15 Best Seafood Restaurants In Charleston

15 Best Seafood Restaurants In Charleston

 Charleston, South Carolina, is recognized for its extensive culinary legacy and has been nicknamed the “foodie capital of the South.” It is hardly surprising that seafood restaurants are widespread in this attractive city given its closeness to the Atlantic Ocean.

Charleston’s seafood sector is unrivaled, offering everything from exquisite lobster and crab to fresh shrimp and oysters.

This article will introduce you to the top 15 seafood restaurants in Charleston, where you can savor the greatest seafood dishes the region has to offer and take in the distinctive tastes and ambiance of this ancient city.

These restaurants provide the ideal mix of fine cuisine, breathtaking vistas, and southern hospitality that will leave you wanting more whether you adore seafood or are just a curious gourmet.  So, let’s dive in and explore the seafood scene in Charleston!

1. Magnolias

Photo by Terje Sollie: https://www.pexels.com/photo/shrimp-salad-on-plate-566345/

Traditional Southern food has been refined and elevated to a new level at Magnolias in the French Quarter. Classic meals have been updated at the restaurant with contemporary flair, methods, displays, and taste combinations.

The straightforward yet elegant shellfish over grits is arguably the meal that customers gush about most. This meal has lobster, shrimp, and scallops in a butter sauce and is accompanied by creamy white grits.

The Down South Egg Roll, an appetizer on the menu, is an Asian classic with a Southern twist. It is a typical egg roll filled with ham, chicken, and collard greens that are served with a hot sauce. For those who want to try their hand at recreating the delicacies at home, Magnolias also sells its very own cookbook.

Practical information:
address: 185 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Contact: 843-577-7771

2. Hank’s Seafood Restaurant

Photo by Markus Winkler: https://www.pexels.com/photo/fresh-seafood-3903587/

The greatest and most well-liked seafood restaurant in Charleston is Hank’s. Hank’s is the spot to bring a family for a celebration or business associates you want to impress.

It has an aristocratic Old World feel with wood-paneled walls, leather banquettes, original paintings, and white tablecloths. Every day of the week there is fresh fish, and every evening there is a fantastic raw bar.

The Low Country Bouillabaisse, Roast Grouper with Lobster Risotto, and Rare Seared Tuna are some of the most well-liked entrées.

If you’re visiting with plenty of company, you might want to choose sharing dishes like Tuna Tartare or Fish & Shellfish Ceviche. Sizable selections of wines are offered by the glass at Hank’s, which boasts a substantial wine cellar.

Practical information:
address: 10 Hayne St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Contact: +1 843-723-3474

3. Bowens Island Restaurant

Photo by ROMAN ODINTSOV: https://www.pexels.com/photo/seafood-on-blue-ceramic-bowl-4869432/

Oyster enthusiasts should include Bowen’s Island Restaurant in their travel itinerary without a doubt. This 13-acre island is the only one in this oyster paradise. It is only five minutes away from Folly Beach and makes for the ideal pit break on the way home after a day at Folly.

Beautiful sunset views may be seen while having dinner from the restaurant’s wraparound balcony. Many popular seafood dishes are available on the menu, but the oysters that have made this place famous are what draws the majority of visitors.

Local beer and hushpuppies complete the dinner, which is served with shovelfuls of steamed oysters from the area. Graffiti is all over the restaurant’s walls and tables, and the place has a really laid-back vibe that’s ideal for its island location.

Practical information:
address: 1870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, United States
contact: +1 843-795-2757

4. 167 Raw Oyster Bar

Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cooked-food-on-black-ceramic-bowl-8697543/

A longtime Nantucket Island staple by the same name, 167 Raw is now available in Charleston. Although the shop is small and there is limited room for seating around the open kitchen counter, the fresh, delectable seafood more than makes up for it.

The lobster roll, which has sizable pieces of lobster meat straight from the ocean, tossed in aioli, and garnished with chives, maybe the most well-liked choice. It’s all delivered on a bun from Butcher & Bee.

