10 Casual Restaurants In Columbia, South Carolina

1. The Grand on Main

The Grand on Main is a great place to hang out with your friends, enjoy a casual meal, grab a few drinks, and have a mini-bowling competition. The Grand on Main is a bowling alley with a casual eatery and a self-serve taproom which has some of the finest beers. The burgers and sandwiches here are really good, and of course, the starters are pretty delicious too. Some of these starters include avocado toast, seafood fritter, and shrimp scampi.

The Grand on Main

Address: 1621 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201, United States

Website: The Grand on Main

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 9am - 11pm; Mon - Fri: 11am - 11pm

2. Midwood Smokehouse

Midwood Smokehouse is a famous barbeque restaurant that has chain restaurants all over the country. With items such as pulled pork, delicious ribs, Texas-style barbeque, and delicious barbeque platters, this restaurant has it all. As it is known as one of the best barbeque restaurants in all of Columbia, if you’re in the mood for some good food, this is the place to go to.

Midwood Smokehouse

Address: 702 Cross Hill Rd 400 D, Columbia, SC 29205, United States

Website: Midwood Smokehouse

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)

3. Blue Marlin

Blue Marlin is a classic Southern seafood restaurant that is known for having the best seafood in town. With a relaxed and casual vibe, a great ambience, and delicious food, this restaurant is highly recommended by locals and tourists alike. Blue Marlin prides itself on using locally sourced and sustainable fish. The she-crab soup, the firecracker shrimp, the blackened salmon, and the ahi tuna are some of the best dishes at Blue Marlin that are definitely worth trying.

Blue Marlin

Address: 1200 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC 29201, United States

Website: Blue Marlin

Opening hours: Sat: 4pm - 10pm; Sun: 11am - 3pm; Mon - Fri: 11:30am - 2:30pm, 4:30pm - 10pm

4. Cantina 76

Cantina 76 is an amazing Mexican restaurant with five locations spread over North Carolina. Known for their lively music, happy ambience, industrial and chic vibe, and great atmosphere, this is a great restaurant to eat at especially if you love Mexican food and cocktails. Some of the most popular dishes here are the shrimp tacos, the fish tacos, the fried chicken salad, the pulled pork tacos as well as the huevos rancheros. Don’t miss out on the guacamole and the ”Tres Hombres“ sampler, which is the best in town.

Cantina 76

Address: 2901-A Devine Street Columbia, SC 29205

Website: Cantina 76

Opening hours: Sun: 11am - 8:30pm; Mon - Wed: 11am - 9pm; Thu: 11am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 10pm

5. Ariana's Greek Restaurant of West Columbia

Ariana’s Greek Restaurant of West Columbia, as the name suggests, serves some of the best and most authentic Greek and Mediterranean food in all of Columbia. This chic and compact restaurant is known for its relaxed vibe and charming decor. The fresh salads here are absolutely amazing. Of course, you should try the delicious kebabs, the mantu, and the traditional gyro. Make sure to save some room for the utterly delicious baklava.

Ariana's Greek Restaurant of West Columbia

Address: 1720 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169, United States

Website: Ariana’s Greek Restaurant of West Columbia

Opening hours: Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm; Mon - Thu: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 9pm; Fri: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm (closed on Sun)

6. Pearlz Oyster Bar

Pearlz Oyster Bar is a casual eatery that is known for its delicious seafood and oyster bar. This raw bar has some specialty oysters including Gulf oysters, Lowcountry oysters, and seasonal shellfish. To top it all off, what’s better than delicious martinis and specialty oysters in an ambient setting? If you’re in the mood for a delicious seafood meal, then this restaurant is perfect for you. While you’re here, you must try the Southern fried oysters, the fried shrimp, the seafood combo, and the special pearl fried oysters.

Pearlz Oyster Bar

Address: 936 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201, United States

Website: Pearlz Oyster Bar

Opening hours: Sun: 12pm - 9pm; Mon - Thu: 4pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 4pm - 11pm

7. Menkoi Ramen House

Menkoi Ramen House is one of the best Japanese restaurants in Columbia. Known for their traditional Japanese soups, relaxed atmosphere, chilled-out and late-night vibes, and, of course, delicious ramen, this restaurant is loved by all the locals. A hidden gem indeed, almost everything on the menu is delicious. However, you must try the spicy ramen, the chicken ramen, the shumai, the miso ramen, and the shoyu ramen.

Menkoi Ramen House

Address: 1004 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201, United States

Website: Menkoi Ramen House

Opening hours: 11am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 9:30pm (daily)

8. Southern Belly BBQ

Southern Belly BBQ is a chic and cosy barbeque joint that serves some of the best sandwiches in the city. If you’re in the mood to grab a quick bite of something absolutely delicious, then you have to try a sandwich at Southern Belly BBQ. With casual seating, bar tables, chic interiors, and, of course, mouth-watering food, your trip to Columbia is incomplete until you’ve had some delicious barbeque. You must try the southern belly dipper, the traditional sandwich, and the Django sandwich.

Southern Belly BBQ

Address: 819 Harden St, Columbia, SC 29205, United States

Website: Southern Belly BBQ

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)

9. A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen

A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen is one of the best vegan restaurants in all of Columbia. A vegan restaurant with an American-style eatery vibe and a juice bar, A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen offers some of the best vegan food in the area. If you eat here, you must try the crispy fried “chicken” sandwich that is 100 percent vegan, the vegan mac, and the purple cabbage with greens. Actually, everything on the menu is absolutely delicious, so you’re going to love it whether you’re vegan or not.

A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen

Address: 2338 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201, United States

Website: A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 4pm (closed on Sun)

10. Another Broken Egg Cafe

Another Broken Egg Cafe, as the name suggests, is a chain restaurant that is known for its egg dishes. With delicious eggs benedicts, sunny side up eggs, and other breakfast and brunch options, you can have it all at Another Broken Egg Cafe. The menu is great and caters to everyone. If you do visit, you must try the lobster and brie omelette, the biscuit beignets, and the super delicious banana bread French toast. Even the signature cocktails served here are mouthwatering, so they’re definitely worth the try. After all, what is brunch without some good cocktails?

Another Broken Egg Cafe

Address: 4600 Devine St Suite C, Columbia, SC 29205, United States

Website: Another Broken Egg Cafe

Opening hours: 7am - 2pm (daily)

Choose among all the great restaurants

Columbia has some amazing restaurants. From chilled-out Mexican restaurants to finger-licking barbeque restaurants, you’ll be sure to enjoy some good food when you’re in Columbia. Hopefully, this list of some of the best casual restaurants in Columbia, South Carolina, will help you find your new go-to place.

Editor’s Note: Due to Covid-19, the business hours of the restaurants may differ from the stated timings in this article. Please be sure to check the updated hours from the websites.