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Mezze spread at Butcher & Bee

16 Essential Vegetarian Restaurants in Charleston

Where to eat without meat

by Erin Perkins Updated Jul 22, 2019, 9:00am EDT

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Mezze spread at Butcher & Bee

| Andrew Cebulka

by Erin Perkins Updated Jul 22, 2019, 9:00am EDT

While most Charleston restaurants can offer vegetarian and vegan items with advanced noticed, there are several that keep a selection of veg-friendly items on the menu at all times. Of course, being in the South, the vegetable plate spans across numerous establishments (watch out for ham hocks), but this selection of restaurants goes beyond just sides for those eating meat-free.

This group covers the entire city, spans myriad cuisines, and collectively satisfies a large swath of tastes.

Don't see your favorite vegetarian restaurant on the list? Show some love for it in the comments or send us a note on the tipline. We'll update the map as newcomers settle in or there's a collective outcry for a missing point.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Jack Of Cups

Chill spot Jack of Cups offers Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian-influenced cuisine with craft beers at the beach. Stop by for bowls of chickpea nachos or a coconut lime noodle bowl.

34 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC 29439

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Crust Wood Fired Pizza

Always check the specials at Crust Wood Fired Pizza — there's usually an interesting seasonal salad full of local vegetables or a pie utilizing that same produce.

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1956B Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC 29412

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Three Little Birds Cafe

Find Three Little Birds Cafe tucked behind the Earth Fare in West Ashley. This adorable eatery offers plenty of breakfast and lunch options for those not eating meat. For example, there's the classic tofu and veggie scramble or sweet potato Benedict in the morning and a barbecue tempeh melt in the afternoon (plus other offerings).

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65 Windermere Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407

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Gathering Cafe Restaurant

Billed as a "a cafe restaurant with affordable gourmet food," Gathering Cafe offers an eclectic lunch and dinner menu full of different international influences. Sample the North African sweet potato and chick pea stew, the panang curry, or the falafel burger.

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1124 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407

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EVO Pizzeria

Sure, EVO might be know for its Pork Trifecta pie, but the kitchen also offers plenty of pizzas without meat. The pistachio pesto pie with Split Creek Farm fromage blanc, ground pistachio,creme fraiche, mozzarella, and parmigiano-reggiano is a popular choice and the crisp seasonal salads always make for a good starter.

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

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Also featured in:

Butcher & Bee

North Central hero Butcher & Bee offers ample opportunities for vegetarians to try the veggie burger with green tahini, grilled onions, feta, roasted tomato, and zucchini or the wealth of seasonal, produce-forward mezze plates, like spiced carrots, summer beans, or whipped feta.

1085 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403

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Butcher & Bee

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Huriyali Gardens

Huriyali is a hidden oasis on Huger Street. Fans stop by for juices, acai bowls, avocado toast, vegan paninis, and kale salads with ginger miso dressing. After eating here, you somehow feel lighter and refreshed.

Open in Google Maps

401 Huger St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Gnome Cafe

Sunny spot Gnome Cafe Gnome Cafe eliminates dairy and meat with its menu of tofu scrambles, hemp sausage biscuits, and tempeh Ruebens. The President Street eatery shines with plant-based goodness and options that would even satisfy the heartiest of meat eaters.

109 President St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Dell'z Uptown

A majority of the items at Dell'z Deli are meat-free. This small shop stays lively with good vibes and a few reggae tunes on the speakers. Try the Snobby Joe, a tempeh alternative to a classic Sloppy Joe, or the much-praised Jazzy Pizza with cheese, brown rice, black beans, bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, mango salsa, avocado, sweet and spicy sauce, and mixed greens.

Open in Google Maps

511 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Persimmon Cafe

Sandwich and custard shop Persimmon Cafe allows vegetarians to indulge in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, like the zucchini, fontina, red onions and pistachio pistou selection, with a side of warming tomato soup.

226 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Basil

Basil has been a cornerstone of Upper King since before Upper King was cool. All of the entrees come with a tofu option. That means you can have pad thai, red curry, or prik king without worry.

Open in Google Maps

460 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

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Monza

Hip Italian cafe Monza offers hearty salads, filling pastas, and crisp, wood-fired pizzas — all without meat. Start with the beet salad with ricotta salata and then go into the vodka sauce pasta or the Campari pie with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, eggplant, roasted red pepper, olives, capers, and goat cheese.

451 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Monza

Also featured in:

13 Essential Stops for Pizza in Charleston

CO

Look for the "V" next to the listed offerings at Asian-influenced CO for vegetarian dishes (vegan menu offered on request). Many of the noodle and rice bowls can be made with tofu. The drunken Thai noodles or spicy udon are sure to satisfy without meat.

Open in Google Maps

340 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

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Also featured in:

Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine

Convenient to the King Street crowds, Leyla offers authentic Lebanese fare in an upscale, yet relaxed, setting. Stop in with a group for the mezze sampler of hummus, baba ganoush, labneh, tabbouleh, grape leaves, shinklish, falafel, ful mudammas (stewed fava beans), and cheese roll.

Open in Google Maps

298 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

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Five Loaves Cafe

With locations in Mount Pleasant, downtown, and Summerville, Five Loaves Cafe makes for an easy lunch stop around the Lowcountry. Opt for the soup/salad/sandwich combo for a mix of different flavors full of fresh vegetables. The Mediterranean veggie burger with tzatziki is a popular choice.

Open in Google Maps

1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Visit Website

Verde

Being a vegetarian, you may roll your eyes at the thought of another salad, but Verde has so many build-it-yourself options that it should take you a while to tire of their leafy offerings — and they change it up every month with a new special. With several outposts across the Lowcountry, there should be one convenient to you.

