Charleston, SC, is a city known for its traditional southern cuisine and welcoming hospitality. Visitors from different corners troop in every day to experience the city’s unique history, vibrant charm, and delectable dishes.
Charleston is home to the best restaurants in South Carolina, and If you are looking for the best restaurants in Charleston, you will be spoilt for choice. From upscale seafood restaurants to down-home BBQ joints, Charleston has something to please everyone’s palate.
This article will consider the best restaurants in Charleston, SC, and why they are so popular with locals and tourists alike. So whether you are visiting Charleston or South Carolina for the first time or a local looking for a new dining experience, read on for some great suggestions!
Best Restaurants Charleston, SC
Florence Lowcountry Kitchen
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Florence Lowcountry Kitchen is a hidden gem in the heart of downtown Charleston. The Charleston restaurant offers southern comfort food and Lowcountry cuisine with a unique twist. Their tasting menus feature delicious food like shrimp rice, crab cakes, fried chicken, oysters, and other local purveyors.
The restaurant also has the perfect selection of beer and wine to accompany your meal. Florence Lowcountry Kitchen is also ideal for a romantic dinner or a night out with loved ones and friends. This restaurant opens on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Weekends from 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Florence Lowcountry Kitchen is situated at 90 Folly Rd Blvd, Charleston, South Carolina, 29407.
Leon’s Oyster Shop
If you are looking for a casual dining experience, then look no further than Leon’s Oyster Shop. The restaurant is known for its fancy seafood, Lowcountry classics, and wood-fired pizza.
This award-winning poultry and seafood restaurant has been operating on Kings Street for many years. The restaurant is known for its raw bar and seafood, and they also have a great wine list.
The menu has locally-caught seafood like seal scallops, fried oysters, sea scallops, shrimp rice, soft shell crab, shrimp, fried chicken, chicken sandwich, fried green tomatoes, and toast.
The restaurant is in an old body shop belonging to Leon Ravenel, a businessman who served Charleston residents for several years.
Leon’s Oyster Shop preserves much of that industrial history, complete with functioning garage doors, concrete floors, and some remaining memorabilia from Leon himself.
If you are looking for a casual but excellent seafood dining experience, be sure to check out Leon’s Oyster Shop. The restaurant opens for lunch and dinner every day except Mondays. Leon’s Oyster Shop is located at 698 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403, United States.
Chubby Fish
If you are a seafood lover, then Chubby Fish is for you. The restaurant is one of the best seafood restaurants, and it is known for its fresh seafood, caught daily from the Charleston harbor.
Located in Charleston’s historic Elliotborough neighborhood, Chubby Fish is dedicated to providing its customers a fresh Lowcountry seafood with unique preparations. Also, Chubby Fish partners with local farmers and fishermen to source the best and freshest ingredients.
By working together, they can source straight-from-the-ocean seafood and river delights from all over the area. This restaurant features a chef-driven dock-to-table concept from chef James London.
The menu changes daily, depending on what is in season. But you can expect the freshest seafood, like okra soup, local oysters, lobster roll, shrimp, fish tacos, crab cakes, she-crab soup, and other fancy seafood. Chubby Fish is open from Tuesdays To Saturdays and is located at 252 Coming Street, Charleston, SC 29403.
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
This restaurant is for those who love barbecues. Rodney Scott’s BBQ is a Charleston institution, and it is one of the best restaurants to eat in the city. This world-famous barbecue joint has served up Lowcountry mouth-watering ribs, chicken, and pork for years. The restaurant is known for its whole-hog cooking style, using only the freshest local ingredients.
The menu includes pulled pork sandwiches, smoked chicken, ribs, and BBQ pork platters. Rodney Scott’s BBQ also offers a selection of sides like pork chops, collard greens, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, and coleslaw. If you are looking for an original Charleston barbecue experience, Rodney Scott’s BBQ is the perfect spot for you.
The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering take-out service and online orders. Rodney Scott’s BBQ is located at 1011 King Street, Charleston, SC 29401, United States.
