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Where to Find Soft-Shell Crabs in Charleston, 2016

Get them before they disappear

by Erin Perkins Updated
2 comments / new
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by Erin Perkins Updated
2 comments / new
Shutterstock

Spring is here, and soft-shell season is finally upon the Lowcountry. As the short-season delicacy makes it to local menus, we'll put them on the map. These specials won't last for long, so double check with the restaurant to see if they've sold out.

Serving softies? Send a note to charleston@eater.com; Eater will periodically update this guide throughout the season.

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Roadside Seafood

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Fish fry masters Roadside Seafood have a supply of softies and are serving them fried to perfection on a roll with lettuce and tomato. Be sure to go for a side of red rice as well.
807 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 754-5890
(843) 754-5890
Kenneth Andrews

Cypress

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Fine dining spot Cypress was among the first to receive a shipment of softies and quickly sold out the same day. Check in with the restaurant to see if chef Craig Deihl has them on the menu again.
167 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 727-0111
(843) 727-0111
Cypress

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Fleet Landing

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Waterfront fish house Fleet Landing serves a soft-shell crab po-boy with lettuce, tomato, bacon with spicy house-made remoulade or a softie BLT with spiced pork belly and Meyer lemon aioli.
186 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-8100
(843) 722-8100
Fleet Landing

Southerly

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Southern Season restaurant Southerly can provide you with a lightly-fried soft-shell with Szechuan pork belly, wasabi remoulade, and a seaweed and jicama slaw.
730 Coleman Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 416-3965
(843) 416-3965

The Granary

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The team at The Granary uses an Asian influence on their softie set-up and serves them with spring vegetables, fish sauce, and kimchi aioli.
624 Long Point Rd Unit L, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Brannon Florie

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Long Island Cafe

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Isle of Palms icon Long Island Cafe can make you a soft-shell crab two ways: sautéed with brown butter and lemon or lightly fried in cracker meal with homemade tartar sauce and lemon.
1515 Palm Blvd Ste A, Isle of Palms, SC 29451
(843) 886-8809
(843) 886-8809
Long Island Cafe

On Forty-One

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At Mount Pleasant eatery On Forty One, chef Doug Svec plates his softies with Geechie Boy grits, warm bacon, wilted greens, tomatoes, and basil.
1055 Highway 41, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466
(843) 352-9235
(843) 352-9235
Brannon Florie

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Edmund's Oast

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NoMo superstar Edmund's Oast can offer you a soft-shell crabs duo with gumbo des herbs, fennel, lemon supreme, and crunchy croutons or a softie sandwich. Order a few beers and crunch into a crab.
1081 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 727-1145
(843) 727-1145

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The Ordinary

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Soft-shells have made it to the menu at seafood emporium The Ordinary. Two to a dish, these softies are sautéed and served with a local radish salad.
544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 414-7060
(843) 414-7060
The Ordinary

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Eli's Table

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Eli's Table serves a soft-shell po-boy for lunch. For dinner, there's a pan-seared softie with spoon bread, house-made hot sauce, charred tomato and okra relish, and remoulade.
129 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 405-5115
(843) 405-5115
Eli's Table

The Westendorff

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Radcliffeborough restaurant The Westendorff has a supply of softies. Grab a seat at the counter to see how chef Blake Joyal will prepare these springtime delicacies.
114 Saint Philip St, Charleston, SC 29424
(843) 400-0026
(843) 400-0026
Blake Joyal

Bacco

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Chef Michael Scognamiglio keeps his soft-shells Italian at Bacco. Stop by for softie alla parmigiana.
976 Houston Northcutt Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 884-6969
(843) 884-6969
Bacco

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High Cotton Restaurant

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Classic Charleston restaurant High Cotton will serve you soft-shells. Chef Shawn Kelly tempura fries them and plates them over a vegetable pancake, pea shoot salad, and avocado dressing.
199 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-3815
(843) 724-3815

The Glass Onion

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Southern pros The Glass Onion will cold smoke the soft-shells, then fry them in a Fanta batter, and cover them in béarnaise over grits.
1219 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 225-1717
(843) 225-1717

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Peninsula Grill

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Luxurious restaurant Peninsula Grill recently added the short-season crabs to the menu. Chef Graham Dailey offers a crispy softie with artichoke, roasted sweet corn, country ham, mustard greens, cheddar grits, and citrus aioli.
112 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-0700
(843) 723-0700

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Oak Steakhouse

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Chef Jeremiah Bacon has some beautiful soft-shell crabs from Edisto at Oak Steakhouse. Stop in to see how he's plating them.
17 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-4220
(843) 722-4220
Jeremiah Bacon

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Hank's Seafood

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Long-standing Hank's Seafood offers guests two flash-fried softies with sweet corn, roasted jalapeño and lime vinaigrette, spinach, "Yum Yum" pepper chutney, and avocado.
10 Hayne St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-3474
(843) 723-3474

