50 Best Seafood Restaurants near Johns Island

“I have coined a phrase “I’m Loyal to Royal”. As a foodie, when it comes to quality food, fresh seafood , great ambiance and amazing staff they have no equal! In the past two years my mission was to try every item on the menu. Finally accomplished that feat and Royal Tern is still a 5 star rating. They also have non-menu specials that knock it out of the ballpark“

“had a wonderful lunch there. the sortayed shrimp and salad were so delicious. everything looked and smelled fresh. the people were so kind and friendly. when your on John's island a must to go to .“

“It was nearly freezing outside and they tried sitting us next to an open window, thankfully they were understanding and moved us to a different table. Our server was a little slower and less attentive than other servers at the tables around us, we had to wait several times for refills on our drinks. All of the food tasted great and everything but the soup was an appropriate temperature. When it is near freezing I want soup that warms me up from the inside, the she-crab soup did NOT do that. The soup was not hot at all, I'm pretty sure the rest of the food was hotter than the soup, it still tasted good but was a little disappointing.“

“A private club restaurant with incredible food and service next to the water!
Chef Antjuan sent out the most delicious tuna on purple quinoa even though we were early for the dinner service. Bradley was on top of his service game and we really appreciated all of his suggestions and consideration. As condo owners We love Seabrook and the Pelicans Nest, especially their specials each day!“

“I highly recommend the fried crab. it is so delicious. and priced very reasonable .“

“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!“

“Food is amazing, service is fantastic, atmosphere is so fun!“

“Amazing food and awesome staff. Highly recommend.“

“Hipster joint in the North King area. Hipster who handed us menu’s at the bar “We’re a Rum forward bar”. Absolutely need the oyster sliders in your life. We had 6 between the two of us.“

“Great creative seafood. One of my favorites every Charleston visit.“

“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.“

“Service, ambiance, and cuisine all extraordinary! Now one of my favorite restaurants of all time! Thank you Shane and your expert staff!!“

“It was our first time to M&F. The atmosphere was classy but not stuffy. The steak options covered a wide-ish range of options and price ranges... nothing out of range. I preferred the KC-strip, but others had ribeye options that were just as delicious.

The wine options were good. Many high-end wines, but the sommelier was able to keep us within a reasonable price point (ask for sommelier if you think the prices are too high for your palette. They were able to keep us from selling a limb) .

The sides were rich and authentic.

The cocktails were original, and the desert and espresso were spot on... just the right amount of caffeine and just enough desert to leave some behind.

We'll be back.“

“Was absolutely mazing… but the little nibbles are over priced. You can come as you are to this place and I love that the champagne and whites are right there and ready to serve. Caviar cone; sooooo good, but a single bite for 13…..Oysters were soooo fresh and I am picky, but the vinaigrette they have is yummy!!!“

“We were In Charleston for a quick 2 day visit and wanted to eat great food. After eating at Amen Street for dinner the first night we knew this was the BEST in town so didn’t venture any further the second night. The oysters 🦪 were fabulous whether in shooters or baked! Great fresh fish and shrimp and even the salads were delicious. Highly recommend! We even went to their sister restaurant while staying in Isle of Palms.“

“all around great experience! we were seated immediately outside with no reservation and even though it was chilly out the heaters kept us perfectly warm! the food was so delicious and came out so quickly and the little touch at the end with the free brandy tasting and flower was lovely! highly recommend!!“

“Food is amazing, service is fantastic, atmosphere is so fun!“

“Alex was just as superb as the food. Recommend this restaurant without a doubt!“

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

“We enjoyed Rita’s last night. Great service and food. Chill vibes . I ordered the chilled seafood.“

“We were at Halls Chop House on April 12th for our 50th Anniversary. We have been to a lot of great restaurants in our time together but none compare to Halls! The level of kindness and service is unmatched. Our meal was outstanding! Brooke, our server was an absolute delight!“

