31 Best Restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina

One of the Charleston area's great soul food institutions, Bertha's is owned and run by sisters Julie Grant, Linda Pinckney, and Sharon Grant Coakley, who have been awarded the America's Classic prize from the James Beard Foundation for being an essential component of the community (the restaurant was opened in their mother's honor). There's almost always a line at the counter-service restaurant, but it's worth waiting for exceptional okra soup, fried pork chops, and lima beans.

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 spot serves locally made vegan and old-school ice cream done right, plus nitro cold brew.

Rodney Scott became a darling of the region's barbecue scene in the early 2010s, when he branched out from his family's pit-cooked joint in Hemingway, South Carolina, to create this temple to whole hogs in downtown Charleston. Apart from the requisite sandwiches and platters, he also offers pit-cooked chicken, racks of ribs, and fried catfish. Come hungry and grab an extra handful of napkins.

Operating as a one-stop butcher shop and deli counter, Ted's sells beef, game, seafood, and homemade sausages to complement its selection of artisanal cheeses, wine, and other specialty foods. Among the lunchtime favorites are the house-roasted Wagyu beef panini and the ever-changing bacon-of-the-month BLT. On Friday nights there are wine tastings and a bargain prix-fixe dinner.

Locals are infatuated with the martinis and potato chip service at Babas, but the Euro-styled café also boasts a top-notch coffee program.

Come for freshly baked bread to go, but stay for an egg-and-sausage breakfast sandwich or a decadent chocolate croissant.

Stop in for the coffee, stay for the delicious seasonal desserts: heavenly sweet 'n' salty brownies, cheesecake bars, and whoopie pies.

James Beard Award semifinalist Alex Lira and some of his industry buddies opened this chill hot-dogs-and-raw-oysters joint as a neighborhood hangout with killer cocktails. Locals gather here to sprawl out on the velvet couch with a tiki cocktail and challenge each other over pinball. Even more cross bridges just to pick up a half or whole Peruvian rotisserie chicken to go.  

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.

Grab a latte at this charming coffee shop that's staffed by people with developmental disabilities.

There's a distinct European flavor to this sidewalk café where you can grab a sandwich to-go or stay and relax with a sorbet or glass of wine.

Come for the carefully constructed coffee, but don't leave without a to-die-for egg and country ham biscuit with jam.

Breakfast burritos, loaded sandwiches, and frosé make this the go-to post-surf session hot spot on Sullivan's Island.

Avocado toast will never get old at this lively coffee shop, which since opening in Charleston has brought its Israeli-influenced menu and healthful beverages to an Atlanta extension of the popular brand.

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.

A vestige of a past era in Cannonborough-Elliottborough, this stalwart soul food joint still boxes up fried shrimp, deviled crab, and juicy pork chops. The menu changes daily, and it's wise to follow the recommendations of the chef just behind the counter in the open kitchen. Most folks take their okra soup, turkey wings, and country ribs to-go, but there are a few barstools and a couple of simple tables just inside the door.

Three words: maple bacon doughnuts. If that's not enough to get you in the door, any number of other creative options—think raspberry Nutella or berries and mascarpone—should do the trick. Mark Remi and the late Allison Smith opened their sweetheart of a store because they suspected there was an untapped enthusiasm for artisanal doughnuts. The verdict? Unqualified success. There are 7 to 10 varieties daily, filled with homemade jam and other fillings. Just name your flavor.

In Lowcountry vernacular, "sweet shop" has nothing to do with confections: It refers to a type of building. But everyone agrees H & R is very sweet indeed, with three-quarters of a century of history of serving homestyle plates and a terrific burger.

The Harbinger serves lovely salads, but once you approach the welcoming coffee counter—outfitted with an always-gleaming pastry case—it's hard not to think of dessert first. The selection varies seasonally, but anything made with tahini is a sure bet.

Locally sourced ingredients form the basis of breakfast ricotta biscuits, kaleidoscopic salads, and sandwiches stacked on housemade focaccia at this delightful, female-owned neighborhood coffee shop and cafe.

The successor to a popular sandwich shop, which for many years sat at the same address, Heavy's serves a seasoned smashburger good enough to wipe out memories of other lunches. Round out your order with estimable onion rings, a well-made cocktail, and pie.

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.

South Carolinians have been flocking here for egg salad sandwiches and ice cream for close to a century.

Don't pass up the sweet and savory crepes, named for Charleston's islands and neighborhoods, at this venerable neighborhood institution that also serves pressed breakfast and lunch sandwiches, smoothies, cold brew, and craft beer. The art-filled space doubles as a wine shop—pick up a bottle on the way to a picnic at nearby Colonial Lake.

This no-frills spot serves meaty masterpieces—no, really—like the Super Butt, house-braised pork with smoked sweet onions and potato cream cheese, and a generous rib-eye cheese steak. Add a hearty beer list and poutine (fries covered in gravy), and it's worth the drive. Heading to Kiawah Island? It's also an excellent weigh station en route.

Accommodating locals and out-of-towners alike, Taco Boy delivers tasty Mexican American treats to a bustling patio crowd. The ambience is half the allure of this eclectic outpost featuring rehabbed or reclaimed materials—right down to the bar counter, carved from a fallen North Carolina walnut tree, and the funky Mexican folk art adorning every inch of wall space. It's a forward-thinking and fun joint, perfect for downing margaritas and micheladas (beer with lime juice, tomato juice, and chilies) or sharing a sampler trio of house-made guacamole and two types of salsa. For beach-bound travelers, Folly Beach—south of downtown Charleston—boasts the original restaurant on Center Street.

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.

Featuring massive buttermilk biscuits, this brunch favorite is also acclaimed for its Bloody Marys.