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BakeryUpper King
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit on King Street fires miniature buttermilk and cheese biscuits to order from a walk-up window in Charleston. Located in Upper King.
TryButtermilk biscuit with cheese-and-bacon or country ham
TipSingle biscuits start under $4. Open from 06:30 weekdays, latest 14:00 close; an upper King reliable before fresh espresso.
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CafeUpper King
Brown Dog Deli on Calhoun Street is a quick-service Charleston sandwich shop that has fed MUSC students and downtown lunch crowds for years.
TryPhilly Collins cheesesteak, Folly Beach Crunch Wrap, sandwich plates
TipOrder at the counter for grab-and-go or sit-down. Sidewinder Fries and the Buffalo Chicken Crunch are the most-ordered items.
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SeafoodDowntown
Pearlz Oyster Bar on East Bay Street keeps Charleston's reliable happy-hour table: $1.25 oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp and crab dip, weekdays 16:00-19:00.
TryHappy-hour oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp, crab dip
TipWalk-in only at the bar; happy-hour menu is bar-only. The West Ashley Magnolia Road location runs the same special.
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BurgersEastside
Smash City Burgers on Cooper Street runs a stripped-back smashburger counter in the old Fair Deal Grocery on the Charleston Eastside. At 47 Cooper St.
TryClassic Single cheeseburger with crinkle fries
TipOpen Wed-Sun for dine-in, delivery to midnight. Cash or card; build-your-own option for catering orders.
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Street foodUpper King
Roti Rolls, Charleston's longest-running food truck (since 2010), rolls kimchi, Creole mac and smoked local pork into roti bread for a quick, cheap lunch.
TryRoti flatbread wraps under $12
TipCheck eatrotirolls.com for the green truck's daily location. The Mother Clucker is the budget standard.
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American BBQUpper Peninsula
John Lewis's central-Texas pit fires brisket and sausage every morning at the Nassau Street counter. Located in Upper Peninsula. At 464 N Nassau St.
TryBrisket sandwich, sausage plate with two sides
TipOrder at the counter, sit at the picnic tables. The brisket sandwich at lunch is the move when the full plate is too much.