American Tavern$$upper-king
Little Jack's Tavern in Charleston opened on King Street in 2015 with classic American tavern food. Located in Upper King. Booking recommended.
Signature: Tavern Burger, Wedge salad
Order: The Tavern Burger with American cheese, a glass of the daily red.
Tip: Reservations on Resy. Walk-in bar seats serve the full menu till midnight.
Southern, Lowcountry$$mount-pleasant
Page's Okra Grill in Mount Pleasant has run family-owned Southern cooking on Coleman Boulevard since 2008. Kitchen leans southern, lowcountry.
Signature: Ashleigh's shrimp and grits, Fried green tomatoes
Order: Ashleigh's shrimp and grits with andouille and tomato gravy.
Tip: No reservations. Walk-ins only; cash and card both accepted.
Wood-fired Pizza, Natural Wine$$upper-peninsulaTue-Sat 17:00-22:00
Renzo in Charleston runs wood-fired pizzas and a natural-wine list from an industrial Huger Street storefront since 2018. Located in Upper Peninsula.
Signature: Wood-fired pizza, Burrata and chicories
Order: Whatever chalkboard pizza is on, plus burrata with seasonal vegetables.
Tip: Book on Resy. Small room, books out by midweek for the weekend.
Barbecue$$upper-king
Home Team BBQ in Charleston runs pulled pork, wings and brisket from a Williman Street smokehouse since 2006. Located in Upper King. Priced at $$.
Signature: Pulled pork, Smoked wings with Alabama white sauce
Order: The pulled pork plate with two sides, plus a half-pound of smoked wings.
Tip: Open until midnight; full menu late. Live music nights draw a crowd.
Texas Barbecue$$upper-peninsula
John Lewis's Lewis Barbecue in Charleston runs central-Texas-style brisket and hot-guts sausage from a Nassau Street smokehouse since 2016. Priced at $$.
Signature: Brisket by the pound, Hot guts sausage
Order: A quarter-pound of fatty brisket and a hot-guts link, plus the green chile corn pudding side.
Tip: Order at the counter. Brisket runs out by 19:00 most nights; arrive earlier for the full menu.
American BBQ$$west-ashley
Palmira Barbecue in Charleston runs wood-fired Texas-Carolina barbecue with Puerto Rican accents from a West Ashley strip-mall counter since 2023.
Signature: Beef cheek barbacoa, Guava burnt ends
Order: The beef cheek barbacoa, a guava burnt-end side.
Tip: Counter ordering, no reservations. Meats sell out by 19:00 on weekends; arrive by 17:00 for the full menu.