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Best Restaurants in Charleston — Ranked by Locals · CharlestonRanked

Home/Restaurants

Charleston · Restaurants

Best restaurants in Charleston

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

Showing 70 of 590 · May 6, 2026

1
684 King St, Charleston
WELTONS TINY BAKESHOP
Compact King Street bakery turning out pastries and coffee from a small-format shop with outdoor seating.
4.8370 ratings
Open
2

Mexican39 Bakery21 Thai8 Vietnamese3 Downtown240 West Ashley70 Mount Pleasant57 Seafood85 Outdoor seating416 Takeout524 Pizza54

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AreaDowntown240 West Ashley70 Mount Pleasant57 North Charleston49 James Island39 Sullivan's Island29 Folly Beach23 Isle of Palms20 Hanahan17 Daniel Island14 Summerville9 Johns Island7 Kiawah Island6 Goose Creek4 Seabrook Island4 Wadmalaw Island2

CuisineItalian45 Sushi35 Mexican39 BBQ25 Seafood85 Steakhouse17 Vietnamese3 Thai8 Pizza54 Sandwich

778 1/2, 792 Folly Rd Unit A, CharlestonTrending

Baguette Magic Folly Rd

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

4.7★·860 ratings

Open

Maya Del Sol Kitchen

3225 Rivers Ave, North Charleston

Maya Del Sol Kitchen

Casual Mexican kitchen on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston, serving wine alongside tacos and plates with free parking out front.

4.8★·215 ratings

Rebel Taqueria

1809 Reynolds Ave, North CharlestonTrending

Rebel Taqueria

Taco and beer spot on Reynolds Ave in North Charleston with live music nights and a loyal neighborhood following.

4.7★·1k ratings

Sena Cafe

2170 Snyder Cir #117, Mt Pleasant

Sena Cafe

Tucked into a Mount Pleasant strip, this neighborhood café pours espresso drinks alongside pastries, beer, and wine.

4.7★·520 ratings

Dashi

1262 Remount Rd, North CharlestonTrending

Dashi

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

4.7★·1.7k ratings

KISS Cafe

1802 Crowne Commons Way #C1, Johns Island

KISS Cafe

Neighborhood coffee shop in a Johns Island strip mall serving bagels, pastries, and beer and wine alongside the usual espresso drinks.

4.7★·673 ratings

WildFlour Pastry

1750 Savannah Hwy, Charleston

WildFlour Pastry

Neighborhood bakery-cafe on Savannah Highway slinging scratch pastries and coffee to the West Ashley morning crowd.

4.7★·536 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

La Taqueria Express

2790 Ashley Phosphate Rd, North Charleston

La Taqueria Express

Counter-service Mexican on Ashley Phosphate, built on a loyal North Charleston following and straightforward tacos that don't need explaining.

4.7★·423 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

Pizza a Modo Mio (New York Pizzeria)

3125 Bees Ferry Rd, Charleston

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.

4.6★·649 ratings

Annie O' Love's Cookie Cafe

1901 Ashley River Rd, Charleston

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.

4.6★·438 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

Cachita’s Kitchen

1340 Chuck Dawley Blvd, Mt Pleasant

Cachita’s Kitchen

Family-run Cuban-Mexican kitchen on Chuck Dawley, known for made-from-scratch plates and a loyal Mount Pleasant following.

4.7★·244 ratings

Thailicious Thai Cuisine and Hotpot

1975 Magwood Dr Unit T, Charleston

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.

4.6★·712 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

Thai Elephants Restaurant (James Island)

915 Folly Rd, CharlestonTrending

Thai Elephants Restaurant (James Island)

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

4.8★·8.9k ratings

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

2205 Middle St, Sullivan's IslandTrending

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

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

4.5★·1.3k ratings

Pizza A Modo Mio and Cafe

6231a SC-162, Hollywood

Pizza A Modo Mio and Cafe

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

4.6★·296 ratings

Toro Birria

8440 Dorchester Rd ste 1, North Charleston

Toro Birria

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

4.6★·140 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

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

ThaiZapp Restaurant and bar

200 Meeting St Unit 2, CharlestonTrending

ThaiZapp Restaurant and bar

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

4.7★·3.2k ratings

Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant - West Ashley

1975 Magwood Dr Suite B, Charleston

Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant - West Ashley

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

4.5★·1.7k ratings

Rico's Taco Cafe

6923 Rivers Ave, North Charleston

Rico's Taco Cafe

Counter-service taqueria on Rivers Avenue serving North Charleston's working lunch crowd with straightforward Mexican plates.

