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.

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.

Breezy French restaurant Maison highlights the precision and craft from chef Vandy Vanderwarker (formerly of the Ordinary). The seasonal menu is likely to offer steak tartare, mussels bourride, or dry-aged duck. Regardless, all of the plates are so beautiful that they are sure to shine on any Instagram feed. Stop in for the $5 champagne happy hour and stay for dinner.

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.

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.

Located in the stunning Zero George hotel, this fine dining restaurant with candlelit outdoor seating serves some of the most artful plates in Charleston. Seriously, this is Michelin-level molecular science stuff. Make a reservation for an intricate tasting menu from chef Vinson Petrillo or cozy up to the fireplace at the bar for a snack of fancy deviled eggs and a killer cocktail.

Mike Lata and Adam Nemirow opened FIG in 2003, and the Ansonborough restaurant continues to be a top destination for pristinely executed plates in Charleston. Go for innovative takes on seasonal produce, like the fall salad with a young ginger vinaigrette, and always opt for the chicken liver pâté or the ricotta gnocchi topped with lamb bolognese. Make a reservation far in advance for one of the white-clothed tables.

Combine Peruvian roast chicken, oysters on the half shell, crazy good hot dog combinations, and a few surprises along the way, to come up with the unique menu at James Island spot Bar George. Come to expect the unexpected from the kitchen and the bar. The cocktail list ranges from a yuzu dirty martini to a shot of banana-flavored Jameson with a Miller High Life pony — it’s just a fun time at Bar George. 

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.