Palmira Barbecue – Charleston, South Carolina

Seth
19 minutes ago
2 min read

Welcome back to Restaurant Spotlight!

This past fall, we set off on a gorgeous drive to Charleston, the most populous city in South Carolina. Home to more than 150,000 residents, Charleston is filled with attractions, beautiful beaches, great food, and, of course, Southern hospitality.

Let's dive into it!

Colorful historic street at dusk with palm trees, parked cars, and a church steeple under a cloudy blue sky. Charleston, South Carolina

The first stop on our food trip was Palmira Barbecue, located at 2366 Ashley River Rd, Bldg 1, Charleston, SC 29414.

Palmira is the dream of Hector Garate, an up-and-coming pitmaster in the barbecue scene, as noted on the restaurant’s website. In addition to his love of food, Garate draws inspiration from his grandmother, who grew up on a cattle ranch.

With roots in the whole-animal cookery he experienced growing up in Puerto Rico, Hector eventually opened Palmira, which has since become a barbecue destination in Charleston and beyond.

Hector Garate in a YETI cap stands beside a smoking barbecue smoker in a sunny backyard, surrounded by steam and trees. — Earlier this year, Hector was named a 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Emerging Chef.

Colorful mural for Charleston, South Carolina Palmira Barbecue with a woman carrying a shovel and Spanish text, Barriga llena, corazón contento

We arrived at Palmira in the early afternoon after receiving a personal recommendation to check it out. We didn't ask any questions. We simply showed up hungry and ready to see what Palmira was all about.

Today's specials chalkboard lists empanadas, oxtail, beef sandwich, bread pudding, key lime pudding, and NFL package preorder.

Lit Shiner sign on a wall reads BEEF CHEEK IS KING, glowing amber with marquee bulbs.

I decided on the chef's choice empanadas, which introduced me to two firsts: beef cheek and empanadas. What a perfect place to experience both.

The beef cheek was incredibly tender, while the pastry surrounding it was perfectly flaky and puffy, sealing in all the juicy goodness without becoming soggy.

These little pillows of deliciousness were accompanied by pickled red onions, spicy pickle chips, and a tasty dipping sauce, each adding a fresh, tangy contrast to the rich filling.

Tray with three fried beef cheek empanadas, green chutney, pickled onions and pickles, plus wrapped plastic utensils on pink paper placemat

Three golden fried beef cheek empanadas stacked on pink paper, with a few oil stains and bits of filling visible.

Broken beef cheek-filled pastry on pink wax paper, with red sauce and greasy crumbs scattered around. — Last bite! Yes, it was that good!

Our table ordered a variety of dishes from the menu, and everyone appeared satisfied with their choices, with some even opting for to-go boxes. The Palmira crew were also friendly, knowledgeable, and fast at what they do. It was my first time there, and not once did I feel rushed during our visit.

Framed collage of Palmira BBQ magazine pages showing two pitmasters cooking barbecue, with text and title May 2024.

Barbecue shop display with awards, sauce bottles, folded T-shirts, and decor on black shelves beneath a wall AC unit.

After the meal, one thing was certain: Palmira gets it right. Fresh, locally sourced barbecue dishes and sides are served with friendly smiles and a passion not just for food, but for community as well. You can't get much better than that.

As the sun set that night in Charleston, I realized we were in for a delicious trip.

Stay tuned for Part Two!

Sunset over calm water with silhouetted palm trees and a bench in the foreground, glowing orange and blue sky. Charleston, South Carolina

Follow Palmira BBQ: Facebook, Instagram, and website.

Source: Palmira Barbecue