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Softies on a pizza at Le Farfalle.
Softies on a pizza at Le Farfalle.
Erin Perkins

Where to Find Soft Shell Crabs in Charleston, 2017

Crunch into a crustacean today

by Erin Perkins Updated
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Softies on a pizza at Le Farfalle.
| Erin Perkins
by Erin Perkins Updated

Spring is here a few days early, and soft shell season is finally upon the Lowcountry. Charleston residents and visitors go absolutely mad for softies each year, whether they be fried, pan seared, or on a sandwich with bacon, lettuce, and tomato. As the short-season delicacy makes it to local restaurant menus, we'll put them on this map, along with a description of the dish. These specials won't last for very long, so double check with the eatery to see if they've sold out. Go forth and crunch into a few crabs around town — legs and all.

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

Note: Map points are listed in geographical order and are not ranked. Did we miss your favorite spot? Show it some love in the comments, send us an email, or start a forum thread in its honor.

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The Grocery

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Chef Kevin Johnson pan roasts the soft shells and serves them with a spring vegetable remoulade and green garlic aioli.
4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 302-8825
(843) 302-8825

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The Ordinary

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Seafood master at The Ordinary offer an Instagram-worthy plate of crispy, seasonal crabs and bright, local radishes.
544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
The Ordinary

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Indaco

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Italian eater Indaco features fried softies with fregola, fingerling potatoes, caper aioli, pickled red onion, and grilled lemon.
526 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 727-1228
(843) 727-1228

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The Macintosh

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Stop by The Macintosh for a softie served crispy with red romaine lettuce, saffron aioli, and bacon.
479 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 789-4299
(843) 789-4299

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Fleet Landing

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Eat those softies by the water at Fleet Landing. The restaurant has a crispy soft shell crab sandwich with lettuce, tomato jam, a corn tuile, and lemon verbena aioli.
186 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 722-8100
(843) 722-8100

Cypress

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Cypress was among the first restaurants in Charleston to get its supply of softies. Stop by to see how chef Craig Deihl whips them up.
167 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 727-0111
(843) 727-0111

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Edmund's Oast

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Beer and cocktail wonderland Edmund's Oast offer two choices for crab lovers: softies with spaghetti and wild garlic or a soft shell sandwich on a brioche bun.
1081 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 727-1145
(843) 727-1145

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Artisan Meat Share

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Salami slayer Artisan Meat Share has a crispy soft shell covered in Burnt & Salty chili glaze between two buns.
33 Spring St, Charleston, SC 29403
AMS

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Congress

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Stop by Mexican/Italian restaurant Congress for a softie plated with a watercress and jicama salad, avocado vinaigrette and lime supremes.
1035 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 654-9210
(843) 654-9210

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Hank's Seafood

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The specials at seafood emporium Hank's includes soft shell crabs over pimento cheese grits, sweet corn, and a ham hock bisque.
10 Hayne St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-3474
(843) 723-3474

Noisy Oyster Seafood

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Brave Market Street and head to Noisy Oyster for a local soft shell crab, fried golden brown, and served on a buttery roll with cole slaw, lettuce, tomato and onion.
24 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-0044
(843) 723-0044

The Watch Rooftop Kitchen & Spirits

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Rooftop restaurant The Watch serves an artful plate of local softies with a shaved vegetable and herb salad with remoulade.
75 Wentworth St, Charleston, SC 29401
Rob Deleo

Napa Mt. Pleasant

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Mount Pleasant restaurant Napa serves its crabs on housemade bun with sriracha aioli, tomatoes, and mecsulin for lunch and for dinner with prik nom pla and napa slaw.
1324 Theater Dr Ste F-1, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 900-6277
(843) 900-6277
Provided

5Church Charleston

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5Church prepares soft shells two ways: crispy with fire-roasted corn and tomatoes, sautéed fennel, uni emulation or cornmeal-dusted with caramelized sweet potatoes, tasso marmalade, and braised greens.
32 N Market St Ste B, Charleston, SC 29401

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The Darling Oyster Bar

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The softie special constantly changes at seafood house The Darling, so stop by to see what the kitchen is offering today.
513 King St, Charleston, SC

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39 Rue De Jean

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French brasserie Rue de John plates up a soft shell BLT with jalapeños, creole remoulade, and truffle fries.
39 John St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-8881
(843) 722-8881

Coast Bar and Grill

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Seafood eatery Coast has softie tacos with citrus slaw, pico de gallo, and avocado lime crema.
39 John St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 722-8838
(843) 722-8838
Coast

