44 Best Restaurants in Charleston, From Raw Bars to Barbecue Joints

Skip to main contentCharleston’s past, present, and delicious futureAndrew CebulkaEvery single year, this list expands—and that is no accident: Charleston ranks near the top of the list for best culinary cities in the United States. What that means is this once-sleepy Southern port city now sees on average 45 to 50 new restaurants open a year, which makes dining a pastime. From traditional favorites such as fluffy biscuits or shrimp and grits to Chinese dumplings or brisket with a Puerto Rican accent, Charleston’s best restaurants offer more than just quality and depth of flavor; all of the following offer exceptional hospitality that makes dining about more than just the food. These are the best restaurants in Charleston, where you'll feel truly welcomed when you arrive and well-fed when you depart—and where each place tells a story about Charleston’s past, present, and delicious future.Read our complete Charleston travel guide here, which includes:The Best Things to Do in CharlestonThe Best Hotels in CharlestonThe Best Beaches in CharlestonHow we choose the best restaurants in CharlestonEvery restaurant on this list has been selected independently by Condé Nast Traveler editors and reviewed by a local contributor who has visited that restaurant. Our editors consider both high-end and affordable eateries, and weigh stand-out dishes, location, and service—as well as inclusivity and sustainability credentials. We update this list as new restaurants open and existing ones evolve.La CaveNeighborhood: Upper KingPrice range: $$Dish to order: La SaladeLa Cave is tucked into one of the most touristy and party-heavy blocks on Upper King street, so the impetus might be to walk by. But step into this cool stucco interior, and feel all the hustle and bustle of the street melt away in this fantasy of the art of French living (and eating). Chef Alex Eaton is no stranger to wonderful Charleston kitchens, including her last tenure at Estadio, and that means since Charleston is a crudo town, she is adept at the dish. Order it and the salad with Roquerfort vinaigrette to start, along with some caviar or oysters (or both) and then make your way onto the whole fish, a steak, or whatever she is featuring that evening. She is a true professional with a love of local fish and produce, and it shines through in most dishes. La Cave is for a fancy dinner with friends, taking your mom out to enjoy herself, graduation parties, date nights, or just to pop in for an oyster and Champagne break.Address: 550 King St Ste 150, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewLola RoseNeighborhood: Outer Mount PleasantPrice range: $$Dish to order: Sicilian MeatballsAs Charleston metro has grown, so have the dining options, and while this might feel far flung for a tourist staying on the peninsula, if you are visiting Isle of Palms, Sullivans, or one of the thousands of people living within 10 minutes of Lola Rose, it doesn’t feel far away. Sure, it’s next to a Costco, and a little off of Highway 17, but once you enter, the clean, David Thompson-designed interior and bustling crowd reveal that this is anything but the usual strip-mall fare. Chef Kevin Johnson is no stranger to this list—his downtown restaurant, The Grocery, has never left it—so this Mount Pleasant outpost is a delicious addendum to his masterclass in Mediterranean flavors using local ingredients. There are the wood-fired pizzas he’s known for, the hummus, and the pastas with ragu or bolognese that meld into a cacophony of flavor. Chef de Cuisine Isabel Picus puts her stamp on the menu too, though, including a beautiful roasted scallop dish with fennel and orange. What results is not a carbon copy of what Johnson cooks elsewhere, but a place worth a visit on its own.Address: 3540 Park Ave Blvd #104, Mt Pleasant, SC 29466Read Full ReviewRivayat Creative IndianNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Cochin ScallopsThis restaurant space has been in need of a refresh for years, and when Rivayat moved in recently, they not only refreshed but completely transformed the space. Indian murals and decor are present but more elegant than over the top, and a golden yellow color is the dominant color element, with pops of indigo blue from plateware and accents. It all comes together with a golden bar buzzing with activity. In the South, more often than not, Indian food has been relegated to buffets, which has been the traditional way to make the food more approachable for new diners. Rivayat provides the flip side of this coin, inviting diners to experience the elegance of a cuisine that is as varied as its regions. The plating is beautiful and artistic, the naan soft and garlicky, the oysters fresh out of local waters, and the lamb chops medium rare and stacked like sculpture. Rivayat’s dishes are about respect and revelry in the layers of flavor Indian food provides, with a dash of locavore love thrown in.Address: 210 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewSushi BarNeighborhood: French QuarterPrice range: $$$Dish to order: 17-course omakase experienceEntering this small restaurant feels like getting backstage passes for a concert. You walk in and wait with a glass of champagne until ushered in through to the main stage, a small room with chefs in the center and a 12-seat sushi counter around them. It’s more than a little rock and roll, including the music, and you’re here for it. The anticipation is palatable. There are really few choices here but a simple choice to experience it all. And under two-Michelin-starred Chef Anthony Martin, that is new wave nigiri and a rotating selection of special, one-of-a-kind bites. There may be gold leaf, there could be foie gras, and there most certainly will be caviar. The bites keep coming and building on each other, just like a great musical performance. Come here for a blowout celebration of that promotion, to reimagine what sushi can be, or to