10 Best Charleston Restaurants

The Charleston food scene is famous for its Lowcountry cuisine, a style of cooking rooted in the coastal region's history and geography. The best food in Charleston SC includes iconic dishes like shrimp and grits, made with local shrimp and stone-ground grits, and she-crab soup, a rich, creamy soup finished with crab roe. Other staples are Frogmore stew (also known as a Lowcountry boil), a one-pot meal of shrimp, corn on the cob, sausage, and potatoes. Fresh oysters, served raw, steamed, or roasted, are central to the local diet. The Gullah Geechee cultural heritage has a profound influence, contributing dishes like Hoppin' John (rice and black-eyed peas) and techniques for preparing fresh seafood and vegetables.

The cost of a meal in Charleston varies by the type of restaurant. At a casual restaurant or lunch spot, a meal for one person can range from $15 to $25. A mid-range dinner for one, including an entree and a drink, will likely cost between $40 and $75. At a fine-dining establishment, a multi-course tasting menu or a full dinner with wine can start at $125 and exceed $250 per person.

Charleston offers many upscale restaurants perfect for a special occasion such as the Hall’s Chophouse and Peninsula Grill. These fancy restaurants in Charleston SC provide elegant atmospheres and high-end food, with the top options listed below:

• Peninsula Grill: Located in the Planters Inn, this restaurant is the definition of classic luxury, with velvet-lined walls and a romantic, candlelit dining room. It serves elevated Southern dishes, but is most famous for its world-renowned Ultimate Coconut Cake.
• Hall's Chophouse: This family-owned steakhouse is one of the most popular upscale restaurants Charleston SC. It is known for its lively, welcoming atmosphere, impeccable service, and high-quality steaks and seafood.
• Charleston Grill: Situated in the Belmond Charleston Place hotel, this restaurant offers a sophisticated experience with live jazz music. Its menu is divided into four categories—Pure, Lush, Southern, and Cosmopolitan—allowing diners to choose their own path.
• The Ordinary: Housed in a grand, historic bank building, this "fancy oyster bar" from the team behind FIG serves spectacular seafood towers, fresh oysters, and inventive seafood dishes in a bright, high-ceilinged space.

Charleston's most popular fast-food options include regional favorites and beloved local chains. The most popular spots are listed below:

• Cook Out: This North Carolina-based chain is popular for its extensive menu of burgers, barbecue, and more than 40 milkshake flavors.
• Boxcar Betty's: This is a local gourmet fried chicken sandwich shop that has gained a large following.
• Taco Boy: For fast-casual Mexican, Taco Boy is a popular local choice with several locations.
• Chick-fil-A: This national brand is also extremely popular throughout the Charleston area.

These legendary restaurants have helped define Charleston's food scene. The most iconic Charleston restaurants are listed below.

• Husk: This is one of the most famous restaurants in Charleston SC. Led by its founding chef Sean Brock, Husk gained national fame for its strict rule of only using ingredients grown south of the Mason-Dixon Line, fundamentally changing modern Southern food.
• FIG: An acronym for Food Is Good, FIG has been a cornerstone of Charleston's food scene for two decades. Chef Mike Lata has won multiple James Beard Awards, and the restaurant is famous for its simple, ingredient-driven, and perfectly executed take on Lowcountry food.
• Bertha's Kitchen: This James Beard Award-winning "American Classic" is a soul food institution in North Charleston. It is famous for its fried chicken, lima beans, and other Gullah Geechee specialties served in a casual, no-frills setting.
• Rodney Scott's BBQ: Pitmaster Rodney Scott is a James Beard Award winner celebrated for his mastery of whole-hog barbecue. His restaurant is famous for its exceptionally moist, flavorful pulled pork and its lively, casual atmosphere.

