Saltwater Cowboys

Hickory-and-oak smoke with Shem Creek sunsets

Saltwater Cowboys is a barbecue restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina.

Saltwater Cowboys has held a waterfront spot on Shem Creek since 2017, and it does something unusual for the address: it pairs the expected seafood with genuinely slow-smoked barbecue. Where most Mount Pleasant kitchens on the water lean entirely on the catch, this one runs a real smoke program over hickory and oak alongside it. The dockside seating and sunset views are the obvious draw; the barbecue is the pleasant surprise.

The St. Louis spare ribs come off the smoke with a clean bark, the brisket carries proper smoke rather than a token nod, and the pulled pork sandwich covers the classic. The smokehouse spud — a loaded baked potato under smoked meat — is the house move that ties the BBQ side to the broad menu. It is one of the rare Mount Pleasant tables where you can order real wood-smoked ribs and watch the boats come in at the same time, which is its own kind of reason to book the sunset slot.

• Style: Lowcountry / South Carolina Style
• Price: $$
• Neighborhood: Shem Creek
• Serving since 2017

What to order

• St. Louis Spare Ribs
• Brisket
• Smokehouse Spud
• Pulled Pork Sandwich

How it scores — 7.8/10 overall

• Smoke: 7.9/10
• Bark: 7.7/10
• Tenderness: 7.8/10
• Consistency: 7.7/10
• Value: 8.1/10
• Atmosphere: 8.4/10

Visiting

• Address: 130 Mill St, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
• Phone: (843) 856-0700
• Website: https://www.saltwater-cowboys.com/

Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–12am, Sun 10am–12am (verified on 2026-08-06)

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