9 Places Serving the Best Southern Food in Charleston
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After your first meal in Charleston, you’ll realize why this city’s food scene is on par with cities like New Orleans. I grew up in the South and there’s something to be said about the food culture and no one does comfort food quite like Charleston. There are tons of restaurants to dine at in Charleston, and I mean TONS! I quickly found myself overwhelmed by choices while researching prior to my trip so I’ve rounded up nine of my favorite places that serve some of the best Southern Food in Charleston just for you!
This list is broken up into two sections with a bonus eatery at the end for dessert - I have a huge sweet tooth so it’d be a crime if I didn’t recommend at least one place to go for dessert in Charleston. The first section is smaller and has options for where to go for breakfast in Charleston, while the second section has options for lunch and dinner. I’ve also included the address below each restaurant as well as my favorite item on the menu. Bon appétit!
Where to Have Breakfast in Charleston
1.) Callie’s Hot Little Biscuits
Address: 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Any breakfast sandwich!
There are two locations, one on King Street and the other in the City Market on Meeting Street. The original location on King Street is pretty much always busy so unless you have time to kill, save yourself the headache and head over to their market location where you’ll still find a line but it moves fast! There’s a nice variety of biscuit sandwiches on the menu, as well as coffee. I tried the egg, bacon, and goat cheese biscuit and it was really tasty! Biscuits are a big thing in Charleston and the ones at Callie’s are light and fluffy. If you’re looking for somewhere to take home food from your trip, this would be a great spot to pick up some goodies. They have frozen biscuits, cinnamon rolls, and other treats that you can purchase on-site.
2.) Handy & Hot
Address: 68 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Peaches & Goat Cheese Biscuit
Located at the Renaissance Charleston Historic Hotel right off King Street, this place is perfect for a quick breakfast or delicious coffee. They also have lunch options if you’re in need of a quick bite to eat after a morning of shopping on King Street. If you’re a fan of brie cheese then you’ve got to try their Peach & Brie biscuit! It’s simple yet delightful and the biscuit here was one of my favorites, and they also have really great coffee! I tried the seasonal S’mores Latte which was the perfect mix of coffee and marshmallow goodness.
3.) Miller’s All Day
Address: 120 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Biscuits & Gravy
This is THE place to have a sit-down breakfast and be sure to make a reservation in advance, otherwise, you’ll be waiting in line for about an hour or so. Miller’s All Day has fresh baked goods that you can grab in the front along with coffee if you don’t want to wait to be seated at a table, but if you opt for sitting down, the full menu ranges from biscuit sandwiches & waffles to eggs & fried chicken. They do offer lunch options if you get here later and their apple cider mimosas are amazing!
Lunch and Dinner Restaurants in Charleston
6.) Hyman’s Seafood
Address: 215 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Build-Your-Own Platter with the Fresh Catch of the Day
Hyman’s was the first meal I had in Charleston. It’s just a short five-minute walk away from my hotel, which you can read more about here. After a long day of flying from Seattle to Charleston, all I wanted was a nice, hot meal that wasn’t too heavy and that’s exactly what I got at Hyman’s. Their menu is extensive and you can pretty much customize your meal in any way you like. They offer 5-6 choices of fish which are priced at three different tiers. I went for the Grouper, blackened, and a crab cake with a side of steamed vegetables. The fish was so tender & delicious! Hyman’s is the perfect place for a casual meal with amazing food.
The Apple Butter Jeans sandwich from Brown Dog Deli
4.) Brown Dog Deli
Address: 225 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Apple Butter Jeans Sandwich
This is your spot on a day spent exploring downtown Charleston and you want a lighter lunch. Brown Dog Deli is a small establishment with a lot of character. It was still crowded in the early afternoon, which is a good sign if you ask me! The homemade sweet tea is a must and the Apple Butter Jeans sandwich won me over after one bite. I knew that no other sandwich would ever compare. I’m usually not a fan of fruit on my sandwiches or in salads, but this sandwich is pure perfection! This warm sandwich has turkey, ham, bacon jam, apple butter, granny smith apple slices, brie, & arugula. It’s a symphony in your mouth! I cannot say enough good things about Brown Dog Deli and I highly suggest you check them out for breakfast or lunch. They’ll be a favorite for me every time I visit!
