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Best Restaurants in Charleston (2026) — Ranked by Locals · Updated Daily · CharlestonRanked

Home/Restaurants

Charleston · Restaurants

Best restaurants in Charleston

Read the ranked list →

The places locals actually book — from neighborhood lunch spots to tasting-menu nights.

Showing 39 of 593 in Downtown · June 18, 2026

1
464 N Nassau St, CharlestonTrending
Lewis Barbecue
Texas-style brisket and hot guts in a big open-air pit yard on the upper peninsula.
4.88.6k ratingsbbq · brisket · outdoor
Open
2

Downtown230 Italian45 Sushi35 BBQ25 Bakery21 Vietnamese3 West Ashley70 Mount Pleasant55 Seafood85 Outdoor seating416 Takeout525 Pizza54

Filters

All filters6 active

AreaDowntown230 West Ashley70 Mount Pleasant55 North Charleston49 James Island39 Folly Beach23 Isle of Palms20 Shem Creek20 Hanahan17 Daniel Island14 Sullivan's Island10 Old Village10 Summerville9 Johns Island7 Kiawah Island6 I’On4 Seabrook Island4 Goose Creek4 Wadmalaw Island2 Clear

CuisineItalian45 Sushi35 Mexican39 BBQ25 Seafood85 Steakhouse17 Vietnamese3 Thai8 Pizza54 Sandwich

Pelato - Charleston

1085 Morrison Dr, CharlestonTrending

Pelato - Charleston

Neighborhood Italian on Morrison Drive serving wood-fired Neapolitan pizza and housemade pasta in a spare, no-fuss dining room.

4.8★·3.2k ratings

Open

WELTONS TINY BAKESHOP

684 King St, Charleston

WELTONS TINY BAKESHOP

Compact King Street bakery turning out pastries and coffee from a small-format shop with outdoor seating.

4.8★·370 ratings

Carmella's Cafe and Dessert Bar

198 E Bay St STE 100, Charleston

Carmella's Cafe and Dessert Bar

Tranquil eatery featuring sandwiches & charcuterie, classic Italian desserts, wine & cocktails.

4.7★·2.9k ratings

SHIKI

334 E Bay St Suite E, CharlestonTrending

SHIKI

Compact, unpretentious locale for sashimi, specialty sushi rolls & Japanese kitchen entrees.

4.9★·6.1k ratings

La Pizzeria

976 Houston Northcutt Blvd, Mt PleasantTrending

La Pizzeria

Brick-oven pizzas & other Italian comfort fare from a cozy, low-key family-run Italian spot.

4.7★·910 ratings

Sushi-Wa

1503 King St Ext, CharlestonTrending

Sushi-Wa

Compact King Street Extension sushi counter serving omakase-style dinners with reservations and a short beer list.

5.0★·2.6k ratings

D'Allesandro's Pizza

229 St Philip St, CharlestonTrending

D'Allesandro's Pizza

Neighborhood pizzeria offering lots of sauce & topping options, plus happy hour & lunch specials.

4.6★·1.7k ratings

Indaco

526 King St, Charleston

Indaco

Rustic eatery starring Italian fare & wood-fired pizzas, hand-crafted pasta, cured sausages & wines.

4.6★·1.7k ratings

MESU

570 King St, CharlestonTrending

MESU

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

4.6★·1.4k ratings

Bon Banh Mi Southeast Asian Kitchen

162 Spring St, Charleston

Bon Banh Mi Southeast Asian Kitchen

Bright counter-serve spot offering build-your-own banh mi sandwiches, tacos & salads.

4.6★·577 ratings

Porchetta Shop

109 President St, Charleston

Porchetta Shop

Counter-service spot on President Street built around porchetta sandwiches, with coffee and rotating small plates.

4.6★·598 ratings

Legami

492 King St, CharlestonTrending

Legami

Neighborhood Italian on upper King, built around handmade pasta and a concise wine list.

4.5★·2.3k ratings

Pink Bellies

595 King St Ste 1, CharlestonTrending

Pink Bellies

Counter-service Vietnamese on upper King, built around pho, banh mi, and rice bowls with a tight beer list.

4.6★·2.1k ratings

Rodney Scott's BBQ

1011 King St, Charleston

Rodney Scott's BBQ

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

4.5★·7.9k ratings·bbq · casual · takeout

167 Sushi Bar

289 E Bay St, CharlestonTrending

167 Sushi Bar

Compact East Bay sushi bar with a focused menu, sake list, and reliable omakase options in a spare, dimly lit room.

