Where to Eat in Charleston: Shrimp and Grits and the Classics

Where to eat in Charleston depends on what you want to taste. For the three dishes the city is known for, go to 82 Queen or Slightly North of Broad for shrimp and grits, order she-crab soup at 82 Queen, and eat oysters at The Darling Oyster Bar or The Ordinary. We checked all thirteen places below against their own official sites.

Explore Charleston, the area's official visitors bureau, names shrimp and grits, she-crab soup and oysters as the foods Charleston is famous for, as part of Lowcountry cuisine built on fresh local ingredients. This guide starts there and shows you where to order each one.

The short version: Queen Street for the classics, King Street for oysters and fried chicken, and one detour across the harbor for barbecue.

What are the Charleston classics?

The three classics are shrimp and grits, she-crab soup and oysters. Together they are the shorthand for Lowcountry cooking, the seafood-and-rice-and-corn style of the South Carolina coast.

Shrimp and grits is shrimp over creamy stone-ground or cheese-laced grits, usually with a savory pan sauce. Every kitchen in Charleston makes its own version, so ordering it in two places is the fastest way to learn what you like. Some versions are barbecue-style, some are built around sausage, and some lean on a gravy-like sauce.

She-crab soup is a rich, creamy crab soup, usually served in a small bowl as a starter. It is the one to order on a cold evening.

Oysters come raw on ice, steamed, fried or broiled. Charleston has dedicated oyster bars, so you can make a meal of them.

How we chose

We started from the restaurants Charleston is most associated with for these dishes, then checked each one against its own official website for current opening status, address and hours. If we could not confirm a place on an official page, it is not on this list.

Every pick is inside the City of Charleston except one, and we say so plainly where it applies. Hours and menus change, so treat the hours below as typical and check the official site before you go.

Where to order shrimp and grits in Charleston

The best-known shrimp and grits are on Queen Street and East Bay Street downtown. These three are the ones to start with.

82 Queen, French Quarter

82 Queen is at 82 Queen Street, Charleston, in the Historic French Quarter, and its menu lists Barbeque Shrimp & Grits alongside She Crab Soup by the cup or bowl. Order both. The restaurant spreads across three buildings with a garden courtyard, so ask for a courtyard table if the weather is good. Dinner is typically daily, with first seating at 5:00 p.m. and last at 9:30 p.m.; lunch and brunch are also listed on the site.

Poogan's Porch, Downtown

Poogan's Porch at 72 Queen Street, Charleston, has been serving Lowcountry cooking since 1976 in a restored Victorian house, and its own site calls its shrimp and grits famous. Order them at brunch, which is typically daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner is typically daily from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. It sits directly down the block from 82 Queen, so you can compare two versions on one street.

Slightly North of Broad (S.N.O.B.), Downtown

Slightly North of Broad, known as S.N.O.B., is at 192 East Bay Street, Charleston. The menu features shrimp and grits and Carolina barbecue shrimp. It is one of the few places on this list serving all day, typically Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., so it works for a late lunch between meals.

Where to eat oysters in Charleston

The oyster bars cluster on upper King Street, with a couple of waterfront options on the peninsula.

The Darling Oyster Bar, Upper King

The Darling Oyster Bar at 513 King Street, Charleston, centers on a raw oyster bar with classic cocktails, and it serves dinner and brunch. Its site does not post hours, so call ahead or book before you go. Sit at the bar and order a dozen raw to start.

The Ordinary, Upper King

The Ordinary at 544 King Street, Charleston, is a seafood restaurant that bills itself as an oyster hall. Its site lists dinner typically from 4 p.m., closed Tuesdays, with tables booked online.

Leon's Oyster Shop, Upper King

Leon's Oyster Shop at 698 King Street, Charleston, is a fried chicken and oyster joint in an old garage at King and I, with soft serve and rosé on tap. Its FAQ lists it open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Order the fried chicken alongside the oysters. It is the easiest casual stop on this list.

Fleet Landing, Waterfront

Fleet Landing at 186 Concord Street, Charleston, sits on the downtown waterfront and has a raw bar that features wild oysters. It is typically open daily for lunch (11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) and dinner (5 to 10 p.m.). Go at lunch if you want the water in daylight.

