Best restaurants in Charleston

Lewis Barbecue

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

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.

Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse

Serves Brazilian-style grilled meats and gourmet salads in a cozy ambience.

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.

Hachiya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

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

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.

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.

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.

Home Team BBQ

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

Thailicious Thai Cuisine and Hotpot

Thai kitchen and hot pot spot tucked into a Magwood Drive strip center, serving beer alongside build-your-own broth pots and Bangkok staples.

Thai Elephants Restaurant (James Island)

Casual place with ornate, traditional decor offering classic Thai dishes as well as Japanese sushi.

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.

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.

Mango Tree Thai Cafe

Neighborhood Thai spot on Huger Street serving curries, noodles, and beer in a low-key strip mall setting.

ThaiZapp Restaurant and bar

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

Dukes Barbecue

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

Saveurs du Monde Cafe

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

Swig & Swine Mount Pleasant

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

Basil Park Circle

Traditional & contemporary Thai dishes like curries in a stylish small-chain outpost.

Tasty Thai & Sushi

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

Saveurs Du Monde Cafe WestEdge

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

KING STREET FOODS

Fast-casual counter on King Street serving sushi burritos and poke bowls where Hawaiian and Japanese overlap.

Ruby’s New York Style Bagels

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

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.

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.

Melvin's BBQ - Mt Pleasant

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

Southern Roots Smokehouse

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

Handy and Hot

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

CO Restaurant

Hip choice for contemporary twists on Southeast Asian staples like pho, banh mi & dumplings.

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.

Bessinger's BBQ

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