What to order at Dave's Carry-Out

Must order
Fish sandwich, fried shrimp platter, devil crab
Editor tip
Tue-Fri lunch and dinner only, closed Sat-Mon. Phone ahead to skip the 30-minute counter line at 12:30.
CuisineSoul food
Price$$
NeighborhoodUpper King
Last verified

Why locals love it: A counter-only soul food and seafood window on a back block of Morris Street most King Street visitors never find.

Food experiences in Upper King

Charleston: Upper King St. Brunch Walking Tour★ 4.7 (6)
This neighbourhood

Guided tour · 3 hours

Charleston: Upper King St. Brunch Walking Tour

Discover a thriving, contemporary community of restaurants, bars, and coffee shops located north of the Historic District of Charleston. Enjoy a guided walking tour as...

from$110 Check dates

See all 166 bookable experiences in Charleston

Location

Address: 42 Morris St # C, Charleston, SC 29403

Also in upper-king

Chubby Fish ★ 4.8

$$ SeafoodUpper King

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

Why locals goA walk-in-only neighborhood seafood room on Coming Street that quietly landed on North America's 50 Best in 2025 without a reservation system.

TipDoors open Tue-Sat at 17:00 and a line forms by 16:30. Arrive early; the whole-fish nightly special goes first.

Malagón Mercado y Tapería ★ 4.7

$$ SpanishUpper King

Malagon Mercado y Taperia in Charleston runs Juan Cassalett's Spanish kitchen out of Cannonborough. Located in Upper King. Booking recommended.

OrderTortilla espanola, Iberico ham flight, anchoas with tomato bread

Why locals goA 33 Spring Street tapas room from Chez Nous's owners that earned a Michelin star in 2025 with a market and bar most visitors walk past.

TipWalk-in seats at the bar and counter, reservations on Resy for tables. The mercato sells Spanish cans and cheese to go.

Wild Common ★ 4.7

$$ Tasting menuUpper King

Wild Common in Charleston runs Orlando Pagan's Tasting Menu No. 715 from a moody Spring Street room. Hamachi crudo, dry-aged strip with polenta.

OrderTasting Menu No. 715 in full; foie gras course is the signature

Why locals goOrlando Pagán's tasting-menu room on a quiet Spring Street block. One Michelin star in 2025, but most visitors still default to FIG or Husk.

TipReservations on Resy weeks ahead, but the bar takes walk-ins for the abbreviated counter menu. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Vintage Lounge ★ 4.4

$$ Wine barUpper King

Vintage Lounge on upper King Street is a Cannonborough Charleston wine bar in a renovated historic building. Local charcuterie, truffled fontina fondue.

OrderTruffled fontina fondue, charcuterie plate, sommelier's seasonal flight

Why locals goAn upper King wine room above a stationery shop that locals book first when they want truffled fontina fondue and Burgundy by the glass past midnight.

TipReserve via OpenTable for booths. The wine-pairing flight is the standing recommendation; ask staff for the off-list bottles.

Sorghum & Salt ★ 4.5

$$ Modern EuropeanUpper King

Sorghum & Salt in Charleston runs farm- and sea-to-fork plates from the St Philip and Cannon corner. Housemade ricotta, gnocchi with local mushrooms.

OrderHousemade ricotta, mushroom gnocchi, daily vegetable plate

Why locals goA vegetable-forward farm-to-table room a mile north of the tourist track, with the city's most considered vegan tasting menu.

TipVegan and vegetarian options are the core, not a side menu. Reservations on Resy; small room, walk-in odds slim.

Full upper-king food guide →

More hidden gems in Charleston

Chubby Fish ★ 4.8

$$ SeafoodUpper King

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

Why locals goA walk-in-only neighborhood seafood room on Coming Street that quietly landed on North America's 50 Best in 2025 without a reservation system.

TipDoors open Tue-Sat at 17:00 and a line forms by 16:30. Arrive early; the whole-fish nightly special goes first.

Malagón Mercado y Tapería ★ 4.7

$$ SpanishUpper King

Malagon Mercado y Taperia in Charleston runs Juan Cassalett's Spanish kitchen out of Cannonborough. Located in Upper King. Booking recommended.

OrderTortilla espanola, Iberico ham flight, anchoas with tomato bread

Why locals goA 33 Spring Street tapas room from Chez Nous's owners that earned a Michelin star in 2025 with a market and bar most visitors walk past.

TipWalk-in seats at the bar and counter, reservations on Resy for tables. The mercato sells Spanish cans and cheese to go.

Kwei Fei ★ 4.5

$$ SichuanJames Island

Kwei Fei in Charleston runs David Schuttenberg's Sichuan kitchen from a James Island room next to the Pour House. Lamb dumplings, dry-rubbed wings.

OrderLamb dumplings, dry-rubbed Four Rivers wings, mapo tofu

Why locals goJames Island Sichuan-only restaurant next to the Charleston Pour House, the city's longest-running serious Chinese kitchen and far off the King Street circuit.

TipWalk-in, reservations on Resy for parties of 4 or more. Open Tue-Sat dinner only; the chili oil dessert always sells out.

Wild Common ★ 4.7

$$ Tasting menuUpper King

Wild Common in Charleston runs Orlando Pagan's Tasting Menu No. 715 from a moody Spring Street room. Hamachi crudo, dry-aged strip with polenta.

OrderTasting Menu No. 715 in full; foie gras course is the signature

Why locals goOrlando Pagán's tasting-menu room on a quiet Spring Street block. One Michelin star in 2025, but most visitors still default to FIG or Husk.

TipReservations on Resy weeks ahead, but the bar takes walk-ins for the abbreviated counter menu. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Vintage Lounge ★ 4.4

$$ Wine barUpper King

Vintage Lounge on upper King Street is a Cannonborough Charleston wine bar in a renovated historic building. Local charcuterie, truffled fontina fondue.

OrderTruffled fontina fondue, charcuterie plate, sommelier's seasonal flight

Why locals goAn upper King wine room above a stationery shop that locals book first when they want truffled fontina fondue and Burgundy by the glass past midnight.

TipReserve via OpenTable for booths. The wine-pairing flight is the standing recommendation; ask staff for the off-list bottles.

Sorghum & Salt ★ 4.5

$$ Modern EuropeanUpper King

Sorghum & Salt in Charleston runs farm- and sea-to-fork plates from the St Philip and Cannon corner. Housemade ricotta, gnocchi with local mushrooms.

OrderHousemade ricotta, mushroom gnocchi, daily vegetable plate

Why locals goA vegetable-forward farm-to-table room a mile north of the tourist track, with the city's most considered vegan tasting menu.

TipVegan and vegetarian options are the core, not a side menu. Reservations on Resy; small room, walk-in odds slim.

See every hidden gems pick in Charleston →

← Back to Hidden Gems in Charleston ← Charleston food guide