Where to Eat in Charleston at Every Price Point

A basket of hush puppies at a restaurant in Charleston

Alyssa rests her head in her hand at a restaurant bar in Charleston

Serving up a delicious order of Charleston restaurants at every price point for your next visit

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly, but there’s just something about Charleston. It’s the way time seems to slow down with every passing hour, and how we walk a little more lightly with each step along the city’s colorful streets. Charleston gives you permission to savor, to indulge.

Yes, maybe that’s it—Charleston is the perfect city for indulgence.

Of course, the city has its share of attractions, but for me, Charleston is best experienced through its culinary scene. You could stroll down almost any major street downtown, close your eyes, spin in a circle, and point—chances are, you’d land on a restaurant worth drooling over.

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and I paid for all of these meals. Any pricing information was valid at the time of publication but may have since changed.

But how do you decide where to eat in a city with such a vibrant food culture? You focus on where Charleston’s culinary scene shines brightest (and, of course, get a little help from a friend, like me!).

For a Southern city, Charleston boasts an impressive number of international restaurants, and there’s something magical about how global flavors meet local Southern ingredients. In addition to this, there are countless spots serving honest, delicious food at prices that won’t make you run for the nearest exit. In my Charleston restaurant guide, you’ll find a diverse range of options, from modern fine dining to casual local favorites—and everything in between.

Looking for more South Carolina guides? Find all of my coverage of the Palmetto State in one place.

For the first time in a roundup like this, I’m also including pricing information. Charleston can be an expensive city to dine in, but it doesn’t have to be. To help you budget wisely, here’s a quick guide to the average price of entrées (or an equivalent amount of small plates) for one person at each restaurant:

﹩ – $10-24
﹩﹩ – $25-49
﹩﹩﹩ – $50+

One more thing before we dive in: there’s been a growing trend of additional fees at Charleston restaurants. These might appear as credit card fees, service charges, hospitality fees, or other similarly named surcharges that often go unnoticed until the bill arrives. While I’ve encountered this in cities like New York, San Francisco, and D.C., it’s the first time I’ve seen it so widespread in the South.

In my experience, these charges range between 3-5%—not enough to break the bank, but certainly an extra cost to be aware of, especially with a larger bill. So, if one of the pricier restaurants on your list adds a credit card fee, you might want to bring cash.

Now that that’s covered, let’s get to the good stuff! Here are my top picks for the best restaurants in Charleston:

NINE CAN’T MISS CHARLESTON RESTAURANTS

Exterior of Jackrabbit Filly in North Charleston

Interior of Charleston's Jackrabbit Filly

Jackrabbit Filly

For New Chinese American cuisine in North Charleston’s Park Circle neighborhood, look no further than Jackrabbit Filly. This popular spot brings flavor-rich dishes to the table in a family-style format, alongside cocktails with fun names and interesting wines from across the globe.

It would be the perfect spot for small group dining, ordering a little of everything off the menu so everyone can share, but even as a duo, Michael and I found plenty to love. From tingly Sichuan Hot Karaage to pillowy Pierogi, dinner here is a fun and unique way to taste the world. Jackrabbit Filly also offers a Dim Sum Sunday Brunch menu, which is high on my list of priorities next time I’m in Charleston on a Sunday.

No matter when you have time for a visit, reservations are highly recommended as the restaurant is on the smaller side. Patio seating is available, though, and it would be lovely on a cooler evening.

→Jackrabbit Filly // 4628 Spruill Ave #101, North Charleston, SC 29405
﹩﹩

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Holey City Bagels

The South is known for many delicious things, but none of them are bagels. Holey City Bagels is helping to change the narrative, with hand-rolled and water-boiled bagels made fresh daily. Jump in the queue for a Pork Roll or Pastrami Reuben on a bagel, or go simple with a bagel and one of their many cream cheese options.

I soon realized my error in not placing my to-go order online when I arrived to find the queue snaking out the door; while the wait for a Sausage Egg and Cheese on a Jalapeño Cheddar bagel wasn’t too bad, I’d rather spend my precious vacation time doing other things. Still, having the chance to order in person meant I could handpick a half-dozen bagels to take home as a souvenir, and I suggest you do the same.