The fried oyster, shrimp, and tuna tacos, and the excellent ahi poke salsa are some of the other popular. Drink a Mexican Coke or sweet tea to accompany your meal and end it with a slice of Key lime pie for the full experience. Furthermore, reservations are not accepted at the restaurant.

Practical information:
address: 193 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States

5. Charleston Grill

Photo by Valeria Boltneva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/traditional-asian-cuisine-soup-served-in-bowl-7474164/

One of Charleston’s most elegant and lavish restaurants, Charleston Grill has received the AAA Four Diamond Award for culinary excellence.

Visitors quickly come to the realization that Charleston Grill offers more than just a meal; it also delivers a dining experience as soon as they enter the magnificent, tranquil dining room with its light wood floors and Queen Anne chairs.

French-influenced New South cuisine is the area of expertise for Chef Michelle Weaver.

She has created dishes including a grilled peach salad with country ham and candied walnuts, seared fish with shrimp and grits, and sherry-country ham gravy.

Live jazz music and wine pairings from the restaurant’s wine cellars more than 1,300 bottles are provided to go with the dinner.  

Practical information:
address: 224 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Contact: +1 843-751-4017

6. Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar

Photo by MOISES RIBEIRO: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-plate-of-salmon-roll-with-cooked-shrimp-on-top-11463202/

Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar is a classic raw bar that also offers a wide selection of fresh seafood dishes and regional specialties from the South. The restaurant is ideally situated close to a number of well-known tourist sites in the heart of Charleston.

Exposed brick and oyster shell chandeliers can be seen in the restaurant’s elegant but welcoming décor. Favorites like fresh fish, oysters, clams, and shrimp are highlighted on the menu as being local, fresh, and sustainably harvested.

Fresh oysters in various varieties, generally from the East Coast, are available at the raw bar from a number of different vendors. In addition, Amen Street provides traditional Low Country and Southern dishes such pirlau, shrimp and grits, and she-crab soup.

Practical information:
address: 205 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
contact: +1 843-853-8600

7. Coast Bar & Grill

Photo by Dana Tentis: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cooked-shrimp-with-noodles-725997/

A laidback restaurant called Coast Bar and Grill is situated in an old warehouse on Upper King. Low-country cuisine is served, and the ambiance is laid-back. The majority of the seafood is freshly caught and acquired locally.

The Coast chefs meet with local farmers and fishermen every day to get the freshest ingredients available, so the menu is always changing and includes distinctive dishes based on the season and the availability of seafood and fruit.

A specially designed hickory and oak wood-burning grill is available at the restaurant. The wood-grilled fish, fish tacos, and items from the raw bar are some of the most well-liked dishes on the menu.

Practical information:
address: 39D John St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
Contact: +1 843-722-8838

8. Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar

Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cooked-food-on-black-ceramic-bowl-8697539/

One of Charleston’s most well-liked waterfront restaurants is Fleet Landing. Many of the inside tables have views of the harbor in addition to the lovely sea views found on the outdoor deck.

Fish, shrimp, scallops, and other locally caught seafood are included on the menu. You have the option of ordering your main dish pan-fried or seared in a variety of handmade marinades.

Several Southern and Low country-inspired dishes, like shrimp ‘n grits and fried Southern flounder with apricot glaze, make the ideal meal to complement your visit to Charleston.

Families are welcome at Fleet Landing, which also offers a family-friendly environment and a number of kid-friendly food options.

Practical information:
address: 186 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
contact: +1 843-722-8100

9. Oyster House on Market

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh: https://www.pexels.com/photo/fried-shrimps-on-white-ceramic-plate-4078054/

One of the more recent restaurants in downtown Charleston is Oyster House on Market. The restaurant’s accessible location in the center of the French Quarter with a patio overlooking the historic Charleston Market makes it a favorite of both visitors and residents.

Fresh seafood and traditional Low country fare are served at the trendy eatery. A sizable raw bar, sharing dishes, and a variety of mouthwatering trademark meals are all on the menu.

