36 cheap eats rooms in Charleston, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in Charleston: the places editors actually return to. All Charleston food.
WildFlour Pastry ★ 4.8
west-ashley · 1750 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
WildFlour Pastry in Charleston bakes pastries, sticky buns and cakes from a Savannah Highway counter since 2008 (after relocating from Cannonborough).
Tip: Walk-in. Sunday sticky-bun morning runs 09:00 to sell-out; arrive at opening or miss them.
167 Raw Oyster Bar ★ 4.7
downtown · 193 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
167 Raw on King Street runs a counter raw bar with New England DNA. Located in Downtown. Open mon-sat 11:00-23:00, closed sunday. At 193 King St.
Tip: First come, first serve. Wait list opens around 17:00 nightly. Lunch is the easier sit.
Bertha's Kitchen ★ 4.7
north-charleston · 2332 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405
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.
Tip: Cash and card both fine. Lunch only, Mon-Sat; arrive before 13:00 or the chicken sells out.
Lewis Barbecue (lunch plate) ★ 4.7
upper-peninsula · 464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403
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.
Tip: Order at the counter, sit at the picnic tables. The brisket sandwich at lunch is the move when the full plate is too much.
Babas on Cannon ★ 4.6
upper-king · 11 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
Babas on Cannon in Charleston bakes pastries and serves coffee, wine and small plates from a Cannon Street corner since 2019. Located in Upper King.
Tip: Walk-in. The almond croissant sells out by 11:00 on weekends; arrive at opening for the full case.
Babas on Cannon ★ 4.6
upper-king · 11 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
Babas on Cannon in Charleston runs European-style coffee, wine and breakfast plates from a Cannon Street corner since 2019. Daytime to evening service.
Tip: Walk-in. The corner stools open onto Cannon Street; the back tables are quieter for work.
Jack of Cups Saloon ★ 4.6
james-island · 34 Center St, Folly Beach, SC 29412
Jack of Cups in Folly Beach runs a seasonally evolving Center Street menu of Asian and Indian inspired comfort food. Located in James Island.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays. Vegetarian and vegan options run alongside the omnivore menu; sidewalk seats out front, courtyard in back.
Kudu Coffee and Craft Beer ★ 4.5
downtown · 4 Vanderhorst St, Charleston, SC 29403
Kudu Coffee in Charleston runs coffee, craft beer and pastries from a Vanderhorst Street courtyard cafe since 2003. Order the cortado, local draught beer.
Tip: Courtyard seats are the prize. Open daily; arrive early on weekends for a table outside.
Second State Coffee ★ 4.5
downtown · 70 1/2 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401
Second State Coffee in Charleston roasts single-origin beans and serves pour-over and espresso from the Beaufain Street flagship since 2012.
Tip: Counter ordering. The Beaufain space is small; weekday mornings are quieter than weekends.
Hannibal's Kitchen ★ 4.5
eastside · 16 Blake St, Charleston, SC 29403
Hannibal's Kitchen on the Charleston Eastside has been feeding soul food since 1985. Shark steak with grits, fried whiting, lima beans with smoked turkey.
Tip: Order at the counter, find a seat in the simple dining room. Crab rice is the move if shark isn't running.
Hannibal's Kitchen ★ 4.5
eastside · 16 Blake St, Charleston, SC 29403
Hannibal's Kitchen has fed the Eastside of Charleston soul food since 1985. At 16 Blake St. Reservations advised. A neighbourhood favourite.
Tip: Counter order, dining-room seat. Lunch beats dinner; the line peaks 12:30-13:30 weekdays.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit ★ 4.4
upper-king · 476 1/2 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit in Charleston runs scratch buttermilk biscuits from a King Street counter since 2014. Located in Upper King. Priced at $.
Tip: Walk-up counter. Lines from 08:00; arrive at opening for shortest wait.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit ★ 4.4
upper-king · 476 1/2 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit on King Street in Charleston bakes scratch buttermilk biscuits with country ham, sausage and pimento cheese. At 476 1/2 King St.
