, mac n' cheese, catfish (Friday & Saturday) and baked BBQ beans. Wash it down with they're sweet tea and call it a day. Just remember to ask for more ice from the employee behind the counter instead of just grabbing another cup!
(3)ashley l.
Being from the heart of North Carolina and born and raised with good BBQ - I was shocked when I moved to SC at 16 and the drastic change of opinions of good BBQ. Contrary to those bad bbq places (Melvins, Dukes, etc) JB's is the for real deal. Awesome smoked chicken, chopped bbq, mac n cheese, collards, green beans, slaw, corn fritters, fried chicken, rice and hash, and a salad bar are all included on the all you can eat bar. Smoked sausage and smoked tenderloin frequent the side specialty meat carving station. I love this place. It's country, small, and your options of beverages are water, sweet tea and unsweet tea: As how all bbq restaurants should be. I love the little couple that owns and runs this place. There are several other employees that are always there and great too. Te bbq sauces are awesome. I am partial to mixing the vinegar and sweet bbq sauce. I love it and am grateful to live down the street!
(4)Aaron H.
This is one of those places that you can easily drive past. If your hungry, if your not hungry, if you like food, if you love food, or if you hate food but are willing to give it a shot-- do yourself a favor and DON'T JUST DRIVE BY. These guys know how to make BBQ and that's all there is to it!!
(5)john g.
We just got some takeout pulled pork from here... not a huge fan of food from a buffet and they were out of ribs and a few other key items. Pork was intensely smokey... one of the smokiest smells and flavors I've ever had. It was chopped very fine (a common way to serve it in this area, from my limited experience), and was thus a bit dry. You definitely cannot eat it without sauce (unless you like pork insanely dry), despite the slogan "the flavor's in the meat, sauce is on the side" (or something like that). Tried both the vinegar and the mustard-based sauces. Both were nicely done, and once added to the meat, cut the smoke flavor a bit and added some much-needed moisture. As usual, the vinegar sauce was the winner. In sum, I wouldn't go out of my way to get JB's, but since I frequent John's Island, I will probably be back.
(3)Jeff C.
We ordered take-out, and I've gotta give these guys kudos for putting good grub in the bags. The beef brisket was very good, smoked chicken excellent, sides very good. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
(4)Main R.
great atmosphere and i think JB is great! the food is typical road side BBQ, yummers!
(3)Mike G.
Best BBQ near Charleston. It's a little bit of a drive but it's totally worth it. Odd hours so call before you head over there. I try to make a point of stopping there as often as my diet will allow.
(5)Ben w.
Great food and friendly people.
(5)Robbie E.
Hands down, without a doubt the best BBQ I've ever had. Super delish, smoked on premises all you can eat buffet in a completely unpretentious venue for just $11. Oh and that includes all the tea (iced) that you can handle, plus desert.
(5)David B.
down home; damn good!
(3)Kennedy C.
The food was so good that we came back for dinner. Yes you read that right, we ate there twice in one day. The food was that darn good. And the service was amazing, such nice people work there. Also they have the best bbq sauce I have ever tasted. I wish I could give this place more than five stars
(5)