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49 Best Places to Eat in Charleston SC Food Bucket List

Visiting Charleston? Here are the best places to eat!

Charleston is the oldest and second-largest city in South Carolina. It has cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and tons of old historic houses that have led many to call Charleston the cultural capital of the south. There are a ton of restaurants to choose from, so we’ve created a list of the best places to eat in Charleston SC with the help of our friend Katy Blair Connor, a local Charleston resident.

If you love seafood, this is the city for you. It’s fresh, often caught right off the coast, and prepared in numerous ways that will make your mouth do a little dance. Welcome to the south, y’all! 

49 Best Places to Eat in Charleston SC Restaurant in Charleston - Charleston SC Best Restaurants // localadventurer.com

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Last Updated: July 5, 2024

49 Best Places to Eat in Charleston SC Food Bucket List

Central (North of Cannon St)

  1.  Chasing Sage (Central, Tapas, 💰💰)
  2.  Chez Nous (Central, French, 💰💰💰) – The menu changes daily, but the seafood is a must.
  3.  Edmund’s Oast (Central, New American, 💰💰) – Outdoor brewery with an amazing happy hour ($4 drink and food options). Also, the regular menu has a beef tartare and crudite’ plate that are on point.
  4.  Fuel (Central/Various, Caribbean, 💰💰)
  5.  Leon’s Fine Poultry & Oysters (Central, Meat Shops / Southern/ Seafood, 💰💰) – Charbroiled Oysters alongside bone-in spicy fried chicken.
  6.  Lewis BBQ (Central, BBQ, 💰💰) – BBQ yes, but don’t miss the green chile corn pudding.
  7.  Little Jack’s Tavern (Central, American / Salad / Cocktail Bars, 💰💰) – Open straight thru from lunch to dinner, we popped in and split a burger and Kölsch in the middle of the afternoon.
  8.  The Royal American (Central / Traditional American, Dive Bar 💰) – Been open for over 30 years.
  9.  Rutledge Cab Co. (Central, New American / Burgers / Breakfast & Brunch, 💰💰) – $5 burger night on Monday’s.
  10.  Santi’s (Central, Mexican, 💰💰) – Locals’ favorite Mexican restaurant. Delicious and homey Mexican dishes under fifteen dollars.
  11.  Rodney Scott’s BBQ (Central, BBQ, 💰💰)
  12.  Xiao Bao Biscuit (Central, Asian Fusion / Japanese / Chinese, 💰💰) – Okonomiyaki with pork candy. Yum!

See More: The Ultimate Charleston Bucket List

The Darling + The Ultimate Charleston Food Bucket List // localadventurer.com

Downtown

  1.  39 Rue De Jean (Downtown, French / Brasseries, 💰💰)
  2.  CO (Downtown, Vietnamese / Cocktails, 💰💰)
  3.  Coast Bar & Grill (Downtown, Seafood / Cajun / Raw, 💰💰)
  4.  Cru Cafe (Downtown, New American, 💰💰)
  5.  The Darling (Downtown, Seafood / Cocktail Bars / Live / Raw, 💰💰) – Pictured below. We were lucky enough to visit during soft shell crab season, so we ordered them fried to finger licking good! Be sure to walk around King Street.
  6.  Dashi (Downtown, Breakfast & Brunch / Latin American / Asian Fusion, 💰💰)
  7.  Fig Charleston (Downtown, New American, 💰💰💰)
  8.  Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts (Downtown, Doughnuts / Desserts / Coffee & Tea, 💰) – Go early when the doughnuts are still warm.
  9.  Halls Chophouse (Downtown, Steakhouse / Seafood / Bar, 💰💰💰💰) – great fine dining
  10.  High Cotton (Downtown / Seafood, Wine and Cocktail Bar 💰💰💰)
  11.  Husk Charleston (Downtown, Seafood / Southern, 💰💰💰) – James Beard Award Winner and has a beautiful dining room with a great view
  12.  Indaco (Downtown, Italian, 💰💰) – Funghi Pizza.
  13.  Laurel (Downtown / Spanish Tapas, Small Plates 💰💰)
  14.  Marina Variety Store Restaurant (Downtown, Seafood / Breakfast & Brunch / Sandwiches, 💰💰)
  15.  Millers All Day (Downtown / Southern, Breakfast & Brunch 💰💰)
  16.  Oak Steakhouse (Downtown, Steakhouse, 💰💰💰)
  17.  Oyster House (Downtown, Seafood / Cocktails, 💰💰)
  18.  The Ordinary (Downtown, Seafood / Sandwiches, 💰💰💰) – Uni tacos, red snapper ceviche, fried oyster sliders on house-made Hawaiian rolls washed down with a rum Negroni and local beer.
  19.  Pearlz Oyster Bar (Downtown / French Quarter, Seafood, 💰💰) – great Oyster shop
  20.  Poogan’s Porch (Downtown, Southern / Diners / Breakfast & Brunch, 💰💰) – Try the Fried Green Tomatoes
  21.  SNOB – Slightly North of Broad (Downtown, New American, Southern, Seafood, 💰💰💰)
  22.  Sugar Bakeshop (Downtown, Bakeries / Cupcakes, 💰) – Pick up some chocolate chip cookies. If ice cream is your thing, check our Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.

