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Charleston is blessed with a bevy of Southern-inflected selections, from barbecue parlors to fish shacks to casual places serving Lowcountry fare like shrimp and grits. If you'd like to try something new, there are plenty of places serving updated, inspired versions of classic dishes. Before you leave, you'll definitely see why Charleston is considered one of the greatest food cities in the world.
The city's dining scene status continues to rise, boosted by a group of James Beard Foundation repeat award winners. Robert Stehling of Hominy Grill, Mike Lata of FIG and The Ordinary, Jason Stanhope of FIG, and Sean Brock of McCrady's and Husk each earned the designation of Best Chef: Southeast, in successive years. The city boasts other prodigious talents, too: Alex Lira of Bar Normandy, Jeremiah Bacon of the Macintosh, Michelle Weaver of Charleston Grill, Ken Vedrinski of Trattoria Lucca, Jacques Larson of Wild Olive and The Obstinate Daughter, and Josh Walker of Xiao Bao Biscuit. It's the establishment of the New South, circa now.
As for attire, Charleston invites a crisp yet casual atmosphere. Don't forget, it was recognized as the Most Mannerly City in the country by Marjabelle Young Stewart, which means that residents are slow to judge (or, at the least, that they're doing so very quietly). On the whole, the city encourages comfort and unhurried, easy pacing. The result is an idyllic setting in which to enjoy oysters on the half shell and other homegrown delicacies from the land and sea that jointly grant the city its impressive culinary standing.
This spot is one of those delightful throwbacks, a drugstore with a soda fountain where the news of the day is discussed and young people can share an honest-to-goodness Coca-Cola float. Look for no-frills white-bread sandwiches—pimento cheese, bologna, egg salad, and more—fountain drinks and malts, and mainstay ice cream flavors.
This Johns Island roadside joint presents a banquet of locally raised delicacies. Owners and farmers Pete and Babs Ambrose maintain their 200-acre farm on Wadmalaw Island, which informs their menu. Hand-planted and handpicked fresh tomatoes, butter beans, cabbage, collards, cucumbers, and even rutabaga star as sides, in Southern casseroles, and as to-go treats. The veggies sit well with the Tomato Shed's other offerings, such as peel-and-eat shrimp from local waters, crab cakes, and roasted pork. Be sure to grab a bag of boiled peanuts on your way out.
The creation of Dano and Bethany Heinze—who amount to downtown Charleston's culinary royal couple, having made their names at the much-missed McCrady's—Vern's is one of the many high-end restaurants in the American South masquerading as a cozy neighborhood joint. But don't let the chalkboard and uncovered tables fool you: Interpretations of local produce here are among the city's best.
On Folly Beach, this 24/7 quick stop for gourmet sandwiches, local ice cream, and 75-cent hot dogs has been a mainstay for decades.
One of Charleston's oldest speakeasies, the Blind Tiger can go toe-to-toe with any newcomer. Name the beer, name the backdrop, and the Tiger can deliver in spades, starting with two indoor bars and a historic, handsome outdoor patio. The kitchen also turns out solid bar food—the truffle duck sandwich and French onion soup make this a regular lunch spot for Broad Street attorneys.
Breakfast burritos, loaded sandwiches, and frosé make this the go-to post-surf session hot spot on Sullivan's Island.
Founded by two young local bar scene vets who believe unironically in the power of a good breakfast, Daps supplies the West Side with an array of hashes and exceptional pancakes, brushed with sugary cereal on request. The brunchy sandwiches, including an extra-porky take on the standard bánh mì, are especially smart.
If you're staying near I-95 or looking for a family-friendly bar to watch a game, this independent joint is a step above the fast-food and other chain restaurants in the vicinity. The menu of sandwiches, steaks, and seafood mixes with Southern comfort foods, and has a homemade look (and taste) about it. Prices are reasonable, and the patrons are mostly local.
The Southern roots of this eatery's chef-owners show in the classic eats like deviled eggs, meat loaf, fried catfish po'boys, and overstuffed pimento-cheese sandwiches, along with sweets like bread pudding with whiskey sauce. The Saturday brunch is a must, with its fluffy buttermilk biscuits with gravy and savory pork tamales. Meals are served on sheets of brown paper that drape over the restaurant's wooden tabletops, another clever touch.
The Galactic, Krypto, Orbit City, and Blue Galactic hot dog varieties at Jack's Cosmic are otherworldly excellent, with blue-cheese slaw, spicy mustard, sauerkraut, zippy onion relish, and Jack's own sweet-potato mustard, all swaddled in Pepperidge Farms split-top buns. Akin to a diner, Jack's serves milkshakes and sundaes, real custard soft-serve ice cream, draft root beer, and hand-cut fries. This place is a favorite among kids.
Grab a window seat at this casual spot for a pleasant view of East Washington Street while you dig into shrimp and stone-ground grits, a Philly-style cheese steak, or a juicy burger on a kaiser roll. Desserts like bourbon pecan pie are house-made and served in generous portions. The menu’s not for gourmands, but the basic pub fare works, especially if you’re there to catch the game over a bite and beer.
From the moment that Kate and Ben Towill came to South Carolina to open an exceedingly Instagrammable vegetable-focused restaurant in downtown Charleston, fans have clamored for more of their spot-on style. That wish is granted in the form of Post House, an effortlessly tasteful neighborhood bistro featuring thoughtful takes on classics such as Caesar salad, steak frites, and peel-and-eat shrimp.
If it looks like a cross between a veterans' hall and a dive bar, that's because the Tattooed Moose is going for a decidedly unpretentious vibe. With 90-plus beers on the menu and a large moose head behind the counter, the place cuts a distinctive figure; homey eats like house-smoked barbecue brisket, chicken salad, jumbo chicken wings, and fried turkey breast are just some of the offerings. The bar's famous duck club is a menu showstopper—it relies on duck confit, apple-smoked bacon, garlic aioli, and ripened tomatoes bounded by sweet Hawaiian bread. If you find yourself on Johns Island, the Moose now has a larger satellite location that caters to families and the happy hour crowd.
