50 Best Seafood Restaurants in Charleston

“OMG, The food, service and overall experience was amazing. Dan and the guys behind the bar made sure it was an excellent experience. Will be going back every year on St. Patrick’s day.🍀“

“The best, freshest seafood! Best fish taco i ever put in my mouth. And love the atmosphere!“

“DOPE very well thought out menu, top notch ingredients, top to bottom an amazing experience. 10/10 wait in line it's worth it“

“The staff was amazing. It was our anniversary and the GM personally came to our table and poured us a glass of Champaign to celebrate. They also gave us a free dessert. The hostess, wait staff, and GM all took time to wish us a happy anniversary. The food was amazing as well! Overall it was a great dining experience!“

“Great food and service. Highly recommend.“

“We're from Louisville so we're used to southern hospitality and charm. Hyman's were above and beyond. Genuinely amazingly friendly and hospitable. The gm was on the floor, as I understand he is most nights, and personally came by and personally thanked us for coming in and choosing them. The service was fantastic and the food was great. They have an extensive menu and 4 different fresh fish on the menu that can all be prepared almost any way you want. fried, broiled, Cajun, scampi, jerk. Choose whatever you want. The hush puppies are fantastic and everything was well presented and well cooked. Pricing is very reasonable but not cheap, nor should it be for the quality of food and the exceptional service. Meals were about 25 to 30 bucks a person. That's pretty typical for a slightly higher end experience in most Midwestern towns and far far cheaper then the 40 to 50 a person you would pay at a more say "exclusive" restaurants. If you want posh elegance that's not what they offer. If you want great food, amazing hospitality, reasonable prices, and straightforward seafood you'll regret it if you don't visit Hyman's at least once during your time in Charleston. It's located right down by the old market, so spend the day/afternoon walking the battery and shopping the market, and then stop in for an excellent dinner. Expect about a 45 min to 1 hour wait. Since it's literally 3 min from the market you can put your name in and then browse the market. There is a convenient public parking garage about 4 minutes walk away. Thanks for the hospitality!!! Most friendly dining experience my family has had in years!“

“Had a fish sandwich. Collard greens, slaw, fried oysters, and calamari. Outstanding. Collards off the chart. Service even better. 15/10 recommend.“

“We enjoyed oysters, yellowfin tuna, clam chowder, steak and the fish basket plus some delicious drinks! Service was amazing as well as the entire experience. Highly recommend!“

“Dinner was very good & everyone was so very nice. Had reservations & they seated us at 5. It was Mothers Day& graduation week so they were really busy BUT no one made us feel rushed. We will definitely come back..“

“Simply perfection! The oyster selection is otherworldly. The chargrilled oysters the best Ive had in my life. (Florida born an culinary chef.) The peel & eat shrimp so plump and served ice cold I have craved them since I had them. The service was above and beyond. The atmosphere encouraged private chatter but also conversation with next table easily. Friendly and cheerful and above all excellent food served with smiles, suggestions, and ease. I will never visit Charleston again without making sure to dine here. (Do not eat the soup. I actually sent it back to the kitchen. Never have I had to do that. ) Highly recommend again and again for everything else.“

“My date was sick and couldn't keep our brunch date. Since it was a new decade birthday for me, I went alone and had a wonderful time!! I sat in a bar booth and had fun interacting with the very interesting, knowledgeable server, who also was an adventurous cook at home. I sampled new things and compared dishes with other diners as they were leaving. It is my new favorite restaurant in Charleston! The interior is pretty, cheerful and bright. The oyster / bone marrow was elegant. So many good dishes. Their sister restaurant, The James, is also wonderful! It's not as upscale, but delicious, non-the-less! Somebody is doing something right!!“

“Leon's is literally in my dreams! My boyfriend and I went there for the first time three years ago. It blew our minds! Affordable, delicious food, and such a fun atmosphere. We returned a couple of times on the same trip. We live in NJ... and set up a trip last year JUST to go to Leons. I am actually scared to post a review because I selfishly want to keep it a secret for my boyfriend and I. Man, if you like chicken and oysters... you cannot go wrong. Damn, now I need to set up another trip. :)“

