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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 33 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 Mexican39 Sushi35 BBQ25 Bakery21 Thai8 Vietnamese3 West Ashley70 Mount Pleasant55 Seafood85 Outdoor seating416 Takeout525 Pizza54

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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

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

Open

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

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

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

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

Mango Tree Thai Cafe

396 Huger St Suite 110, Charleston

Mango Tree Thai Cafe

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

4.5★·468 ratings

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

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

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

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

Taco Boy Charleston

217 Huger St, Charleston

Taco Boy Charleston

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

4.4★·3.3k ratings

Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano

1302 Meeting St, Charleston

Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano

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

4.4★·2.1k ratings

Cachita's Kitchen Downtown

2 N Market St, Charleston

Cachita's Kitchen Downtown

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

4.5★·111 ratings

Rancho Lewis

1503 King St, Charleston

Rancho Lewis

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

4.6★·8.2k 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

El PinchoTaco

616 Meeting St ste b, Charleston

El PinchoTaco

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

4.4★·591 ratings

ThaiZapp Restaurant and bar

200 Meeting St Unit 2, CharlestonTrending

ThaiZapp Restaurant and bar

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

4.5★·631 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

Ru Ru's Tacos & Tequila

159 E Bay St, Charleston

Ru Ru's Tacos & Tequila

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

4.3★·1.6k 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

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

Agaves Cantina Coleman Blvd

320 W Coleman Blvd unit p, Mt Pleasant

Agaves Cantina Coleman Blvd

Neighborhood Mexican cantina on Coleman Boulevard serving margaritas and tacos in a casual, reservable dining room.

4.2★·251 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

Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

439 King St, Charleston

Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

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

4.2★·1.5k 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

VibeDate night25 Brunch232 Cheap eats83 Outdoor seating416 Late night8

AmenitiesReservations310 Takeout525 Delivery300