4.7★·661 ratings

Three Girls on Spring

121 Spring St, Charleston

Three Girls on Spring

Intimate Italian spot on Spring Street, built around handmade pasta and a short, rotating menu in a snug dining room.

4.7★·168 ratings

O-Ku

463 King St, Charleston

O-Ku

Happening Japanese eatery & lounge with trendy environs sporting exposed brick & high ceilings.

4.5★·1.4k ratings

Mario's Italian Ristorante

487 King St, Charleston

Mario's Italian Ristorante

Easygoing Italian establishment with exposed-brick walls offering pasta, pizzas & desserts.

4.5★·1.1k ratings

Sorelle

88 Broad St, CharlestonTrending

Sorelle

Italian fine dining from the Indaco team, tucked into a historic Broad Street building with handmade pasta and an Italian wine list.

4.6★·1.8k ratings

Mercantile & Mash

701 E Bay St Suite 100-1, Charleston

Mercantile & Mash

Sprawling setup combining grocery, whiskey bar, coffee, wine & butcher shops, plus dining & games.

4.5★·971 ratings

Melfi's

721 King St, CharlestonTrending

Melfi's

Neighborhood Italian on upper King serving red-sauce classics and hand-rolled pasta in a warm, low-lit room.

4.7★·17k ratings

KING STREET FOODS

347 King St, Charleston

KING STREET FOODS

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

4.4★·303 ratings

Daniela's Downtown

132 Spring St, Charleston

Daniela's Downtown

Neighborhood coffee shop and deli on Spring Street, pouring espresso and serving pastries alongside beer and wine.

4.6★·121 ratings

Tasty Thai & Sushi

320 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant

Tasty Thai & Sushi

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

4.5★·207 ratings

Le Farfalle

15 Beaufain St, Charleston

Le Farfalle

Bright & airy neighborhood osteria for thoughtfully sourced, reimagined Italian cuisine & cocktails.

4.6★·24k ratings

Frannie & The Fox

181 Church St, Charleston

Frannie & The Fox

Relaxed Italian restaurant offering wood-fired pizzas & happy hours, plus homey decor & a courtyard.

4.5★·1.1k ratings

Shokudô

479B King St, Charleston

Shokudô

Compact Japanese dining room on upper King serving izakaya-style plates with a focused sake and beer list.

4.5★·115 ratings

Hutson Alley

39C-G, John St, Charleston

Hutson Alley

Tucked into a cobblestone alley off John Street, this intimate steakhouse and seafood spot draws regulars with a compact, focused menu.

4.5★·112 ratings

Poogan's Smokehouse

188 E Bay St, Charleston

Poogan's Smokehouse

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

4.2★·7.1k ratings

Pizzeria Di Giovanni

40 N Market St, Charleston

Pizzeria Di Giovanni

Pizza shop serving New York-style pies, catering to a late-night crowd till 3 AM Fridays/Saturdays.

4.2★·1.5k ratings

Saveurs Du Monde Cafe WestEdge

Parking lot, 22 Westedge St Suite 101, Charleston

Saveurs Du Monde Cafe WestEdge

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

4.4★·284 ratings

Volpe's

161 Rutledge Ave c, CharlestonTrending

Volpe's

Neighborhood Italian on Rutledge Ave serving wine and pasta in a casual, no-fuss room.

4.7★·1.2k ratings

Ruby's New York Style Bagels, LLC

280 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant

Ruby's New York Style Bagels, LLC

New York-style bagels and coffee on Coleman Boulevard, covering breakfast and takeout in Mount Pleasant.

4.3★·446 ratings

Melvin's BBQ - Mt Pleasant

Patriots Plaza Shopping Center, 925 Houston Northcutt Blvd, Mt Pleasant

Melvin's BBQ - Mt Pleasant

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

4.2★·2.7k ratings

CO Restaurant

340 King St, Charleston

CO Restaurant

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

4.2★·1.2k ratings

Benne’s by Peninsula Grill

112 N Market St, Charleston

Benne’s by Peninsula Grill

Daytime coffee shop and evening cocktail bar from the Peninsula Grill team, tucked into the Market Street corridor.

4.2★·253 ratings

Handy and Hot

68 Wentworth St, Charleston

Handy and Hot

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

4.2★·217 ratings

Vincent Chiccos

Hutson Alley, 39G John St, Charleston

Vincent Chiccos

Serene hideaway offering refined Italian fare, a chef's tasting menu & patio dining in elegant digs.

4.1★·539 ratings

25

VibeDate night25 Brunch232 Cheap eats83 Outdoor seating416 Late night8

AmenitiesReservations310 Takeout525 Delivery300