5 editor picks in Charleston.
5 seafood places in Charleston we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Charleston | Seafood across every city.
Seafood is Charleston's birthright, drawn from the surrounding creeks, the harbor and the Atlantic, with oysters and raw bars at its core. Upper King holds The Ordinary, a raw bar and seafood hall on King Street, plus Chubby Fish on Coming Street, while Bowens Island Restaurant shucks oysters on James Island and Pearlz Oyster Bar pours on East Bay Street downtown.
Mike Lata's The Ordinary in Charleston turned a 1927 bank building on King Street into the city's most ambitious raw bar in 2013. Located in Upper King.
OrderThe crispy oyster sliders on Hawaiian rolls, plus the seafood tower for the table.
TipBook on Resy. Mezzanine bar takes walk-ins and serves the full menu.
Bowens Island Restaurant near Folly Beach has shovel-fed steamed Lowcountry oysters since 1946. James Beard America's Classics winner in 2006.
OrderA bushel of steamed oysters opened table-side and a bowl of Frogmore stew.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday. Cash and card; no reservations. Tide-line tables fill at sunset.
Mike Lata's The Ordinary in Charleston converted a 1927 bank building on King Street into the city's most ambitious raw bar in 2013. Located in Upper King.
OrderCrispy oyster sliders, then the seafood tower for the table.
TipBook on Resy in advance. Bar seats are walk-in only and worth the wait.
James London's Chubby Fish in Charleston runs an ever-changing dock-to-table seafood menu from a small Cannonborough room. Located in Upper King.
OrderSmoked wreckfish curry, chili garlic shrimp, the nightly whole fish
TipDoors open Tue-Sat at 17:00 and a line forms by 16:30. Arrive early; the whole-fish nightly special goes first.
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.
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