For seafood in the historic downtown area, The Ordinary and 167 Raw Oyster Bar are some of the top Charleston seafood restaurants downtown . These local restaurants Charleston SC are some of the best options out there:

• The Ordinary: While it is a fine-dining spot, the large bar is a popular local destination for fresh oysters and cocktails. Its specialty is the impressive seafood tower, served in a stunningly renovated old bank.
• 167 Raw Oyster Bar: This small, perpetually busy spot is a local favorite for its fresh oysters, lobster rolls, and crudos. The setting is intimate and lively, with a New England raw bar feel.
• Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar: Located near the historic City Market, this restaurant offers a classic Charleston seafood experience. It is known for its shrimp and grits, raw bar selections, and fried seafood platters in a bustling, traditional setting.
• Hank's Seafood Restaurant: Housed in a beautifully restored 100-year-old warehouse, Hank's has the feel of a classic 1940s fish house. Locals go for its high-quality seafood, including pan-seared scallops and she-crab soup.

Here are some of the new restaurants Charleston SC that have recently opened.

• Sorelle: Located at 88 Broad St., this is an upscale restaurant, market, and wine bar serving regional Italian food with a focus on Southern Italian flavors in a grand, multi-level historic building.
• The Matador: Found at 235 King St., this is a tequila and agave spirits bar and restaurant serving Mexican food in the former O-Ku space.
• Babas on Cannon: An expansion of a popular local cafe, this spot at 114 Cannon St. offers European-style cafe fare, coffee, and cocktails.
• Azul: Situated at 484 King St., this is one of the newest new restaurants downtown Charleston, offering Mexican food and an extensive list of tequilas and mezcals.

Yes, there are many excellent Charleston beach restaurants in the nearby beach towns. These restaurants near Charleston SC offer casual, waterfront vibes and great food. The Obstinate Daughter on Sullivan's Island is an acclaimed restaurant serving pasta, pizza, and small plates in a stylish, nautical-themed space. Also on Sullivan's Island, Poe's Tavern is a famous casual spot known for its excellent burgers and Edgar Allan Poe-themed decor. On the Isle of Palms, The Co-Op is a go-to for gourmet sandwiches and its famous frosé (frozen rosé). In Folly Beach, Pier 101 offers classic beach bar food and drinks with direct views of the ocean from its location on the pier.

Charleston has a growing number of restaurants serving vegan food. Neon Tiger is a dedicated vegan restaurant with a focus on creative cocktails and plant-based comfort food like burgers and "crab" cakes. Basic Kitchen is a health-focused restaurant that offers many vegan options on its menu of bowls, salads, and vegetable-forward plates. Gnome Café is another entirely vegan spot, popular for breakfast and lunch with items like tofu scrambles and tempeh bacon sandwiches. Xiao Bao Biscuit, while not exclusively vegan, is known for its flavorful Asian dishes, many of which can be made vegan.

Many Charleston restaurants accommodate gluten-free diners. Burton's Grill & Bar has a dedicated gluten-free menu with a wide range of options, from sandwiches on gluten-free bread to entrees. Five Loaves Cafe is another popular spot known for its soups, salads, and sandwiches, with plentiful gluten-free bread and modification options. Most of the city's upscale restaurants, like Husk and FIG, are able to accommodate gluten-free requests due to their scratch kitchens. For a dedicated gluten-free bakery, All Teased Up is a local option.

The most famous types of food in Charleston are deeply connected to its coastal location and Southern history. The most prominent cuisines are listed below.

• Lowcountry: This is Charleston's defining cuisine. It is a product of its coastal geography and Gullah Geechee heritage, featuring dishes built around rice, fresh shrimp, oysters, fish, and local vegetables.
• Seafood: Given its location on the Atlantic Ocean, Charleston is a premier destination for fresh seafood. Restaurants serve local shrimp, oysters, blue crab, and a variety of fish prepared in many ways, from fried to grilled to raw.
• Southern/Soul Food: This includes classic comfort food dishes that are staples in the South. In Charleston, this means exceptional fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and cornbread, often with roots in Gullah Geechee cooking.
• Barbecue: While South Carolina has several barbecue styles, Charleston is particularly known for its whole-hog barbecue, a tradition brought to the forefront by pitmasters like Rodney Scott.