Open in Google Maps

616 Long Point Rd Unit A, Mt. Pleasant, SC

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Jack Of Cups

34 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC 29439

Chill spot Jack of Cups offers Thai, Vietnamese, and Indian-influenced cuisine with craft beers at the beach. Stop by for bowls of chickpea nachos or a coconut lime noodle bowl.

34 Center Street, Folly Beach, SC 29439

Visit Website

Crust Wood Fired Pizza

1956B Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC 29412

Always check the specials at Crust Wood Fired Pizza — there's usually an interesting seasonal salad full of local vegetables or a pie utilizing that same produce.

Open in Google Maps

1956B Maybank Hwy, Charleston, SC 29412

Visit Website

Three Little Birds Cafe

65 Windermere Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407

Find Three Little Birds Cafe tucked behind the Earth Fare in West Ashley. This adorable eatery offers plenty of breakfast and lunch options for those not eating meat. For example, there's the classic tofu and veggie scramble or sweet potato Benedict in the morning and a barbecue tempeh melt in the afternoon (plus other offerings).

Open in Google Maps

65 Windermere Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407

Visit Website

Gathering Cafe Restaurant

1124 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407

Billed as a "a cafe restaurant with affordable gourmet food," Gathering Cafe offers an eclectic lunch and dinner menu full of different international influences. Sample the North African sweet potato and chick pea stew, the panang curry, or the falafel burger.

Open in Google Maps

1124 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407

Visit Website

EVO Pizzeria

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

Sure, EVO might be know for its Pork Trifecta pie, but the kitchen also offers plenty of pizzas without meat. The pistachio pesto pie with Split Creek Farm fromage blanc, ground pistachio,creme fraiche, mozzarella, and parmigiano-reggiano is a popular choice and the crisp seasonal salads always make for a good starter.

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

Visit Website

Butcher & Bee

1085 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403

North Central hero Butcher & Bee offers ample opportunities for vegetarians to try the veggie burger with green tahini, grilled onions, feta, roasted tomato, and zucchini or the wealth of seasonal, produce-forward mezze plates, like spiced carrots, summer beans, or whipped feta.

1085 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Butcher & Bee

Huriyali Gardens

401 Huger St, Charleston, SC 29403

Huriyali is a hidden oasis on Huger Street. Fans stop by for juices, acai bowls, avocado toast, vegan paninis, and kale salads with ginger miso dressing. After eating here, you somehow feel lighter and refreshed.

Open in Google Maps

401 Huger St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Gnome Cafe

109 President St, Charleston, SC 29403

Sunny spot Gnome Cafe Gnome Cafe eliminates dairy and meat with its menu of tofu scrambles, hemp sausage biscuits, and tempeh Ruebens. The President Street eatery shines with plant-based goodness and options that would even satisfy the heartiest of meat eaters.

109 President St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Dell'z Uptown

511 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403

A majority of the items at Dell'z Deli are meat-free. This small shop stays lively with good vibes and a few reggae tunes on the speakers. Try the Snobby Joe, a tempeh alternative to a classic Sloppy Joe, or the much-praised Jazzy Pizza with cheese, brown rice, black beans, bell peppers, sliced mushrooms, mango salsa, avocado, sweet and spicy sauce, and mixed greens.

Open in Google Maps

511 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Persimmon Cafe

226 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

Sandwich and custard shop Persimmon Cafe allows vegetarians to indulge in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, like the zucchini, fontina, red onions and pistachio pistou selection, with a side of warming tomato soup.

226 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Basil

460 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Basil has been a cornerstone of Upper King since before Upper King was cool. All of the entrees come with a tofu option. That means you can have pad thai, red curry, or prik king without worry.

Open in Google Maps

460 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Monza

451 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Hip Italian cafe Monza offers hearty salads, filling pastas, and crisp, wood-fired pizzas — all without meat. Start with the beet salad with ricotta salata and then go into the vodka sauce pasta or the Campari pie with fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, eggplant, roasted red pepper, olives, capers, and goat cheese.

451 King St, Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Monza

CO

340 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Look for the "V" next to the listed offerings at Asian-influenced CO for vegetarian dishes (vegan menu offered on request). Many of the noodle and rice bowls can be made with tofu. The drunken Thai noodles or spicy udon are sure to satisfy without meat.

Open in Google Maps

340 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Leyla Fine Lebanese Cuisine

298 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Convenient to the King Street crowds, Leyla offers authentic Lebanese fare in an upscale, yet relaxed, setting. Stop in with a group for the mezze sampler of hummus, baba ganoush, labneh, tabbouleh, grape leaves, shinklish, falafel, ful mudammas (stewed fava beans), and cheese roll.

Open in Google Maps

298 King St, Charleston, SC 29401

Visit Website

Five Loaves Cafe

1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

With locations in Mount Pleasant, downtown, and Summerville, Five Loaves Cafe makes for an easy lunch stop around the Lowcountry. Opt for the soup/salad/sandwich combo for a mix of different flavors full of fresh vegetables. The Mediterranean veggie burger with tzatziki is a popular choice.

Open in Google Maps

1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Visit Website

Related Maps

Verde

616 Long Point Rd Unit A, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Being a vegetarian, you may roll your eyes at the thought of another salad, but Verde has so many build-it-yourself options that it should take you a while to tire of their leafy offerings — and they change it up every month with a new special. With several outposts across the Lowcountry, there should be one convenient to you.

Open in Google Maps

616 Long Point Rd Unit A, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Visit Website

Related Maps