Spartanburg's The Beacon named one of Southern Living's most beloved burger joints

Spartanburg’s oldest drive-in has another accomplishment to add to its long list of achievements. 

The Beacon Drive-In (255 John B. White Sr. Blvd.) was named one of the most beloved burger joints in the South in a recent Southern Living article.

The article named 20 independently owned cafés, diners, and drive-ins throughout the region still serving up classic burgers with a side of nostalgia. Notable names that joined The Beacon include The Varsity in Atlanta, Port of Call in New Orleans, and Brown’s Diner in Nashville, Tennessee. 

According to The Beacon’s owner-operator Steve Duncan, the Southern Living nod was an unexpected honor. However, it’s just the most recent spotlight on the Spartanburg institution. 

The 'World Famous' Beacon

The Beacon was most recently featured on “Food Paradise” in 2020. The restaurant has also appeared on the pilot episode of Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” and featured in “On the Road with Charles Kuralt.”

Duncan said the restaurant is a staple for many Spartanburg residents and is often a destination for people coming back to visit family and friends or heading to the beach from the mountains. 

The Beacon has also had its fair share of international visitors, including customers from Germany, Italy, and China.

“When you take the whole Beacon experience, the way we do it, I can say it’s the best burger experience,” Duncan said. “Actually being able to walk into our kitchen and see the things that are going on, it makes for a good time.”

Order it ‘A-Plenty’

The Beacon’s most popular hamburger order is the Chili Cheeseburger A-Plenty. The burger can be ordered as a single or double with or without bacon. 

Their namesake Beacon Burger is a double cheeseburger topped with lettuce, tomato, and a relish-like coleslaw made specifically for it. But they’ll make a burger any way the customer orders it.

“Our motto here is, if you can say it, I can do it,” Duncan said.

The restaurant is known for stacking on the sides. Traditionally, an ‘A-Plenty’ order will get you a mound of fries and onion rings, but customers can add other sides. Some popular ones include fried okra and "poppers," the Beacon’s pimento cheese and jalapeño-filled hushpuppies.

For most diners, the meal isn’t complete without a glass of Beacon tea, which Duncan describes as a sweet tea served over crushed ice with a lot of lemon and love. 

And regardless of what you order, you’re guaranteed to get plenty.

“When you throw a little bit away, it’s a compliment to me that it’s more than you can eat,” Duncan said.

Samantha Swann covers city news, development and culture in Spartanburg. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Contact her atsswann@shj.com or on Instagram at @sam_on_spartanburg.