Where to order Lowcountry seafood at a sit-down dinner

These four are for a longer, dressier meal built around local seafood and Southern cooking.

Hank's Seafood Restaurant, Downtown

Hank's Seafood Restaurant at 10 Hayne Street, Charleston, lists Seafood a la Wando, jumbo lump crab cocktail and bouillabaisse as signature dishes. Dinner is typically Sunday to Thursday 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 5 to 10 p.m., with lunch typically Thursday to Sunday.

Magnolias, Downtown

Magnolias at 185 East Bay Street, Charleston, names fried green tomatoes and Lowcountry bouillabaisse on its site. It serves lunch Monday to Saturday, Sunday brunch and dinner nightly. Order the fried green tomatoes to start.

Husk, Downtown

Husk at 76 Queen Street, Charleston, cooks modern Southern food, with dinner typically from 5 to 10 p.m. and weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ask the server what is local that day, and reserve ahead.

Fig, Downtown

Fig at 232 Meeting Street, Charleston, serves dinner typically Tuesday to Saturday from 5 to 10:30 p.m. and is closed Sunday and Monday. Its site lists holiday closures, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

What about a steak and a barbecue detour?

The steakhouse and the barbecue spot are the two places on this list that are not about seafood.

Hall's Chophouse, King Street

Hall's Chophouse at 434 King Street, Charleston, is a classic steakhouse built around premium cuts. Dinner is typically Monday to Thursday 4 to 11 p.m., Friday 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday 4:30 p.m. to midnight and Sunday 4:30 to 11 p.m., with Saturday lunch and Sunday brunch. This is the splurge on the list.

Home Team BBQ, Sullivan's Island

Home Team BBQ at 2209 Middle Street is on Sullivan's Island, which is a separate town and not inside the City of Charleston. It is a drive across the harbor from downtown, and it is typically open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, with the full menu until 10 p.m. and a late-night menu after that. Its signature frozen drink, the HTBBQ Gamechanger, comes from an open window bar. Read more on our Sullivan's Island area page.

What is a good two-day Charleston eating route?

This five-stop route covers all three classics in two days, mostly on foot.

1. Day one brunch: shrimp and grits at Poogan's Porch, 72 Queen Street.
2. Day one dinner: she-crab soup and barbecue shrimp and grits at 82 Queen, 82 Queen Street.
3. Day two lunch: fried chicken and oysters at Leon's Oyster Shop, 698 King Street.
4. Day two early evening: a dozen raw oysters at The Darling Oyster Bar, 513 King Street.
5. Day two dinner: a Lowcountry seafood dinner at Hank's Seafood Restaurant, 10 Hayne Street.

Queen Street is easy to walk, and King Street runs north from there. Browse more places on our food and dining listings, and see the nearby Cannonborough and South of Broad area pages.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Where should I eat shrimp and grits in Charleston?

Start with 82 Queen at 82 Queen Street, Poogan's Porch at 72 Queen Street, or Slightly North of Broad at 192 East Bay Street. All three are downtown and list shrimp and grits on their official sites.

Where can I get she-crab soup in Charleston?

82 Queen at 82 Queen Street in Charleston's French Quarter lists she-crab soup on its official site. Check the current menu before you go, since soups can rotate.

Where are the best oysters in Charleston?

The Darling Oyster Bar (513 King Street), The Ordinary (544 King Street) and Leon's Oyster Shop (698 King Street) are all oyster-focused spots on upper King Street. Which is best is a matter of taste; try two and compare.

Do I need reservations to eat in Charleston?

Reservations are a good idea for dinner at places like Husk, 82 Queen and Hall's Chophouse. Leon's Oyster Shop is more casual, so walk-ins are easier there. Check each restaurant's official site for how it takes bookings.

Is Sullivan's Island part of Charleston?

No. Sullivan's Island is a separate town, though it is part of the wider Charleston area. Home Team BBQ at 2209 Middle Street is there, outside the City of Charleston.