Ranked by TableJourney editorial score.
Carolina Gold rice cooked with field peas (or black-eyed peas), bacon and onion. The New Year's Day dish for luck, eaten year-round in Charleston.
Hoppin' John is a Gullah-Geechee staple of West African origin, brought to the Sea Islands and Carolina rice plantations through the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The earliest printed recipe appears in Sarah Rutledge's 1847 Charleston cookbook The Carolina Housewife. Traditional versions use Sea Island red peas or field peas with Carolina Gold rice, slow-cooked with smoked ham hock. The plate is eaten on New Year's Day across the South for prosperity, paired with collards (for money) and cornbread. Glenn Roberts at Anson Mills in Columbia has spent thirty years restoring heirloom Carolina Gold rice; that rice now anchors versions at Husk and FIG.
4 editor picks for Hoppin' John in Charleston, ranked by editorial score. All Charleston signature dishes · Hoppin' John across every city.
Also in: Savannah.
Sean Brock's Husk in Charleston opened on Queen Street in 2010 and rebuilt Southern fine dining around heritage Anson Mills grains, Sea Island peas.
OrderThe skillet cornbread with bacon-fat butter, plus whatever the wood grill is running tonight.
TipBook on huskcharleston.com. The bar serves the full menu walk-up from 17:00 onward, no reservations needed.
Slightly North of Broad in Charleston has run on East Bay Street since 1993. Brunch and lunch are easier seats than dinner. Bar seats are walk-in only.
OrderThe shrimp and grits with stone-ground grits and house kielbasa, on the menu since the 90s.
TipBrunch and lunch are easier seats than dinner. Bar seats are walk-in only.
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.
OrderFried pork chops, okra soup over rice, the cornbread.
TipLunch only Mon-Fri; closed weekends. Counter ordering, cash and card.
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.
OrderThe crab rice with okra soup, plus a side of mac and cheese.
TipMon-Sat lunch and dinner; closed Sunday. Counter ordering Walk-ins usually OK.
Hoppin' John makes more sense with someone from Charleston explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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