10 Best South Carolina Restaurants

South Carolina is famous for dishes like Shrimp and Grits, Lowcountry Boil, and whole-hog barbecue. The state's food identity is defined by Lowcountry cuisine, which originates from the coastal region and is heavily influenced by Gullah Geechee culture. What sets South Carolina's food apart is its distinct regional barbecue styles, which include a mustard-based sauce in the Midlands, a light tomato-based sauce in the Upstate, and a vinegar-pepper sauce in the Pee Dee region. The culinary technique of slow-smoking a whole hog over wood coals is a celebrated state tradition. Key ingredients that originated or were perfected here, such as Carolina Gold rice, collard greens, fresh shrimp from the coastal waters, and peaches, are fundamental to the state's dishes.

The average cost of a meal in South Carolina at a budget restaurant is between $10 and $16 for one person. A three-course meal for two people at a mid-range restaurant costs between $60 and $100. Meals at high-end or fine dining establishments like The Ordinary or Scoundrel start at $70 per person and can exceed $150, depending on the menu and selections.

South Carolina is home to many popular regional fast-food chains that are staples in the Southeast, including Bojangles for its fried chicken and biscuits and Cook Out for its extensive menu of burgers and milkshakes. These regional favorites operate alongside major national brands across the state.

• Bojangles: A North Carolina-based chain with a huge presence in South Carolina, known for its Cajun-seasoned fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and "Bo-Rounds."
• Cook Out: Famous for its "trays," which offer a main item, two sides, and a drink at a low price, and its dozens of milkshake flavors.
• Zaxby's: A Georgia-based chain popular for its chicken fingers, wings, and signature Zax Sauce.
• Rush's: A Columbia-based institution that started as a drive-in, famous for its burgers, fried chicken, and milkshakes.
• Groucho's Deli: Founded in Columbia, this South Carolina deli chain is known for its Dipper sandwiches and its signature "Formula 45" dipping sauce.
• Lizard's Thicket: A family-owned chain of meat-and-three restaurants based in Columbia, offering fast, casual service for traditional Southern comfort food.
• Chick-fil-A: This national chain is extremely popular throughout South Carolina for its chicken sandwiches and customer service.
• Waffle House: A Southern institution with numerous locations in the state, serving breakfast and diner classics 24/7.

The South Carolina dining scene, particularly in Charleston and Greenville, is continuously expanding with new establishments. Recent openings include Legami, an Italian restaurant in Charleston that focuses on handmade pasta and crudo, and Lowland Tavern, a neighborhood spot on James Island. These new restaurants bring fresh culinary perspectives to the state.

• Legami: A new fine dining Italian restaurant in Charleston that was a 2024 James Beard "Best New Restaurant" semifinalist. Located at 492 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States.
• Lowland Tavern: A neighborhood tavern on Charleston's James Island focused on wood-fired cooking and local ingredients. Located at 36 George St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States.
• Sorelle: A multi-level Italian restaurant in downtown Charleston featuring a market, pizzeria, and fine dining room. Located at 88 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401.
• Camp: A Greenville restaurant centered around a wood-burning oven, offering a menu of American dishes. Located at 2 E Broad St, Greenville, SC 29601.

The downtown areas of Charleston and Greenville serve as the primary hubs for many of South Carolina's best restaurants, featuring a high concentration of the state's most acclaimed dining establishments. The best restaurants in these central city districts are listed below:

• The Ordinary: An upscale seafood hall and oyster bar located in a historic bank building on Charleston's King Street.
• Scoundrel: A modern French bistro on Main Street in Greenville that has received national recognition.
• Legami: A fine dining Italian restaurant specializing in handmade pasta and crudo in Charleston's French Quarter.
• Melfi's: A clubby Italian-American restaurant known for its Roman-style pizza and martinis on King Street in Charleston.
• Husk: A celebrated restaurant near Charleston's historic City Market that reinterprets Southern cuisine with a focus on heirloom ingredients.
• FIG: An acclaimed Charleston restaurant known for its elevated, ingredient-driven seasonal menu.

