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A table full of thali, butter chicken, naan, and masala fries. — Order traditional Pakistani fare at Ma’am Saab.

18 Essential Restaurants in Charleston

Where to eat grilled oysters, lamb biryani, and pizzas by the beach

by Erin Perkins Updated Jul 9, 2024, 9:00am EDT

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Order traditional Pakistani fare at Ma’am Saab.

| Ma’am Saab

by Erin Perkins Updated Jul 9, 2024, 9:00am EDT

It’s time for the summer update of the Eater 18, your answer and ours to any question that begins, “Can you recommend a restaurant?” This group of restaurants is part of the city’s intrinsic cultural tapestry — the places that have impacted or represent the constantly evolving culinary canon of Charleston. Ultimately, Eater Carolinas’ list showcases the restaurants that make dining in the Lowcountry memorable during this unique moment Removal from the Eater 18 does not mean a restaurant isn’t still great and won’t return in the future, but allows for new additions, keeping the 18 fresh, inclusive, and geographically representative.

New to the map is Pakistani restaurant Ma’am Saab.

To find the newest restaurants in Charleston, check out the Heatmap.

Read More

Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Jackrabbit Filly

Chinese-American restaurant Jackrabbit Filly comes from the minds behind the super sought-after food truck Short Grain. Corrie and Shuai Wang bring the flavors of Shuai’s Chinese family to the menu with some Japanese and American influences thrown in. Many of the offerings conjure takeout menu comfort food vibes, like fried rice with ham and pineapple or pork and cabbage dumplings. The chirashi bowl is a solid lunch choice, and brunch offers one of the area’s only dim sum menus.

4628 Spruill Ave #101, North Charleston, SC 29405

Jackrabbit Filly

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Bertha's Restaurant

Established in 1979, iconic soul food stop Bertha’s Kitchen is known for its fried chicken, fish, and sides, like slow-simmered lima beans. Tourists and locals in search of Southern comfort make the trek to the big turquoise house in North Charleston to take in the dishes established by the late founder Albertha Grant, like smothered pork chops and oxtails. Bertha’s has even drawn its fair share of critical acclaim. In 2017, the restaurant took home the James Beard Award for America’s Classic.

2332 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405

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Lewis Barbecue

Pitmaster John Lewis brought the best-ever brisket to Charleston by way of Austin, and it’s been a hit since day one. The airy dining room is unlike any other barbecue space — it’s clean and modern with several nods to Texas and Mexico, including an 8-foot longhorn skull mounted on the wall and imported Oaxacan tile on the service counter. Some of the most popular dishes include the hot guts (sausage links), fatty brisket, green chili corn pudding, and ultra-moist turkey slices.

464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403

A platter of brisket, beans, and ribs.

Also featured in:

Rodney Scott's BBQ

James Beard-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott brought whole hog barbecue to Charleston by way of Hemingway, South Carolina, and it became an instant classic. Settle into a red booth at the North Central restaurant and order smoky pulled pork with a hint of vinegar or a comforting ribeye sandwich — don’t forget the collards and cornbread. There are plenty of picnic tables outdoors and takeout is easy. Everyone should leave with a bag of skins for snacking later on.

1011 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

A tray of whole hog barbecue and sides

Also featured in:

Renzo

Restaurateurs Erik Hutson and Nayda Friere (of hip bar Faculty Lounge) opened North Central spot Renzo to feel like a party every night — the best kind of party, a pizza party. The gold embellished bar takes up half the room, with views of the kitchen and Friere’s extensive collection of natural wines. The booths are usually full of groups sharing the creative wood-fired pizzas, like the Cheli with lamb sausage, feta, honey, and za’atar. For non-pie items, the gnudi in a roasted tomato vinaigrette is a standout choice.

384 Huger St #4126, Charleston, SC 29403

Dark walls and a wooden bar with wooden booths. — The dining room at Renzo.

Also featured in:

Hannibal's Kitchen

Tucked away in the Eastside neighborhood, this Lowcountry legend has served classic Charleston dishes since 1985. Far off the tourist path on Blake Street, try Gullah Geechee cuisine staples like crab rice, lima beans with smoked turkey neck bones, okra soup, and local shark. Open for lunch and dinner, this casual spot meets the need for Lowcountry flavors in a relaxed atmosphere.