really, really impress that marriage material who loves to eat just as much as you do.Address: 158 Church St, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewEdmund's Original (Formerly Edmund's Oast)Neighborhood: NoMoPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Encrusted Prime Rib (on the weekends)While this restaurant may have changed names and ownership in the last year, the faces, the food, and the welcoming vibe that’s been present since 2014 remain. The restaurant is essentially divided into two areas: an outdoor bower where casual food and drinks dominate, and the inside dining room, which feels like an expansive beer hall with an open kitchen and bar the length of the room. Dark woods and big chairs anchor the decor, but the most noticeable thing in the room is a wall-sized selection of rotating beers on tap. Chef Bob Cook is an OG maestro of the Charleston scene for close to two decades, so it’s evident this city loves his cooking. Whether it’s the burger (a revival of the oft missed Artisan Meat Share one he used to make), a ginger salad with cucumbers, escargot, frog legs or macaroni with peas, Cook’s decadent and deft take on menu building has elements of his Michigan upbringing, his love for Asian flavors, and his knowledge of butchery and “red meat.” In short, the menu is solidly his point of view, so just clock in and order anything that looks good.Address: 1081 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewEstadioNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$Dish to order: Beef heart skewersEstadio has been evolving since Max Kuller first opened in 2019, and each consecutive chef change has brought out a different aspect of Kuller’s commitment to local purveyors and producers, and interpreting what they catch and grow through a Spanish lens. Chef Jeremy Gozlan took the helm last year, and has brought his baking skills—including one stunner of a basque cheesecake recipe—and his commitment to nose-to-tail cooking to the kitchen, with delicious results. Look for classic dishes such as tortilla espanola served alongside beef heart skewers or patty pan squash with jamon. Sure you know the tapas classics, but Estadio is a place to be a regular. The menu follows the subtle shifts of the season, there is plenty of seating, and it’s the kind of place you can meet a friend for a drink and pintxos or stay all night.Address: 122 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewThe Restaurant at Zero GeorgeNeighborhood: AnsonboroughPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Tasting menuStepping onto the Zero George property is a unique experience. A cluster of antebellum buildings with a serene courtyard connecting them is at once a historical property, one of our highest rated Triple Crown hotel properties, and a two-story restaurant with an open kitchen, and the ability to dine in the aforementioned courtyard or even an upstairs drawing room. It’s all elegance and refinement with a Southern accent. After a tenure at Costa, Chef Vinson Petrillo is back in the kitchen here, and it runs like clockwork with beautiful pacing, a skill that is underrated when it comes to tasting menus. The experience begins a little playfully with culinary slights of hand, from an appetizer that looks like a cigar but tastes like a decadent bite of beef and pastry, to impressive caviar courses and the ultimate decadent wagyu beef main. And the chef’s creativity and ability to train and lead staff to execute his vision shines bright throughout the whole evening.Address: Left Side, 0 George St, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewMerciNeighborhood: Harleston VillagePrice range: $$$Dish to order: Beef WellingtonWith a Helen Rice–designed interior in a 19th-century building, Merci feels as if you're in the dressing room of a storied dwelling: intimate, luxurious, and with someone to pull the blinds to at just the right moment of golden hour. Everyone seems quietly pleased that they scored a reservation, and they honestly should. This is one of the most coveted tables in the city, so those regulars have earned their gentle smugness at knowing the server's name. It's date night, friend night, or dining alone, but the overarching tone is "diner in the know." As for food, there are, simply put, few notes on how to make this seasonally-driven, European-inspired menu better. The pasta has toothsome perfection, the slow-cooked chicken tastes like nonna started it on the back burner of the stove two days ago, and the use of Lowcountry, in-season vegetables is ethereally well done.Address: 28 Pitt St, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewTutti PizzaNeighborhood: Upper KingPrice range: $$Dish to order: Round 50/50This feels like a neighborhood joint, and that's because it is, with patrons mingling by the pick-up window even before you enter. The 30-seat room is well lit and industrial in the best way, dominated by butcher block and prep tables, steel ovens, and pizza being made in plain sight. It's lively, a little loud, and heavily scented with garlic and yeasty dough on the rise. The menu is simple, divided into square pies, round pies, not 'za, and desserts. Graft owners Miles White and Femi Oyediran collaborated with Anthony Guerra of Oakwood Pizza Box in Raleigh, N.C., to get Tutti off the ground, and the result is pretty much magic. Pizzas pair perfectly with the wine program headed by sister wine bar Graft, located right next door.Address: 700 King St Ste a, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewMarbled & FinNeighborhood: AnsonboroughPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Broiled Oysters & Bone MarrowMidcentury-modern decadence hits you as soon as you walk in the door. The architectural bar, deep honey-toned woods, and classic details—from jacket-clad bar staff to oversized pepper mills—act as well-sourced props that further the illusion. The set design might just inspire you to order that old fashioned or a martini big enough to