Nigel’s Good Food is a North Charleston staple. Every dish is made with a down-home feel, hence the use of its “just what your soul needs” slogan. The restaurant’s friendly service and casual dining room vibes make it feel like you’ve been invited to a family supper. The gumbo, deviled crabs, and fried green tomatoes are standouts, but make sure you order Nigel’s very popular Geechie wings. The signature dish comes battered, fried, and tossed in a homemade sweet-and-sour wing sauce.

Chinese-American restaurant Jackrabbit Filly comes from the minds behind the super sought-after food truck Short Grain. Corrie and Shuai Wang bring the flavors of Shuai’s Chinese family to the menu with some Japanese and American flavors thrown in. Some of the offerings conjure takeout menu comfort food vibes, like fried rice with ham and pineapple or pork and cabbage dumplings.

Established in 1979, iconic soul food stop Bertha’s Kitchen is known for its fried chicken, fish, and sides, like slow-simmered lima beans. Tourists and locals in search of Southern comfort makes the trek to the big turquoise house in North Charleston to take in the dishes established by the late founder Albertha Grant, like the smothered pork chops and oxtails. Bertha’s has even drawn its fair share of critical acclaim. In 2017, the restaurant took home the James Beard Award for America’s Classic.

Pitmaster John Lewis brought the best-ever brisket to Charleston by way of Austin, and it’s been a hit since day one. The airy dining room is unlike any other barbecue space — it’s clean and modern with several nods to Texas and Mexico, including an 8’ longhorn head mounted on the wall and imported Oaxacan tile on the service counter. Some of the most popular dishes include the hot guts (sausage links), fatty brisket, green chili corn pudding, and super-moist turkey slices.

James Beard-winning pitmaster Rodney Scott brought whole hog barbecue to Charleston by way of Hemingway, South Carolina, and it was an instant hit. Settle into a red booth at the North Central restaurant and order smoky pulled pork with a hint of vinegar or a comforting ribeye sandwich — don’t forget the collards and cornbread. There’s plenty of picnic tables outdoors and takeout is easy at Rodney Scott’s BBQ.d.

Tucked away in the Eastside neighborhood, this Lowcountry legend has served classic Charleston dishes since 1985. Off the tourist path on Blake Street, try Gullah cuisine staples, like crab rice, lima beans with smoked turkey neck bones, okra soup, and local shark. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this casual spot meets the need for Lowcountry flavors any time of the day.

Combine fancy champagne, cheap beer, fried chicken, and a casual raw bar — all housed in a retrofitted auto body shop — and you get Leon’s Oyster Shop. The menu has plenty of salads, like the iceberg stack covered in buttermilk dressing, for the lunch crowds and soft serve for the kids. The owners put a lot of thought into every detail, so go marvel at the wondrous interiors of the former auto body shop, full of custom art and thrift store finds, in between chargrilled oysters.

Cannonborough/Elliotborough restaurant Chubby Fish is tucked away from the normal downtown cluster of eateries, so it almost feels like a secret when diners find it. The sailor-themed dining room is always packed with customers looking to discover what chef James London has created with the day’s fresh catch. Wahoo crudo, poached black grouper, and grilled oysters with lamb sausage round out the menu worth the wait (Chubby Fish doesn’t take reservations, so expect a wait).

At this romantic and rustic French destination, chef Jill Mathias serves a concise selection of two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts. The staff posts the menu daily on Instagram, but it’s usually a safe bet to grab a table without knowing what plates will delight the dining room that day. Just recently, the offerings included seared scallops with cauliflower puree and fresh peas, a tomato tart, and a veal cutlet with a green salad.

Asian soul food spot Xiao Bao Biscuit was one of a kind when it opened on Spring Street in 2012. The kitchen offers items not commonly seen in downtown Charleston, like okonomiyaki covered in “pork candy” and the extra spicy mapo tofu. The menu pulls inspiration from China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, so there’s always something new and interesting to sample.

The little corner fish shack is a laid-back stop off the hectic hustle of King Street. As the name implies, the kitchen is very adept at the carryout game. For years, this corner shop has consistently served up big plates of crisp, golden-fried fresh catch and fixin’s. Those in the know pair the buttery flounder with a side of creamy lima beans and rice.

Le Farfalle is the sort of eatery everyone wishes was in their neighborhood — the food is comforting, the airy interior full of blue booths and bright paintings is relaxed, and there’s always a regular from Harleston Village at the bar. The menus are full of pastas, like agnolotti with duck confit, and smaller plates, like octopus carpaccio, which allow patrons to choose if the meal experience will be a big Italian feast or a light snack.

Charleston was severely lacking in Sichuan options before chef David Schuttenberg came to town via multiple venerated kitchens in New York. His restaurant Kwei Fei brings the heat on James Island to adoring fans looking for lamb dumplings, spicy noodles, and mapo tofu. Order several dishes, like dan dan noodles and lamb dumplings, because leftovers are just as good the next day.