16 Drake St, Charleston, SC 29403

A plate of lima beans on a table — Lima bean supper with rice and smoked turkey necks at Hannibal’s Soul Kitchen

Also featured in:

Bintü Atelier

Chef Bintou N’Daw couldn’t find the food of her homeland, Senegal, in the Lowcountry, so she created African restaurant Bintü Atelier. The petite spot on Line Street offers shito crab rice, beef suya, crispy prawns, and supa kanja, an okra stew with red shrimp. N’Daw keeps a few staples on the menu but rotates the dishes to highlight the different African countries. The plant-covered patio is a cozy place to dine when the weather is nice. Bintü is BYOB, but most customers are happy to order a fresh soursop juice or sorrel tea.

8 Line Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29403

Colorful plants in front of a small blue building. — Dine al fresco at Bintü.

Chubby Fish

If you’re driving down Coming Street around 5 p.m., you’ll likely notice a long queue of eager diners hoping to get into neighborhood restaurant Chubby Fish (it’s first come, first serve). The sailing-inspired dining room is always packed with customers looking to discover what chef James London has created with the day’s fresh local catch. The caviar sandwich is a must, but also try the chile garlic shrimp, blue crab tagliatelle, and roast oysters with crab-fat curry.

252 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403

lionfish — Tempura lionfish at Chubby Fish.

Also featured in:

Vern's

Many people say they want to create a neighborhood restaurant, but husband-and-wife team Daniel “Dano” and Bethany Heinze nailed it on their first attempt with Vern’s. Nestled in the mostly residential area of Cannonbourough/Elliotborough, the American bistro pulls from the couple’s strengths, with Bethany on the adventurous wine list and Dano in the kitchen. The menu draws from Dano’s work with hyper-local produce at the former McCrady’s, ingredient-based cooking in California, and travels through Europe with Bethany. Dishes include perfectly roasted chicken in a brown butter jus, fresh campanelle with rabbit, and bouncy charred sourdough with allium butter.

41 Bogard St A, Charleston, SC 29403

A dining room with mismatched wooden chairs and tables. — Vern’s dining room on Bogard Street.

Also featured in:

10 Charleston Restaurants Where Dessert Steals the Show

The Ordinary

Mike Lata and Adam Nemirow created an homage to all things from the ocean with their fancy fish house the Ordinary. Housed in a 1920s bank on Upper King, the dining room retains much of the charm of the era with vintage sea decorations, bistro tables, white marble, and a sparkling mezzanine overlooking the space. As one of the best raw bars around, customers dining at the Ordinary can go big with a triple tower full of fresh shellfish and perfectly executed mignonettes or go bold with the rock shrimp larb served with chili crisp and lettuce cups.

544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

A full table at the Ordinary.

Also featured in:

Chez Nous

At this rustic, romantic French destination, chef Jill Mathias serves a concise selection of two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. The staff posts the menu daily on Instagram, but it’s usually a safe bet to grab a table without knowing what plates will delight the dining room that day. Recent offerings included sauteed shrimp with peppers, coulotte steak with chanterelle sauce, and whipped mascarpone with figs to round out the meal.

6 Payne Ct, Charleston, SC 29403

Also featured in:

Kultura

Chef Nikko Cagalanan and Baguette Magic co-owner Paula Kramer teamed up to make Filipino flavors a more permanent fixture on Spring Street with the opening of Kultura. For the karaoke brunch, the space offers coffee and pastries from Baguette Magic but with Filipino flavors, like ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” and egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo. In the evenings, the menu includes arroz caldo with smoked trout roe, pancit with lump crab, and twice-cooked pork ribs in banana ketchup. It’s a casual spot where you’ll find a mix of locals and tourists in the know.

73 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403

An egg sandwich with a fluffy bun on a white plate. — Kultura also offers brunch.

Wild Common

Spring Street’s Wild Common is a tasting menu restaurant for people who don’t normally like tasting menus. It’s not stuffy or pretentious, but rather a chill atmosphere full of light installations, art, and vegetation — a place that makes it easy to relax into the four-course meal at $85 a person. Four courses may not sound like much, but the first course, “Bites,” includes substantial samples of rich chicken shio ramen, crab rice with kimchi, and chicken har gao. For those really wanting to indulge, chef Orlando Pagán can include a caviar supplement served atop a layered potato cake crisped in duck fat.

