Best restaurants in Charleston

Pelato - Charleston

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

Lewis Barbecue

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

Sushi-Wa

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

SHIKI

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

Cane Pazzo

Neighborhood Italian on Yeamans Hall Road in Hanahan, serving wine and beer in a reservable dining room.

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.

167 Sushi Bar

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

Page's Okra Grill

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

Wild Olive Restaurant - Johns Island, SC

Rustic-chic dining with a simple menu of artisanal Italian dishes & a sizable wine list.

Poke Burri / Lifting Noodles Ramen

Dual-concept West Ashley strip mall spot serving build-your-own poke bowls and Japanese ramen under one roof.

Konnichiwa

Strip-mall Japanese on Savannah Highway serving sushi and cooked dishes, with beer and wine, to a loyal West Ashley crowd.

Locals Sushi & Sports Pub - James Island

Neighborhood sushi counter on Folly Road that doubles as a sports bar, drawing James Island regulars for rolls and draft beer.

Ray's Pizza

No-frills Folly Road pizza counter doing takeout and delivery for the James Island crowd.

La Pizzeria

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

Hachiya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

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

D'Allesandro's Pizza

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

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.

Coda Del Pesce

Housemade pasta & Italian seafood dishes served in a light-filled eatery with a patio & ocean views.

Orlando's Brick Oven Pizza

Airy, modern pizzeria with counter seating serving brick-oven pies with classic salads & draft beer.

Cuoco Pazzo Trattoria

Trattoria offering traditional Italian dishes & a wine list in an intimate atmosphere.

Rodney Scott's BBQ

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

Palmira Barbecue

Colombian-inflected barbecue from pitmaster Hector Gaitan on Ashley River Road, where smoked meats meet South American spice.

Laura Summerville

Family-run Italian on North Main in Summerville, with a long-standing local following and a straightforward red-sauce menu.

Home Team BBQ

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

Locals Sushi & Sports Pub - Mt Pleasant

Laid-back, late-night hangout offering sushi, cocktails, beer & a roster of live entertainment.

Legami

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

Three Girls on Spring

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

Indaco

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

Sorelle

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

Mondo's Italian Restaurant

Traditional Italian fare in a casual atmosphere with outdoor patio, daily specials & a full bar.

Maguro Sushi Bar

Compact Japanese counter in West Ashley strip mall serving sushi with a tight menu and an unusually high local following.

Porchetta Shop

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

Aji Asian Bistro

Neighborhood hibachi grill & sushi specialist serving bento boxes, noodle bowls & wok-fried rice.

Melfi's

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

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.

Zen Asian Fusion

Hip restaurant serving sushi & Asian-fusion cuisine boasts a large bar with happy hour.

Sushi Taro Japanese Restaurant

Japanese eatery serving creative rolls, hibachi & bento box entrees in a stylish space with a patio.

Opal Restaurant & Bar

Mediterranean fare & an extensive wine selection are offered in a lofty, sophisticated setting.

Fabio's Italian TAKE-OUT

Counter-service Italian spot on Ashley River Road, slinging takeout pasta and dinner plates to West Ashley locals.

Pizza A Modo Mio and Cafe

Neapolitan pizza and espresso from a dog-friendly roadside café on SC-162 in Hollywood.

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.

King's Pizza by: Italian Bistro

Understated pizzeria with basic decor turning out New York–style pies & familiar Italian classics.

Tokyo Bistro

Sushi is served alongside familiar Japanese dishes & Chinese specialties at this informal eatery.

Le Farfalle

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

Dukes Barbecue

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

Frannie & The Fox

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

Easton Barbecue Co.

Roadside SC-162 pit stop in Hollywood slinging barbecue with beer and wine on the side.

Volpe's

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

Mario's Italian Ristorante

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

Alfredo's On Folly

Folly Beach Italian spot dishing pasta and pies a block off the strip, with beer, wine, and free parking.

SAVI Cucina + Wine Bar

Neighborhood Italian spot in Mount Pleasant with a wine bar focus, live music, and a menu built around pasta and wood-fired dishes.

Bricco Bracco

Classic pastas & other homestyle Italian dishes served in a comfortable setting with a full bar.

Cedar Creek Tavern Charleston

Sprawling neighborhood bar-and-grill on Ashley River Road with wings, live music, and a loyal local crowd.

Migliori's Pizzeria

Hand-tossed pies, sandwiches & salads served with beer & wine in a casual modern spot with a patio.