Tip: Lines from 08:00; faster after 10:30. Closes at 14:00; arrive early for the cinnamon biscuit.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit ★ 4.4
upper-king · 476 1/2 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit on King Street in Charleston bakes scratch buttermilk biscuits with country ham, sausage and pimento cheese since 2014.
Tip: Walk-up counter; lines from 08:00 daily. Closes at 14:00; arrive early for the cinnamon biscuit.
Dave's Carry-Out ★ 4.4
upper-king · 42 Morris St # C, Charleston, SC 29403
Dave's Carry-Out in Charleston runs a counter-only soul food and seafood window on Morris Street. Fried fish sandwich, shrimp platters, devil crab, all to go.
Tip: No dine-in seating, just a couple of benches inside to wait. Card or cash both fine; order the fish sandwich.
&Lobster ★ 4.4
mount-pleasant · Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, Summerville (mobile, schedule on andlobster.com)
&Lobster in Charleston runs a roving New England lobster roll truck. Maine lobster on a buttered top-split bun, chilled or hot. Located in Mount Pleasant.
Tip: Pre-order on andlobster.com to skip the line. Available for private catering Tuesday to Sunday.
Maine Line Seafood ★ 4.4
johns-island · 3801 Betsy Kerrison Hwy, Johns Island, SC 29455
Maine Line Seafood in Johns Island parks at Rosebank Farms with lobster flown in weekly by the owners' Harpswell, Maine fishing family. Lobster rolls.
Tip: Card and cash both fine. Pair the roll with whatever's coming off Rosebank's produce stand that morning.
Dave's Carry-Out ★ 4.4
upper-king · 42 Morris St # C, Charleston, SC 29403
Dave's Carry-Out runs a Charleston counter-only soul food and seafood window on Morris Street. At 42 Morris St # C. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
Tip: Tue-Fri lunch and dinner only, closed Sat-Mon. Order ahead by phone if you want to skip the line.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit ★ 4.4
upper-king · 476 1/2 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
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.
Tip: Single biscuits start under $4. Open from 06:30 weekdays, latest 14:00 close; an upper King reliable before fresh espresso.
Pink Cactus ★ 4.3
upper-king · 100A Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403
Pink Cactus in Charleston runs Mexican tacos, tortas and enchiladas from a Spring Street walk-up window since 2021. Kitchen leans mexican, tacos.
Tip: Counter only; no reservations. Lunch is the easier window Walk-ins usually OK.
The Daily ★ 4.3
upper-king · 652 B King St, Charleston, SC 29403
The Daily on King Street in Charleston runs third-wave coffee, juices, salads and grab-and-go since 2014. Order the pour-over coffee, fresh juices.
Tip: Walk-up counter. Lines from 08:00; faster after 10:30. Open 07:00-15:00 daily.
Lillian's Petite Market & Eatery ★ 4.3
upper-peninsula · 247 Congress St, Charleston, SC 29403
Lillian's Petite Market & Eatery in Charleston runs all-day cafe and market plates from a Congress Street corner since 2025. Located in Upper Peninsula.
Tip: Open 07:15-22:00 daily. The corner booths are workable; full menu turns over by hour.
Sugar Bakeshop ★ 4.3
upper-king · 59 1/2 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
Sugar Bakeshop in Charleston runs small-batch cupcakes, cookies and custom cakes from a Cannon Street counter since 2007. Located in Upper King.
Tip: Counter ordering. Specials sell out by mid-afternoon; arrive before 14:00 for the cupcake of the day.
Roti Rolls ★ 4.3
upper-king · Charleston, South Carolina (mobile food truck)
Roti Rolls in Charleston rolled out in 2010 as the city's first food truck. Located in Upper King. Open varies, check operator calendar. Booking recommended.
Tip: Check eatrotirolls.com or the Street Food Finder app for the green truck's daily location before driving anywhere.