Left Side, 103 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403

Dining room at Wild Common — The arty dining room and bar at Wild Common.

Also featured in:

Dave's Carry-Out

The little corner fish shack is a laid-back stop off the hectic hustle of King Street; as its name implies, the kitchen is very adept at the carryout game. For years, this corner shop has consistently served up big plates of crisp, golden-fried fresh catch and fixin’s. Those in the know pair the buttery flounder with a side of creamy lima beans and rice.

42 Morris St, Charleston, SC 29403

Fried fish and shrimp in a Styrofoam container. — Fried fish and shrimp from Dave’s Carry-Out.

Also featured in:

Ma'am Saab

Ma’am Saab co-owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba want customers to experience the same Pakistani flavors they offer guests at their house. The hip and vibrant dining room, tucked away on Meeting Street, offers butter chicken, lamb samosas, biryani, lamb kebab, and more. At times, the space can feel like a club with thumping music and video projections, so bring friends for a fun evening out. And don’t miss the creative cocktails(each drink can be made without alcohol or with the addition of Delta-9 THC).

Search for reservations

OpenTable

251 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401

The colorful dining room at Ma’am Saab.

167 Raw Oyster Bar

Perpetually packed seafood restaurant 167 Raw showcases the best that the ocean has to offer. The dining room feels like a party with a full room of friends and families enjoying plenty of cold frosé, oysters on the half shell, baked crab dip, and rich lobster rolls. 167 Raw doesn’t take reservations, so sign into the queue and take a walk around Charleston while waiting for the restaurant to text.

193 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

A blue and white bar at i67 Raw. — Nautical touches surround the bar at 167 Raw.

Also featured in:

Kwei Fei

Charleston was severely lacking in Sichuan options before chef David Schuttenberg came to town via multiple venerated kitchens in New York. His restaurant Kwei Fei brings the heat on James Island to adoring fans looking for lamb dumplings, spicy noodles, and mapo tofu. Order several dishes, like dan dan noodles and lamb dumplings, because leftovers are just as good the next day.

1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC 29412

Mapo Tofu. — Kwei Fei

Also featured in:

The Obstinate Daughter

Visitors to Sullivan’s Island can dine on wood-fired pizza, filling pasta, and fresh seafood by the ocean in a stylish, nautical-themed dining room. The Obstinate Daughter offers a bright space to spend the lunch, brunch, or dinner hour; the menu includes the signature William Moultrie cocktail made from local gin and key lime juice, oysters on the half shell, and sumptuous ricotta gnocchi with short rib ragu.

2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

The Obstinate Daughter

Also featured in:

Erin Perkins is the editor of Eater Carolinas.

© 2024 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Jackrabbit Filly

4628 Spruill Ave #101, North Charleston, SC 29405

Chinese-American restaurant Jackrabbit Filly comes from the minds behind the super sought-after food truck Short Grain. Corrie and Shuai Wang bring the flavors of Shuai’s Chinese family to the menu with some Japanese and American influences thrown in. Many of the offerings conjure takeout menu comfort food vibes, like fried rice with ham and pineapple or pork and cabbage dumplings. The chirashi bowl is a solid lunch choice, and brunch offers one of the area’s only dim sum menus.

4628 Spruill Ave #101, North Charleston, SC 29405

Visit Website

Jackrabbit Filly

Bertha's Restaurant

2332 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405

Established in 1979, iconic soul food stop Bertha’s Kitchen is known for its fried chicken, fish, and sides, like slow-simmered lima beans. Tourists and locals in search of Southern comfort make the trek to the big turquoise house in North Charleston to take in the dishes established by the late founder Albertha Grant, like smothered pork chops and oxtails. Bertha’s has even drawn its fair share of critical acclaim. In 2017, the restaurant took home the James Beard Award for America’s Classic.

2332 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405

Lewis Barbecue

464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403

Pitmaster John Lewis brought the best-ever brisket to Charleston by way of Austin, and it’s been a hit since day one. The airy dining room is unlike any other barbecue space — it’s clean and modern with several nods to Texas and Mexico, including an 8-foot longhorn skull mounted on the wall and imported Oaxacan tile on the service counter. Some of the most popular dishes include the hot guts (sausage links), fatty brisket, green chili corn pudding, and ultra-moist turkey slices.

464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

A platter of brisket, beans, and ribs.