See More: 25 Best Free Things to Do in Charleston SC

Visiting Charleston? You need to check out this post. These are the best places to eat in Charleston SC // Local Adventurer #discoverSC #southcarolina #visittheusa #explorecharleston #charlestonPin

James Island

  1.  Bowen’s Island (James Island, Seafood, 💰💰) – All-You-Can-Eat oysters served to you on a shovel in the basement
  2.  Pick Thai (James Island, Thai, 💰💰)

John’s Island

  1.  Wild Olive (Johns Island / Italian 💰💰)

More: 11 Unique Things to Do at Congaree National Park South Carolina

Mount Pleasant

  1.  Carmen y Juan’s (Mount Pleasant, Mexican, 💰💰)
  2.  Langdon’s Restaurant & Wine Bar (Mount Pleasant, Seafood / Hawaiian / Wine Bars, 💰💰💰)
  3.  Mi Xao (Mount Pleasant, Vietnamese, 💰) – when you’re craving pho
  4.  Opal Restaurant & Bar (Mount Pleasant, Mediterranean / Bars / Seafood, 💰💰💰)
  5.  Page’s Okra Grill (Mount Pleasant, Southern / Seafood / Breakfast & Brunch, 💰💰)
  6.  Sewee Restaurant (Mount Pleasant, Seafood / Comfort Food, 💰💰) – An awesome little dive with the best fried seafood
  7.  Tavern and Table (Mount Pleasant, New American, 💰💰) – Lemon ricotta pancakes. Need I say more?

North Charleston

  1.  EVO Pizzeria (North Charleston, Pizza / Salad, 💰💰) – Amazing pistachio pesto pizza.

Sullivan’s Island

  1.  Obstinate Daughter (Sullivan’s Island, Pizza / Seafood / Mediterranean, 💰💰) – A short hop over the Ravenel Bridge for exceptional Italian-style coastal food. Old Danger pizza and shrimp roll.

West Ashley

  1.  Early Bird Diner (West Ashley, Diners / American, 💰💰) – Featured on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives! Fried chicken with cinnamon waffles.
  2.  Glass Onion (West Ashley, Southern / Salad / Sandwiches, 💰💰) – Also featured on Diners, Drive Ins & Dives.
  3.  Home Team BBQ (West Ashley, BBQ, 💰💰)

Honorable Mentions or Taken off the List

  • Rise Coffee (Downtown, Cafes / Coffee & Tea, 💰) –  They are serious about their coffee and their sense of humor.

Map of the Best Places to Eat in Charleston

Where to Stay in Charleston

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How many of these restaurants have you been to? Did we miss anything?

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Caroline + Erin

They are freelance web designers and photographers who love finding adventure, both big and small. The two make a daily practice of sharing vulnerabilities, truth telling, and side splitting laughter. They’ve honed the art of traveling fast and doing all of the things that an adventurer can do in a day or two. The couple lives in Asheville and loves spending their time in the mountains.

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