Yes, there are lunch spots in South Carolina worth trying, including Charleston's Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ, Bertha's Kitchen, and the statewide deli chain Groucho's Deli. Rodney Scott's BBQ offers world-class whole-hog barbecue plates and sandwiches in a casual, counter-service setting. Bertha’s Kitchen in North Charleston is a James Beard Award-winning institution for a classic meat-and-three soul food lunch. For a quick option, Groucho's Deli, which started in Columbia, serves its signature Dipper sandwiches with its tangy "Formula 45" sauce at locations across the state.

Yes, there are good places for dinner in South Carolina, such as the grand seafood hall The Ordinary in Charleston, the modern French bistro Scoundrel in Greenville, and the intimate Costa in Aiken. The Ordinary offers a premier seafood dinner experience with its extensive raw bar and shellfish towers in a stunningly restored historic bank. Scoundrel provides a sophisticated dinner with its refined take on French classics in a lively downtown Greenville setting. For a more intimate dinner, Costa serves elegant coastal Italian seafood and fresh pasta in a historic building in downtown Aiken.

South Carolina has several vegan restaurants, including The Neon Tiger, Gnome Cafe, and The Reizod Vegan Experience. The Neon Tiger in Charleston is a plant-based restaurant and cocktail bar known for its vegan versions of comfort food classics like burgers and pizza. Gnome Cafe, also in Charleston, is a daytime spot serving a fully vegan menu of sandwiches, salads, and breakfast items. In Columbia, The Reizod Vegan Experience offers plant-based soul food and comfort dishes. Greenville's Farm Fresh Fast provides healthy, quick-service meals with numerous vegan and build-your-own bowl options.

Restaurants in South Carolina that serve gluten-free food include dedicated bakeries like Annie O' Love's Cafe of Sweet Abundance and restaurants with extensive gluten-free options. Annie O' Love's in Charleston is a 100% vegan and gluten-free cafe specializing in baked goods, sandwiches, and desserts. For dining out, Five Loaves Cafe, with locations in the Charleston area, offers a menu where most sandwiches and salads can be made gluten-free. In Columbia, The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli provides gluten-free bread options for its sandwiches. Many fine dining establishments, like The Ordinary, can accommodate gluten-free needs with advance notice.

South Carolina's most famous cuisines are Lowcountry and Barbecue. The state's culinary identity is deeply rooted in its coastal geography, agricultural history, and distinct cultural influences. Listed below are the most common and popular cuisines in South Carolina.

• Lowcountry: This is the signature cuisine of South Carolina's coastal plain. It features dishes like Shrimp and Grits, She-crab soup, and Frogmore Stew (also known as a Lowcountry Boil). The cuisine is heavily influenced by West African (Gullah Geechee), English, and French culinary traditions and relies on local ingredients like fresh shrimp, oysters, blue crab, and Carolina Gold rice.
• Barbecue: South Carolina has four distinct, sauce-based barbecue regions. The most well-known is the mustard-based "Carolina Gold" sauce found in the Midlands. The Pee Dee region uses a vinegar-pepper sauce, the Upstate uses a light tomato-based sauce, and a heavy tomato-based sauce is found in the western part of the state. The traditional method involves slow-smoking whole hogs over wood embers.
• Soul Food / Gullah Geechee: Closely related to Lowcountry cuisine, Gullah Geechee cooking preserves the West African culinary heritage of the descendants of enslaved people on the Sea Islands. It features dishes made with local vegetables, rice, and seafood, such as red rice, collard greens, and fried fish. Soul food restaurants, particularly "meat-and-three" establishments, are common throughout the state.
• New Southern: In cities like Charleston and Greenville, chefs are reinterpreting traditional Southern and Lowcountry dishes with modern techniques and a focus on heirloom ingredients sourced from local farms. This cuisine elevates classic flavors in a contemporary fine-dining context.
• Seafood: Given its long coastline, fresh seafood is a central part of the state's diet. Oysters, shrimp, blue crabs, and a variety of local fish are prepared in numerous ways, from rustic oyster roasts and steamed crabs to refined preparations in upscale restaurants.