The South’s Best Burger Is Hiding In This Old South Carolina Restaurant

I have eaten a lot of burgers in the South. Texas.

Georgia. Tennessee.

North Carolina. Each state has its contender.

But the one that keeps me up at night is hiding in a plain looking restaurant in South Carolina. The building is old.

The sign is faded. The menu is short. And the burger is perfect.

Hand patted beef, cooked on a flat top until the edges get crispy and dark. American cheese melted into every crevice.

A soft bun that does not fight back. I ordered one, then ordered another because the first one disappeared too fast.

The waitress smiled like she had seen that before. South Carolina does not brag about this place.

Maybe they want to keep it quiet. Too late.

A Place That Has Earned Its Stripes Since 1938

Few restaurants in the American South can claim more than eighty years of continuous operation, but Nu-Way Lounge and Restaurant does exactly that. Founded in 1938, it holds the title of Spartanburg’s oldest bar and one of the most enduring food landmarks in the entire state.

That kind of longevity is not accidental.

The building itself carries the weight of its history in a way that feels earned rather than staged. Scuffed floors, well-worn furniture, and walls that seem to hold decades of laughter and good conversation give the space a lived-in warmth that newer restaurants spend fortunes trying to fake.

There is a realness here that is genuinely refreshing.

Generations of Spartanburg families have cycled through these doors. What keeps them returning is not nostalgia alone, it is consistency.

The food is good every single time, the atmosphere is comfortable, and the prices stay honest. Nu-Way has never needed a rebrand or a trendy makeover to stay relevant.

Its staying power comes from something simpler and far more reliable: knowing exactly what it is and doing it exceptionally well, decade after decade without apology.

The World Famous Redneck Cheeseburger That Started It All

The Redneck Cheeseburger is the reason Food Network came to Spartanburg. Voted South Carolina’s best burger, this thing is an unapologetic, fully loaded masterpiece that arrives looking like a beautiful disaster on a sesame seed bun.

It is exactly as good as everyone says it is.

Fresh, never-frozen beef is seasoned with Blue Moon spices and a splash of Worcestershire secret sauce, then cooked to a satisfying sear. Stacked on top comes lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, ketchup, mustard, homemade chili, and homemade pimento cheese.

Every single component matters, and together they create something that is genuinely hard to describe without sounding over the top.

The homemade chili is rich and savory, the pimento cheese adds a creamy Southern tang, and the whole thing holds together just long enough for you to get a proper grip before it gloriously falls apart. Messy?

Absolutely. Worth every napkin?

Without question. First-timers tend to order it almost by default based on reputation alone, then spend the rest of the meal quietly reconsidering every burger they have ever eaten before this one.

It earns its fame honestly.

Beyond the Signature: More Burgers Worth Your Attention

Once you get past the Redneck Cheeseburger’s considerable fame, the rest of the burger menu quietly demands its own recognition. The White Trash Cheeseburger brings jalapeno heat and a cool slaw topping that creates a surprisingly satisfying contrast.

It is bolder, a little rowdier, and completely unafraid of itself.

Then there is the Trailer Park Burger, served patty melt style with grilled onions and pimento cheese melted right into the whole thing. It is the kind of burger that feels like comfort food elevated just enough to be memorable without losing its roots.

The grilled onions add a sweetness that balances the richness of the pimento cheese perfectly.

What ties all of these together is the beef itself. Fresh and never frozen, seasoned with that signature Blue Moon spice blend and a hit of Worcestershire, every patty at Nu-Way starts from the same strong foundation.

The toppings change, the personalities shift, but the quality stays steady across the board. Choosing between these burgers is genuinely difficult, which is a good problem to have.

Most people end up planning a return visit just to work through the rest of the list at their own pace.

The Atmosphere That Makes Every Visit Feel Like a Story

Nu-Way has a personality that hits you the second you step inside. The lighting is low, the pinball machines hum in the corner, and there is a bowling game tucked nearby that looks like it has been entertaining guests since the Nixon administration.

Everything about the space feels genuinely original.

There are no carefully curated accent walls or trendy Edison bulbs here. The decor is whatever accumulated naturally over eighty-plus years of real life, and it works better than anything a designer could have planned.

Stickers, signs, old photographs, and the general texture of a place that has actually been lived in create an atmosphere that is impossible to manufacture.