Rodney Scott's BBQ

1011 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

James Beard-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott brought whole hog barbecue to Charleston by way of Hemingway, South Carolina, and it became an instant classic. Settle into a red booth at the North Central restaurant and order smoky pulled pork with a hint of vinegar or a comforting ribeye sandwich — don’t forget the collards and cornbread. There are plenty of picnic tables outdoors and takeout is easy. Everyone should leave with a bag of skins for snacking later on.

1011 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

A tray of whole hog barbecue and sides

Renzo

384 Huger St #4126, Charleston, SC 29403

Restaurateurs Erik Hutson and Nayda Friere (of hip bar Faculty Lounge) opened North Central spot Renzo to feel like a party every night — the best kind of party, a pizza party. The gold embellished bar takes up half the room, with views of the kitchen and Friere’s extensive collection of natural wines. The booths are usually full of groups sharing the creative wood-fired pizzas, like the Cheli with lamb sausage, feta, honey, and za’atar. For non-pie items, the gnudi in a roasted tomato vinaigrette is a standout choice.

384 Huger St #4126, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Dark walls and a wooden bar with wooden booths. — The dining room at Renzo.

Hannibal's Kitchen

16 Drake St, Charleston, SC 29403

Tucked away in the Eastside neighborhood, this Lowcountry legend has served classic Charleston dishes since 1985. Far off the tourist path on Blake Street, try Gullah Geechee cuisine staples like crab rice, lima beans with smoked turkey neck bones, okra soup, and local shark. Open for lunch and dinner, this casual spot meets the need for Lowcountry flavors in a relaxed atmosphere.

16 Drake St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

A plate of lima beans on a table — Lima bean supper with rice and smoked turkey necks at Hannibal’s Soul Kitchen

Bintü Atelier

8 Line Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29403

Chef Bintou N’Daw couldn’t find the food of her homeland, Senegal, in the Lowcountry, so she created African restaurant Bintü Atelier. The petite spot on Line Street offers shito crab rice, beef suya, crispy prawns, and supa kanja, an okra stew with red shrimp. N’Daw keeps a few staples on the menu but rotates the dishes to highlight the different African countries. The plant-covered patio is a cozy place to dine when the weather is nice. Bintü is BYOB, but most customers are happy to order a fresh soursop juice or sorrel tea.

Open in Google Maps

8 Line Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29403

Visit Website

Colorful plants in front of a small blue building. — Dine al fresco at Bintü.

Chubby Fish

252 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403

If you’re driving down Coming Street around 5 p.m., you’ll likely notice a long queue of eager diners hoping to get into neighborhood restaurant Chubby Fish (it’s first come, first serve). The sailing-inspired dining room is always packed with customers looking to discover what chef James London has created with the day’s fresh local catch. The caviar sandwich is a must, but also try the chile garlic shrimp, blue crab tagliatelle, and roast oysters with crab-fat curry.

252 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

lionfish — Tempura lionfish at Chubby Fish.

Vern's

41 Bogard St A, Charleston, SC 29403

Many people say they want to create a neighborhood restaurant, but husband-and-wife team Daniel “Dano” and Bethany Heinze nailed it on their first attempt with Vern’s. Nestled in the mostly residential area of Cannonbourough/Elliotborough, the American bistro pulls from the couple’s strengths, with Bethany on the adventurous wine list and Dano in the kitchen. The menu draws from Dano’s work with hyper-local produce at the former McCrady’s, ingredient-based cooking in California, and travels through Europe with Bethany. Dishes include perfectly roasted chicken in a brown butter jus, fresh campanelle with rabbit, and bouncy charred sourdough with allium butter.

Open in Google Maps

41 Bogard St A, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

A dining room with mismatched wooden chairs and tables. — Vern’s dining room on Bogard Street.

The Ordinary

544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Mike Lata and Adam Nemirow created an homage to all things from the ocean with their fancy fish house the Ordinary. Housed in a 1920s bank on Upper King, the dining room retains much of the charm of the era with vintage sea decorations, bistro tables, white marble, and a sparkling mezzanine overlooking the space. As one of the best raw bars around, customers dining at the Ordinary can go big with a triple tower full of fresh shellfish and perfectly executed mignonettes or go bold with the rock shrimp larb served with chili crisp and lettuce cups.

544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

A full table at the Ordinary.

