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Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

Charleston’s 14 Essential Burgers

We’ve got the meat

by Parker Milner and Eater Staff Updated
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by Parker Milner and Eater Staff Updated
Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

There’s something to be said about an eatery that strives to do the humble hamburger justice — which explains why it finds its way onto the menus of both dive bars and fine dining establishments. There’s purists looking for the classic ground beef with yellow American cheese, but many restaurants mix it up the burger blends with short rib, brisket, and even mushrooms. There are always new places popping up in Charleston, but these are the 16 Lowcountry establishments that have and continue to serve the best burgers in town.

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The Tattooed Moose

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Dive bar with famous food Tattooed Moose offers a classic example of two thin patties, onions, lettuce, tomato, American cheese and special sauce between toasted kaiser rolls. Don’t leave without ordering a side of duck fat fries.

1137 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 277-2990
(843) 277-2990
The Tattooed Moose /Facebook

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Pub Fare

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Pub Fare’s double cheeseburger with onions, pickles and “special sauce” really is as good as everyone says, and guests should definitely grab a few extra napkins before diving into this one. The burger gained a huge following within months of debuting at Kudu in 2017, so expect a wait at the pop-up locations, which are generally at breweries like The Hold by Revelry Brewing. 

36 Romney St, Charleston, SC 29403
Pub Fare/Facebook

Herd Provisions

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Herd Provisions started as a food truck in 2017, and it has now expanded to a full restaurant and butcher shop in downtown Charleston. The White Park burger is an ode to the Ancient White Park cattle raised by Herd Provisions original owner Alec Bradford. Pair with a side of hand-cut fries or Brussels sprouts with black garlic shoyu. 

106 Grove St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 637-4145
(843) 637-4145
Herd Provisions/Facebook

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Moe's Crosstown Tavern

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Moe’s has flipped burgers for years, making this dive a go-to destination especially on Tuesdays, when the meaty minions are half-price. Try the goat cheese and poblano pepper combination or the more traditional fried green tomato BLT option.

714 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 641-0469
(843) 641-0469
Moe’s Crosstown Tavern

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Little Jack's Tavern

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The only burger on this list (and maybe in the country?) topped with sunchoke relish, Little Jack’s Tavern consistently puts out one of the tastiest burgers in Charleston. The garlic and herb fries with sauce gribiche shouldn’t be missed.

710 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 531-6868
(843) 531-6868
Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

Purlieu

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Many patrons venture to the Westside neighborhood for the renowned P237 burger. This classic executed to perfection is topped with yellow American cheese and served with crispy shoestring french fries.

237 Fishburne St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 300-2253
(843) 300-2253
Leslie Ryann McKellar

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Felix Cocktails et Cuisine

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French-themed lounge Felix offers a burger featuring two short rib and brisket blended patties. The meat is sandwiched inside a doughy sesame bun and is topped with dijonaisse and gooey raclette cheese, adding a touch of decadence.

550 King St #100, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 203-6297
(843) 203-6297
Andrew Cebulka

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The Rarebit

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There’s something special about enjoying the gourmet version of a fast food burger, and fans of Steak n’ Shake can find just that at the Rarebit, where they offer a simple steak burger with ketchup, mustard and pickles. Wash it down with arguably the best Moscow Mule in town.

474 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 974-5483
(843) 974-5483
Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

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The Macintosh

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Simple pairings of lettuce, tomato, onion, Nueske’s bacon and cheddar cheese make the beef on this cheeseburger sing. It’s big enough to split if you order appetizers to share. The pecorino truffle fries on the side are a winning combination.

479 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 789-4299
(843) 789-4299
The Macintosh/Facebook

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Halls Chophouse

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Stop by fancy steakhouse Halls for the chance to sample the dry- and wet-aged steaks for only $12. To make the burger, the kitchen uses 10 ounces of beef trimmings from the aged offerings, which creates a concentrated meat flavor. The presentation is kept simple with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese and a special sauce.

434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 727-0090
(843) 727-0090
Hall’s/Official

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Ted's Butcherblock

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Patrons only have one chance each week to dive into the celebrated Ted’s burger. Stop by on Saturday for this Charleston staple, which is made using Painted Hills Natural Beef and grilled in the Big Green Egg. 

334 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-0094
(843) 577-0094
Ted’s Butcherblock/Facebook

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Zero Restaurant + Bar

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Fittingly named, Zero Restaurant + Bar’s “Royale with Cheese” is made using a blend of wagyu beef, short rib and chopped truffles. The toppings on this decadent burger include mushrooms, caramelized onions, shaved black truffles and what chef Vinson Petrillo calls “Kraft singles fondue.”

0 George St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 817-7900
(843) 817-7900
Zero Restaurant + Bar/Facebook

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The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits

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Looking for a burger with a view? Take the elevator seven floors up to the rooftop at the Restoration Hotel, where patrons can find two four-ounce short rib and brisket patties stuffed inside a brioche bun. Stop by on Mondays for a deal offering the burger and a beer for just $10.

79 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 518-5115
(843) 518-5115
The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits/Facebook

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Husk

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A lot has changed in the last few years at Husk, but the famous cheeseburger is still a staple on the ever changing menu. The burger blend has bacon ground into it, making it one worth trying once, twice, maybe 400 times.

