Best restaurants in Charleston

Hyman's Seafood

Vast seafood spot & deli spread over most of a city block in buildings that date back to the 1890s.

Lewis Barbecue

Texas-style brisket and hot guts in a big open-air pit yard on the upper peninsula.

The CODfather, Proper Fish & Chips

Huge filets of fish ’n’ chips constitute the entire menu at this unassuming British specialist.

Baguette Magic Folly Rd

This bright, casual French bakery carries traditional breads, sandwiches, pastries & salads.

Home Team BBQ

Bustling tavern serving generous portions of smoked meat & Southern sides, plus frequent live music.

Swig & Swine

House-smoked meats & creative sides served in a funky BBQ spot with outdoor seating, beer & bourbon.

Page's Okra Grill

Generous portions of casual Southern-focused home cooking are served all day at this lively eatery.

Grace & Grit

Creatively flavored grits accompany the surf 'n' turf at this area-sourced Southern specialist.

Dashi

Trendy spot with brunch doling out Mexican standards, plus desserts & cocktails.

Hachiya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

Relaxed, family-friendly Japanese restaurant offering a sushi menu, tempura & teppanyaki meals.

Rappahannock Oyster Bar

Expansive, lively destination for oysters & hearty entrees, with a copper bar for cocktails & wine.

Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

Tennessee whole-hog pit barbecue outfit on Highland Ave, with live music and cold beer to back it up.

MESU

Japanese-Mexican fusion restaurant on upper King Street, with sushi and tacos sharing a menu alongside cocktails and occasional live music.

Pizza a Modo Mio (New York Pizzeria)

New York-style pizza shop on Bees Ferry Road, slinging pies by the slice alongside bagels out of a strip mall.

Pearlz Oyster Bar

Relaxed, light-filled eatery with outdoor seating serving classic seafood, raw bites & burgers.

Annie O' Love's Cookie Cafe

Vegan bakery and coffee cafe on Ashley River Road, built around house-made cookies and plant-based cafe staples.

King Claw - Juicy Seafood & Bar

Customizable seafood boils & fried baskets in a roomy space with elaborate nautical decor & TVs.

Philosophia

Greek-owned coffee shop and café in a Mount Pleasant strip mall, pulling espresso alongside Mediterranean plates.

Ellis Creek Fish Camp

Visitors can eat indoors or on the terrace with countryside views at this casual seafood option.

Home Team BBQ

Bustling tavern serving generous portions of smoked meat & Southern sides, plus frequent live music.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Breezy Sullivan's Island cantina serving tacos, coastal seafood, and margaritas a block from the beach.

Port of Call - Food & Brew

Nautical-themed Market Street spot serving seafood, brunch, and craft beer with live music in the heart of the tourist corridor.

Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar

Bustling spot for refined seafood dishes, served in clubby, brick-walled environs, with a bar.

Hugh-Baby's BBQ & Burger Shop

Counter-service burger and BBQ joint on St. Andrews Blvd, slinging smash burgers and smoked meats to West Ashley regulars.

Rodney Scott's BBQ

Whole-hog pitmaster Rodney Scott's flagship. Wood-burned pork, white bread, hot sauce.

Pearlz Oyster Bar

Relaxed, light-filled eatery with outdoor seating serving classic seafood, raw bites & burgers.

CudaCo. Seafood House

Casual seafood and oyster bar on Folly Road, pulling in locals with raw bar staples and cold beer.

By the Grace of GRITS Catering

North Charleston catering operation specializing in Southern comfort food and barbecue for weddings and private events.

King BBQ

Chinese-run barbecue spot on Carver Avenue in North Charleston, pulling steady locals with smoked meat and a full bar.

Toro Birria

Birria-focused Mexican counter on Dorchester Road serving consommé-dipped tacos with beer and wine in North Charleston.

Lawrence's Seafood Company

Casual seafood counter steps from the Isle of Palms strand, serving fried platters and low country staples with live music on the back deck.

ThaiZapp Restaurant and bar

Straightforward restaurant offering traditional Thai cuisine, including chicken satay & dumplings.

Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant - West Ashley

Traditional Mexican dishes offered in a casual space with a bar mixing margaritas.

Tacos El Pariente

Cash-only taqueria on Clements Ferry serving straightforward Mexican street food to the construction and warehouse crowd on the north peninsula.

Dukes Barbecue

Casual restaurant dishing up Southern barbecue classics at a buffet or via a drive-thru.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

Lively eatery dishing out Mexican favorites, including tacos and tortas, in hip, casual environs.

Rio Chico

Traditional Mexican dishes offered in a casual space with a bar mixing margaritas.

Rancho Lewis

Ford Fry's Tex-Mex outpost on upper King, slinging smoked meats, flour tortillas, and margaritas in a lively, wood-paneled room.

Condado Tacos

Ohio-based taco chain with build-your-own options and a full bar, planted in the Towne Centre shopping complex.

Saveurs du Monde Cafe

Crêpes, tartines, quiches & elegant French-style pastries offered in a bright, modern space.

Taco Boy Charleston

Tacos with innovative fillings & frozen cocktails in a funky, vibrant setting, plus outdoor seating.

Azul Mexicano James Island

Neighborhood Mexican spot on Maybank Highway serving tacos and margaritas with beer on tap and a strip-mall patio.

The Grit Counter - North Charleston

Counter-service spot on W Montague dishing grits bowls, burgers, and seafood in no-frills North Charleston digs.

