Lowcountry$$$downtown
82 Queen in Charleston has poured she-crab soup for 40 years from three historic buildings on Queen Street with a courtyard garden under a magnolia.
Signature: She-crab soup, Shrimp and grits
Order: The 18-time-award-winning she-crab soup.
Tip: Book on OpenTable. Courtyard seats are the best in the house.
Soul food$upper-kingMon-Fri 06:30-14:00, Sat-Sun 07:30-15:00
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit in Charleston runs scratch buttermilk biscuits from a King Street counter since 2014. Located in Upper King. Priced at $.
Signature: Cinnamon biscuit, Sausage biscuit
Order: A cinnamon biscuit and a sausage biscuit, plus coffee.
Tip: Walk-up counter. Lines from 08:00; arrive at opening for shortest wait.
Taqueria$upper-kingTue 11:00-15:00, Tue 17:00-22:00, Wed 11:00-15:00, Wed 17:00-22:00, Thu 11:00-15:00, Thu 17:00-22:00, Fri 11:00-15:00, Fri 17:00-23:00, Sat 11:00-15:00, Sat 17:00-23:00, Sun 11:00-15:00, Sun 17:00-22:00
Pink Cactus in Charleston runs Mexican tacos, tortas and enchiladas from a Spring Street walk-up window since 2021. Kitchen leans mexican, tacos.
Signature: Tacos al pastor, Quesabirria
Order: Three tacos al pastor with onion and cilantro, plus a horchata.
Tip: Counter only; no reservations. Lunch is the easier window Walk-ins usually OK.
Soul Food$$eastside
Hannibal's Kitchen on Blake Street in Charleston has run family-owned soul food cooking since 1985. Crab rice, lima beans over rice, smothered pork chops.
Signature: Crab rice, Smothered pork chops
Order: The crab rice with okra soup, plus a side of mac and cheese.
Tip: Mon-Sat lunch and dinner; closed Sunday. Counter ordering Walk-ins usually OK.
Soul Food$$north-charleston
Bertha's Kitchen in North Charleston has run family-owned soul food cooking since 1979. Order the fried pork chops, okra soup over rice, the cornbread.
Signature: Fried pork chops, Okra soup
Order: Fried pork chops, okra soup over rice, the cornbread.
Tip: Lunch only Mon-Fri; closed weekends. Counter ordering, cash and card.
Japanese, Sushi$$$downtown
167 Sushi Bar in Charleston runs a 22-seat sushi counter on East Bay Street since 2022. Located in Downtown. Priced at $$$. Kitchen leans japanese, sushi.
Signature: Nigiri omakase, Sashimi platter
Order: The chef's nigiri selection, plus the sashimi platter for the table.
Tip: Book on Resy. Mon-Sat lunch and dinner; the counter seats are the best.