More Maps

9 Essential Spots for Fried Chicken in Charleston

13 Queer-Friendly Bars, Restaurants, and Coffeeshops in the Triangle

11 Places for Great Shrimp and Grits in Charleston

Where to Find Soft-Shell Crabs in Charleston

Softie season is here.

by Erin Perkins Apr 6, 2015, 10:28am EDT

View as Map

by Erin Perkins Apr 6, 2015, 10:28am EDT

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.

Read More

Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. FIG

232 Meeting St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 805-5900

Visit Website

FIG was one of the first downtown restaurants to get their supply of softies. When available, chef Jason Stanhope serves the crustacean with spaghetti, lemon, bottarga, herbs, and bread crumbs.

Also Featured in:

2. The Grocery

4 Cannon St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 302-8825

Visit Website

Chef Kevin Johnson counts down the days to softie season and this year he wood-roasts them with spring vegetables, baby arugula, and pancetta vinaigrette.

Also Featured in:

3. Peninsula Grill

112 N Market St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 723-0700

Visit Website

Chef Graham Dailey is so excited about soft-shells, he's posting all his creations on Instagram. Peninsula Grill serves a softie BLT when the crabs are in.

Also Featured in:

4. Cypress

167 E Bay St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 727-0111

Visit Website

Crispy softies are on the menu at Cypress with cabbage and rice purloo, celery, radishes, carrots, and crab roe cream.

Also Featured in:

5. Barony Tavern

68 Wentworth Street
Charleston, SC 29401

Barony Tavern is in the soft-shell game with a tempura-fried version served with toasted pecan butter, steamed asparagus, and spring onion and Parmesan grits.

6. Roadside Seafood

807 Folly Rd
Charleston, SC

(843) 754-5890

Roadside Seafood stuffs their soft-shell crabs and fries them up. Continually rated as the best fried shrimp and fish in the Lowcountry, Roadside has perfected their technique.

Also Featured in:

18 Essential Restaurants in Charleston

7. Michael’s on the Alley

39-E John Street
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 203-3000

Visit Website

Chef Aaron Lemieux created a soft-shell BLT to serve at Michael's on the Alley and Victor Social Club. The tempura-fried softies are served with Benton's bacon, Creole remoulade, local tomatoes, and house-made pickles.

8. Edmund's Oast

1081 Morrison Dr
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 727-1145

Visit Website

Edmund's Oast should have soft-shells in soon, and when they do, chef Andy Henderson will serve them sautéed in brown butter, with Meyer lemon, cauliflower, creamed cabbage, and parsley.

Also Featured in:

9. Halls Chophouse

434 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 727-0090

Visit Website

During softie season, Halls Chophouse offers crispy soft-shell crabs on bed of black-eyed peas, bell peppers, watercress, and finished with a buttermilk peppercorn dressing.

Also Featured in:

10. Cru Cafe

18 Pinckney St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 534-2434

Visit Website

Cozy dining destination Cru Cafe got a supply of softies from Beaufort recently and will run a buttermilk-fried soft-shell crab BLT special until they run out. Photo: Facebook

Open in Google Maps

11. Xiao Bao Biscuit

224 Rutledge Ave
Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Xiao Bao Biscuit serves their crabs with Malay sweet chilis, cumin, and lamb.

Also Featured in:

12. O-Ku

463 King St, Ste A
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 737-0112

Visit Website

Sushi spot O-Ku features a crispy soft-shell crab with black rice and sweet and sour sauce.

Also Featured in:

13. The Ordinary

544 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

Visit Website

Seafood masters The Ordinary received their stock of softies on April 8. Knowing chef Mike Lata's skill with crustaceans, the delicacies will probably fly off the menu.

Also Featured in:

14. Poe's Tavern

2210 Middle St
Sullivans Island, SC 29482

(843) 883-0083

Visit Website

Beach burger place Poe's Tavern received a supply of softies this week. Head to Sullivan's Island if you're looking for a more casual surrounding to crunch into your crabs.

Also Featured in:

Charleston's 15 Most Essential Burgers

15. Hometeam BBQ

2209 Middle St
Sullivans Island, SC 29482

Barbecue joint Hometeam recently added brioche bun sandwich with tempura-fried soft-shell with arugula, radish, and Duke's mayo.

Open in Google Maps

16. On Forty-One

1055 Highway 41
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29466

Chef Brannon Florie will feature softies on the dinner menu, starting at 5 p.m.

Also Featured in:

17. Bacco

976 Houston Northcutt Blvd
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

(843) 884-6969

Visit Website

Italian eatery Bacco has a batch of softies. Visit to see what chef Michael Scognamiglio creates with the crustaceans.

Also Featured in:

18. Brasserie Gigi

102 N Market St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 722-6393

Visit Website

French-influenced Brasserie Gigi received its first batch of soft-shells and will run them with a roasted fennel and asparagus risotto and tomato bacon vinaigrette.

19. The Glass Onion

1219 Savannah Hwy
Charleston, SC 29407

(843) 225-1717

Visit Website

The Glass Onion will have their supply in on April 10. Expect a Southern take on the soft-shell favorite.

Also Featured in:

20. Lee Lee's Hot Kitchen

218 President St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 822-5337

Visit Website

Soft-shells hit the Lee Lee's Hot Kitchen menu with a salt and pepper preparation. The crabs will switch to a black bean set-up next week.

