Restaurants in West Columbia, SC

There’s no sharp demarcation between Columbia and West Columbia, and, for that matter between West Columbia and Lexington to the west. But there are a handful of restaurants with a West Columbia address that make it a notable Roadfood destination. First and best of all is a dinner-only bistro called Terra. It’s a swank place, but not fussy; its menu is a wide-ranging repertoire of dishes from around the world prepared with local ingredients and culinary savoir fare. Not to be missed: lamb mac & cheese, wafer-thin pizza, house-baked sourdough. At the far other end of the culinary spectrum is the Zesto drive-in for skinny burgers and soft-serve ice cream. West Columbia is in the heart of BBQ country, its outstanding venue being True Barbecue (home of Pretty Lady and Sexy Lady sauce). And since the pimento cheeseburger first was served in Columbia, it’s only right to have the Platonic ideal of this South Carolina signature dish, at Kingsman. It is called the Palmetto Burger: 10 ounces of ground ribeye grilled and bunned with pimento cheese, bacon, and crisp-fried chips of jalapeno pepper. If you can get in (there’s always a wait) Cafe Strudel is a memorable place for breakfast and brunch, most especially for its griddle-crisped buttered apple strudel.

West Columbia’s Most Famous Dishes

Macaroni & cheese, spangled with herbs, comes in a small cast-iron pot

Macaroni and Cheese

Pizza is crowded with meats, veggies, and feta cheese

Pizzas

Fried Chicken

Bakery-fresh loaf of Italian bread, resting on the bag it was sold in

Bread & Rolls

West Columbia’s Best Restaurants

Compton’s Kitchen

WEST COLUMBIA, SC

True BBQ

WEST COLUMBIA, SC

Maurice’s Piggy Park

WEST COLUMBIA, SC

A chocolate-sheathed ice cream cone and the American flag fly over the Zesto drive-in
Zesto

WEST COLUMBIA, SC

Cafe Strudel

WEST COLUMBIA, SC

Terra

WEST COLUMBIA, SC

Backyard Cafe

WEST COLUMBIA, SC

Carolina Buffet - Full Meal
Carolina Buffet

WEST COLUMBIA, SC

West Columbia Articles & Guides

View All Articles & Guides

Curbside, America

Before Ralph Nader, cars were fun. For generations of joyriders, a purring V-8 was a vehicle for play and pleasure. "Companion of carefree days" is how Chevy advertised itself...

78-gallon cauldron of cooking hash

The Best Hash on Rice in South Carolina | Roadfood Bests

Hash on Rice is the star side-dish at barbecue parlors throughout the South Carolina Midlands and Upstate. A byproduct of whole-hog cookery, but frequently also made with beef, it...

5 Best Places to Get Hash in South Carolina

The Best Hash Around Hash (on rice) is the star side-dish at barbecue parlors throughout South Carolina. A byproduct of whole-hog cookery, it is made mostly from viscera and can...

South Carolina Barbecue | Roadfood Best of the Best BBQ

South Carolina is a magnificent barbecue state with diverse regional styles. Heading north by northwest from the coast, you'll eat red-sauced, mustard-sauced, and minimally-sauced pork. Hash on rice accompanies...

Connect with us #Roadfood

Share to...