swim in. Settle into the leather banquettes for the long haul as seafood towers, caviar service, and well-seared steaks land on tables all around you. It's a place that, just for an hour or two, says, "live it up." This menu is go big or go home, from seafood towers to Australian wagyu, so if you're interested in steakhouse classics, it's hard to go wrong here. However, a few standouts should land on every table: prime beef tartare topped with paper-thin potato chips, briny broiled oysters with brawny marrow, and crispy, fresh-out-of-the-fryer onion rings.Address: 480 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewWelton's Tiny Bake ShopNeighborhood: Upper KingPrice range: $Dish to order: Seasonal fruit danishMaybe it’s the striped awning, maybe it’s the wholesome scent of sweet buns and coffee that emanate from the door each time it’s opened, or maybe the calm smiles on the bakers as they move through a morning rush, but as you wait in line to get your turn at the pastry case (and you almost always will be waiting), you have time to ponder the scene that seems lifted out of a children’s book illustration. This bakeshop is actually a collection of two tiny buildings on King Street with a miniature alley in between, where the lucky ones that have already snagged their treats are settled in, all powdered sugar and smiles. You’re proud of getting up early for this, and you haven’t even eaten anything yet. Pizza pop ups are how Charleston got to know Hannah and Zachary Welton, but they’d already been studying Charleston for years from the kitchen at Husk, so they had our number before we even knew what hit us. Fig danishes, toasted benne sourdough, roasted zucchini galettes or jalapeno and aged cheddar focaccia, and one seriously underrated (at least until this review) chicken salad.Address: 684 King St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewSullivan's Fish CampNeighborhood: Sullivan’s IslandPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Ceviche MixtoStep inside the retro dining room at Sullivan's, and it feels like that beach vacation spot you want to visit with the family after a long day soaking up the sun. Come hungry—the Southern fish camp tradition means baskets of crispy fried seafood and hushpuppies, and Sullivan's certainly delivers. Chef Jason Stanhope recently took over the food program here, so the fried offerings are just the beginning. While they should certainly be on the table, so should the local fish crudos, the well-crafted celery salad, the catch of the day, and plenty of local oysters. The beverage program is also strong, from tropical cocktails to a wine list dominated by crisp whites to a solid beer selection—this is a place you can easily pop in for a drink with a plate of oysters. Sullivan's has been a staple on the island for decades, and though it has recently shifted owners a couple of times, it's as welcoming as it has always been.Address: 2019 Middle St Unit A, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482Read Full ReviewCane PazzoNeighborhood: HanahanPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Cappelletti (varies by season)Hanahan is a mere 20 minutes away from the Charleston Peninsula, but it is definitely a different world from the tree-lined streets and horse-drawn carriages of the historic district. The recently opened Cane Pazzo is already a destination restaurant, found in an unassuming location: tucked into a strip mall with a Latin bakery and a grocery store. Inside, a wood-fired oven dominates that space, where every table is full, and plate after plate of pasta, focaccia, and wood-fired oysters land on the walnut-hued tables. The reason for the local pilgrimage from greater Charleston is the cooking of Executive Chef Mark Bolchoz, and in his first chef-owner offering, he delivers. Here he showcases his neighborhood bistro style with meatballs worth making a standing order, risotto that is creamy and toothsome, plenty of local, seasonal vegetables and protein, and even homemade limoncello.Address: 1276 Yeamans Hall Rd, Hanahan, SC 29410Read Full ReviewXO BrasserieNeighborhood: NoMoPrice range: $$Dish to order: XO WontonHerman Ng has been a fixture in the Charleston front-of-house dining scene for years, and he comes by it naturally, having grown up at his parents' restaurants in nearby Columbia, S.C. XO is a love letter to those Cantonese and Sichuan classics, from dim sum to dumplings that you won't want to share (so order multiples). It also pays homage to the Chinese-American restaurant culture, mixing chicken wings with caviar on the appetizer menu, while offering salt-and-pepper shrimp, chow fun, and roast duck on the main. Order as much as you can and take leftovers home. It's a fabulous date night destination, bachelorette pregame, or fun night out with friends—diners here are hip and fashionable, skewing young, especially since the bar features a lot of fun cocktails, perfect for pairing with the shareable snacks.Address: 1090 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewIndacoNeighborhood: Upper KingPrice range: $$Dish to order: Spicy Soppressata PizzaUpper King Street has changed immensely since Indaco opened more than a decade ago, but behind the restaurant's distinctive wooden door, the narrow, warm dining room is as inviting as ever. This place almost always defines the term "bustling," with groups conversing at the bar, date-night diners tucked into two-top tables, and servers weaving through it all with glasses of wine and pizza in hand. The cocktails have always been strong here, but the wine game is where it's at. The restaurant features a wide range of affordable Italian reds and whites, so it's easy to get a few bottles for the table to keep the conversation flowing. As for the pizza, the execution is on point here, which is exactly why diners return. Think: roasted butternut squash pasta flecked with black pepper in the cooler months; fresh, layered salads when it's too hot to sit outside before dark