21. The Granary

624 Long Point Rd Unit L
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Corn and soft-shell crabs? Sounds like springtime on a plate. The Granary has its supply of softies.

Also Featured in:

22. The Park Cafe

730 Rutledge Ave
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 410-1070

Visit Website

The Park Cafe serves a springy dish of softies over creamy polenta with leeks and peas. Celebrate the season with crustaceans.

Also Featured in:

23. Warehouse

45 1/2 Spring Street
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 202-0712

Visit Website

Fancy pub food spot Warehouse has a shipment of softies for their specials menu.

Also Featured in:

24. Closed For Business

453 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 853-8466

Visit Website

Beer bar Closed for Business sandwiches their softies on a baguette with cilantro, roasted pineapple salsa, and fermented chili jus.

Also Featured in:

25. Marvin's Seafood

4224 Dorchester Rd
Charleston, SC

(843) 529-1764

Visit Website

Marvin's Seafood keeps it simple with a deep-fried softie on white bread — a traditional barbecue setup now used for creatures from the sea. [Photo: Andy Karn]

Open in Google Maps

26. Slightly North of Broad

192 E Bay St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 723-3424

Visit Website

Lowcountry fare masters at Slightly North of Broad feature a lunch special of soft-shell crabs, butterbeans, goat cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes.

Also Featured in:

27. Thoroughbred Club

in Charleston Place
Charleston, SC

Visit Website

Chef Steven Manall at the Thoroughbred Club will plate soft-shell crabs (locally caught at Saint Helena Island) starting April 14. The first special is a softie sandwich.

Open in Google Maps

28. Hominy Grill

207 Rutledge Ave
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 937-0930

Visit Website

Southern favorite Hominy Grill offers a sesame-fried softie with tartar sauce and choice of two vegetable sides. You should probably try their famous grits for at least one of those selections.

Also Featured in:

29. The Macintosh

479 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 789-4299

Visit Website

Chef Jeremiah Bacon crates a soft-shell crab plate with cabbage, radish, carrot, strawberries, black garlic, green onion, ginger, and peanuts.

Also Featured in:

30. Social Restaurant + Wine Bar

188 E Bay St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 577-5665

Visit Website

Social Restaurant + Wine Bar starts their softie special on Thursday, April 16. The dish will feature a fried Carolina soft-shell crab, braised fennel, stuffed piquillo peppers, pickled green tomato chutney and a house tartar sauce.

31. High Cotton Restaurant

199 E Bay St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 724-3815

Visit Website

East Bay eatery High Cotton lists a tempura-fried soft-shell with a butterbean and benne seed hummus, grilled asparagus, spring onion jam, marinated black bean, and cherry tomato salad.

Open in Google Maps

32. Fleet Landing

186 Concord St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 722-8100

Visit Website

Fleet Landing stacks their softies on a sandwich.

Open in Google Maps

33. Cannon Green

103 Spring Street
Charleston, SC 29403

Spring Street stop Cannon Green recently got their stock of St. Jude Farms softies. Visit to see what chef Amalia Scatena creates with these beauties.

Also Featured in:

34. Star's Rooftop & Grill Room

495 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 577-0100

Visit Website

Fine dining house Stars offers an Old Bay-fried softie special with roasted corn, leeks, potatoes, and asparagus. Reservations aren't required at the bar.

Open in Google Maps

35. The Rarebit

474 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

The Rarebit has a softie po' boy with apple and chive buttermilk slaw. $15 while it lasts.

Open in Google Maps

36. Acme Lowcountry Kitchen

31 J C Long Blvd
Isle of Palms, SC 29451

(843) 886-0024

Visit Website

Acme offers a fried soft-shell crab with sweet green tomato grits, cremini mushrooms, haricot verts, and Sriracha butter.

Also Featured in:

11 Places for Great Shrimp and Grits in Charleston

37. Amen Street

205 E Bay St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 853-8600

Visit Website

East Bay seafood restaurant Amen Street will sell you a soft-shell.

Open in Google Maps

38. Charleston Grill

224 King St
Charleston, SC 29401

(843) 577-4522

Visit Website

See what sort of magical touch chef Michelle Weaver has with the soft-shells on her menu at Charleston Grill.

Also Featured in:

39. Five Loaves

214 North Cedar Street
Summerville, SC 29483

No need to miss out on soft-shell crabs if you're in Summerville — Five Loaves Cafe has them.

Open in Google Maps

40. Halo

170 Ashley Ave
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 297-8842

Visit Website

Casual dining dock Halo put softies on the menu recently. [Photo: Vimeo

Open in Google Maps

41. Monza

451 King St
Charleston, SC 29403

(843) 720-8787

Visit Website

Monza sells its softies Milanese-style with a refreshing salad.

Also Featured in:

42. Old Firehouse Restaurant and Pizza

6350 Highway 162
Hollywood, SC 29449

(843) 889-9512

Yep, they like softies in Hollywood as well.

Open in Google Maps

43. Stacks Coastal Kitchen

1440 Ben Sawyer Blvd #1107
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

This casual bistro in Mount Pleasant recently received a crate of soft-shell crabs.

Open in Google Maps

44. Graze

863 Houston Northcutt Blvd
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

(843) 606-2493

Visit Website

Graze features fried soft-shell crabs, with arugula, roasted corn salsa, citrus basil dressing, toasted macadamia nuts, and crispy red potatoes.