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A hamburger topped with pimento cheese on a blue table.
A pimento cheeseburger from Rockaway Athletic Club.
Forrest Clonts

Top 9 Spots for Pimento Cheese in Columbia, South Carolina

Pimento cheese on burgers, biscuits, and pizza

by Erin Perkins
View as Map
A pimento cheeseburger from Rockaway Athletic Club.
| Forrest Clonts
by Erin Perkins

While the origins of pimento cheese started farther north than most expect, Columbia, South Carolina, claims to be the home of the first printed recipe of the piquant spread. According to Esoteric Columbia, the combination of mayonnaise, grated cheese, and chopped pimentos first appeared in a 1912 version of A Friend in Need printed by the Ladies of the Free Kindergarten Association of Columbia. Since then, the capital city has remained obsessed with the “pate of the South.” Restaurants and bars will put it on nearly anything on the menu. From burgers to biscuits, here are our top picks for pimento cheese in Columbia.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Rambo's Fat Cat Biscuits

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What’s more Southern than pimento cheese on a biscuit? Not much. Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits serves its fluffy, flaky carbs with chipotle pimento cheese that adds just a hint of smokiness.

2430 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 881-9060
(803) 881-9060
The cross-section of a biscuit filled with pimento cheese.
Feast on a pimento cheese biscuit for breakfast.
Forrest Clonts

Spotted Salamander Cafe And Catering

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All meals at Southern cafe Spotted Salamander should start with the pimento cheese plate with toasted baguette and perhaps a few deviled eggs. There’s also the substantial fatty brisket sandwich with apple slaw, melty pimento cheese, and pickles.

1531 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 556-2197
(803) 556-2197
A scoop of pimento cheese on a blue plate, surrounded by bread.
Order the pimento cheese plate at Spotted Salamander.
Forrest Clonts

Also featured in:

Bourbon

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Brown liquor bar Bourbon does its pimento cheese differently — the kitchen adds Creole spice to the mix and peppadew peppers. Pair with boudin balls and a boozy drink.

1214 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 403-1404
(803) 403-1404
A white bowl of pimento cheese next to a cocktail in a rocks glass.
The pimento cheese at Bourbon gets a kick from Creole seasoning.
Forrest Clonts

Also featured in:

Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe

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Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Cafe does not serve a typical pimento cheese. The restaurant’s French Quarter pimento cheese contains butter, cream cheese, roasted red peppers, garlic, Gorgonzola, and Tabasco. Mr. Friendly’s serves this concoction on burgers, steaks, and fried green tomatoes.

2001 Greene St A, Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 254-7828
(803) 254-7828
A filet topped with pimento cheese, in front of a glass of wine.
Top your steak with a funky pimento cheese at Mr. Friendly’s.
Forrest Clonts

Also featured in:

The Gourmet Shop

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Open since 1979, the Gourmet Shop has just about everything a food and wine lover wants. Cases and cases of cheeses, meats, desserts, and spreads include the store’s famous pimento cheese for home consumption. The cafe also serves a pimento platter with a choice of crusty baguette or warm pita bread.

724 Saluda Ave, Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 799-3705
(803) 799-3705

Also featured in:

Terra

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Neighborhood restaurant Terra has been around since 2006, and always puts out exciting plates pulling from around the globe, like Korean short rib wraps or fried kibbeh, but if you’re looking for a Southern spread selection, go for the pimento cheeseburger pizza. Tip: Every Wednesday is Pizza and Pinot Night where a pie and a bottle cost just $32.

100 State St, West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 791-3443
(803) 791-3443

Also featured in:

DiPrato's

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DiPrato’s pimento cheese is the gold standard in Columbia. In addition to pimiento cheese (best shoveled into the face on the crispy fried pita chips), the deli offers an extensive menu for lunch and brunch. 

342 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 779-0606
(803) 779-0606
A white hand scooping pimento cheese from a square bowl.
DiPrato’s is considered the gold standard in pimento cheese for Columbia.
Forrest Clonts

Also featured in:

Rockaway Athletic Club

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Rockaway Athletic Club did not invent the pimento cheeseburger (the original is credited to the former Dairy Bar), but it has damn near perfected it. The bar is a dive, and a bit difficult to find because of its lack of signage, but there’s plenty of cold beer and hot burgers. The cheesy mayo mixture melts into the hunk of beef, making for the ultimate decadent bite.