Swig & Swine Mount Pleasant

Pit-smoked barbecue joint off SC-41 in Mount Pleasant, with beer, wine, and a loyal following of 873 reviewers.

MI LINDO OAXACA TAQUERIA

Family-run Oaxacan taqueria in a Mt. Pleasant strip mall, turning out tlayudas and mole alongside standard tacos.

Tiki Taco

Tacos, burritos & other Mexican staples offered in an informal venue with bright tropical decor.

Cachita's Kitchen Downtown

Cuban-Mexican kitchen on Market Street serving ropa vieja and tacos in a compact, dog-friendly dining room.

Bonefish Grill

Contemporary grill chain offering a seafood-centric menu, plus steaks & cocktails.

Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano

A collection of eclectic chandeliers light up the Mexican & Southwest food & frozen drinks.

Tasty Thai & Sushi

Neighborhood strip-mall Thai and sushi spot on Coleman Boulevard, steady enough to earn loyal Mt. Pleasant regulars over the years.

El PinchoTaco

Counter-service taco spot on upper Meeting Street pouring beer and wine alongside straightforward Mexican street food.

Kings Sushi

Neighborhood sushi spot on Wappoo Road serving rolls, hibachi, and all-you-can-eat buffet with beer on tap.

Coconut Joe's

Guests look out on the ocean from the deck & rooftop bar, while dining on island-inspired dishes.

Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

Counter-service Tex-Mex spot on Coleman Boulevard slinging loaded nachos and cheap beer since the '90s.

Saveurs Du Monde Cafe WestEdge

French-inflected cafe tucked into the WestEdge development, serving coffee and breakfast with a global pantry.

The Longboard

Casual surf-themed seafood spot on Sullivan's Island serving oysters, brunch, and cold beer steps from the beach.

San Miguel Mexican grill & bar

Strip-mall Mexican in Mount Pleasant with margaritas, live music, and a loyal local following on Shoremeade Road.

Tommy Condon's Irish Pub & Restaurant

Nothing-fancy, family-friendly spot combining Irish pub with Lowcountry seafood & live music.

Señor Tequila

Low-key Mexican kitchen producing a familiar menu of fajitas, quesadillas, tacos & margaritas.

Catrina's Tacos & Tequila

Neighborhood Mexican spot on Foundation Street slinging tacos and an extensive tequila list in a casual, no-fuss setting.

Ruby’s New York Style Bagels

New York-style bagels and coffee on Ashley River Road, with a loyal West Ashley following.

Lucy's Deliveries y Mas

Goose Creek strip-mall taqueria serving burritos, tacos, and Latin plates with live music on weekends.

Ru Ru's Tacos & Tequila

Casual Mexican spot on East Bay slinging tacos and tequila to the downtown lunch and late-night crowd.

Cod Tail Seafood & Chicken

Casual counter-service spot on Skylark Drive slinging fried seafood and chicken out of a strip mall suite.

Viva Tacos & Tequila

Casual taco-and-tequila spot on Daniel Island serving Mexican standards with a full bar.

Poogan's Smokehouse

Industrial-chic hot spot serving locally sourced, traditional Southern BBQ & stylish cocktails.

Melvin's BBQ - James Island

Family-friendly BBQ eatery serving ribs & other Southern dishes in casual, woodsy surrounds.

Salud Tacos + Tequila

Strip-mall taco and tequila spot in Hanahan with a loyal local following and a full bar.

The Mill Street Tavern

Tavern serving updated American food in a wood dominated interior or on the riverside terrace.

Swig & Swine

Jeff's Bagel Run

Hand-rolled bagels and counter coffee on the Isle of Palms, drawing a steady beach-town breakfast crowd.

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

Laid-back chain known for slow-cooked BBQ & cheese biscuits, plus burgers, salads & classic sides.

California Dreaming

Relaxed restaurant & bar chain serving steak & seafood, plus signature nachos, sandwiches & pasta.

Melvin's BBQ - Mt Pleasant

Family-friendly BBQ eatery serving ribs & other Southern dishes in casual, woodsy surrounds.

Agaves Cantina

Low-key, unfussy Mexican eatery featuring classic standards plus patio seating, margaritas & beers.

Southern Roots Smokehouse

Low-key outlet for smoked meats & classic sides served in a rustic BBQ spot with beers & cocktails.

Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

Colorful eatery & sports bar for Mexican-inspired bites & drinks, plus live music & patio seating.

Handy and Hot

Quaint, cool restaurant whipping up sweet & savory biscuits & hand pies, plus coffee.

TBonz Gill & Grill

Easygoing restaurant offering handcut steaks, Southern-style rib platters & other classic dishes.

Sake House Japanese Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant

Family-friendly Japanese spot featuring sushi, hibachi cooking tables & a lengthy sake selection.

Water's Edge

Sophisticated operation serving freshly caught fish, with outdoor seating & a casual downstairs bar.

Santi’s West Ashley

Neighborhood Mexican spot on Savannah Highway serving tacos and cold beer in a no-frills West Ashley setting.

Coastal Provisions

Refined eatery at Wild Dunes Resort offering locavore seafood & drinks in a terrace-enhanced space.

Bessinger's BBQ

Landmark no-frills barbecue joint with meat slow-cooked in a wood-fire pit, plus outdoor seating.

Coconut Joe's

Beachside bar and grill on Folly serving fried seafood and cold drinks a block from the water.

Harborview Restaurant & Lounge

Airy top-floor bistro & bar at the Holiday Inn offering American fare & cocktails, plus river views.