Smash City Burgers ★ 4.3
eastside · 47 Cooper St, Charleston, SC 29403
Smash City Burgers in Charleston took over the old Fair Deal Grocery on Cooper Street in July 2024. Located in Eastside. Open wed-sun 11:00-21:00.
Tip: Walk-in only, no reservations. The Classic Single with American cheese and crinkle fries is the move.
Mi Lindo Oaxaca Taqueria ★ 4.3
mount-pleasant · Wando Crossing, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Mi Lindo Oaxaca Taqueria in Mount Pleasant runs a colorful truck out of Wando Crossing serving chef Enmanuel Aragon Cortes's mother's Oaxacan recipes.
Tip: A brick-and-mortar followup opened at 2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd in the Citadel Mall food court for the same menu indoors.
Smash City Burgers ★ 4.3
eastside · 47 Cooper St, Charleston, SC 29403
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.
Tip: Open Wed-Sun for dine-in, delivery to midnight. Cash or card; build-your-own option for catering orders.
Roti Rolls ★ 4.3
upper-king · Charleston, South Carolina (mobile food truck)
Roti Rolls in Charleston runs the city's longest-running food truck (since 2010), wraps under $12. Creole mac with smoked pork, butter-poached shrimp.
Tip: Check eatrotirolls.com for the green truck's daily location. The Mother Clucker is the budget standard.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit (City Market) ★ 4.2
downtown · 188 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit on Meeting Street in Charleston bakes the same scratch buttermilk biscuits with country ham and pimento cheese in the heart.
Tip: Walk-up counter; busiest at weekend mornings. Closes at 14:00; arrive at opening for the sausage biscuit.
Vintage Coffee Cafe ★ 4.2
mount-pleasant · 219 Simmons St, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Vintage Coffee Cafe in Mount Pleasant runs all-day coffee and breakfast from a 1930s Simmons Street cottage since 2014. Order the drip coffee, flat white.
Tip: Open 07:00-16:00 daily. Courtyard seats fill at weekend brunch; the back patio is quieter.
Cachita's Kitchen ★ 4.2
mount-pleasant · 1340 Chuck Dawley Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
Cachita's Kitchen in Mount Pleasant parks on Chuck Dawley Blvd from a colorful Mexican-Cuban truck. Al pastor, chicharron tacos, shrimp Cachitaco.
Tip: The truck has parking-lot tables and umbrellas. A second location runs at 6 N Market St downtown for the same menu indoors.
Pearlz Oyster Bar ★ 4.2
downtown · 153 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29401
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.
Tip: Walk-in only at the bar; happy-hour menu is bar-only. The West Ashley Magnolia Road location runs the same special.
Caviar & Bananas ★ 4.1
downtown · 51 George St, Charleston, SC 29401
Caviar & Bananas in Charleston runs a gourmet market-cafe on George Street with prepared salads, sandwiches and coffee since 2008. Located in Downtown.
Tip: Counter ordering and a market. Salads and grain bowls turn over fast at lunch; arrive before noon.
Street Bird Westside ★ 4.1
upper-king · 218 President St, Charleston, SC 29403
Street Bird Westside in Charleston runs a Southern-Mexican gluten-free fried chicken sandwich window from a President Street lot. Located in Upper King.
Tip: All chicken sandwiches are gluten-free by default. Outdoor seating only, weather-dependent.
Brown Dog Deli ★ 4.1
upper-king · 225 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401
Brown Dog Deli on Calhoun Street is a quick-service Charleston sandwich shop that has fed MUSC students and downtown lunch crowds for years.
Tip: Order at the counter for grab-and-go or sit-down. Sidewinder Fries and the Buffalo Chicken Crunch are the most-ordered items.
Sugar Bakeshop ★ 4.0
upper-king · 59 1/2 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
Sugar Bakeshop in Charleston bakes small-batch cupcakes, cookies and custom cakes from a Cannon Street counter since 2007. Located in Upper King.
Tip: Specials sell out by mid-afternoon; arrive before 14:00 for the daily cupcake. Closed Sundays.