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Lowcountry Boil — very classic Charleston
Lowcountry Boil — very classic Charleston
Ashley Mitchell

Charleston's 14 Most Iconic Dishes

The dishes that define Charleston

by Erin Perkins Updated
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Lowcountry Boil — very classic Charleston
| Ashley Mitchell
by Erin Perkins Updated

Those looking for staples of Charleston’s culinary scene, take notice. This is a roundup of food that defines the city’s cuisine. From okra soup to country captain to oyster stew, relatively new to old standbys, these are the 16 most iconic dishes in the city. Seek out these single food items and eat them often. These are the dishes that define Lowcountry cuisine. The food reflects the environment of the rich oceans and lands of Charleston.

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Bowen's Island Restaurant

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Folks can't seem to agree if it's Frogmore Stew, Beaufort Stew, Beaufort Boil, or Lowcountry Boil, but the heady combo of shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, and Old Bay seasoning garners plenty of interest among Charleston visitors. If you don't have Southern family to cook for you, take a car out to Bowen's Island for its version.

1870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 795-2757
(843) 795-2757

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Early Bird Diner

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Shrimp and grits has long since been a staple in Lowcountry kitchens. The combination was eventually adapted by restaurants, and can now be found in almost every establishment claiming to serve Southern fare. Perpetually packed diner Early Bird gives patrons a choice of shrimp sautéed with tomato bacon gravy or fried with sweet and spicy jelly — that is, if customers can resist the famous chicken and waffles.

1644 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 277-2353
(843) 277-2353
Liz L.

The Glass Onion

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The Lowcountry has a lot of classics, from tried-and-true dishes that rose from the field hands of yore, to more modern dishes that, for one reason or another, are now thought of as part of our culinary DNA. With the right care and a practiced hand, these classics can sometimes be combined to make something greater than the sum of their parts. Case in point: the fried green tomato po’ boy with pimento cheese from West Ashley's Southern food stalwart The Glass Onion.

1219 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 225-1717
(843) 225-1717
Robert Donovan

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EVO Pizzeria

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The Pork Trifecta at Park Circle's EVO Pizzeria practically has a cult following. Fans of the pepperoni, sausage, and bacon pie swear by it. Pair it with a local draft beer.

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 225-1796
(843) 225-1796

Also featured in:

Bertha's Restaurant

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Established in 1979, iconic soul food stop Bertha's Kitchen is known for their its chicken and fish, but what you're really going for is the okra soup.A cousin of Creole gumbo, okra soup is stewed okra and tomatoes Everyone from famous chefs and food writers to locals and tourists make the trek to Bertha's to take in the now-famous dishes created by the late founder Albertha Grant.

2332 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 554-6519
(843) 554-6519
Bill Addison

Also featured in:

Martha Lou's Kitchen

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The tiny pink restaurant on Morrison Drive is home to some of the best fried chicken in the south. Wash it down with a glass of iced cold sweet tea for pure Southern bliss.

1068 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 577-9583
(843) 577-9583

Also featured in:

Nana's Seafood and Soul

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There are many Gullah classics on the menu at Nana's. Mother and son team Carolyn and Kenyatta McNeil create Lowcountry classics, with local products, in their small Line Street restaurant. For $10, patrons can score a giant piece of perfectly-fried whiting, fried cabbage on rice, lima beans, and a sweet piece of cornbread — really, it's enough for two people. The trick is to keep up with the restaurant's Instagram feed to check when crab rice or garlic crabs are on the menu (two of the most popular classic dishes).

176 Line St, Charleston, SC 29403

Also featured in:

Dave's Carry Out

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Stop by Southern soul spot Dave's Carry Out for Charleston icon devil crabs. Emptied crab shells are stuffed with a combination of picked crab meat, breading, and other secret spices. And it's only $3.

47 Morris St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 577-7943
(843) 577-7943

Hannibal's Kitchen

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Hannibal's Kitchen serves up some of the best crab rice around. The presentation is simple — it’s picked local crabs, lightly pan fried, over white rice. It's a humble dish but one born of deep Lowcountry roots.

16 Drake St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-2256
(843) 722-2256

Also featured in:

The Grocery

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When they are in season, soft shell crabs make Charlestonians go crazy. As the short-season delicacy makes it to local menus, they are soon everywhere. This year, The Grocery served a variety of soft shells presentations.

4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 302-8825
(843) 302-8825
Soft Shells at the Grocery
Bill Addison/Eater

Also featured in:

Hank's Seafood

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Seafood house Hank's serves a chowder-style stew of oysters, leek, potato and bacon. Oyster stew is a super-classic Lowcountry dish with recipes dating back hundreds of years.

10 Hayne St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-3474
(843) 723-3474
Hank's

Husk

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Chef Sean Brock's burger has reached cult status in Charleston. No one would ever want to deny themselves a chance to eat a meat patty with the bacon ground in. Two slabs of beef, American cheese, and a pillowy bun make the burger worth trying once, twice, maybe 400 times.

76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-2500
(843) 577-2500

Also featured in:

82 Queen

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Tourists love, love, love to visit 82 Queen for she crab soup. An almost too-rich combination of cream, crab meat, roe, and sherry, she-crab soup is said to be a throwback recipe from 1920s Charleston.