“What an amazing place! Went without reservations..told them it was my 70th birthday! Got a great table for 2 in back dining room…food was amazing! Our waiter Brian was the best! When I was disappointed that the didn’t have an apple dessert I wanted he had someone go across the street to get me one with a candle on it! And Josh brought us a glass of champagne… they didn’t know us …just met us.. and treated us to make my night extra special! Try High Cotton you will love it! ( we had the Filet and crab cakes)“

“The service was impeccable! Suzanne and I had one of the best experiences during our weekend in Charleston. Suzanne loved her Shrimp and Grits, and I opted for a Ribeye Sandwich. I'm glad I did as it was perfect. Suzanne's birthday brunch was enhanced by the live Gospel music lofting through the building. I could go on and on about our brunch it was that much of an experience.“

“Fabulous. And if you're impatient, the sro.. best service in the house!“

“Fantastic atmosphere. Saturday brunch with Beth, server as pleasant as con be. Highly recommend Shrimp and grits with Bloody Mary. A must when visiting Savannah.“

“Absolutely recommend if you are in the area! We hosted a private function of 20+ people in the upstairs dining area with a designated waitstaff and personalized menus. There was so much food and it was all so delicious we could not stop eating!“

“Best restaurant in Charleston! It really is a must!“

“Some gal pals and I went here the other month and from start to finish it was an absolute delight. As a seasoned veteran of sampling culinary delights I have got to admit it was one of the best meals and experiences of my days. Absolutely no notes.“

“Our server was great (Jayden!) and Kory was wonderful too! Quick service, great food, and servers that went out of their way! Five stars! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️“

“Not the friendliest experience but the food was worth the wait and fairly priced. Delicious!“

“I have mixed feelings. Our first visit was over a decade ago and it was wonderful. Our anniversary was yesterday and it was an ok experience. We sat in the courtyard AB’s was placed under the above heater. We started smelling gas and the heat never reached the table area. So we were freezing. The appetizers were wonderful. The couple got seated next to us ten minutes after us and received their food first. Was told about different and best food options and a dessert menu. We were not given either. Bbq in the shrimp and grits was over powering any other flavor. Husband got fish and grits and it was excellent. Not a 0 but I’m in no hurry to go back or recommend to anyone else. Ruined my anniversary to be honest….“

“Great place to stop and have a drink or two with great seafood!“

“Had brunch today. Food was good. The chicken and waffle was really tasty.“

“Kyle Angela &Doyle and Max great hospitality food and service 10/10 ❤️“

“Best seafood ever and I don’t particularly like seafood, but this was exceptional“

“Can’t hold back any longer, after this 2nd time visit, I felt to give a full and honest review. If I can rate this higher than 5 stars I would, but I say, the food, the hospitality and atmosphere continue to amaze us. Our server Hannah made sure we knew the specials, the menu and food items before ordering. The fast and friendly service, prompt food service was spot on again. The quality and freshness is evident just by seeing how the food looks but the taste of fresh and wholesome is confirmed with each bite. From the biscuits, the eggs, and Ofcourse the low country comfort food of chicken/waffles & grits were really great and actually better than expected. The house infused Bloody Mary was the perfect brunch addition.
If you are in the Charleston area, this is a must visit. Located just across the street to the Mills House hotel, right off Queen St is the perfect location walkable convenient access from just about any area. Yes they are dog friendly on their porch areas.“

“Excellent food and service.“

“Some of the best food ever! If in Charleston, it is a must. Love the Charleston Carb House!“

“It is the best! I am a southern woman born and raised in Charleston! It is locally owned too!“

“Traveling on our girls Beach trip we are challenged to find a restaurant with a view, great menu and service! LoLo’s has a dock with an amazing view right on the marsh. Beautiful at sunset. The food was amazing with good sized portions. The hush puppies with honey butter! a 10 out of 10! The service was with a genuine smile and patient feedback when helping us decide from a chefs menu “what is your heart telling you to get”!“

“We have dined at Easterby’s for as long as I remember. They never disappoint. The food is the best in town, reasonably priced, the service is impeccable, and it’s a family friendly restaurant. Chuck is the most amazing guy! He is good at what he does, he pays attention , never an empty drink, always keeps up with the customers tables, and is always smiling. Out of the 20 years I’ve been dining there, 15 of those have always been with him . The staff is just so welcoming, it’s definitely a laid back atmosphere. I highly encourage everyone to go hang out and get some good food with some of the best people in town!!“