Regular customers fill the room with a comfortable, familiar energy. Conversations flow easily between tables and the bar, and newcomers are absorbed into that warmth without much effort.

A jukebox adds to the soundtrack, and on certain nights, a live band fills the room with something even better. The atmosphere at Nu-Way is not just background noise for your meal.

It is part of the experience itself, the kind of place that makes you linger longer than you planned and leave with a good story to tell.

A Dog-Friendly Patio and an Outdoor Space Worth Knowing About

Out back at Nu-Way, the patio is one of those pleasant surprises that makes a good visit even better. String lights, colorful umbrellas, and flowers give it a casual charm that feels relaxed and welcoming.

When the weather cooperates, this is genuinely one of the better outdoor spots in Spartanburg.

The fact that it is dog-friendly makes it even more appealing. Plenty of people bring their dogs along and settle in for a meal without any fuss.

It is a small detail, but for pet owners, it changes everything about how comfortable a place feels. Nu-Way gets that, and it shows in how the space is set up.

Live bands occasionally perform in this area, turning a regular lunch or dinner into something with a little extra energy. The patio also gives you the option of a quieter, more private conversation while still being close enough to the action inside to feel connected.

Whether you are there solo, with a group, or with a four-legged companion, the outdoor space adds a whole other dimension to the Nu-Way experience. It is the kind of spot where an hour easily stretches into three without anyone noticing.

What Nu-Way Means to Spartanburg

There are restaurants that serve food and then there are places that serve a community. Nu-Way falls firmly into the second category.

For over eighty years, it has been a gathering point for Spartanburg residents from all walks of life, a place where regulars know each other by name and newcomers are made to feel at home almost immediately.

That community role is not something the restaurant advertises. It just happens organically, the way it does in places that have been around long enough to become part of the local identity.

Kennedy Street would feel noticeably different without Nu-Way anchoring it. The place has roots here, real ones.

Travelers passing through Spartanburg often stumble onto Nu-Way by recommendation or curiosity, and many end up staying far longer than intended. One family traveling through South Carolina stopped for a quick bite and ended up staying for the band’s first set, which feels like a very Nu-Way kind of story.

The restaurant has that pull. It is the kind of local institution that reminds you why independent, community-rooted businesses matter, and why they deserve to be supported and celebrated every chance you get.

Featured in Garden and Gun and on Television: The Recognition It Deserves

Not every small restaurant on a side street in South Carolina ends up in Garden and Gun magazine or on national television, but Nu-Way has managed both. That kind of recognition does not come from a clever PR strategy.

It comes from consistently delivering something that stands out in a crowded food landscape.

The Food Network’s decision to name the Redneck Cheeseburger the best burger in South Carolina put Nu-Way on a much larger map. People who had never heard of Spartanburg suddenly had a reason to look it up.

For a restaurant that has been doing its thing since 1938, the national spotlight felt well overdue.

Garden and Gun is not a publication that throws praise around loosely. Its coverage of Southern food culture is taken seriously by readers who genuinely care about authenticity and regional character.

Being featured there places Nu-Way in a conversation alongside some of the most respected names in Southern dining. The attention has brought in visitors from across the country, all curious to see whether the reputation holds up in person.

Spoiler: it does. The food and the atmosphere deliver exactly what the coverage promises, and sometimes a little more.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit to Nu-Way

Nu-Way opens at 11 AM Monday through Saturday and at noon on Sundays, staying open late enough to catch a live band or enjoy the patio after dark. Saturday nights run until 2 AM, which makes it a solid option for anyone looking to extend an evening in Spartanburg without rushing anywhere.

First-time visitors should absolutely start with the Redneck Cheeseburger. That said, do not overlook the sides.

Tater tots come out crisp and seasoned with a special fry blend that keeps people talking. Sweet potato fries with honey butter have earned their own loyal following, and the chili fries are the kind of thing that makes you rethink your entire side dish philosophy.

The price point is genuinely refreshing. Large portions and low prices make it easy to try a few things without watching your wallet nervously.

Parking and finding the entrance can take a quick moment to figure out, but regulars say that small adventure adds to the charm. Go hungry, bring your dog if you have one, and leave the expectations at the door.

Nu-Way works best when you just let it be exactly what it is: an honest, unpretentious, deeply satisfying place to eat.

Address: 373 E Kennedy St, Spartanburg, SC