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!“

“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!“

“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!“

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

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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..“

“Great food and service. Highly recommend.“

“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!!“

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

“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.“

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

“I have visited several times, always outstanding phenomenal service!!!! Definitely recommend making reservations, It’s such a treat to go here. The atmosphere is relaxing, and a beautiful ceiling downstairs. Bar tender(s) is super friendly. Favorites include: roasted oysters, short ribs, fish is always cooked perfectly. And, don’t pass on the crispy shoe string fries!“

“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. :)“

“Seriously amazing food! And the owners are top notch. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!“

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

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

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

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“Sandwiches are fresh and portions are huge! We will be back!“

“Had the best dinner there last night - service was outstanding!“

“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“

“Colin was an amazing hostess with the mostest!!!! We came as a group and he made sure to take care of every one of us!! He's so personal and funny!!! We really and truly enjoyed having him as our waiter!! He made us feel so welcomed!!! Even after the tab was paid and we stayed a little while longer he still came and checked on us and even converse with a few of us. He was truly a delight!!! Thank you Colin for your amazing service!! Don't ever let anyone dim you light!! ❤️❤️“

“Buckets are amazing loved the atmosphere“

“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'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!“

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

“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….“

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

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

“Good southern seafood casual atmosphere and super fast.“

“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 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!!!!!“

“Poogan’s Porch was definitely worthy of the hype! My family loved our experience there last night! We started the night with their delicious biscuits. We ordered the Pimento cheese fritters and the Crab Cake. Crake cake could rival Boston’s. My wife got the shrimp and Grits. She let me sample them. They were devine. I ordered their Famous bone in Chicken with greens and beans and rice. The Chicken was juicy and the hot honey took it to the next level. The greens had pieces of ham and the beans and rice were delicious as well. We were so full we didn’t have any room for dessert.“

“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 !“

“Excellent food and service.“

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

“Our bartender Dave was absolutely fantastic. We were visiting Charleston for the weekend for Valentine’s Day and heard through word of mouth how good The Peacock was. We arrived and Dave immediately stood out — warm, funny, & attentive, to the point where we left for dinner and came back for a night cap. The Peacock is lucky to have him.“

“Weekend live music is unsurpassable“

“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!“

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

“We attended Raw Lab for the first time last night, we booked four seats for a company Christmas party and the sad thing is, we will never be able to top last night’s experience for the remainder of Christmas parties in our company’s future.

To describe the night in a word, I would say incredible. The food was delicious, wines paired extremely well, and the service was a blast. You can tell how much Kevin and sandy enjoy getting to do what they do.

Sadly, we will never be able to go back because it is closing, but we will be on the hunt for the next city Kevin opens in and will travel to do it again!

Kevin thank you so much, and I hope your future endeavors outshine what you’ve done in Charleston.“

“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!“

“Was in town for a day trip, grumpy goat did not disappoint! Food was epic & our server Laura was friendly, fast, and super nice 😊! Defiantly a nice atmosphere to dine at 😀“