76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-2500
(843) 577-2500
Husk Burger
Husk Burger
Bill Addison/Eater

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The Tattooed Moose

1137 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403

Dive bar with famous food Tattooed Moose offers a classic example of two thin patties, onions, lettuce, tomato, American cheese and special sauce between toasted kaiser rolls. Don’t leave without ordering a side of duck fat fries.

1137 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 277-2990
(843) 277-2990
The Tattooed Moose /Facebook

Pub Fare

36 Romney St, Charleston, SC 29403

Pub Fare’s double cheeseburger with onions, pickles and “special sauce” really is as good as everyone says, and guests should definitely grab a few extra napkins before diving into this one. The burger gained a huge following within months of debuting at Kudu in 2017, so expect a wait at the pop-up locations, which are generally at breweries like The Hold by Revelry Brewing. 

36 Romney St, Charleston, SC 29403
Pub Fare/Facebook

Herd Provisions

106 Grove St, Charleston, SC 29403

Herd Provisions started as a food truck in 2017, and it has now expanded to a full restaurant and butcher shop in downtown Charleston. The White Park burger is an ode to the Ancient White Park cattle raised by Herd Provisions original owner Alec Bradford. Pair with a side of hand-cut fries or Brussels sprouts with black garlic shoyu. 

106 Grove St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 637-4145
(843) 637-4145
Herd Provisions/Facebook

Moe's Crosstown Tavern

714 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403

Moe’s has flipped burgers for years, making this dive a go-to destination especially on Tuesdays, when the meaty minions are half-price. Try the goat cheese and poblano pepper combination or the more traditional fried green tomato BLT option.

714 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 641-0469
(843) 641-0469
Moe’s Crosstown Tavern

Little Jack's Tavern

710 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

The only burger on this list (and maybe in the country?) topped with sunchoke relish, Little Jack’s Tavern consistently puts out one of the tastiest burgers in Charleston. The garlic and herb fries with sauce gribiche shouldn’t be missed.

710 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 531-6868
(843) 531-6868
Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

Purlieu

237 Fishburne St, Charleston, SC 29403

Many patrons venture to the Westside neighborhood for the renowned P237 burger. This classic executed to perfection is topped with yellow American cheese and served with crispy shoestring french fries.

237 Fishburne St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 300-2253
(843) 300-2253
Leslie Ryann McKellar

Felix Cocktails et Cuisine

550 King St #100, Charleston, SC 29403

French-themed lounge Felix offers a burger featuring two short rib and brisket blended patties. The meat is sandwiched inside a doughy sesame bun and is topped with dijonaisse and gooey raclette cheese, adding a touch of decadence.

550 King St #100, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 203-6297
(843) 203-6297
Andrew Cebulka

The Rarebit

474 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

There’s something special about enjoying the gourmet version of a fast food burger, and fans of Steak n’ Shake can find just that at the Rarebit, where they offer a simple steak burger with ketchup, mustard and pickles. Wash it down with arguably the best Moscow Mule in town.

474 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 974-5483
(843) 974-5483
Erin Perkins/Eater Charleston

The Macintosh

479 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Simple pairings of lettuce, tomato, onion, Nueske’s bacon and cheddar cheese make the beef on this cheeseburger sing. It’s big enough to split if you order appetizers to share. The pecorino truffle fries on the side are a winning combination.

479 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 789-4299
(843) 789-4299
The Macintosh/Facebook

Halls Chophouse

434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Stop by fancy steakhouse Halls for the chance to sample the dry- and wet-aged steaks for only $12. To make the burger, the kitchen uses 10 ounces of beef trimmings from the aged offerings, which creates a concentrated meat flavor. The presentation is kept simple with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese and a special sauce.

434 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 727-0090
(843) 727-0090
Hall’s/Official

Ted's Butcherblock

334 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401

Patrons only have one chance each week to dive into the celebrated Ted’s burger. Stop by on Saturday for this Charleston staple, which is made using Painted Hills Natural Beef and grilled in the Big Green Egg. 

334 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-0094
(843) 577-0094
Ted’s Butcherblock/Facebook

Zero Restaurant + Bar

0 George St, Charleston, SC 29401

Fittingly named, Zero Restaurant + Bar’s “Royale with Cheese” is made using a blend of wagyu beef, short rib and chopped truffles. The toppings on this decadent burger include mushrooms, caramelized onions, shaved black truffles and what chef Vinson Petrillo calls “Kraft singles fondue.”

0 George St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 817-7900
(843) 817-7900
Zero Restaurant + Bar/Facebook

The Watch Rooftop Kitchen and Spirits

79 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401

Looking for a burger with a view? Take the elevator seven floors up to the rooftop at the Restoration Hotel, where patrons can find two four-ounce short rib and brisket patties stuffed inside a brioche bun. Stop by on Mondays for a deal offering the burger and a beer for just $10.

79 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 518-5115
(843) 518-5115
The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits/Facebook

Husk

76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401

A lot has changed in the last few years at Husk, but the famous cheeseburger is still a staple on the ever changing menu. The burger blend has bacon ground into it, making it one worth trying once, twice, maybe 400 times.

76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-2500
(843) 577-2500
Husk Burger
Husk Burger
Bill Addison/Eater

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