10 Casual Restaurants In Charleston, South Carolina

casual restaurants in charleston
Aarti
Aarti 
Updated
| 3 min read

Charleston has a way with its culinary scene, be it the openings of new restaurants or closings every season. No matter how much you research, it’ll be hard for you to keep track of which restaurant to go to. You might get the craving for a good seafood dish or even the humble mac cheese and you will surely find a restaurant here to satisfy your hunger. This Holy City has got the greatest lineup of restaurants that’s sure to delight every bit of you. To help you with your cravings and indulgences, we’ve compiled this guide of new and old restaurants throughout the city. So let’s look at some of the best casual restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina you mustn’t miss!

1. Swig & Swine

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Craving for some lip-smackin’ barbecue food? Look no further than the Swig & Swine - the Low Country’s authentic all-wood smoked barbecue joint. This outdoor barbecue spot boasts custom smokers that burn only wood and specialize in house-smoked meats with creative sides, craft beer, and bourbon.

Swig & Swine

Address: 1217 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC 29407, USA

Website: Swig & Swine

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)

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2. Harold's Cabin

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Located only a few blocks away from Hampton Park, Harold’s Cabin is a new bee in the Westside neighborhood. Straight out of the hipster world, this restaurant features mason jar water glasses, eclectic furniture, a rooftop garden, and locally sourced ingredients. Come here for breakfast and you wouldn’t regret it.

Harold's Cabin

Address: 247 Congress St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA

Website: Harold’s Cabin

Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 4pm - 10pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 10pm

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3. Raw

167 Raw in Charleston, SC
Source: Photo by Flickr user Todd Van Hoosear used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Although the seating seems pretty tight in this high-end seafood restaurant, patrons get full access to super fresh oysters, clams, and crab claws. Don’t forget to try the crowd favorites including lobster rolls and the ahi tuna poke. While the menu might not have a lot of options and the place may be a bit small, but the team will delight you with a plateful of delicious food.

167 Raw

Address: 289 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA

Website: 167 Raw

Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 10pm (closed on Sun)

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4. Lewis Barbecue

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Lewis Barbecue boasts of a large and airy room that you wouldn’t find in any other barbecue space. This clean and modern restaurant features an eight-inch Longhorn, a horseshoe, and an imported Oaxacan tile on the service counter, giving guests vibes straight from Mexico and Texas. While you’re there, don’t miss out on ordering the hot guts (sausage), the fatty brisket, the green chili corn pudding, or the super-moist turkey slices.

Lewis Barbecue

Address: 464 N Nassau St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA

Website: Lewis Barbecue

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 11am - 10pm; Mon - Sun: 11am - 9pm

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5. The Grocery

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


The chef, Kevin Johnson from Grocery on Upper King, brings in seasonal fresh, just-off-the-farm products on the menu. This is what makes this restaurant stand out from the others. Featuring seasonal products like butternut squash in the fall or English peas in spring, the restaurant also makes jars of pickled produce, delicious plates of roasted fish with potatoes, fennel and green olives. Their food is definitely an Instagram-worthy shot.

The Grocery

Address: 4 Cannon St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA

Website: The Grocery

Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 5pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 5pm - 11pm; Sun: 10am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 10pm (closed on Thu & Fri)

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6. Little Jack's Tavern

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

New week, New you. Same classic double tavern burger. Same garlic herb fries and tavern sauce. Some things never change, nor should they.

Posted by Little Jack's Tavern on Monday, April 12, 2021

The perfect laid-back spot to relax in North Central, Little Jack’s Tavern is an old-school eatery offering a classic cocktail and a cheeseburger any time of the day. With Sinatra pictures hanging from the walls and checkered tablecloths placed on well-scrubbed tables, the restaurant will take you back in time when food was eaten to be savored and not rushed. The guests’ favorite garlic herb fries with sauce gribiche mustn’t be missed!

Little Jack's Tavern

Address: 710 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA

Website: Little Jack’s Tavern

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm

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7. Coast Bar & Grill


If you’re looking for a fresh seafood restaurant with a laid-back vibe, Coast Bar & Grill is your place to go! The restaurant’s chefs meet up with their local fishermen and farmers daily and buy the best and the freshest produce and seafood available. And that’s when you get the crowd’s favorite wood-grilled fish, a full raw bar, and a list of refreshing cocktails and mocktails.

Coast Bar & Grill

Address: 39 John St D, Charleston, SC 29403, USA

Website: Coast Bar & Grill

Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 5:30pm - 10pm; Fri - Sat: 5:30pm - 11pm

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8. Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Housed in a 1940s retired naval building on the east side of the Charleston peninsula, Fleet Landing is a casual seafood waterfront restaurant best known for its pristine views along with great food. Featuring classic and contemporary Southern seafood staples served in sleek, light-filled quarters, this restaurant is what you call lunching and dining with an unbeatable view.

Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar

Address: 186 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA

Website: Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar

Opening hours: 11am - 10pm (daily)

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9. Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French Inc.


Gaulart & Maliclet a.k.a Fast & French will take you back in time to a picturesque town in Europe. This cozy little place will have you sit closer to the fellow diners while you savor a sandwich or a light entrée with a soup, a bowl of fresh fruit, and a glass of white or red wine.

Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French Inc.

Address: 98 Broad St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA

Website: Gaulart & Maliclet Fast and French Inc.

Opening hours: Mon - Wed: 8am - 8pm; Thu - Sat: 8am - 10pm (closed on Sun)

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10. Pawpaw

Pawpaw, located on East Bay Street, has a Southern-inspired menu that focuses on seasonality and fresh farm produce. As the peak season approaches, Pawpaw sources all the fresh local and regional ingredients to make their famous handmade pasta, Southern-influenced entrees, and local wines in a brick and wood-decked space.

Pawpaw

Address: 209 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA

Website: Pawpaw

Opening hours: 11:30am - 4:30pm, 5pm - 2am (daily)

Editors’ Note: Establishment is Permanently CLOSED as of this latest update

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Dine at the best casual restaurants in Charleston

casual restaurants in charleston | dine at the best casual restaurants in charleston
Source: Pixabay

Be it a low-country cuisine or a portion of seasonal food, we’ve just given you 10 new reasons to try some great, authentic food at these casual restaurants in the town of Charleston, South Carolina. Here’s to a great dining experience.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Born in Mumbai and brought up in Bangalore, India, Aarti is a full-time freelance writer by profession. She is a lover of everything the ‘blue dot’ offers—world cultures, off-the-beaten tracks,...Read more

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