4.6★·221 ratings

Tacos El Pariente

2410 Clements Ferry Rd, Charleston

Tacos El Pariente

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

4.5★·283 ratings

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

817 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

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

4.4★·1.9k 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

Rio Chico

520 Folly Rd #105, Charleston

Rio Chico

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

4.5★·598 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

Condado Tacos

1712 Towne Centre Way Space B-1, Mt Pleasant

Condado Tacos

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

4.4★·857 ratings

Saveurs du Monde Cafe

1960 Long Grove Dr, Mt Pleasant

Saveurs du Monde Cafe

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

4.4★·814 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

Villa Cantina

1940 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, CharlestonTrending

Villa Cantina

Neighborhood Mexican cantina on Sam Rittenberg with margaritas, live music, and a reliable Cal-Mex menu.

4.8★·8.2k ratings

Azul Mexicano James Island

1989 Maybank Hwy Unit 101, Charleston

Azul Mexicano James Island

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

4.7★·9k ratings

MI LINDO OAXACA TAQUERIA

Wando Crossing, Mt Pleasant

MI LINDO OAXACA TAQUERIA

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

4.5★·210 ratings

Basil Park Circle

1070 E Montague Ave A, North Charleston

Basil Park Circle

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

4.7★·3.1k ratings

Tiki Taco

7089 Rivers Ave Ste A, North Charleston

Tiki Taco

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

4.4★·1.7k 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.

4.3★·194 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

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

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

Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

410 W Coleman Blvd, Mt Pleasant

Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

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

4.4★·1.3k 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

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★·315 ratings

San Miguel Mexican grill & bar

1711 Shoremeade Rd Suite 110, Mt Pleasant

San Miguel Mexican grill & bar

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

4.4★·1.1k ratings

Tiki Taco

1131 College Park Rd, Summerville

Tiki Taco

Casual strip-mall taco spot in Summerville slinging Mexican staples with beer and a loyal local following.

4.3★·1.5k ratings

Señor Tequila

1836 Ashley River Rd Ste A, Charleston

Señor Tequila

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

4.3★·2k ratings

Catrina's Tacos & Tequila

834 Foundation St #101, Charleston

Catrina's Tacos & Tequila

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

4.4★·204 ratings

Ruby’s New York Style Bagels

1836 Ashley River Rd suite 0, Charleston

Ruby’s New York Style Bagels

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

4.4★·171 ratings

Casa Fiesta

808 Folly Rd, Charleston

Casa Fiesta

Neighborhood Mexican spot on Folly Road serving margaritas and Tex-Mex standards to James Island regulars.

4.3★·429 ratings

Lucy's Deliveries y Mas

933 Red Bank Rd, Goose Creek

Lucy's Deliveries y Mas

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

4.3★·945 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

Viva Tacos & Tequila

864 Island Park Dr Suite #105, Charleston

Viva Tacos & Tequila

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

4.2★·723 ratings

Jonny’s Red Tacos

9616 US-78, Ladson

Jonny’s Red Tacos

Strip-mall taqueria on US-78 in Ladson serving birria-style red tacos with consistent ratings from a loyal local following.

4.4★·130 ratings

Salud Tacos + Tequila

1000 Tanner Ford Blvd Unit 280, Hanahan

Salud Tacos + Tequila

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

4.4★·100 ratings

Jeff's Bagel Run

1400 Palm Blvd, Isle of Palms

Jeff's Bagel Run

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

4.3★·115 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

885 Island Park Dr, Charleston

Agaves Cantina

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

4.2★·1.1k ratings

Bagel Nation

1975 Magwood Dr, Charleston

Bagel Nation

Neighborhood bagel shop on Magwood Drive serving breakfast sandwiches and coffee to West Ashley regulars.

4.2★·626 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

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

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★·252 ratings

The Market @ Paradiso

4399 McCarthy Street, North Charleston

The Market @ Paradiso

Neighborhood cafe and market on McCarthy Street in North Charleston, pouring coffee and serving sandwiches alongside beer and wine.

4.2★·48 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

Bagel Nation

520 Folly Rd #60, Charleston

Bagel Nation

Casual eatery that offers multiple varieties of bagels to go as well as stacked bagel sandwiches.

4.0★·507 ratings

Taco Boy Folly Beach

106 E Ashley Ave, Folly Beach

Taco Boy Folly Beach

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

4.1★·3.4k ratings

Santi’s West Ashley

1660 Savannah Hwy, Charleston

Santi’s West Ashley

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

4.1★·501 ratings

25

VibeDate night25 Brunch232 Cheap eats83 Outdoor seating416 Late night8

AmenitiesReservations310 Takeout524 Delivery300