FIG

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Coveted reservation spot FIG has its rare crustaceans for the season. Wrestle a seat at the bar or talk your way into a table for sautéed softies with asparagus vinaigrette and romaine purée.
232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 805-5900
(843) 805-5900

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The Park Cafe

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Wagener Terrace favorite The Park Cafe put softies on the menu and isn't looking back.
730 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 410-1070
(843) 410-1070
Park Cafe

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Slightly North of Broad

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Charleston mainstay Slightly North of Broad serves its softies with a salad of pea tendrils, red mizuna, Easter egg radishes, and green peppercorn dressing.
192 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-3424
(843) 723-3424

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Cru Cafe

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Seek out tucked-away eatery Cru Cafe for a shot at some soft-shells from chef John Zucker.
18 Pinckney St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 534-2434
(843) 534-2434

Cannon Green

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Chef Amalia Scatena of Cannon Green declared, "Softshells have landed." Scatena serves her sofites on a bed of baby lettuce with radish, cucumber, benne seed, and green goddess dressing.
103 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 817-6299
(843) 817-6299
Amalia Scatena

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The Junction Kitchen & Provisions

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All day breakfast cafe The Junction Kitchen will offer you a soft-shell crab with a side of haricot verts and cheese grits.
4438 Spruill Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 745-9189
(843) 745-9189
Junction Kitchen

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The Islander

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Daniel Island's The Islander received a shipment of soft-shells. Patrons can choose from a fried crab over creamy parmesan and bacon grits, with a seasonal vegetable ragout, and key lime beurre blanc of a soft-shell sushi roll with red onion, avocado, asparagus, and yuzu aioli.
160 Fairchild St, Daniel Island, SC 29492
(843) 388-6366
(843) 388-6366
The Islander

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Butcher & Bee

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Popular lunchtime Butcher & Bee recently added a fried soft-shell to its sandwich menu. This item is made with softies, guacamole, greens, and roasted tomato.
654 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 619-0202
(843) 619-0202
Butcher & Bee

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Poe's Tavern

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Beach haven Poe's Tavern can offer you a fried soft-shell crab with with vegetable remoulade, lettuce, tomato, and onion on a brioche bun. Sit on the patio and have fun in the sun with softies.
2210 Middle St, Sullivans Island, SC 29482
(843) 883-0083
(843) 883-0083
Poe's

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The Darling Oyster Bar

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Upper King newcomer The Darling has a supply of Beaufort softies. Stop in for the $1 oysters at happy hour and stay for a soft-shell creation. The crabs are cornmeal-fried on a Hawaiian roll with corn mayo, crispy country ham, pickled okra, and Bibb lettuce. The restaurant will change the presentation of the soft shells every day or every few days.
513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 641-0821
(843) 641-0821
The Darling

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Coast Bar and Grill

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Coast Bar and Grill goes a different route with its soft-shells by adding them to tacos. The cornmeal-fried softies, are served with lime slaw, pico de gallo, avocado crema, and queso fresco. $14.99 for two tacos.
39 John St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-8838
(843) 722-8838

Fiery Ron's Home Team BBQ

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Smoked meat masters Home Team BBQ wood-fires its softies, and plates them with Jimmy Red Corn grits, grilled asparagus, mushrooms, lemon, and brown butter.
126 Williman St, Charleston, SC 29403
Home Team

Closed For Business

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Magical beer land Closed for Business offers soft-shells with fermented red cabbage, pickled chiles, arugula, habanero curry, on a soft baguette.
453 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 853-8466
(843) 853-8466
CFB

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Zero Cafe + Bar

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At the upscale boutique hotel Zero George, chef Vinson Petrillo makes a super spring soft-shell dish, pairing the crabs with red corn, early peas, "egg custard," and pickled ramps. Ramps + softies = spring.
0 George St, Charleston, SC 29401

Prohibition

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Chef Greg Garrison recently added the delicacy to his new spring menu, serving the softies with a salad of seaside succulents, soy, and sesame.
547 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 793-2964
(843) 793-2964

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The Grocery

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Chef Kevin Johnson serves pan-roasted soft-shells with spring vegetable remoulade at The Grocery.
4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 302-8825
(843) 302-8825

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Vincent Chicco's

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Hutson Alley eatery Vincent Chicco's serves a softies softie salad with black truffle rice, croutons, radishes, heirloom tomatoes, Bibb and romaine lettuce, bacon, egg, and Caesar dressing.
Hutson Alley, 39-G John Street, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 203-3002
(843) 203-3002

Michael’s on the Alley

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Michael's on the Alley offers a fried soft-shell crab with sweet corn, aged sherry mousse, fire-roasted pineapple salsa, yucca fries, and banana pepper mole.
39-E John Street, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 203-3000
(843) 203-3000