Few things deliver as much gastronomic pleasure as a good steak dinner. While high-end steakhouses are popular in fine dining circles, there are plenty of places where South Carolinians enjoy tasty cuts in unfussy surroundings and without breaking the budget.
Dreaming of a juicy, perfectly grilled ribeye? Or perhaps a thick New York strip? You can head to a nearby chain restaurant or opt instead to experience a bit of local flavor and tradition.
Here are 10 restaurants, many of them family owned and decades old, known for serving up hearty, savory steaks.
Get Your Beef
Arthur Paul's
1357 Grove Park Drive, Orangeburg
(803) 997-2421
Off the beaten path, Arthur Paul’s is one of the best-kept secrets in the town of Orangeburg.
Steak to try: Charbroiled ribeye (It’s especially good with a side of peppers and onions.)
Breck's Steakhouse
8510 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston
(843) 572-1631
Since 1961, Breck's Steakhouse has treated diners to juicy steaks, a friendly waitstaff and homemade desserts. It just might be one of the best little steakhouses you’ve never heard of.
Steak to try: Breck’s famous 14-oz ribeye
Carolina Restaurant
13882 SC 9, Chesterfield
(843) 623-2601
The building might be nondescript, but the food at Carolina Restaurant draws the Chesterfield crowd and backroad travelers seeking to satisfy their steak cravings. If you want a truly old-school steakhouse dinner, begin with the salad bar and side your steak with housemade yeast rolls and their signature sour cream baked potato. For a perfect ending, get a slice of cherry cheesecake. Can you say 1970s?
Steak to try: Ribeye
Chuck's
9695 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
(843) 449-7611
Since 1979, Chuck’s has been luring beachgoers with their certified Angus steaks and abundant salad bar—a winning combo, judging by the always-bustling dining room. The hunting lodge motif is the perfect setting for a sizzling steak dinner. Sip an expertly crafted classic martini while you wait for the main course.
Steak to try: Teriyaki sirloin
Kelly's Steakhouse
101 Little Hope Road, Blacksburg
(864) 839-4494
Another small-town gem, Kelly’s hand cuts their steaks in house daily. That attention to detail has earned this old-school steakhouse, opened in 1960, a loyal following.
Steak to try: T-bone or New York strip
Kingsman Restaurant
936 Axtell Drive, Cayce
(803) 796-8622
For more than 40 years, Kingsman has been a local institution and the go-to place for steak in the Columbia area. Originally an Italian restaurant, the King family slowly added their own special touches, including the steak that put them on the map.
Steak to try: Aged ribeye
Phil's Steakhouse
6630 S Pine Street, Pacolet
(864) 474-8322
This cozy, relaxing Upstate steakhouse is run by restaurant veterans who hand cut their steaks and grill them to perfection.
Steak to try: Hand-cut ribeye
Pixie & Bill's
1058 Tiger Boulevard, Clemson
(864) 654-1210
Another old timer, this charming restaurant has been serving up steaks in Tiger Town since 1971 and is considered a local tradition.
Steak to try: Filet mignon in a port wine reduction
Shug's Steakhouse
2404 Kelleytown Road, Hartsville
(843) 383-3747
Shug's gets lots of love from locals and for good reason. The feel is casual but the steaks are fine restaurant-worthy.
Steak to try: 20-oz Angus french-cut, bone-in ribeye
Original Raceway Grill
1207 Harry Byrd Highway, Darlington
(843) 393-9212
NASCAR fans and locals make Raceway Grill their pit stop when the hunger monster strikes. The modest brick building is a landmark in Darlington and a favorite destination of NASCAR drivers when they are in town. While the hamburger steak is a house favorite, your eyes will pop at the size of those T-bones.
Steak to try: T-bone, of course
