Industrial conversions and the city's blue-collar pantry: Bertha's Kitchen soul food, Edmund's Oast Brewing, Holy City Brewing and the Park Circle strip.
Bertha's Kitchen in North Charleston has run family-owned soul food cooking since 1979. James Beard America's Classics winner in 2017; the Gadsden family kept the kitchen running through three generations.
Signature: Fried pork chops, Okra soup
Order: Fried pork chops, okra soup over rice, the cornbread.
Tip: Lunch only Mon-Fri; closed weekends. Counter ordering, cash and card.
Edmund's Oast Brewing Co in Charleston runs the city's flagship craft brewery and pizza taproom on King Street Extension since 2018. Mixed-fermentation, IPA and lager focus.
Tip: Hoppy Hour Mon-Fri 16:00-18:00 drops draughts to half-price. Kitchen runs pizza and snacks late.
Holy City Brewing in North Charleston has run pilsners, IPAs and a full kitchen taproom on Aragon Avenue since 2011. The Park Circle area's largest craft brewery.
Tip: Full kitchen runs lunch and dinner with brewery-friendly comfort food. Dog- and family-friendly.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit runs hands-on biscuit classes in North Charleston from the production bakery. The award-winning Buttermilk Biscuit recipe taught by the bakers who make them daily.
Tip: Classes run every other Saturday at 10:00 and 12:30. Take-home biscuit mix and jam included; minimum 5 students per class.
Bertha's Kitchen in North Charleston has run soul food cafeteria-style since 1979, the Grant family at the steam table. Fried chicken, okra soup, red rice; James Beard America's Classics 2017.
Try: Fried chicken, okra soup, red rice with two sides
Tip: Cash and card both fine. Lunch only, Mon-Sat; arrive before 13:00 or the chicken sells out.