I was born in Mexico but raised in the U.S. One big benefit of living in the South is access to good food. Being from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, I was born with a yearning for outstanding flavor. Oaxaca is known for its gastronomy. It is considered Mexico’s culinary capital.
Oaxaca is home to a large Indigenous population, and their food is packed with flavor from deeply traditional recipes passed down from one generation to another. I am Mixteca, from the mountains of Ojo de Agua in Oaxaca. There, simple ingredients can be turned into a savory dish. Feasting on food like that from a young age shaped the way I travel today.
Anytime I am on the road, I make it a habit to seek out hidden gems to eat at. One local place that stuck with me while visiting Congaree National Park in South Carolina was True BBQ. I found a hidden gem there.
True BBQ is located in West Columbia, South Carolina. How did I come across this place? Reddit. If you want honest reviews and aren’t afraid to do some reading, then Reddit is the place.
True BBQ, Owned by Milton Zanders, did not disappoint. But what really stayed with me wasn’t just the BBQ itself, it was my introduction to a dish I had never encountered before.
“Hash”. I had never had it before, I’d never even heard of it. The only hash had ever known was hash browns, which I’d had a millions times with breakfast.
Growing up in Alabama, hash in not a standard side dish served with BBQ (that I know of). But in the Midlands of South Carolina, it is a unique BBQ staple, typically served over white rice.
When I arrived at True BBQ, my heart swelled with excitement. Seeing the smoker outside and the decoration s all over the walls, I had a strong suspicion the food was going to be delicious.
When the woman taking order asked if I wanted hash, I assumed she meant some sort of tater tots. When I asked her to elaborate on what all was on it, she admitted she didn’t know exactly what this version contained. That curiosity alone made me even more excited to try it.
Highly intrigued, I ordered it with my BBQ plate. I also ordered a side of red beans, collard greens, and banana pudding. Yes, it was a lot of food, but I was ready to pack it down.
Along with my order came South Carolina’s famous “gold sauce.”
Let me say this; the environment did not disappoint, and neither did the food. My partner and I ate in silence because the food was that good. The hash? The hash was unique and savory.
After we ordered our food, I noticed an energetic man moving around the kitchen. Later, Mr. Zanders introduced himself. He is the owner and soul behind True BBQ. Of course, there is nothing like a plate of good food that comes with a good story. During our visit, he told us how True BBQ came to be.
Mr. Zanders didn’t discover and live out his dream until later in life. He built a career before True BBQ was ever even a concept. After being laid off from a secure management position, Mr. Zanders found himself at a crossroad. He could continue working for someone else, or he could take a leap of faith and aim for something of his own.
He and his brother began preparing plates of food out of their kitchen and selling them on the streets. He told me about what a humbling experience it was going from what he thought was a secure management position to being filled with uncertainty selling food on the street.
What he and his brother didn’t expect was how well they would do. Within months, they secured enough funds to acquire the building where True BBQ still operates today. Now, Mr. Zanders still owns and the runs the restaurant. He is there, happy and proud, making food for strangers like myself. He pours his passion into every plate he serves. But behind the warm smile and welcoming atmosphere is a life that has not come without hardship.
Right by his side is his wife, who has endured multiple health scared. She is blind in one eye and has suffered six strokes.
Coming from someone whose family member recently suffered a stroke, I can’t imagine the weight on Mr. Zanders’ shoulders. Yet he still shows up day after day with a smile, greeting strangers who walk through his restaurant doors to try his South Carolina Hash. Having this encounter with Mr. Zanders on this trip reminded me why supporting local restaurants matter so much more that our conveniences.
So, if you are ever traveling through West Columbia, South Carolina, stop by and say hi to Mr. Zanders. Tell him I sent you his way and order a plate of BBQ with a side of hash and enjoy. And if you are traveling somewhere else, try a local restaurant. Places like True BBQ reminds us that good food can fill you up, but good people are what stay with you long after the meal is over.
Between Tales & Trails 
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