What locals are saying
Bertha's Kitchen is a Black-owned, family-operated soul food institution open since 1979 and the 2017 James Beard America's Classics Award winner — locals and regulars treat it as a neighborhood anchor, not a tourist stop. The fried chicken, red rice, collard greens, and pork chops draw near-universal praise for deep, authentic Lowcountry flavor. The main gripes are long lines at peak hours and occasional inconsistency with certain sides coming out mushy or underseasoned.
On socials
The fried chicken is the undisputed headliner — thin, shatteringly crisp skin giving way to piping-hot, juicy meat — with people doubling back in line for a second piece mid-meal. Okra soup earns nearly equal devotion as the signature Gullah dish, and the fried pork chops, red rice, mac & cheese, and lima beans round out a lunch that people call the closest thing to a grandmother's kitchen they've found in Charleston.