5.) Cru Café
Address: 18 Pinckney St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast
This was another amazing restaurant that we stopped in for lunch, and like all of the others, a reservation is recommended. Cru Café opened in 2002 and quickly made its way to the top of many lists for best places to eat in Charleston and was even nominated for “best new restaurant of the year”! The food here is a blend of Southern comfort food with an Asian twist. Your mouth will be watering as soon as you walk through the door! It’s also conveniently located near the carriage ride tours so it’s the perfect pit stop before or after your tour.
7.) Church and Union
Address: 32B N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Anything on the Steak menu (cooked to perfection!)
This restaurant, as you can probably guess by the name, is located inside an old church. They’re known for their ambiance and perfectly plated food. Church and Union is great for a nice night out to treat yourself or celebrate, as the prices are on the high side and you’ll want to dress up a bit, but the food is definitely worth it! We splurged here and got three courses with wine. We started with the wedge salad, followed by the Prime “60 Second” NY Strip Steak, and lastly the s’mores dessert. Now, I don’t usually eat a lot of red meat but the table next to us ordered the steak and it looked too good to pass up. It was absolutely delicious & it practically melts in your mouth! It’s served over butternut squash and topped with crackerjacks of all things, but it somehow pairs so well together!
8.) Husk
Address: 76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Slow-Smoked Pork Ribs
These last two restaurants are staples in the Charleston food scene. Husk has a location in Nashville & Savannah, but Charleston was the original. The executive chef at Husk is adamant that every single ingredient that is used comes from the South. The food here is great and also a little on the higher priced side but well worth it if you’re looking for that true Charleston experience. The menu changes daily since it’s based on local ingredients but some of my favorite items were the southern fried chicken thighs, slow-smoked pork ribs, and pork lettuce wraps. We opted to share small plates here so we could taste the most things on the menu, which is great for smaller groups if you can’t decide on what to eat.
9.) Poogan’s Porch
Address: 72 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: She-Crab Soup
Another classic, and probably one of my favorites! We ate here on the second day of our trip and everything from the food to our waiter was outstanding. This is where I discovered bacon jam and fell in love with it! The fried green tomatoes were cooked to perfection, and the she-crab soup is also a must-try here. For the main course, I had the scallops which were also perfectly cooked and not too heavy, although I don’t think you can go wrong with any dish from here!
Bonus: Dessert
Off Track Ice Cream
Address: 6 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401
Favorite Item on the Menu: Springbok Espresso Chip
Almost all of the places listed above offer desserts, but I’m a huge fan of ice cream and am actually lucky enough to know the owners of Off Track Ice Cream, so I had to stop in while I was in town to test out some of their seasonal flavors. Located right off of King Street, Off Track Ice Cream opened in June of 2019 and offers handmade traditional and vegan ice cream. What started off as a hobby quickly turned into a passion and an idea for their very own scoop shop was born! Even though I know the owners, my opinion stays unbiased - Off Track Ice Cream offers up some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had and many, many other fans think so too! I had two scoops of their cinnamon-spiced gingerbread ice cream and it was SO good. Somehow the chunks of cookie remain soft in the ice cream and their waffle cones are, of course, made on-site. They locally source all of their ingredients & never use preservatives so everything just tastes better. Be sure to add them to your list & check it out - you won’t be disappointed.
Throughout my four days in Charleston, I didn’t come across a restaurant that I didn’t love. I hope that this list of some of my favorite places to find Southern food in Charleston helps you taste some of the best that this food-loving city has to offer! Have you eaten somewhere you loved in Charleston that’s not on this list? I’d love to know so drop your favorite place in the comments below!
Happy travels!
-Tess
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