in the summer; juicy red wine that pairs with spicy ndjua pizza ringed with a leopard-spotted crust from the wood-fired oven.Address: 526 King St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewHuskNeighborhood: French QuarterPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Chicken Liver MousseWalking up to Husk as the twilight falls and the soft lights beckon within always feels special, even though the restaurant has been open since 2011 and has spawned two other locations in Nashville and Savannah. Though the crowd is mainly tourists, the menu still delivers. Beautifully prepared seafood sits perched in seasoned broths, steaks are seared well, and vegetables and herbs are often grown in the restaurant's garden right in front. To start, you should definitely consider the pimento cheese and country ham, as well as executive chef Ray England's chicken liver mousse—one of the best in town. The pastry program, both in rotating desserts and a cornbread that might make your grandmother close her eyes in rapture, is also a standout.Address: 76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewKing BBQNeighborhood: Reynolds Ave., North CharlestonPrice range: $$Dish to order: Chinatown DelightDefinitely off the beaten tourist path in North Charleston, you'll know when you've arrived by spotting two Chinese lions by the front door. Inside, owners Corrie and Shaui Wang have always done things their way—and made a name for themselves by taking a similar DIY approach at big-sister Chinese restaurant Jackrabbit Filly. But here, barbecue by the pound is the focus; most tables pick a shared combo as a centerpiece, like the poultry combo with five-spice chicken, crispy duck leg, and two small sides. Then, build from there with sides, snacks, and either pulled-pork or some ribs for the full effect. Food comes pretty quickly, but popular meats such as duck legs and ribs can sell out on occasion. King is inspired by the backgrounds of chefs Brandon Olson (North Carolina's Piedmont) and Shaui (China and Flushing, NY), and in both backgrounds, families gather over large dinners to share, sample, and celebrate—follow their lead. And do not miss the hot pot collards.Address: 2029 Carver Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405Read Full ReviewBabas on CannonNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$Dish to order: Chips and caviarThe café tables and menu painted on the front windows could be straight out of a European city, and that’s exactly what the owners are going for, inspired by the cafés and bars of Europe. Babas on Cannon is an option no matter your schedule, especially since this all-day café caters to both to-go and the stay put clienteles. The overarching term for the food is "thoughtful." From overnight oats with house-made pecan butter for breakfast to deviled eggs, gem lettuce salads, and a caviar sandwich, all are well executed but fun. The baked goods, from bread to desserts, feel like a secret win every time you take a bite, and they play exceptionally well with others, hosting plenty of top-notch culinary pop ups at both this location and their slightly larger Meeting Street location (which offers slightly different yet equally delicious menu offerings but not quite the same level of European café vibes).Address: 11 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewMaisonNeighborhood: Upper KingPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Rabbit en CroutePainted a distinctive indigo, entering Maison from its side entrance will make you want to say “ooh la la.” Everything feels Parisian, from the chairs to the black-and-white tiling to the platters of escargot landing on tables. Low club booths are mixed with freestanding tables, the kitchen is visible through a pass behind the bar, and every corner of the restaurant is bustling most nights. Thus Chef Vandy Vanderwarker has begun to creatively spread his wings, and while there are classics like steak frites, he’s leaned more and more into a modern Parisian–read, forward-thinking–style, including seasonal terrines, sweetbreads, composed salads, house-made black truffle sausages, and Coq Au Vin with English peas. The plating is impeccable, and in general his cooking ultimately reveals a passionate practice of French technique with Lowcountry ingredients, all resulting in often stunning meals from start to finish.Address: 708 King St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewWild OliveNeighborhood: Johns IslandPrice range: $$$Dish to order: PappardelleAfter passing the River Road intersection of Maybank Highway, the traffic onto Johns Island seems to open up just a bit, but if you hit the accelerator too much, you'll zip right by this restaurant. Don't do it. Wild Olive has kept regulars coming back with its seasonal tweaks. Must-try dishes here include tender agnolotti, charred octopus, fresh vegetables from the farmers with whom chef Jacques Larson has built relationships with throughout his long career in various Charleston restaurants, and classic mains such as veal scallopini with marsala. If you spot mushroom-parmesan bisque on the menu, order it—you'll thank us later. Wild Olive is a quintessential crowd pleaser. It's just as good for your sister's 25th birthday dinner as it is for date night or Mother's Day.Address: 2867 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island, SC 29455Read Full ReviewVern'sNeighborhood: ElliotboroughPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Roast Spring Chicken, Brown Butter, JusCharleston already knew they loved Daniel Heinze's cooking—he was a long-standing Chef de Cuisine at McCrady's—but when he and his wife Bethany returned from California and started a series of pop-ups to begin testing menu items and concept for their neighborhood restaurant, they started a buzz about the inevitable opening that has hung around well past the place's launch. They've settled down into consistent excellence, with hints of McCrady's past in items such as the escargot—but make no mistake, the menu is very much their style of cooking, heralding favorite Lowcountry ingredients and showcasing them. There's charred sourdough, bright salads, almost always a mushroom dish, pastas and proteins like rabbit or yellowfin tuna to a in-season satsuma confection created from fruit gleaned from a friend's backyard. The cooking techniques are advanced but the plating is beautiful simplicity, and nothing about Vern's says stuffy.Address: 41 Bogard St A, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewLeon's Oyster ShopNeighborhood: Upper KingPrice range: $$Dish to order: Char-grilled oystersLeon's Oyster Shop has been drawing in hungry Charlestonians since it opened its doors in 2014. Its scruffy, whitewashed facade got a 2020 upgrade with the addition of a “filling station-style” covered patio that replaced the umbrellas, so there’s plenty of shade to enjoy that chicken sandwich known all over the South and which has the power to send a vegetarian tumbling off the wagon. The breading uses seafood seasoning, and the tender filet is topped with Duke’s mayo and Asian slaw tossed with fish sauce. Plus, the brioche buns are baked daily and grilled just enough to get that perfect crispy exterior and soft, pillowy interior. It goes so well with the Champagne you ordered to cut through the richness of the grilled oysters that suddenly, everything seems all right. If it's lunchtime and you need to function for the rest of the day, then skipping all that and choosing the Siam Salad is the way to go, especially if you like shrimp.Address: 698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewThe Obstinate DaughterNeighborhood: Sullivan’s IslandPrice range: $$Dish to order: The Old Danger PizzaThe sea breeze takes you up to the second floor, where it feels beachy inside, but without any hint of maritime kitsch. Bleached wood and pale blue seating are a calm backdrop for a bustling operation: the kitchen keeps the servers pivoting, bringing out trays from the raw bar, pizza from the wood-fired oven, and pasta and seafood dishes, too. This is the sister restaurant to Wild Olive on Johns Island, so it makes sense that it has an Italian inflection too, though interpreted through a coastal lens. The menu has a ton worth trying, so consider sharing plates instead of hogging your own, and convince the group to go for any housemade pasta (especially the seasonal pappardelle), plus a pizza, and anything green. The restaurant is a big supporter of local farms, so the vegetables and salads are always on point.Address: 2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482Read Full ReviewLewis BarbecueNeighborhood: NoMoPrice range: $$Dish to order: Sliced USDA Prime Beef BrisketA little off the beaten path of the downtown corridor, Lewis Barbecue is worth the added travel time. Renowned Austin pit master John Lewis steers the food program, and the menu is simple but abundant—large slabs of melt-in-your-mouth brisket, smoked sausages, and an array of sides, like corn pudding and tangy coleslaw. Here, it's all about the tray, and once you go through the line, chances are you will have one stacked with hedonistic glory. One of the best parts of the experience is the staff, who slice and portion your meats on the plate. They're quick to offer a sample, suggestion, or lay "just one more slice" on your tray before you leave their station. It feels fun, like a friendly picnic for a meat-loving club.Address: 464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewChez NousNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$Dish to order: Pork Chop with Creamy LeeksCharming, charming, charming. Chances are you had to wonder, "Where is this place again?" even if you live in Charleston, since Chez Nous seems to be hidden in plain sight. It's a calm respite in an increasingly busy neighborhood. Crunch through some gravel to the house tucked in on this block, and you are at once in a village in France and a lovely neighbor's house in Charleston who has just invited you over for dinner and decided to make it fancy by handwriting the menu: two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. The menu is the same at lunch as it is at dinner, and what ensues is a daily dinner party of sorts. It's seasonal, elevated, European comfort food. There are fresh asparagus spears still crunchy under beautiful white, firm-fleshed fish and vanilla custard or mille feuille for dessert. Unless you follow the restaurant on social media, you never know what the meal will be until you're seated.Address: 6 Payne Ct, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewSlightly North of BroadNeighborhood: French QuarterPrice range: $$Dish to order: Shrimp and GritsFirst opened in 1993 and helmed by Chef Frank Lee, this restaurant quickly became a culinary touchstone for the modern Charleston restaurant that has a focus on in-season, local food. While the quality of the food has never waned, the restaurant has changed chefs and owners, and its dining room, and service details—like paper cocktail napkins under stemware for instance—have retained the era in which it was created. The day boat fresh catch might be the crispiest on the outside, tender on the inside, classic preparation in town, topping some sort of seasonal green and in a pool of delicate, buttery sauce. The cornbread service is on point; the butterbeans soft but not mushy; the okra fried crispy but with a thin coating that lets the flavor shine. This is Charleston Southern, and the Moore kitchen knows they're cooking for the SNOB legacy every night.Address: 192 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewPalmira BarbecueNeighborhood: Ashley River RoadPrice range: $$Dish to order: Beef CheeksPalmira BBQ is made for those in search of stick-to-your-bones meals or items to bring to a party or tailgate, families who are hanging together on the weekends, friends who want to keep it casual, and barbecue aficionados who want a new punch on their BBQ fan card. Pitmaster Hector Garate has rocketed to recognition within the barbecue scene because he is a true student of the craft who interprets traditional barbecue through his Puerto Rican heritage, and although this is his first restaurant, he did extensive pop ups before opening up, and he's a natural. The biggest not-miss item on the menu is the beef cheek tacos, topped with pickled red onions. But don't stop there. Sampling the Chuleta Kan-Kan (tomahawk pork chop), whole hog barbecue, Puerto Rican beans, and collard greens are highly recommended.Address: 2366 Ashley River Rd Bldg 1, Charleston, SC 29414Read Full ReviewXiao Bao BiscuitNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$Dish to order: Okonomiyaki + eggFor a taste of something outside of fried green tomatoes and sweet tea, head to Xiao Bao Biscuit on the corner of Rutledge Avenue and Spring Street. Dishes can skew very spicy (depending on your tolerance level), so beer may be the best order, and there are plenty of light options from around the world—including some Charleston stalwarts—that put out the fire. The cocktail game, too, is strong, backed by a consistent bar staff that riffs off Asian flavors with creative success. They bottle-age cocktails, develop house bitters, and know that gin and rum go great with this food. Here you'll find a beautiful marriage of soul food from across Asia, with spicy dishes like Thai yellow curry with mung bean cakes, or Japanese cabbage pancakes with pork “candy.” Inside a converted gas station, it's popular for business and casual meals among the creative class. Just make sure you're thoroughly prepared to eat something spicy.Address: 224 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewThe GroceryNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$Dish to order: Lowcountry Seafood PilauThe Grocery is seasonal, sustainable Charleston meets Mediterranean rim flavors. When Chef de Cuisine Evan Van Horn took on more of a leadership role, he maintained the high level of execution the restaurant is known for, but made it sparkle even more with additions such as benne seed chips with a smoked fish dip and delicata squash with pistachio dukka. The harissa seasoned carrots are as memorable as ever, the fried oysters with deviled egg sauce have remained on the menu since the beginning, and if you’re looking for a historical dish reinterpreted, the Lowcountry Seafood Pilau, a Lowcountry classic with Carolina Gold rice, shrimp, field peas, fried fish, and clams, is still a celebratory moment when it arrives at the table.Address: 4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewKultura CharlestonNeighborhood: ElliotboroughPrice range: $$Dish to order: PancitLast year, Kultura moved from its miniature location a few blocks away to this airy corner location with a muted green exterior, upping the ante on reservation ability and refined dining space. The restaurant incorporates natural textures, design details reminiscent of the chef’s Filipino heritage, and an overall tropical feel with plenty of live plants. Nikko is a native Filipino, and the dishes seem like love poetry whose subject is his homeland, but set in Charleston. The Pancit is traditionally sauced in citrus and soy a, local pork belly is the star of the Pork Asado, and the Inasal (roasted half chicken) is perfectly roasted and perfectly juicy, along with being perfect for sharing. This is a great early date place, to tuck into a table and try menu items together kind of place. It's also perfect for a small group of friends, especially on Sundays, when the menu includes a Kamayan platter, served on banana leaves and inviting diners to eat with their hands.Address: 267 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewWild Common at Cannon GreenNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Tasting MenuFor a city that treats dining out as sport, Charleston has surprisingly few tasting menu experiences that allow chefs to take diners on a journey through flavor, texture, and presentation at their whimsy. Chef Orlando Pagan does so with a definite nod to the region's seafood and gilds it with luxurious flavors, including a standout eggs benedict course as well as wagyu steak. But what really sets Pagan’s tasting menu work apart—besides the Michelin star the restaurant was awarded this year—is that his point of view seems to come from a place of a true desire to share his joy of cooking with diners, instead of from ego or theatrical tricks, resulting in a very satisfying meal. This is an anniversary kind of place, but it's also fun to sit at the bar with an adventurous friend and sip and sup up close to the kitchen. It's a certain kind of person who gives up control to a chef for multiple courses, so if you like to have your sauce on the side, then skip Wild Common.Address: Left Side, 103 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewCirca 1886Neighborhood: Harleston VillagePrice range: $$$Dish to order: Ashley Tasting MenuTucked into the original carriage house of the Wentworth Mansion, Circa's white tablecloths, soft lighting, and intimate space makes this hands-down one of the most romantic restaurants in Charleston.Executive Chef Marc Collins has been at the helm of this restaurant for 20 years, and what's impressive about his focus and his work is that he continues to research the region, create new dishes, and approach the seasonal menus with passion. Dining here means luxurious elegance, and guests have the option to choose from both a tasting menu and an a la carte menu. We suggest going the tasting menu option, not only because you will get a lot of varied bites—from grilled cheese with caviar to lobster tail. The meal will be more balanced and yet require less decision making—a luxury in itself.Address: 149 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewSorelleNeighborhood: French QuarterPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Pillows of GoldWhen the restaurant first opened, many people commented