→Holey City Bagels // 43 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
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Pink Bellies

Eclectic Vietnamese dishes are on the menu at Pink Bellies, a modern King Street Staple. But be warned: ordering presents quite a challenge. The menu is full of tempting dishes like Fish Sauce Brussels Sprouts, Garlic KFC Wings, and Hot & Spicy Chicken Noodles, and trying to assemble everything into an order that “makes sense” is nearly impossible (but hey, you have to at least try!).

Our attempt at assembling a balanced order included an appetizer of Spicy Lamb Dumplings, and then two entrees to share: the crowd favorite OG Garlic Noodles and the ultra-messy Animal Style Burger (Michael’s feelings usually get hurt when I lament that he always orders a burger, but *gestures above*). It’s a good thing this was our second-to-last stop of the evening because it left us in a luxuriously spicy, carby haze.

A couple of last notes here: While I’m giving this a one-dollar sign based on the entree price, you’re going to want to add in an appetizer just for the chance to experience more of the menu. I’ll suggest you make reservations for your visit, though we were able to slip in on a Friday night without issue (yay!).

→Pink Bellies // 595 King St Ste 1, Charleston, SC 29403
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Exterior of Vern's restaurant in Charleston, SC, at night

Vern’s

If I’m recommending anything in or near the fine dining realm these days, it’s less likely to be a stuffy old-school steakhouse or French restaurant, and more likely to be a place like Vern’s. Elegant, considered meals from a limited menu served in a wonderfully unstuffy dining room are much more my jam when I’m searching for a special occasion meal.

While Vern’s bills itself as a “neighborhood restaurant” I don’t know that I’d do the same. After all, neighborhood spots don’t open reservations thirty days out and book up almost instantly. In our case, we were left with only one 9:30 p.m. reservation even though we were booking weeks before our Charleston visit.

We took a “more is less” approach at Vern’s, skipping the large format section of the menu in favor of several small plates—and it really paid off. Gorgeously grilled sourdough was a fun foil to tuna tartare, and the cucumber salad with avocado and crispy rice was an adventure in texture. Clams and bucatini felt right given the setting, and of course, we had to order dessert. You may not agree, but I’d take the chance to try multiple dishes over one single meat entree any day.

→Vern’s // 41 Bogard St A, Charleston, SC 29403
﹩﹩﹩

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Kultura

Chef Nikko Cagalanan and his team dish up phenomenal Filipino fare out of the tiny kitchen at Kultura on Spring Street, and you’ll want to make sure you have a reservation to experience it all for yourself. Dinner here is a well-edited list of dishes like Picadillo, Pancit, and Pork Asado, but limited room in our busy dining schedule left us only with time for brunch.

Weekend brunch at Kultura is a truly cultural affair, as it features a karaoke machine all fired up and ready for someone to take the mic. Unfortunately, no one came forward to sing during our Sunday brunch (or perhaps fortunately in our case, as our seats were immediately adjacent to the speakers), but we gladly tucked into the bold and bright Chicken Adobo with a double dose of ube in the form of an Ube Latte and Ube Cinnamon Roll. Can you imagine a sweeter start to a Sunday?

→Kultura // 73 Spring St Unit A, Charleston, SC 29403
﹩-﹩﹩

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Ellis Creek Fish Camp

Those willing to leave downtown and trek across the bridge to James Island will be rewarded with a down-to-earth homecooked meal and friendly service at Ellis Creek Fish Camp. This contemporary fish camp offers an elevated take on traditional Lowcountry seafood dishes like Shrimp & Grits alongside other classics like Fish & Chips and Po-Boys.

Line up at the window to place your order, and then choose your table. Although it was August (read: sweltering), the open marsh front location felt ten degrees cooler than downtown and we located a shaded table to tuck into our blackened grouper. The fish was so fresh and flavorful, and a frozen Guava Margarita helped me keep my cool. But the hushpuppies. They’re already perfect, but then the team at Ellis Creek Fish Camp adds a little cup of sumac butter on the side. It really doesn’t get better than this.

A few additional musings: The weekday Happy Hour is a steal here, making this an ideal stop after a morning at Folly Beach. Traveling with your pup? There’s a dedicated dog menu, so you both can enjoy a great meal.

→Ellis Creek Fish Camp // 1243 Harbor View Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
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Alyssa walks into King BBQ in Charleston

King BBQ

When you take the duo behind Jackrabbit Filly, Shuai and Corrie Wang, and add pitmaster Brandon Olson, you get Chinatown-style barbecue with Southern flair. North Charleston’s King BBQ is the perfect stop for a casual meal and a nice way to switch things up a bit from standard Southern barbecue (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).