Zero George Restaurant
Zero George Restaurant is one of the best Charleston restaurants to get an upscale dining experience. The award-winning restaurant is a fine dining establishment located in Charleston’s historic district. Zero Restaurant is an intimate setting with only a small amount of tables, and it offers a seasonal menu with locally-sourced ingredients.
Under the supervision of acclaimed chef Vinson Petrillo, the menu features items like roasted beet salad, chicken liver mousse, pimento cheese, pan-roasted quail, fried chicken, and so on. The restaurant also offers an excellent selection of wine and champagne.
This restaurant is open for dinner from Monday to Saturday, offers Sunday brunch, and is situated at 0 George Street, Charleston, South Carolina, 29401, USA.
B&D Burgers
This is one of the best places to eat in Charleston if you want a casual burger joint. B&D Burgers is a local burger chain with several locations around the city. The burgers here are made with fresh, never-frozen South Carolina Angus beef and served on toasted buns.
Their menu features classic American burgers with all the fixings and a selection of gourmet burgers. Some popular items on the menu include the B&D Burger, Blue Cheese Burger, Mushroom Swiss Burger, BBQ Bacon Burger, fried pork chops, and Turkey Burger. The restaurant also has a wide selection of beers, wines, and cocktails.
B&D Burgers is open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Sunday, and you can also order online. B&D Burgers has several locations across South Carolina, so check their website for the one nearest to you.
Xiao Bao Biscuit
Xiao Bao Biscuit is one of Charleston’s best-kept secrets. This hidden gem is a must-visit for anyone looking for an authentic Asian dining experience. The restaurant opened its doors in Charleston in 2012 and has become a local favorite ever since. Xiao Bao Biscuit is an Asian Southeast and Chinese restaurant that offers a unique dining experience. Their multi-course tasting menu features steamed buns, pork dumplings, noodle dishes, Som Tum, fried rice bowls, and other mouth-watering delicacies.
If you are looking for something a little different, Xiao Bao Biscuit is the perfect restaurant. They are open for lunch and dinner six days a week, except on Sundays. The restaurant does not take reservations, so be sure to get there early. The Holy City Xiao Bao Biscuit is located at 224 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, United States.
The Grey
The Grey is one of the best places to eat in Charleston, SC, if you are looking for a fine dining experience. The award-winning restaurant is located in the heart of the city’s historic district and is perfect for intimate gatherings and large groups. This famous restaurant occupies a 1938 art deco Greyhound Bus Terminal and has been serving seasonal Mediterranean-style cooking since it opened several years ago.
The wide-ranging menu features classic dishes with a modern twist, and it changes seasonally to reflect the freshest local ingredients. Some popular items on the menu include shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, beet salad, fried chicken, hanger steak, and seared scallops. The restaurant also has an excellent wine list with local and international options.
The Grey is open for lunch and dinner from Monday to Sunday. The restaurant does take reservations, so be sure to book in advance. The Grey is located at 109 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401, United States.
The Fig
The Fig is one of the best places to eat in Charleston, SC, if you’re looking for a casual yet sophisticated dining experience. This Charleston restaurant is located in an old brick building on upper King Street, and it offers a seasonal menu with locally sourced ingredients.
The tasting menus feature seasonal dishes that are made with locally sourced ingredients.
Some popular items on the dinner menus include soul food classics Carolina gold rice, Moroccan chicken salad, grilled grey tiger fish, wood-fired pizzas, and wood-roasted chicken. The restaurant also has excellent international wine pairings with various house specialty drinks.
FIG is open for fine casual dining from Tuesday to Saturday and is closed on Mondays and Sundays. The restaurant only takes reservations, so be sure to book in advance. FIG is located at 232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States.
Conclusion
Charleston, SC, is home to some of the best restaurants in the country. With over 100 world-class restaurants to choose from, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a fine dining experience or a casual meal, Charleston has a restaurant that will suit your needs. So, what are you waiting for? Book your trip to Charleston today and enjoy the best food the city offers!
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