on the beauty of the space, but the kitchen has their footing with the food, and Sorelle is much more than just a pretty face. The business crowd and tourists mainly fill days at Sorelle, munching on salads, pastries, or wood-fired pizzas, but dinner is the main event. Cheese filled puffs topped with prosciutto and caviar, tender pastas, including one named "pillows of gold" Ricotta Tortelloni, a not-miss Rucola E Finocchio salad with fennel and wild arugula , and Grouper Alla Puttanesca with blistered tomatoes. The restaurant feels more city than Italian countryside, and the dishes match the tone, which is refined and modern, but still warm and inviting. If you have to make a choice, go for more savory courses and skip dessert, but choosing the Chef's Experience allows adventurous diners to taste through the entire arc of a dinner evening, no decisions required.Address: 88 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewThe OrdinaryNeighborhood: Upper KingPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Crispy Oyster SliderHoused in a 1920s bank building, the high ceilings and expansive room—designed with clean white tile and black wood accents—is elegant in a simple, Parisian cafe sort of way. The website says "fancy seafood," and this is the place for it in the city. Slurp an oyster or take a bite of the Jumbo lump crab toast, and the word "pristine" pops to mind. It's the operative one here: product is impeccably fresh or it doesn't stay, it's treated with a light but confident hand to make it shine in just the best way, and then plated in a way that's not too over the top. The approach is thoughtful, studied, and yet a little playful, counterintuitive to the volume of plates landing on tables here nightly. Don't miss: oysters on the half shell, crudo, the lobster roll, or the crispy oyster slider.Address: 544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewFigNeighborhood: AnsonboroughPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Tomato Tatin (in season)It's not over-the-top to say there is usually something transcendent about a meal at Fig. The French-influenced execution of a seasonal, locally driven menu is always on point, and seafood is at the pinnacle of this impressive spire. Through Chef de Cuisine changes, the city evolving around them, and the invitation to rest on laurels that comes with years in operation at a high level, co-owners Adam Nemirov and Chef Mike Lata have somehow remained resolute in their dedication to sourcing, craft, and execution. . The cheeses are either Southern standouts or made fresh in house, the locally-caught snapper has a perfectly crispy crust, the butterbeans are creamy but never mushy, and the flavor pairing, the editing, the plating over all is just spot on. Anytime you want to impress or celebrate, this is a place to be. If you're from out of town and only have time for one meal, go here. You’ll be able to say that you understand more about Charleston after one visit.Address: 232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401Read Full ReviewSushi-WaNeighborhood: NoMoPrice range: $$$Dish to order: OmakaseLocated in a new development in a warehouse district that is known more for its breweries, from the outside Sushi-Wa seems like an unlikely place to venture for sushi. Venture anyhow. Enter to find a clean space, white subway tiles, and a wooden counter—it's small and intimate, and filled with patrons from open til close. It took a few years for this restaurant to find its clear direction, but once Chefs Kazu Murakami and Chris Schoedler did the restaurant settled onto an omakase experience featuring Edomae-style sushi—and its full potential. The pace is measured, the presentations elegant, and the bites often revelatory—proving flavors can be evoked in subtlety. In other words, it's a stellar sushi experience.Address: 1503 King St Ext, Charleston, SC 29405Read Full ReviewMalagón Mercado y TaperíaNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$$Dish to order: Arros con cangrejo (crab rice with squid ink)After winning a Michelin star last year, Chef Juan Cassalett’s food is under the radar no longer, which has also given a boost to crowds and creativity. Some of the classic Spanish standouts here, though, are the clams with herbs and white wine, the charcuterie, the almond-stuffed dates wrapped in ham, and, when in season, the gazpacho. You may also want to go for one of the seasonal fish dishes; the restaurant often sources locally from famed fisherman Mark Marhefka of Abundant Seafood. Interactive and conversation-inducing, these tiny tables are made for a first date or a fun foursome, but this isn't the place for the vodka-water set, anyone on a very restrictive diet, or folks looking for a traditional meat-and-sides dinner.Address: 33 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewThe Glass OnionNeighborhood: AvondalePrice range: $$Dish to order: Fried Shrimp Po’BoyThis isn't some buzzy new boîte, but if you've found a spot in the parking lot, consider yourself lucky. This simple place sits comfortably in the tradition of Southern diners, where meat-and-threes, counter service, and simple wooden tables carry way more weight than a well-poured drink.There’s still the large chalkboard with today’s selections at the front counter, but at dinner, servers take your order at the table. You've probably heard about the shrimp po' boy, the catfish, the grits, and the lemon meringue pie so high you could use it as a pillow, but that's just the beginning. Things on the menu seem simple, like shrimp and grits and bread pudding—but behind that simplicity is high-level execution from a chef who honed his skills in fine dining. Breaded seafood is light and crispy; grits prepared to perfection; and pickles put up yearly by the kitchen staff, made from local stuff.Address: 1219 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407Read Full ReviewBertha's KitchenNeighborhood: North CharlestonPrice range: $Dish to order: Fried Pork