82 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-7591
(843) 723-7591
82 Queen

Also featured in:

FIG

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The chicken liver pâté from FIG will ruin any meat lover from all other pâtés. This version is super smooth and usually served with a bit of mustard, buttery toast pieces, and an interesting, seasonal pickle.

232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 805-5900
(843) 805-5900

Also featured in:

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Bowen's Island Restaurant

1870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412

Folks can't seem to agree if it's Frogmore Stew, Beaufort Stew, Beaufort Boil, or Lowcountry Boil, but the heady combo of shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes, and Old Bay seasoning garners plenty of interest among Charleston visitors. If you don't have Southern family to cook for you, take a car out to Bowen's Island for its version.

1870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 795-2757
(843) 795-2757

Early Bird Diner

1644 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407

Shrimp and grits has long since been a staple in Lowcountry kitchens. The combination was eventually adapted by restaurants, and can now be found in almost every establishment claiming to serve Southern fare. Perpetually packed diner Early Bird gives patrons a choice of shrimp sautéed with tomato bacon gravy or fried with sweet and spicy jelly — that is, if customers can resist the famous chicken and waffles.

1644 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 277-2353
(843) 277-2353
Liz L.

The Glass Onion

1219 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407

The Lowcountry has a lot of classics, from tried-and-true dishes that rose from the field hands of yore, to more modern dishes that, for one reason or another, are now thought of as part of our culinary DNA. With the right care and a practiced hand, these classics can sometimes be combined to make something greater than the sum of their parts. Case in point: the fried green tomato po’ boy with pimento cheese from West Ashley's Southern food stalwart The Glass Onion.

1219 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407
(843) 225-1717
(843) 225-1717
Robert Donovan

EVO Pizzeria

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405

The Pork Trifecta at Park Circle's EVO Pizzeria practically has a cult following. Fans of the pepperoni, sausage, and bacon pie swear by it. Pair it with a local draft beer.

1075 E Montague Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 225-1796
(843) 225-1796

Bertha's Restaurant

2332 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405

Established in 1979, iconic soul food stop Bertha's Kitchen is known for their its chicken and fish, but what you're really going for is the okra soup.A cousin of Creole gumbo, okra soup is stewed okra and tomatoes Everyone from famous chefs and food writers to locals and tourists make the trek to Bertha's to take in the now-famous dishes created by the late founder Albertha Grant.

2332 Meeting Street Rd, North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 554-6519
(843) 554-6519
Bill Addison

Martha Lou's Kitchen

1068 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403

The tiny pink restaurant on Morrison Drive is home to some of the best fried chicken in the south. Wash it down with a glass of iced cold sweet tea for pure Southern bliss.

1068 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 577-9583
(843) 577-9583

Nana's Seafood and Soul

176 Line St, Charleston, SC 29403

There are many Gullah classics on the menu at Nana's. Mother and son team Carolyn and Kenyatta McNeil create Lowcountry classics, with local products, in their small Line Street restaurant. For $10, patrons can score a giant piece of perfectly-fried whiting, fried cabbage on rice, lima beans, and a sweet piece of cornbread — really, it's enough for two people. The trick is to keep up with the restaurant's Instagram feed to check when crab rice or garlic crabs are on the menu (two of the most popular classic dishes).

176 Line St, Charleston, SC 29403

Dave's Carry Out

47 Morris St, Charleston, SC 29403

Stop by Southern soul spot Dave's Carry Out for Charleston icon devil crabs. Emptied crab shells are stuffed with a combination of picked crab meat, breading, and other secret spices. And it's only $3.

47 Morris St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 577-7943
(843) 577-7943

Hannibal's Kitchen

16 Drake St, Charleston, SC 29403

Hannibal's Kitchen serves up some of the best crab rice around. The presentation is simple — it’s picked local crabs, lightly pan fried, over white rice. It's a humble dish but one born of deep Lowcountry roots.

16 Drake St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-2256
(843) 722-2256

The Grocery

4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403

When they are in season, soft shell crabs make Charlestonians go crazy. As the short-season delicacy makes it to local menus, they are soon everywhere. This year, The Grocery served a variety of soft shells presentations.

4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 302-8825
(843) 302-8825
Soft Shells at the Grocery
Bill Addison/Eater

Hank's Seafood

10 Hayne St, Charleston, SC 29401

Seafood house Hank's serves a chowder-style stew of oysters, leek, potato and bacon. Oyster stew is a super-classic Lowcountry dish with recipes dating back hundreds of years.

10 Hayne St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-3474
(843) 723-3474
Hank's

Husk

76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401

Chef Sean Brock's burger has reached cult status in Charleston. No one would ever want to deny themselves a chance to eat a meat patty with the bacon ground in. Two slabs of beef, American cheese, and a pillowy bun make the burger worth trying once, twice, maybe 400 times.

76 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-2500
(843) 577-2500

82 Queen

82 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401

Tourists love, love, love to visit 82 Queen for she crab soup. An almost too-rich combination of cream, crab meat, roe, and sherry, she-crab soup is said to be a throwback recipe from 1920s Charleston.

82 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-7591
(843) 723-7591
82 Queen

FIG

232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401

The chicken liver pâté from FIG will ruin any meat lover from all other pâtés. This version is super smooth and usually served with a bit of mustard, buttery toast pieces, and an interesting, seasonal pickle.

232 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 805-5900
(843) 805-5900

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