O-Ku

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

Shokudô

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

Hutson Alley

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

Ichiban Steak House & Asian Fusion

Grilled hibachi fare, sushi & Pan-Asian plates served in an upscale lounge setting with bar.

LongHorn Steakhouse

Casual steakhouse chain known for grilled beef & other American dishes in a ranch-style space.

Wasabi of Daniel Island

Sleek Japanese venue serving creative sushi rolls, hibachi & Thai bites in modern digs with a patio.

Swig & Swine Mount Pleasant

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

843 Korean BBQ & Sushi House

Casual eatery offering BBQ beef, pork & veggies cooked on tabletop grills, plus sushi.

Crust Wood Fired Pizza

Wood-fired Neapolitan pies and Italian wine on Maybank Highway, tucked into a James Island strip mall.

Chow Bella Kitchen & Culinary

Italian catering and culinary consulting operation on Signal Point Road, handling weddings and private events out of a working kitchen.

Mario's Italian Grill

Neighborhood Italian-pizza standby on Savannah Highway, doing dine-in, delivery, and gyros out of a strip mall since the West Ashley crowd figured it out.

Tasty Thai & Sushi

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

Kings Sushi

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

KING STREET FOODS

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

Coastal Crust James Island

Neighborhood pizza and Italian spot on James Island's Harbor View Road, pouring beer and wine alongside wood-fired pies.

Locals Sushi & Sports Pub - West Ashley

Neighborhood sushi bar and sports pub on Old Towne Road, serving rolls alongside draft beer and wall-to-wall screens.

Anjo’s Pizza & Pasta

Neighborhood Italian spot in a Mount Pleasant strip mall, slinging pizza and pasta for dine-in or delivery.

James Island Fire Grill hibachi sushi

Hibachi tables and sushi rolls on Folly Road, serving James Island's suburban strip with teppanyaki theatrics and standard Japanese fare.

Saltus River Grill

Sophisticated eatery with wood grill, sleek bar & extensive wine list serves steak, seafood & sushi.

Baroni's New York Pizza

Local chain serving NY-style, stone-oven-baked pies, plus grinders & pasta, in a casual setting.

Ciao Bella Restaurant, Pizzeria, Martini Bar Charlston SC

West Ashley strip-mall Italian with a full martini bar, wood-fired pies, and enough parking to bring the whole family.

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant

Calm, cozy eatery featuring creative takes on sushi, plus Japanese & Korean dishes.

Coastal Crust

Neighborhood pizza and coffee spot on Simmons Street in Mount Pleasant, slinging pies and espresso with beer on tap.

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.

Vespa Pizzeria

Wood-fired pizzas made with local produce are served in a room decked out with recycled Vespa tires.

Swig & Swine

Fuji Sushi Bar & Grill

Sleek venue featuring signature sushi rolls & hibachi entrees, plus a full bar & daily happy hour.

Pizzeria Di Giovanni

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

Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q

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

Osaka Asian Bistro

Chinese & Japanese dishes, plus creative maki, served in a simple dining area with a sushi bar.

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.

Saltwater Cowboys

Smoked meats, local seafood & a robust drink menu in a sprawling locale directly on Shem Creek.

CO Restaurant

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

Home Team BBQ

Grimaldi's Pizzeria

Casual, Brooklyn-based pizzeria chain serving brick-oven pies & calzones, plus wine & beer.

Tolli’s Trattoria

Neighborhood Italian on Johns Island's commercial strip, serving pizza and pasta with beer in a strip-mall setting.

Ginza Japanese Grill - West Ashley

Neighborhood strip-mall Japanese grill in West Ashley serving sushi and cooked plates with free parking and delivery options.

Sake House Japanese Sushi & Hibachi Restaurant

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

Vincent Chiccos

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

Ristorante LIDI

Traditional Italian dishes prepared in a charming atmosphere with red-&-white checkered tablecloths.

Bushido Sushi & Hibachi Charleston

Sushi plus hibachi & tempura entrees served by chefs that combine classic & Western-inspired styles.

Cherrywood BBQ & Ale House

Haute hub at Kiawah Island Golf Resort with Southern BBQ meals, local craft beers & outdoor seating.

Taste Of Tokyo

Easygoing, modern eatery offering self-serve Japanese staples, such as teppanyaki & sushi rolls.

Bessinger's BBQ

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

Tsunami Japanese Restaurant

Local chain serving a menu of sushi & Pan-Asian entrees in a contemporary, stylish space.

IOPizza Co

Casual beach-strip pizza and sandwich counter on the Isle of Palms, steps from the ocean, with beer and a dog-friendly patio.