2719 Rosewood Dr, Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 256-1075
(803) 256-1075
A burger topped with pimento cheese on a blue table.
The pimento cheeseburger is one of the most popular items at Rockaway.
Forrest Clonts

River Rat Brewery

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On a nice day, bring the kids and pets to the outdoor dining area at River Rat Brewery and have a beer and one of the many pimento cheese choices. There’s a pimento cheese appetizer, a chicken Philly with pimento cheese, a brisket Philly with pimento cheese, and a pimento cheese quesadilla.

1231 Shop Rd, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 724-5712
(803) 724-5712

Also featured in:

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Rambo's Fat Cat Biscuits

2430 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201

What’s more Southern than pimento cheese on a biscuit? Not much. Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits serves its fluffy, flaky carbs with chipotle pimento cheese that adds just a hint of smokiness.

2430 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 881-9060
(803) 881-9060
The cross-section of a biscuit filled with pimento cheese.
Feast on a pimento cheese biscuit for breakfast.
Forrest Clonts

Spotted Salamander Cafe And Catering

1531 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201

All meals at Southern cafe Spotted Salamander should start with the pimento cheese plate with toasted baguette and perhaps a few deviled eggs. There’s also the substantial fatty brisket sandwich with apple slaw, melty pimento cheese, and pickles.

1531 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 556-2197
(803) 556-2197
A scoop of pimento cheese on a blue plate, surrounded by bread.
Order the pimento cheese plate at Spotted Salamander.
Forrest Clonts

Bourbon

1214 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201

Brown liquor bar Bourbon does its pimento cheese differently — the kitchen adds Creole spice to the mix and peppadew peppers. Pair with boudin balls and a boozy drink.

1214 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 403-1404
(803) 403-1404
A white bowl of pimento cheese next to a cocktail in a rocks glass.
The pimento cheese at Bourbon gets a kick from Creole seasoning.
Forrest Clonts

Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe

2001 Greene St A, Columbia, SC 29205

Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Cafe does not serve a typical pimento cheese. The restaurant’s French Quarter pimento cheese contains butter, cream cheese, roasted red peppers, garlic, Gorgonzola, and Tabasco. Mr. Friendly’s serves this concoction on burgers, steaks, and fried green tomatoes.

2001 Greene St A, Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 254-7828
(803) 254-7828
A filet topped with pimento cheese, in front of a glass of wine.
Top your steak with a funky pimento cheese at Mr. Friendly’s.
Forrest Clonts

The Gourmet Shop

724 Saluda Ave, Columbia, SC 29205

Open since 1979, the Gourmet Shop has just about everything a food and wine lover wants. Cases and cases of cheeses, meats, desserts, and spreads include the store’s famous pimento cheese for home consumption. The cafe also serves a pimento platter with a choice of crusty baguette or warm pita bread.

724 Saluda Ave, Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 799-3705
(803) 799-3705

Terra

100 State St, West Columbia, SC 29169

Neighborhood restaurant Terra has been around since 2006, and always puts out exciting plates pulling from around the globe, like Korean short rib wraps or fried kibbeh, but if you’re looking for a Southern spread selection, go for the pimento cheeseburger pizza. Tip: Every Wednesday is Pizza and Pinot Night where a pie and a bottle cost just $32.

100 State St, West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 791-3443
(803) 791-3443

DiPrato's

342 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29205

DiPrato’s pimento cheese is the gold standard in Columbia. In addition to pimiento cheese (best shoveled into the face on the crispy fried pita chips), the deli offers an extensive menu for lunch and brunch. 

342 Pickens St, Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 779-0606
(803) 779-0606
A white hand scooping pimento cheese from a square bowl.
DiPrato’s is considered the gold standard in pimento cheese for Columbia.
Forrest Clonts

Rockaway Athletic Club

2719 Rosewood Dr, Columbia, SC 29205

Rockaway Athletic Club did not invent the pimento cheeseburger (the original is credited to the former Dairy Bar), but it has damn near perfected it. The bar is a dive, and a bit difficult to find because of its lack of signage, but there’s plenty of cold beer and hot burgers. The cheesy mayo mixture melts into the hunk of beef, making for the ultimate decadent bite.

2719 Rosewood Dr, Columbia, SC 29205
(803) 256-1075
(803) 256-1075
A burger topped with pimento cheese on a blue table.
The pimento cheeseburger is one of the most popular items at Rockaway.
Forrest Clonts

River Rat Brewery

1231 Shop Rd, Columbia, SC 29201

On a nice day, bring the kids and pets to the outdoor dining area at River Rat Brewery and have a beer and one of the many pimento cheese choices. There’s a pimento cheese appetizer, a chicken Philly with pimento cheese, a brisket Philly with pimento cheese, and a pimento cheese quesadilla.

1231 Shop Rd, Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 724-5712
(803) 724-5712

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