Chop with sidesThis place is home to soul food and Lowcountry cooking royalty; a counter-service icon you don't want to miss. Owned and operated by the daughters of founder Albertha Grant, those cooking your food are the ones working the line and the register. It's $8 for a meat and two sides, so consider taking the leap and going for two entrees. There's too much to love for one styrofoam container: fried chicken, crisp and hot; fried pork chops that are tender and well-seasoned; red rice, white rice, mac and cheese; okra stew that's probably been made the same way since their grandmothers were making it; oxtails falling off the bone if they have it; fried fish if they have it; any dessert they suggest, and sweet potatoes. Wash it all down with the sweetest sweet tea and lemonade.Address: 2332 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405Read Full ReviewJackrabbit FillyNeighborhood: Park CirclePrice range: $$Dish to order: Sichuan Hot KaraageJackrabbit Filly moved from Spruill Avenue around the corner to East Montague in early 2025, and the new space feels like a Chinese-American restaurant from the ’70s or ’80s in the best way, with plenty of lacquer, deep-red accents, and a mix of booths and tables. That wasn't the year's only big news for the restaurant. Chef Shuai Wang achieved finalist status on Top Chef in 2025—and the crowds have followed him. At this new iteration of Jackrabbit Filly, the dumplings are as tender and flavorful as you'd hope, and the karaage is still a staple, but there is much more to explore here, from spicy peanut noodles to cornmeal-crusted trout with a crunchy cabbage salad. The drinks are noteworthy, too: There's Viognier by the glass, plenty of light beer for spicy food, and even a couple of frozen concoctions for those wanting to get festive.Address: 1083 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405Read Full ReviewHannibal's KitchenNeighborhood: East side / NoMoPrice range: $Dish to order: Crab riceLocated in a small, unassuming orange building on Blake Street, walking into Hannibal’s you realize this restaurant, which many would consider a “hole-in-the-wall,” is really special. The soul food at Hannibal’s is among some of the best you’ll find in Charleston. Currently serving lunch and dinner, the menu focuses primarily on seafood (as is common among the region's restaurants), while also featuring other soul food classics from pork chops to red rice. The crab and shrimp rice is lauded by locals and area chefs as Hannibal's staple and is by far the most popular dish. The fried chicken is another must-try, along with the collard greens and macaroni and cheese. Hannibal’s Kitchen is a must-stop for anyone seeking real soul food while in Charleston.Address: 16 Blake St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewChubby FishNeighborhood: ElliotboroughPrice range: $$Dish to order: Caviar sandwiches for the tableTucked into a neighborhood that Charleston doesn't really want to get overrun by tourists, Chubby Fish has some of the best seafood in a seafood-centric town. At 5 p.m. every night, the blue velour curtains at the no-reservations spot are pulled back, and people quickly file into the standing-room-only bar as they wait to get a seat. Chef James London brings a bit of all the styles he's cooked in to Chubby Fish, leading to a range of different fish preparations, from crudo with chili ponzu to amberjack spread with pickled peppers, to braised grouper cheeks with field peas. Whatever ends up on the menu, you can expect it to be absolutely delicious.Address: 252 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewBowens Island RestaurantNeighborhood: James Island / Folly BeachPrice range: $$Dish to order: Roasted OystersOn outer James Island, almost to Folly Beach, a sandy road stretches from Bowens Island through the marsh. Take this, and it will end at the Folly River's large, weathered building with multiple decks, a hell of a view of Lowcountry sunset over a dock, and—if you're lucky—the smell of freshly fried hushpuppies in the air. Welcome to Bowen's Island Restaurant. The Lowcountry oyster roast—steamed wild caught oyster clusters served on long tables with crackers, lemon, and cocktail sauce—are a Charleston tradition, and when these clusters are in season, Bowen's is the most reliable place to experience this. Beyond that, fried seafood selections reign, and the lightly breaded and tender fried shrimp might be some of the best in town.Address: 1870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412Read Full Reviewda Toscano Porchetta ShopNeighborhood: CannonboroughPrice range: $$Dish to order: Porchetta SandwichThe open kitchen and counter dominate this narrow space, and most people get their items to-go, since there's only a standing bar here. However, this counter service spot goes beyond the usual, with cooks behind glass rotating chickens on a spit alongside tall stacks of focaccia and bowls of accoutrements that make these sandwiches shine. This is simply put, sandwich nirvana, which for us means every element is considered and well crafted, which creates unforgettable combos. All offering comes on housemade focaccia, and breakfast, from everything spiced salmon with whipped ricotta to a B.E.C. with black pepper mayonnaise are expertly composed of multiple delicious ingredients and hearty, but there is a selection of pastries too. Don't skip the classic porchetta, a local, roasted Holy City Hog, served with crackling, salsa verde, and provolone.Address: 109 President St, Charleston, SC 29403Read Full ReviewThis gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.Stephanie Burt is the host of The Southern Fork podcast and a writer based in Charleston, S.C. Her work has appeared in Saveur, Extra Crispy, Zagat, The Post and Courier, and Bake from Scratch, and she focuses on researching heirloom ingredients, interviewing passionate people creating good food, and when she's ... 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