Michael’s on the Alley

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At Michael's on the Alley, guests can choose a grilled crab paired with prime filet mignon or a grilled softie with with black garlic butter, house-made challah bread, and pickled carrot and pear slaw.
39-E John Street, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 203-3000
(843) 203-3000
Michael's

Vincent Chicco's

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Stop by Vincent Chicco's for tempura soft shell crab spaghetti with charred artichokes, blood oranges, local cayenne pepper purée, arugula, and Meyer lemon.
Hutson Alley, 39-G John Street, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 203-3002
(843) 203-3002
Remy Thurston

Virginia's On King

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Southern space Virginia's gives guests a choice of a soft shell crab omelette or a soft shell po' boy.
412 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 735-5800
(843) 735-5800
Virginia's

High Cotton Restaurant

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Southern staple High Cotton has the soft shells you desire.
199 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 724-3815
(843) 724-3815

Two Blokes Brewing

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Roaming ramen outfit 2Nixons will offer a softie noodle bowl at Two Blokes Brewing on Friday, March 14.
547 Long Point Rd #101, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
Two Blokes Brewing

Morgan Creek Grill

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Stop by Morgan Creek Grill for ramen with wheat noodles cooked in a soy-based broth, tempura fried soft shell crab, a sunny-side up egg, matchstick watermelon radish, charred scallions, tobiko wasabi and garnished with microgreens.
80 41st Ave, Isle of Palms, SC 29451
(843) 886-8980
(843) 886-8980
Morgan Creek Grill

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La Tela Pizzeria

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The new special at Le Tela Pizzeria is a sautéed Beaufort soft shell crab with polenta, roasted cipollini onion, and butter beans.
133 Village Green Dr, Johns Island, SC 29455
(843) 768-1951
(843) 768-1951

Sermet's Southernterranean Cuisine-Bar

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Sermet's Southernterranean Cuisine-Bar will plate a few soft shell crabs for you.
1622 Highland Ave, Charleston, SC 29412

O-Ku

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Sushi spot O-Ku will sell you a softie.
463 King St Ste A, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 737-0112
(843) 737-0112

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Cru Cafe

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Southern favorite Cru Cafe serves a buttermilk-fried soft shell sandwich with applewood smoked bacon, tomato, local bibb lettuce, and herb aioli on brioche.
18 Pinckney St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 534-2434
(843) 534-2434

Peninsula Grill

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Fine dining standard Peninsula Grill has softies on the menu from chef Graham Dailey.
112 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-0700
(843) 723-0700
Graham Dailey

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Slightly North of Broad

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The crabs have crawled onto plates at long-standing East Bay eatery Slightly North of Broad.
192 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-3424
(843) 723-3424
Tim Pettit

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The Granary

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The soft shells are super spring-y at The Granary, served with asparagus, morels, and radishes with prosciutto butter.
835 Coleman Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 216-3832
(843) 216-3832

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Pier 41

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Mount Pleasant raw bar Pier 41 recently put soft shell crabs on the menu.
1039 Highway 41, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466

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The Islander

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The Islander serves a tempura-fried local soft shell crab with Asian-inspired local spring onion, mushroom and pepper salad dressed with a spring onion sake vinaigrette.
160 Fairchild St, Daniel Island, SC 29492
(843) 388-6366
(843) 388-6366

The 'Wich Doctor

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The 'Wich Doctor is back with a soft shell crab over greens with Vietnamese peanut vinaigrette.
106 W Hudson Avenue, Folly Beach, SC 29439
(843) 588-6666
(843) 588-6666

Ellis Creek Fish Camp

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Eat those softies with a view at Ellis Creek Fish Camp on James Island.
1241 Harbor View Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
(843) 577-7188
(843) 577-7188

Xiao Bao Biscuit

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Stop by Asian eatery Xiao Bao Biscuit to see what the kitchen can do with a softie.
224 Rutledge Ave, Charleston, SC 29403

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Lowcountry Bistro

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The soft shells made it to The Market at Southern eatery Lowcountry Bistro.
49 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 302-0290
(843) 302-0290

Poogan's Porch

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Poogan's Porch offers a Jimmy Red cornmeal-fried soft shell crab with green tomato chow chow, Tennessee hot herbed brie aioli, and a watercress and kale salad.
72 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401
(843) 577-2337
(843) 577-2337

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Graze

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Hit up Graze for a crispy soft shell with coleslaw and dirty rice.
863 Houston Northcutt Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 606-2493
(843) 606-2493