Chez Nous

6 Payne Ct, Charleston, SC 29403

At this rustic, romantic French destination, chef Jill Mathias serves a concise selection of two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. The staff posts the menu daily on Instagram, but it’s usually a safe bet to grab a table without knowing what plates will delight the dining room that day. Recent offerings included sauteed shrimp with peppers, coulotte steak with chanterelle sauce, and whipped mascarpone with figs to round out the meal.

6 Payne Ct, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Kultura

73 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403

Chef Nikko Cagalanan and Baguette Magic co-owner Paula Kramer teamed up to make Filipino flavors a more permanent fixture on Spring Street with the opening of Kultura. For the karaoke brunch, the space offers coffee and pastries from Baguette Magic but with Filipino flavors, like ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” and egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo. In the evenings, the menu includes arroz caldo with smoked trout roe, pancit with lump crab, and twice-cooked pork ribs in banana ketchup. It’s a casual spot where you’ll find a mix of locals and tourists in the know.

73 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

An egg sandwich with a fluffy bun on a white plate. — Kultura also offers brunch.

Wild Common

Left Side, 103 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403

Spring Street’s Wild Common is a tasting menu restaurant for people who don’t normally like tasting menus. It’s not stuffy or pretentious, but rather a chill atmosphere full of light installations, art, and vegetation — a place that makes it easy to relax into the four-course meal at $85 a person. Four courses may not sound like much, but the first course, “Bites,” includes substantial samples of rich chicken shio ramen, crab rice with kimchi, and chicken har gao. For those really wanting to indulge, chef Orlando Pagán can include a caviar supplement served atop a layered potato cake crisped in duck fat.

Left Side, 103 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Dining room at Wild Common — The arty dining room and bar at Wild Common.

Dave's Carry-Out

42 Morris St, Charleston, SC 29403

The little corner fish shack is a laid-back stop off the hectic hustle of King Street; as its name implies, the kitchen is very adept at the carryout game. For years, this corner shop has consistently served up big plates of crisp, golden-fried fresh catch and fixin’s. Those in the know pair the buttery flounder with a side of creamy lima beans and rice.

42 Morris St, Charleston, SC 29403

Fried fish and shrimp in a Styrofoam container. — Fried fish and shrimp from Dave’s Carry-Out.

Ma'am Saab

251 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401

Ma’am Saab co-owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba want customers to experience the same Pakistani flavors they offer guests at their house. The hip and vibrant dining room, tucked away on Meeting Street, offers butter chicken, lamb samosas, biryani, lamb kebab, and more. At times, the space can feel like a club with thumping music and video projections, so bring friends for a fun evening out. And don’t miss the creative cocktails(each drink can be made without alcohol or with the addition of Delta-9 THC).

251 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401

Visit Website

The colorful dining room at Ma’am Saab.

Related Maps

167 Raw Oyster Bar

193 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Perpetually packed seafood restaurant 167 Raw showcases the best that the ocean has to offer. The dining room feels like a party with a full room of friends and families enjoying plenty of cold frosé, oysters on the half shell, baked crab dip, and rich lobster rolls. 167 Raw doesn’t take reservations, so sign into the queue and take a walk around Charleston while waiting for the restaurant to text.

193 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

A blue and white bar at i67 Raw. — Nautical touches surround the bar at 167 Raw.

Kwei Fei

1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC 29412

Charleston was severely lacking in Sichuan options before chef David Schuttenberg came to town via multiple venerated kitchens in New York. His restaurant Kwei Fei brings the heat on James Island to adoring fans looking for lamb dumplings, spicy noodles, and mapo tofu. Order several dishes, like dan dan noodles and lamb dumplings, because leftovers are just as good the next day.

Open in Google Maps

1977 Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC 29412

Visit Website

Mapo Tofu. — Kwei Fei

The Obstinate Daughter

2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Visitors to Sullivan’s Island can dine on wood-fired pizza, filling pasta, and fresh seafood by the ocean in a stylish, nautical-themed dining room. The Obstinate Daughter offers a bright space to spend the lunch, brunch, or dinner hour; the menu includes the signature William Moultrie cocktail made from local gin and key lime juice, oysters on the half shell, and sumptuous ricotta gnocchi with short rib ragu.

2063 Middle St, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482

Visit Website

The Obstinate Daughter

Related Maps