“We stopped in since we drove past so many times before. Wow it was just wow it as just wonderful! The key lime pie was home made and melted in your mouth. The shrimp and grits were buttery and creamy and the seasoning was delicious. My visit was fantastic and I will come again to try the crabcakes next“

“If you're not a local, don't get the fried shrimp. If you do, you'll be stuck dreaming about it, talking about it, and desperately trying to recreate it.“

“Good southern seafood casual atmosphere and super fast.“

“Some of the best food ever! If in Charleston, it is a must. Love the Charleston Carb House!“

“Was there celebrating my 32nd Birthday. They definitely know how to make a girl feel special. We had a group of about 10 people. Our server (can’t remember her name) was amazing. Usually most restaurants frown upon having a large group to serve. Not these people! They were all amazing!! Couldn’t ask for a better place & way to celebrate my birthday!!“

“Buckets are amazing loved the atmosphere“

“We really wanted to give this restaurant the benefit of the doubt, but unfortunately, the service fell short. We had to go up to the bar a couple of times to get drinks even though we were seated at a table. Our server didn't seem very familiar with the special and mixed up tables a few times. We were also there for a special occasion, and the overall service felt a little impersonal. After having phenomenal service at another local restaurant recently, it made us feel like the experience here could have been much better. That said, the food was great, and we had absolutely no complaints there!“

“Absolutely amazing! Amazing food, amazing management, amazing staff! You honestly can’t go wrong with this establishment, just be prepared to wait to get in…but it will be well worth the wait!“

“We had our doubts at first seeing how scarce the restaurant was, especially given the surrounding location, but I can ASSURE you: the pictures do not do this establishment ANY justice; the food looked bland and dry, BUT LAWD was it the opposite! We purchased the Cajun bowl for $51 and they did NOT disappoint. The shrimp was juicy and cooked with love, the crab legs were certainly worth the fight into the shell— the meat was soft and cooked perfectly, AND THE POTATOES— nothing short of delicious! They'd been drenched in the juice— at the bottom of the pan along with the sausages, incredibly juicy and buttery eats, no complaints whatsoever, albeit— all the garlic balanced out the slight saltiness of the boil, but they definitely weren't shy with the cajun seasoning. It was a great 10/5 stars! I'll be going to college right up the street and will definitely be pointing my buddies this way. Jessie, the cashier, was more than kind and welcoming, the wait for the food wasn't too long at all, given the fact that the meal is made fresh in store, from what we could see it was a small, lesser-known restaurant— it was just Jessie and the cook— but they were working hard and helped out with maximum discretion. Amazing people and restaurant, will 100% be coming back for some fried rice and shrimp!“

“Weekend live music is unsurpassable“

“So many things were Great ! Service was outstanding from Haley! Food was wonderful and the music out in Hudson Alley was fantastic! Haven’t had this much fun in a while! Highly recommend you go !“

“Food was excellent! Our server was excellent as well. We will be back!“

“This is a great spot. Everything was super fresh and tasty. Love the format of ordering at the counter and getting to see all the fresh seafood before picking what you want. Highlight was definitely the tuna crudo, don't miss it. Also enjoyed the cucumber gazpacho w/ crab added, even though that's not typically something I would order.“

“The best Lobster 🦞 Rolls I have had since my wife was in Boston. I think these are even better than Boston!!! The owners are fantastic and the employees make feel like family. Thank you!!! My family and I will be back!!!!!“

“Casually stopped in for dinner once last week and was back 3 times the same week. Delicious food, fast service, awesome atmosphere, dog friendly!! Loved everything I have tried so far!“

“Had an absolutely amazing dinner at Matador! Delicious food and drink and we were SO lucky to be served by Sam! He told us incredible stories and gave us tons of tips of what to do! He absolutely made our dining experience something extra and I hope his manager knows what gem he is!“

“Oak has a great reputation for Charleston's best steaks and sides, atmosphere and service. Dining in the heart of downtown Charleston is the crowning gem! Hands down, Charleston's best!“

“Shout out to Candice and team for a great event. The planning was easy and the staff was really great. It is hard to manage 200 for luncheon. I did it for many years and there are always little additions or changes the day of and this team handled it all with speed and grace. Events here will not be disappointed. It’s a well oiled machine. Thanks to all! David, Renee, Candice - everyone.“