36 editor picks in Charleston.
36 cheap eats places in Charleston, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Charleston: the places editors actually return to. All Charleston food.
WildFlour Pastry in Charleston bakes pastries, sticky buns and cakes from a Savannah Highway counter since 2008 (after relocating from Cannonborough).
TipWalk-in. Sunday sticky-bun morning runs 09:00 to sell-out; arrive at opening or miss them.
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.
OrderLobster roll, oysters on the half shell, tuna burger
TipFirst come, first serve. Wait list opens around 17:00 nightly. Lunch is the easier sit.
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.
OrderFried chicken, okra soup, red rice with two sides
TipCash and card both fine. Lunch only, Mon-Sat; arrive before 13:00 or the chicken sells out.
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.
OrderBrisket 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.
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.
TipWalk-in. The almond croissant sells out by 11:00 on weekends; arrive at opening for the full case.
Babas on Cannon in Charleston runs European-style coffee, wine and breakfast plates from a Cannon Street corner since 2019. Daytime to evening service.
TipWalk-in. The corner stools open onto Cannon Street; the back tables are quieter for work.
Jack of Cups in Folly Beach runs a seasonally evolving Center Street menu of Asian and Indian inspired comfort food. Located in James Island.
OrderGlobally inspired comfort food, Asian and Indian flavored plates
TipClosed Tuesdays. Vegetarian and vegan options run alongside the omnivore menu; sidewalk seats out front, courtyard in back.
Kudu Coffee in Charleston runs coffee, craft beer and pastries from a Vanderhorst Street courtyard cafe since 2003. Order the cortado, local draught beer.
TipCourtyard seats are the prize. Open daily; arrive early on weekends for a table outside.
Second State Coffee in Charleston roasts single-origin beans and serves pour-over and espresso from the Beaufain Street flagship since 2012.
TipCounter ordering. The Beaufain space is small; weekday mornings are quieter than weekends.
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.
OrderShark steak, sauteed crab and shrimp over grits, fried whiting
TipOrder at the counter, find a seat in the simple dining room. Crab rice is the move if shark isn't running.
Hannibal's Kitchen has fed the Eastside of Charleston soul food since 1985. At 16 Blake St. Reservations advised. A neighbourhood favourite.
OrderCrab rice, smothered pork chop, fried whiting, lima beans
TipCounter order, dining-room seat. Lunch beats dinner; the line peaks 12:30-13:30 weekdays.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit in Charleston runs scratch buttermilk biscuits from a King Street counter since 2014. Located in Upper King. Priced at $.
OrderA cinnamon biscuit and a sausage biscuit, plus coffee.
TipWalk-up counter. Lines from 08:00; arrive at opening for shortest wait.
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.
TipLines from 08:00; faster after 10:30. Closes at 14:00; arrive early for the cinnamon biscuit.
Callie's Hot Little Biscuit on King Street in Charleston bakes scratch buttermilk biscuits with country ham, sausage and pimento cheese since 2014.
TipWalk-up counter; lines from 08:00 daily. Closes at 14:00; arrive early for the cinnamon biscuit.
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.
OrderFried fish sandwich, fried shrimp platter
TipNo dine-in seating, just a couple of benches inside to wait. Card or cash both fine; order the fish sandwich.
&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.
OrderNew England-style lobster roll on a butter-toasted bun
TipPre-order on andlobster.com to skip the line. Available for private catering Tuesday to Sunday.
Maine Line Seafood in Johns Island parks at Rosebank Farms with lobster flown in weekly by the owners' Harpswell, Maine fishing family. Lobster rolls.
OrderMaine lobster roll, fish sandwich
TipCard and cash both fine. Pair the roll with whatever's coming off Rosebank's produce stand that morning.
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.
OrderFried fish sandwich, fried shrimp platter
TipTue-Fri lunch and dinner only, closed Sat-Mon. Order ahead by phone if you want to skip the line.
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.
OrderButtermilk 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.
Pink Cactus in Charleston runs Mexican tacos, tortas and enchiladas from a Spring Street walk-up window since 2021. Kitchen leans mexican, tacos.
OrderThree tacos al pastor with onion and cilantro, plus a horchata.
TipCounter only; no reservations. Lunch is the easier window Walk-ins usually OK.
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.
TipWalk-up counter. Lines from 08:00; faster after 10:30. Open 07:00-15:00 daily.
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.
TipOpen 07:15-22:00 daily. The corner booths are workable; full menu turns over by hour.
Sugar Bakeshop in Charleston runs small-batch cupcakes, cookies and custom cakes from a Cannon Street counter since 2007. Located in Upper King.
TipCounter ordering. Specials sell out by mid-afternoon; arrive before 14:00 for the cupcake of the day.
Roti Rolls rolled out in 2010 as Charleston's first food truck, wrapping smoked local pork, kimchi and Creole mac in roti; track it on Street Food Finder.
OrderRoti flatbread wraps with Southern and Caribbean fillings
TipCheck eatrotirolls.com or the Street Food Finder app for the green truck's daily location before driving anywhere.
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.
OrderSmash burger on a potato bun
TipWalk-in only, no reservations. The Classic Single with American cheese and crinkle fries is the move.
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.
OrderEnmoladas, al pastor tacos, mole
TipA brick-and-mortar followup opened at 2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd in the Citadel Mall food court for the same menu indoors.
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.
OrderClassic Single cheeseburger with crinkle fries
TipOpen Wed-Sun for dine-in, delivery to midnight. Cash or card; build-your-own option for catering orders.
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.
OrderRoti flatbread wraps under $12
TipCheck eatrotirolls.com for the green truck's daily location. The Mother Clucker is the budget standard.
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.
TipWalk-up counter; busiest at weekend mornings. Closes at 14:00; arrive at opening for the sausage biscuit.
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.
TipOpen 07:00-16:00 daily. Courtyard seats fill at weekend brunch; the back patio is quieter.
Cachita's Kitchen in Mount Pleasant parks on Chuck Dawley Blvd from a colorful Mexican-Cuban truck. Al pastor, chicharron tacos, shrimp Cachitaco.
OrderAl pastor tacos, Shrimp Cachitaco, Cuban sandwich
TipThe 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 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.
OrderHappy-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.
Caviar & Bananas in Charleston runs a gourmet market-cafe on George Street with prepared salads, sandwiches and coffee since 2008. Located in Downtown.
TipCounter ordering and a market. Salads and grain bowls turn over fast at lunch; arrive before noon.
Street Bird Westside in Charleston runs a Southern-Mexican gluten-free fried chicken sandwich window from a President Street lot. Located in Upper King.
OrderGluten-free fried chicken sandwich
TipAll chicken sandwiches are gluten-free by default. Outdoor seating only, weather-dependent.
Brown Dog Deli on Calhoun Street is a quick-service Charleston sandwich shop that has fed MUSC students and downtown lunch crowds for years.
OrderPhilly 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.
Sugar Bakeshop in Charleston bakes small-batch cupcakes, cookies and custom cakes from a Cannon Street counter since 2007. Located in Upper King.
TipSpecials sell out by mid-afternoon; arrive before 14:00 for the daily cupcake. Closed Sundays.
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