21 Places You Must Eat When Visiting Charleston, South Carolina

Never settle for a mediocre meal.

In our opinion, it's totally acceptable to book a trip for the sole purpose of eating. And if you're looking for a food-filled getaway, Charleston is just the place.

Getty Images

Charleston, USA downtown city street in South Carolina with nobody in southern town by old vintage houses architecture, narrow alley and door entrance

So we asked the BuzzFeed community to tell us about their absolute favorite restaurants in Charleston. Here are some of their best responses.

1. Miller’s All Day

instagram.com

"This place has the best breakfast in town, and it's always worth the wait." — whitleyt

120 King St.

2. Bowen's Island

instagram.com

"Come here for affordable, good seafood with awesome views. It was a filming location for the movie adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks book, "Dear John." —katelynh4

1870 Bowens Island Rd.

3. Swig and Swine

instagram.com

"Don't let anyone tell you that there's better barbecue in the city. I lived in Charleston for four years and swear by this place. Get the family meat platter so you can try everything." — awesometwin101

1217 Savannah Hwy.

4. Boxcar Betty's

instagram.com

"This place is home to the greatest chicken sandwich of all time. Chick-fil-A doesn't hold a candle to it." — Fabgay

1922 Savannah Hwy

5. Xiao Bao Biscuit

instagram.com

"I lived in Charleston for eight years, and this South East Asian-inspired restaurant was my favorite in Charleston. I've been many times, trying to savor the whole menu, and I go back every change I get." — madisonh48d14deff

224 Rutledge Ave.

6. Slightly North of Broad (SNOB)

instagram.com

"This place is easily one of the best restaurants in Charelston. You can see right into the open kitchen, where all the fresh ingredients are on display. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is lovely." — laurenl471847552

192 E Bay St.

7. HōM

instagram.com

"This King Street spot has the most inventive, upscale burgers and bar food. They also serve delicious drinks and there are ping pong tables in the back." — Bethiahh

563 King St.

8. Hall's Chophouse

instagram.com

"Hands down the best meal of my life. I still dream about that steak..." —

carolynz47cc8af23

434 King St.

9. Minero

instagram.com

"I love this spot for affordable but elevated Mexican food. The tortillas are made fresh in house each day, and they're so fresh." — marissae459577432

153 E Bay St.

10. Magnolia’s

instagram.com

"I had the best meal of my life here: fried chicken with biscuits and sausage gravy. I wish I could have that gravy every day." — katieh451e55165

185 E Bay St.

11. The Establishment

instagram.com

"This restaurant on Broad Street is one of my all time favorites! I’ve lived in Charleston my whole life and I love the food there. Its mainly upscale seafood, but they also have plenty of other options." — annie6172

28 Broad St.

12. Page's Okra Grill

instagram.com

"This place is awesome, especially the shrimp and grits. The grits are fried into 'grit cakes' and topped with a fabulous andouille sausage gravy." — s4f6ba4855

302 Coleman Blvd. (Mt Pleasant)

13. Poe's Tavern

instagram.com

"This Edgar Allan Poe themed restaurant on Sullivan’s Island has great burgers and even greater atmosphere." — abbih4db49dcf4

"This place has a very cute atmosphere themed around Edgar Allen Poe, and the food is incredible. It was the best burger I’ve had in a long time." — agw522

2210 Middle St. (Sullivan's Island)

14. Charleston Grill

instagram.com

"The food is impeccable, the wine list is excellent, and the ambience is also phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and start off with the lobster cocktail. I like going with a group of friends so that you can share and try a bit of everything, but it also has a romantic vibe so it's perfect for date night, too." — Brandon Monette

224 King St.

15. Hyman’s Seafood

instagram.com

"In my opinion, it's the best restaurant in Charleston. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but the "She Crab soup" and the bloody Mary are delicious. The atmosphere is fun and the tables have little plaques marking where celebrities have dined before. It's always a cool experience with great food to match." — leahw4efea5e30

215 Meeting St.

16. Butcher and Bee

instagram.com

"This place is a nice break from the heavy food you'll likely be eating in Charleston. You can order dishes like Shakshuka and hummus breakfast bowls. They have juices, interesting lattes and lots of healthy and Middle Eastern-inspired options." — Jennpost

1085 Morrison Dr.

17. FIG

instagram.com

"This restaurant served some of the best food I've ever had. Fair warning: It’s expensive and reservations book weeks in advance, but oh my gosh, it was worth it." — tonic4fa41c657

232 Meeting St.

18. Poogan's Porch

instagram.com

"The weekend brunch is spectaular. Think: Pulled pork eggs benedict and amazing brunch cocktails. They don't take reservations so there might be a bit of a wait but it is so worth it." — mollyj12

"My favorite place in Charleston is Poogan's Porch! The she-crab soup is a classic, and Poogra's version is delicious, served with a delicious jalepeño drizzle." — ehilbig

72 Queen St.

19. The Obstinate Daughter

instagram.com

"This Sullivan’s Island spot has excellent pasta, pizza, small plates, and seafood." — phlcmhchs

2063 Middle St. (Sullivan's Island)

20. The Ordinary

instagram.com

"This place has the most amazing oyster sliders, and the seafood gumbo was excellent too. It’s housed in an old bank so the atmosphere is really as well." — juliav4fac42221

544 King St

21. Early Bird Diner

instagram.com

"Come here for delicious southern food at fantastic prices. The diner serves breakfast all day, so you can enjoy biscuits with gravy and fried chicken any time of day." — ursulam469f33c21

"The hot pepper jelly and the fried green tomatoes are so good, and the pecan-crusted fried chicken is basically a religious experience on a plate." — brigidw46b8693a8

1644 Savannah Hwy

Do you have a favorite restaurant in Charleston we didn't mention? Tell us in the comments!