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It's officially beach season here in the Lowcountry, and if you're headed to Sullivan's Island, Folly Beach, or Isle of Palms, chances are you might get hungry after fighting traffic or frolicking in the waves. If you didn't pack a sandwich, here are a few quick stops you can make before or after the sun and sand.
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The Quick Guide to Charleston Beach Eats
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The 'Wich Doctor
The 'Wich Doctor has a great, laid-back beachy atmosphere, and the restaurant is off the beaten path. This is not your run-of-the-mill deli — The 'Wich Doctor’s menu is full of far out sandwiches and pizzas, like the Hanoi Hoagie, stuffed with lemongrass beef with traditional Vietnamese condiments, and nuoc cham. This is the best place on Folly to walk up in nothing but your swimsuit, order an awesome meal, and enjoy it out on the patio with an ice-cold beer.
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Black Magic Cafe
Fuel up here in between beach sessions, preferably around brunch. The entrees are hearty and will keep you going while you’re out in the sun all day. Black Magic is where you want to go if you’re looking to sit inside under the A/C and dig into some chicken and waffles or a burger.
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Tokyo Crepes
Walk up to this food trailer behind McKevlin’s Surf Shop and grab a crepe to go if you’re looking for something quick and delicious. This roadside stand serves up the best Japanese crepes at a decent price, sizable portion, and with excellent service.
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The Co-Op
The Co-Op is a small boutique grocery store with an awesome sandwich deli in the back. This is your best grab-’n-go lunch option on Sullivan's Island. The meats are Boar’s Head brand, the produce is somewhat locally sourced from Limehouse, and the bread is artisan. The tuna salad, egg salad, and chicken salad are made in-house, and is probably the best in Mount Pleasant. Grab a Boylan soda and a bag of pita chips and you’ll be set for a day on the beach.
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Poe's Tavern
If you’re feeling a little too salty to sit down inside to eat, walk up to the street-side bar or patio, about a block off of the beach, and order a massive burger and a cold beer from the best selection of local brews on Sullivan’s. Poe’s is known for their large burger patties and their unique toppings, like those found on the Annabel Lee — a burger topped with a Charleston-style crab cake and vegetable remoulade sauce.
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Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ
Arguably the best smoked meats in Charleston, Home Team BBQ is where you want to find yourself for dinner after a long day at the beach. The chicken wings, barbecue, and fixin’s are amazing. — not to mention, their signature frozen drink, the Gamechanger, is in fact a game changer and will start your night off just right. Try Home Team’s pork shoulder sandwich, doused in Carolina mustard sauce, for a sample of a Southern barbecue favorite.
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Sea Biscuit Cafe
Like most restaurants on Isle of Palms, this is a quaint little breakfast/lunch situation with all kinds of options. If you want to go light with fruit or a parfait, or heavy with some eggs Benedict, the options are there. Hurry in for lunch, because they close at 2:30 p.m.
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The Refuge
A great grab-and-go sandwich shop that produces great bites using high-integrity ingredients at a decent price. The perfect spot to get your made-to-order sandwiches, then take them back to the beach with you. The menu is stacked with traditional cold cut combos, a curried chicken salad sandwich that is out of this world, a killer vegetarian-friendly option in the Crashing Waves (hummus, caramelized onions, roasted red pepper, artichoke hearts, feta cheese, and greens), and let’s not forget the Ultra Sandcastle with peanut butter, granola, dried cherries and honey.
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Dockside Deli
The Dockside Deli is a great traditional breakfast spot for you early bird beach-goers. Fill up on bacon and eggs or go with the breakfast burrito topped with pico for just $5.50.
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