The lump crab cakes, the broiled lobster tails, and the shrimp and grits are some of the menu items that are suggested. Weekday happy hour at The Oyster House on Market includes a variety of tapas-style appetizers, numerous things from the raw bar, as well as regional beer and alcoholic beverages.

Practical information:
address: 35 South Market Street, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Contact: 843-723-1151

10. Leon’s

On the northern edge of downtown Charleston, Leon’s is a favorite among the locals. Oysters are the restaurant’s specialty, and there are several straightforward, traditional ways to prepare the bivalves on the menu.

These oysters won’t let you down whether you eat them raw with saltine crackers, fried Rockefeller-style, or at an oyster casino. In addition to oysters, other of the more well-liked menu selections are fried fish, chicken, and shellfish.

A sample plate of fried seafood, including fried fish, is served with fried oysters or shrimp in the well-known Fry-Up. There are several places to sit, including small interior tables, a long bar, and an outside patio with potted plants and light strings.

Practical information:
address: 698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
Contact: +1 843-531-6500

11. Pearlz Oyster Bar

For quite some time, Pearlz Oyster Bar has been a staple of the seafood scene in Charleston. There are two sites for the restaurant in Charleston: one on East Bay Street and one in West Ashley on Magnolia Road.

In and around Charleston, Pearlz is well renowned for its oyster shooters, which combine an oyster with pepper vodka and cocktail sauce. A variety of oysters from the Carolina coast and other far-flung regions are available on the menu.

Oysters are offered to guests with blue cheese and Buffalo sauce and can be ordered raw, steaming, or Southern fried. The menu also offers crab cakes, seafood tacos, burgers, lobster rolls, soups, and salads in addition to oysters.

Practical information:
address: 153 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Contact: 843-577-5755

12. The Darling Oyster Bar

New to Charleston’s seafood scene is The Darling Oyster Bar. It is housed in a heritage structure with a raw bar with a window and sea-green booths ideal for large gatherings. In keeping with the name, there are lots of oysters, along with crab claws and a cold crab parfait, on the menu.

Your meal must be served with the Geechie Boy hushpuppies. Numerous classic dishes from the menu have been transformed into seafood dishes, including oyster spaghetti and lobster pot pie. Also, a mainstay on the menu is the Southern classic shrimp and grits.

Practical information:
address:  513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
Contact: +1 843-641-0821

13. Peninsula Grill

The Peninsula Grill is a renowned restaurant in the upper class that serves hearty fare. The Relais & Chateau Planters Inn houses the restaurant.

The most popular dish at the lovely, romantic restaurant, the Ultimate Coconut Cake, has gained considerable notoriety. Because of its widespread use, it has been trademarked and is offered for sale online.

This romantic restaurant offers a variety of seafood appetizers, including lobster prepared in three different ways, caviar, and oysters prepared in a number of various ways.

Practical information:
address: 112 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
Contact: +1 843-723-0700

14. The Ordinary

The restaurant is dedicated to obtaining top-notch seafood from regional, sustainable vendors. The Ordinary offers a variety of seafood options, including less common options like Spanish octopus and razor clams.

All of the meals are elegantly arranged since head chef Mike Lata is a perfectionist when it comes to presentation. The double and triple mussel towers are particularly spectacular and ideal for a group celebration.

The whole wine selection comes from coastal areas, and each bottle has been chosen to go exceptionally well with oysters and other hearty seafood dishes.

Practical information:
address: 544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
Contact: +1 843-414-7060

15. Nana’s Uptown Takeout

Nana’s is the place to go whether you’re craving seafood, soul food, or genuine Gullah-Geechie cuisine. Lowcountry classics are created by mother-and-son combo Carolyn and Kenyatta McNeil using regional ingredients.

Customers may get a generous portion of properly fried whiting, fried cabbage on rice, lima beans, and a tasty piece of cornbread for a fair price.

This meal serves two people. The idea is to follow the restaurant’s Instagram account to find out when the two most popular dishes, crab rice, and garlic crabs, are offered.

Practical information:
address: 5117 Dorchester Rd, North Charleston, SC 29418, United States
contact: +1 843-937-9311