Rad Dad's BBQ and Catering: Smoked Meats and Sides Across South Carolina

What Rad Dad's BBQ serves and where to find them

Rad Dad's BBQ and Catering operates as a mobile food service across South Carolina, bringing smoked barbecue to events, festivals, and regular service locations. The truck specializes in slow-smoked meats—brisket, pulled pork, ribs, and chicken—paired with traditional sides like mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, and baked beans. Orders come with sauce on the side, letting you control how much you want.

The operation runs from a food truck rather than a fixed restaurant, which means location changes by day and season. You'll find them at farmers markets, community events, and private catering jobs throughout the Lowcountry and Midlands. Their catering service handles everything from small family gatherings to larger events, with customizable menus and delivery included.

Pricing sits in the mid-range for smoked barbecue in South Carolina—individual plates typically run $12 to $18 depending on meat choice and sides, while catering orders are quoted per headcount and event size. They accept cash and card payments at the truck.

Key Takeaways

• Rad Dad's BBQ operates from a mobile food truck, so you need to check their current location before visiting—they move between farmers markets, festivals, and catering events.
• The menu centers on slow-smoked meats with traditional Southern sides, and sauce comes separate so you can choose how much to use.
• Catering services are available for private events, with pricing based on headcount and menu selections.
• Both cash and card payments are accepted at the truck, though you should confirm payment methods when booking catering.

How to find their current location

Since Rad Dad's operates a food truck rather than a brick-and-mortar location, their schedule varies week to week. The most reliable way to find them is through their social media accounts—Facebook and Instagram typically post their location for the coming days, sometimes with advance notice of where they'll be the following week.

They regularly appear at established farmers markets and community events in South Carolina, which gives you predictable spots to check. If you're looking for a specific date or want to confirm they'll be at a particular location, direct contact through their social media pages or phone number gets you a faster answer than guessing.

Ordering for events and catering

Rad Dad's BBQ handles catering for weddings, corporate events, family reunions, and smaller gatherings. The catering process starts with a conversation about your guest count, preferred meats, and side selections. They deliver the food and typically provide serving setup, though specifics depend on your event size and location.

Catering orders require advance notice—usually at least one to two weeks depending on the date and their existing bookings. Pricing is customized rather than listed on a menu, so you'll need to contact them directly with your event details to get a quote. Delivery fees may apply depending on how far your event is from their usual service area.

The barbecue style and meat preparation

Rad Dad's uses traditional smoking methods, cooking meats low and slow over several hours to develop the characteristic bark and tender interior that define good barbecue. The brisket comes sliced thick, the pulled pork shreds easily, and the ribs have a slight bend when you pick them up—all signs of proper smoking technique.

The sauce is vinegar-based with a slight sweetness, typical of Lowcountry barbecue traditions. Because it comes on the side, you can taste the smoke flavor of the meat itself before adding sauce. This approach lets you experience what the smoking process accomplished rather than masking it.

Sides and what comes with your order

Each plate includes your choice of two sides from their rotating selection. Mac and cheese is creamy and rich, collard greens are cooked with a savory broth, cornbread is slightly sweet, and baked beans have a smoky depth. Portions are generous—a single plate can easily be split between two people if you're sampling multiple meats.

Cornbread comes warm and buttered, and the sides are made fresh rather than reheated from a holding bin. If you're ordering catering, you can mix and match sides across your group, so some guests can get their preferences while others try something different.

Dietary considerations and customization

The core menu is meat-focused, which works well for barbecue lovers but limits options for vegetarian diners. If you're ordering catering for a mixed group, contact them ahead to discuss what sides can be made more substantial for non-meat eaters—collard greens, mac and cheese, and baked beans can sometimes be ordered in larger portions to serve as main dishes.

Gluten concerns should be discussed directly with the team, as some sides and sauces may contain gluten or be prepared in shared spaces. They're generally willing to work with dietary requests for catering orders if you give them advance notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know where Rad Dad's will be on a specific day?

Check their Facebook or Instagram pages—they post their location for the coming days regularly. If you don't see a post for the day you're looking for, send them a direct message or call to confirm whether they're operating and where.

Can I order ahead if I find them at a farmers market or event?

Most food truck operations allow you to call ahead to reserve a meal, which means less wait time when you arrive. Ask when you contact them about their location whether pre-ordering is an option for that day.

What's the minimum order for catering?

Catering minimums vary by event type and location. Contact them directly with your guest count and event details to learn whether your event size works for their catering service and what the pricing structure looks like.

Do they accommodate dietary restrictions for catering?

They're willing to discuss customizations for catering orders, especially with advance notice. Reach out directly to explain what you need—vegetarian options, gluten concerns, or allergies—and they can tell you what's possible for your event.

Can I get sauce on the side or mixed in?

Sauce comes on the side by default, so you control how much you use. If you prefer it mixed into your meat before serving, you can ask when you order, and they'll accommodate that preference.