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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 137 of 591 · May 7, 2026

1
41-A George St, Charleston
Legend Deli
Counter-order deli on George Street slinging sandwiches and cold beer steps from the College of Charleston.
4.9436 ratings
Open
2

Pizza54 Sushi35 BBQ25 Sandwich25 Thai8 Downtown240 West Ashley70 Mount Pleasant57 Seafood85 Outdoor seating416 Takeout525 Brunch232

Filters

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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

464 N Nassau St, CharlestonTrending

Lewis Barbecue

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

4.7★·15k ratings·bbq · brisket · outdoor

Open

Toni's Detroit Style Pizza

1795 N Hwy 17 APT 1, Mt PleasantTrending

Toni's Detroit Style Pizza

Detroit-style square pies with crispy, lacey cheese edges, served out of a strip mall on Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant.

4.8★·904 ratings

Orlando's Pizza Mt Pleasant

230 Mathis Ferry Rd, Mt PleasantTrending

Orlando's Pizza Mt Pleasant

Cash-friendly Mt Pleasant pizza spot on Mathis Ferry Road serving New York-style pies with beer and wine.

4.8★·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

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

Home Team BBQ

2209 Middle St, Sullivan's IslandTrending

Home Team BBQ

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

4.7★·1.9k ratings

Alvin Ord's Sandwich Shop - James Island

1291 Folly Rd #119, CharlestonTrending

Alvin Ord's Sandwich Shop - James Island

Counter sandwich shop on Folly Road where James Island locals queue for deli-built subs at lunch.

4.8★·8.7k ratings

Swig & Swine

1217 Savannah Hwy, CharlestonTrending

Swig & Swine

House-smoked meats & creative sides served in a funky BBQ spot with outdoor seating, beer & bourbon.

4.7★·3.8k 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.

4.8★·3k ratings

Page's Okra Grill

302 Coleman Blvd, Mt PleasantTrending

Page's Okra Grill

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

4.7★·12k ratings

Park Pizza Co

1028 E Montague Ave, CharlestonTrending

Park Pizza Co

Classic pizza, subs & salads get a modern twist at this simple spot focused on takeout & delivery.

4.7★·915 ratings

Poke Burri / Lifting Noodles Ramen

835 Savannah Hwy, Charleston

Poke Burri / Lifting Noodles Ramen

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

4.7★·554 ratings

Antonio's Pizzeria

8636 Dorchester Rd, North Charleston

Antonio's Pizzeria

No-frills North Charleston pizza counter on Dorchester Road, drawing steady locals since the neighborhood long predates the city's restaurant boom.

4.7★·703 ratings

Konnichiwa

975 Savannah Hwy Suite 129, Charleston

Konnichiwa

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

4.7★·472 ratings

Baker's Bar

6 Windermere Blvd, CharlestonTrending

Baker's Bar

Neighborhood pizza and beer spot on Windermere Boulevard with live music and a loyal West Ashley following.

4.8★·3.1k ratings

Locals Sushi & Sports Pub - James Island

798 Folly Rd Unit A, CharlestonTrending

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.

4.8★·9.1k ratings

Iggy’s Pizza Shop

1220 Ben Sawyer Blvd Suite H, Mt Pleasant

Iggy’s Pizza Shop

Neighborhood pizza shop on Ben Sawyer with beer, wine, and a 4.8-star following from Mount Pleasant regulars.

4.7★·389 ratings

Ray's Pizza

1041 Folly Rd, Charleston

Ray's Pizza

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

4.7★·286 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

Hachiya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

688 Citadel Haven Dr, CharlestonTrending

Hachiya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

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

4.6★·2.5k 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

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

Gene's Haufbrau

817 Savannah Hwy, CharlestonTrending

Gene's Haufbrau

Classic pub fare & a long list of beers on draft at this lively tavern with pool & other games.

4.6★·1k ratings

Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

1622 Highland Ave, CharlestonTrending

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.

4.6★·1.2k 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

Metro Diner

Westwood Plaza Shopping Center, 1808 Sam Rittenberg Blvd Suite 1, CharlestonTrending

Metro Diner

Local diner chain serving classic American breakfast & lunch fare in a warm atmosphere.

4.6★·2.5k ratings

Orlando's Brick Oven Pizza

295 Seven Farms Drive, CharlestonTrending

Orlando's Brick Oven Pizza

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

4.6★·881 ratings

Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Cafe- Mt. Pleasant

1502 N Hwy 17, Mt PleasantTrending

Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Cafe- Mt. Pleasant

Local chain serving ice cream & shakes, plus sandwiches & sides, in a low-key, retro space.

4.5★·2.3k ratings

Toasted Crust

451 King St, Charleston

Toasted Crust

Counter-order pizza and wings spot on upper King, where craft pies and cold beer keep a loyal neighborhood crowd coming back.

4.6★·242 ratings

Palmira Barbecue

2366 Ashley River Rd Building 1, CharlestonTrending

Palmira Barbecue

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

4.5★·1.4k ratings

Circe's Grotto

85 1/2, 85 Wentworth St, Charleston

Circe's Grotto

Tucked-away sandwich shop on Wentworth Street serving lunch with outdoor seating and coffee.

4.6★·389 ratings

Home Team BBQ

1205 Ashley River Rd, CharlestonTrending

Home Team BBQ

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

4.5★·4.9k ratings

EVO Pizzeria

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston

EVO Pizzeria

Bustling, casual outfit serving wood-fired pizza made using seasonal, locally sourced ingredients.

4.6★·2.4k 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

Locals Sushi & Sports Pub - Mt Pleasant

1150 Queensborough Blvd Suite B, Mt PleasantTrending

Locals Sushi & Sports Pub - Mt Pleasant

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

4.5★·1.4k ratings

Tutti Pizza

700 King St suite a, Charleston

Tutti Pizza

Neapolitan-style pizza spot on lower King, pouring local beers and wine alongside wood-fired pies.

4.7★·182 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

Pizza Pazzo

1035 Johnnie Dodds Blvd Ste B6, Mt PleasantTrending

Pizza Pazzo

Neighborhood pizza counter on Johnnie Dodds serving pies with beer and wine in a strip mall off the Mount Pleasant corridor.

4.8★·2k 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

Maguro Sushi Bar

874 Orleans Rd #7, CharlestonTrending

Maguro Sushi Bar

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

4.8★·2.9k 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

Aji Asian Bistro

1011 Harbor View Rd, Charleston

Aji Asian Bistro

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

4.6★·470 ratings

Freehouse Brewery

2895 Pringle St Suite B, North Charleston

Freehouse Brewery

Neighborhood brewery and pizza spot tucked into a North Charleston industrial suite, pouring house beers on Pringle Street.

4.6★·334 ratings

Hugh-Baby's BBQ & Burger Shop

1028 St Andrews Blvd, Charleston

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.

4.6★·802 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

Zen Asian Fusion

2037 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston

Zen Asian Fusion

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

4.5★·2.3k ratings

Sushi Taro Japanese Restaurant

1171 Basketweave Dr, Mt PleasantTrending

Sushi Taro Japanese Restaurant

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

4.5★·768 ratings

Renzo

384 Huger St #4126, CharlestonTrending

Renzo

Wood-fired Neopolitan pizza, pasta & an extensive wine list in an upscale neighborhood trattoria.

4.7★·3.3k 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

Fam's Brewing Co. featuring Famulari's Pizzeria

1291 Folly Rd, Charleston

Fam's Brewing Co. featuring Famulari's Pizzeria

Family-run brewery and pizzeria on Folly Road pairing wood-fired pies with house-brewed beers in a laid-back, sports-bar setting.

4.5★·554 ratings

By the Grace of GRITS Catering

2597 S Allen Dr a, North Charleston

By the Grace of GRITS Catering

North Charleston catering operation specializing in Southern comfort food and barbecue for weddings and private events.

4.7★·90 ratings

King BBQ

2029 Carver Ave, North Charleston

King BBQ

Chinese-run barbecue spot on Carver Avenue in North Charleston, pulling steady locals with smoked meat and a full bar.

4.5★·695 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

King's Pizza by: Italian Bistro

3786 Ladson Rd Suite 201, Ladson

King's Pizza by: Italian Bistro

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

4.5★·2.2k ratings

Tokyo Bistro

1501 N Hwy 17 B, Mt Pleasant

Tokyo Bistro

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

4.5★·781 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

Dukes Barbecue

331 Folly Rd, Charleston

Dukes Barbecue

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

4.5★·1.2k ratings

25

VibeDate night25 Brunch232 Cheap eats83 Outdoor seating416 Late night8

AmenitiesReservations310 Takeout525 Delivery300