Some places earn their reputation one plate at a time. The Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg, South Carolina has been doing exactly that since 1946. It showed up in Season 1, Episode 11 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives — “Diners A-Plenty,” which aired July 23, 2007 — and it fit the episode title better than almost anywhere else on the map. This is a place built around abundance, history, and the kind of Southern comfort food that doesn’t apologize for anything.
The Beacon is no hidden gem. It’s a full-blown Spartanburg institution, one of the largest drive-in restaurants in the country, and a legitimate road-trip destination. When Guy Fieri pulled up here, he wasn’t discovering something new. He was confirming what Upstate South Carolina already knew.
Quick Facts:
Restaurant: Beacon Drive-In
City: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Cuisine: Burgers / Drive-In Fare
DDD Season: 1
DDD Episode: 11
Episode Title: Diners A-Plenty
Original Air Date: July 23, 2007
Address: 255 John B. White Sr. Boulevard, Spartanburg, SC 29306
Phone: 864-585-9387
Website: beacondrivein.com
Status: Open
About the Beacon Drive-In
John White opened the Beacon on Thanksgiving Day in 1946, and it has been a Spartanburg fixture ever since. The current building seats 350 people, and on a busy weekend day, roughly 4,000 visitors come through. That’s not a restaurant — that’s a phenomenon.
Part of what makes the Beacon so memorable is the experience of ordering. For decades, the legendary J.C. Stroble worked the counter, calling out orders in a booming voice that became the sound of the place. Watching the line move, hearing the kitchen hum, and seeing plates stacked with more food than you thought was reasonable — that’s the Beacon. Guy Fieri spent time with Stroble during filming, learning to call an order the Beacon way. That says everything about what kind of stop this is.
The Beacon also holds a claim that’s hard to top: it sells more iced tea than any other single restaurant in the United States. That’s not a marketing line. That’s just what happens when you’ve been pouring sweet tea with shaved ice in the heart of South Carolina for eight decades.
What to Eat at the Beacon Drive-In
Start with the Chili Cheese A-Plenty — a chili cheeseburger buried under a pile of sweet onion rings and french-fried potatoes. It’s the move. It’s messy in the best way, built for big appetites, and exactly the kind of plate that earns a detour.
The Sliced Pork A-Plenty and the BBQ Hash are Beacon staples worth knowing about, and the chicken stew got a nod from Guy during filming. If you want something to finish things off in a different direction entirely, there’s The Pig’s Dinner — a loaded banana split served out of the Beacon Dairy Bar. Yes, really.
And whatever you order, get the Beacon Iced Tea. Southern style, generously sweetened, with a splash of lemon and a cup packed with shaved ice. There’s a reason they sell more of it than anyone else in the country.
Plan Your Visit
The Beacon runs seven days a week with generous hours. Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Friday and Saturday, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Sunday, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Curb service is still available, so yes — you can eat in your car, the way it was meant to be.
Address: 255 John B. White Sr. Boulevard, Spartanburg, SC 29306
Phone: 864-585-9387
Website: beacondrivein.com
Status: Open
The Beacon Drive-In appeared in Season 1, Episode 11 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Diners A-Plenty,” originally aired July 23, 2007.