If you ask me, the best time to visit King BBQ is during their Golden Hour. Between the hours of 4 and 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, you’ll find ridiculously good happy hour specials and can feast on a budget. On the way home to Charlotte one Sunday, we couldn’t have timed it any better for a very early dinner. $24 for two drinks, two sliders, fries, and hushpuppies? In this day and age? Yes, please.

→King BBQ // 2029 Carver Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
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Harken Cafe

Harken Cafe is the sweetest little bakery and cafe, and it’s perfect for starting your morning in Charleston. A Southern biscuit is too good to pass up, and the popular Butter Me Up is a must-order. With herbed cheese, egg souffle, and pickled shallots (add bacon or avocado!) all served on a sweet house-made ricotta biscuit, it’s simply lovely.

Of course, placing your order at the counter means you’ll make direct eye contact with overflowing displays of pastries, cookies, and treats. Give in to temptation and order what catches your eye (my travel hack is to toss a chocolate chip cookie on my car dashboard until it gets a little melty). While you’ll be sad once the sweets are just leftover crumbs in a bag, the team at Harken has shared a scrumptious list of recipes on their site. I think I’ll head into the kitchen to make a batch of Brown Sugar Walnut Muffins right now…

→Harken Cafe // 62 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
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The shop pig named Antonio at Porchetta Shop

Porchetta Shop

Though I’ve eaten my way through Italy a couple of times, I can honestly say my favorite porchetta sandwich in the world (so far!) can be found at Charleston’s Porchetta Shop (reading this over my shoulder, Michael insists that I share that this is his favorite sandwich ever, period). Inspired by the sandwich stalls in Tuscany, every element of the porchetta sandwiches here is the best of the best, and you can really taste the integrity of the ingredients in every bite.

First-timers should order their signature Porchetta Sandwich, and preferably in Style #2 (with crackling, broccoli rabe, provolone dolce, and long hot peppers) if you can handle some heat. This sandwich is bursting with flavor, and admittedly, on the greasy side. I took the smaller half of the sandwich that Michael and I shared, and it was so rich and filling that I couldn’t even finish it (don’t worry—I took it home and enjoyed it later!). As for second-timers? Well, you’ll probably be so smitten with the sandwich you’ll never order anything else.

→Porchetta Shop // 109 President St, Charleston, SC 29403
﹩

MORE CHARLESTON RESTAURANTS TO TRY

Even locals can’t make it to all of the city’s amazing restaurants in a lifetime, so there’s no need to feel bad about missing a few tempting options. Besides, we can always use an excuse for a return trip, right? Here are just a few options I’m eyeing for future visits to the Holy City:

Palmira Barbecue for barbecue by way of Texas, Puerto Rico, and the Carolinas
XO Brasserie for refined Cantonese and Sichuan fare
Bintü Atelier for a taste of Africa in the Lowcountry
Little Line for brunch vibes, seven days a week
The Pass for Italian-inspired sandwiches for those days you just want a sando
Beautiful South for mouthwatering dishes of Southern China

As always—when I make it to any of these, I’ll be sure to update this post. In the meantime, if you happen to beat me to any of them, please leave a comment and share your thoughts!

FINAL THOUGHTS ON CHARLESTON’S RESTAURANT SCENE

Where’s Husk? You might be asking yourself. If you’d asked me this question a decade ago, I would have directed you to the list above, where it would have been prominently displayed. But after hearing from multiple reliable sources that this former jewel of Charleston’s dining scene has lost some of its luster, I’ve decided to take their word for it.

There’s undoubtedly a time and place for restaurant critics, but there’s also a reason we turn to friends, family, and coworkers for advice. We want to hear from peers who’ve experienced a place firsthand before we invest our time and hard-earned money. It’s why, even today, we still turn to blogs for honest recommendations from people who have actually been there.

So, thank you for reading and allowing me to share a look at Charleston’s incredible dining scene. This city has so much to offer the discerning diner—as long as you know where to look. I’ll see you at the next destination!

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Questions for you

What style of cuisine are you most excited to try in Charleston?

Have another restaurant to add to this list? Drop the name of it in a comment below!

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9 Essential Restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina