I've been eating my way through Charleston for 20 years. Here are 12 incredible restaurants you need to try at least once.
- Charleston has a dynamic food scene with Southern traditions honored alongside modern influences.
- Restaurants range from high-end molecular tasting menus to charming family-run diners.
The late Anthony Bourdain, a globe-hopping chef and TV presenter who traveled the world looking for memorable culinary experiences, once said that Charleston stood at the forefront of a culinary renaissance, offering gastronomic chops that were quite impressive for a city of its size.
As is often the case with Bourdain, he's not wrong.
I've been visiting Charleston for years and have witnessed this exciting culinary evolution firsthand. When I first visited in the early 2000s, many menus confined themselves to classics such as she-crab soup and Brunswick stew, with some barbecue and creole-influenced standards like gumbo.
But over the years, global and cutting-edge techniques have increasingly established a footing, leaving people with the difficult choice of choosing between down-home diners, molecular gastronomy, and modern takes on decades-old recipes. In terms of dilemmas, it's a good one to have.
The result is a city that's become a gourmand's dream. Whether I'm visiting to review or assess restaurants for inclusion in guidebooks or travel features, or just passing through on personal vacation time, I'm always excited to dine in Charleston. Plan your next visit with my go-to list of the best places to eat, and you will too.
Lewis Barbecue
You don't have to travel to Texas for some of the South's best barbecue, because at Lewis Barbecue, Texas has politely come to you. At least, renowned pitmaster John Lewis has, and I'm endlessly grateful to him for making the journey. Here, his custom-built smokers turn out one irresistible treat after another. I once enjoyed the most tender brisket I've ever had, and trust me when I say you won't be able to help but add the pulled pork and smoked turkey to your tray. Although vegans and visitors on diet might struggle, this is the place for a carnivorous blowout.
Bertha's Kitchen
If Lowcountry soul food has a legendary name, it's the late Albertha Grant. Grant was the skilled chef who founded this local institution, and although she sadly passed away in 2007, her kitchen is now run by her daughters. The menu specifically honors the traditions of the Gullah Geechee who originated in Central and West Africa.
If I can offer one piece of advice, it's to get to Bertha's Kitchen early because the lines form as soon as lunch service starts. Everyone comes here, fueling up on simple but hearty food that includes red rice seasoned with bacon, garlic, and tomatoes, or the okra soup, which is probably its most famous menu item. I've had to visit multiple times to get around to its fried chicken, pork chops, and seasoned collards, but each trip has been more satisfying than the last.
Zero Restaurant & Bar
In my opinion, nowhere is Charleston's culinary charge into the 21st century more celebrated than at the small but well-formed kitchen known as Zero Restaurant & Bar (part of the Zero George Hotel). It's designed with high attention to detail and is somewhat of a culinary theater for intrepid diners. Most tables sit in the cozy, contemporary dining room, but if the weather allows, I recommend the charmingly-lit courtyard.
Chef Vinson Petrillo expertly directs the entire experience, with the single multicourse tasting menu's choices limited to "classic" or "elevated" wine pairings. The menu constantly evolves, but always celebrates local ingredients, whether that's variations on beef tartare, caviar, or scallops. I found every stage served with immaculate timing, which can make or break a regular tasting menu, let alone one with this level of ambition.
The Ordinary
This restaurant's name is instantly contradicted by its tagline, "fancy seafood," but to my mind, it just means that high standards are the norm at The Ordinary. In the 1920s, this dining room was a bank, now converted with elements of a European brasserie. It's always been a lively scene when I've come here to tuck into fresh and thoughtfully presented seafood, whether from the raw bar or the menu, which is divided simply into "hot" and "cold" sections. I think you can't go wrong with any of the oysters on the half shell, crab, or clam dishes, but don't overlook specialties such as the crispy oyster sliders. I'd say the best tactic, though, is to bring a friend and dive into a seafood tower.
Leon's Oyster Shop
What was once an auto body shop has, since 2014, been transformed into a casual local favorite for seafood and more known as Leon's Oyster Shop. The restaurant's former life is celebrated with the addition of motoring memorabilia and mechanics' equipment, making it almost feel like the kind of place you'd stumble across on a road trip.
Tourists, business people, and young locals all keep the dining room busy. I'm a devotee of its crispy fried chicken, the sandwich version of which seems to be the item most people come to try. The grilled oysters are also on point.
Chubby Fish
It's quite something to stand out as a seafood restaurant in a city that excels at seafood. This fish-obsessed joint doesn't take reservations, so I recommend arriving when Chubby Fish opens to secure a spot. Thick blue-velvet curtains frame a simple but elegant dining room where chef James London will take you on a journey beyond the usual fried favorites with a focus on dishes using sustainable ingredients. Try and cast as wide a net as possible, from the royal red shrimp toast to the braised grouper cheeks. There's also a solid raw and oyster bar.
Husk
A jasmine-scented garden welcomes you into a lovely converted 19th-century townhouse, with pine floors and multiple dining rooms. Husk is the kind of restaurant leading the "new South" food movement in Charleston, with chef Sean Brock pulling from the Carolinas, Tennessee, Alabama, and the entire region to comprise his menu. I love the cornbread, catfish, and barbecue, as well as internationally-influenced dishes such as the bourbon-infused teriyaki pork lettuce wrap.
FIG
I usually try to gravitate away from obvious touristy areas, however, so many locals recommended FIG to me that I became too curious not to go. Although it's located on busy Meeting Street, it's no tourist trap. It's a thoughtful, understated neighborhood bistro with low lighting, wooden floors, and crisp, white tablecloths. Chef Jason Stanhope brings a European influence to his Lowcountry menu, with grouper in a blood-orange marinade and a bourride (fish stew) made with local shrimp and mussels. I loved the ricotta gnocchi as a hearty alternative to the seafood, and if you're a fan of panna cotta desserts, you're in for a real treat. The wine list is also exceptional.
Wild Common
Inordinately high ceilings and plentiful foliage give this dining room a spacious, organic feel, with large digital projections of natural scenes completing the look. I'm always intrigued by tasting menus, and it's lovely to sit down to try one in such a tranquil spot like Wild Common.
Chef Orlando Pagan leans into local seafood, and though the menu regularly changes, typical dishes include baked oysters, caviar, and lobster-enhanced scallops. The relaxed but professional service complements the ambiance, and a deftly curated wine pairing is also available for an additional charge.
Hall's Chophouse
Hall's Chophouse is an old-school steakhouse with dark wood, cushioned seating, and artwork lining the wall. Although I don't find the menu to be groundbreaking, it offers on-point execution of the classics. The steak menu is panoramic, with wet- and dry-aged, grass-fed, and Wagyu options, and this being Charleston, there are oysters and lobster tails, and vegetarians won't be disappointed with the grilled vegetable ravioli. My favorite time to eat, though, is Sunday brunch, served here with live gospel music for one of the most uplifting experiences in town.
Jackrabbit Filly
The vintage-store tableware and primary colors of the booths and bar hint at a hipsterish experience, but Jackrabbit Filly is an authentic, heartfelt family enterprise. A husband and wife team (chef Shuai Wang and wife, Corrie) created a welcoming spot that blends Americana with large dashes of their Asian heritage. If you're going to try one dish, I suggest the karaage, a Japanese-style fried chicken that you'll wish was available in your neighborhood at home. My other recommendations include the spicy fish tartare, pork-and-cabbage dumplings, and bacon-fried rice.
Wild Olive
Wild Olive is slightly out of town, but I'm convinced it's well worth the 20-minute drive from downtown Charleston. The change of scenery as you head to Johns Island also brings a change in flavors, and if you're looking for the region's best Italian food, I'd argue strongly in favor of Wild Olive. The property is framed by beautiful live oaks, and once inside, you can choose from the lively bar, the social long table, or the quieter front dining room for date night. Charred octopus and veal scallopini are just a couple of the must-try dishes.