“Great all the way around. Last minute decision to try this place and we don't regret it. Everything we had (shrimp, Philly, fries, burger) was fresh and delicious. Such a sweet employee took our order, delivered our food and even brought the kids cookies when we were done eating. Will definitely be back!“

“Yesterday treated my parents to what they both said was the best restaurant meals they have enjoyed in the wider Charleston area - soft shell crab and grilled seafood trio in many attempts. Outside on the patio with an incredibly gracious and attentive server (Kathy Lynn? - a recent transfer from Phoenix) made the experience all the more remarkable. We’ll be back and as this review attests - will recommend to others. Thanks for your successful efforts.“

“Sure! Here’s a polished and more engaging version of your review:

Absolutely fantastic spot!
The food was incredible—especially the fish, which was perfectly fried to golden, crispy perfection. The rice, surprisingly, ended up being one of the standout highlights of the meal. And the price? Unbeatable. It’s a refreshing change from the sometimes outrageous restaurant bills you find elsewhere. A perfect hidden gem worth every penny.“

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

“My daughter lives on Folly so every time we visit, we eat at Randall’s…best burger and fries on the island. His hours are the best too…open LATE so it’s the perfect place to stop otw home after a night out. And the Mac and cheese is outta this world!“

“Every time I come to Charleston and want fresh seafood my favorite and only place to go is Marvin’s.Thank you for years of fresh seafood and customer service.“

“Excellent service and great food! The scenic views are amazing! would definitely recommend to anyone if you've lived here all your life or just visiting/touring Charleston! Prices really aren't that bad either!“

“This place has a nice neighborhood bar vibe. Our server (Ben) was really personable and attentive. I have a shellfish allergy, but my whole family really wanted to have seafood, so we came here. Ben really worked with me to find something I could eat from the (mainly shellfish) menu.
The food was pretty good; my son loved the Lobster roll, but the fried fish basket and the hush-puppies were everyone'spick for the win! Drinks hit the spot with the House-made bloody Mary being our family's fave!“

“The The Ocean Room is 5 stars! The food was delicious, I had one of the best filets I've ever had. Food presentation is like artwork. The restaurant interior is beautiful and you can enjoy ocean views while you eat. The staff was the best of the best, everyone we encountered was amazing. Truly a wonderful experience! Don't forget to make reservations and be mindful of the dress attire. We will definitely be back.“

“Great food and perfect service!!“

“amazing food , great staff, and a killer atmosphere. we come back each and every year.“

“Not disappointed. The only bad thing is my wife's shrimp and grits was better than my fish and grits. I don't eat pork so finding food in the South is challenging. Mr Charles made it easy. I'll be back in the morning for shrimp and grits sir!“

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

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

“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“

“Awesome Dining Room!! Wonderful food Great 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!!“

“I took my kiddos to Cod Tail Seafood & Chicken in West Ashley for it's the closest seafood restaurant to the American Red Cross (I had just finished donating that morning) and I want to inform the local community that we had THE TASTIEST seafood boil from there. We ordered the garlic and butter pan with 2 sizeable snow crab legs and a pound each of: shrimp, sausage, crawfish (replaced with shrimp), mussels, potatoes and corn. They served it in a heaping 9" x 13" pan. It was amazingly good! I'm from the Philippines and I can put down some seafood, and my kids can eat! That last photo shows our leftovers, good for 3 more family dinners for this coming week.

Kid-friendliness: Kids' TV was up so it was entertaining for my 8 year old.“

“Great food. Great atmosphere. Awesome waitress. 5 stars from me“

“It was an unplanned visit to High Cotton. Our party was very underdressed. The hostess was quite pompous and gave the impression we should go elsewhere. Obviously if it was a planned dinner we would have been well dressed. The food was exceptional. The staff were incredible. But our waiter, Jamal, made our experience very memorable. He made sure we were welcome despite our attire. Jamal and my 11 year old grandson became good friends for the evening. Jamal was impressed with my grandson's order of a pot of mussels in garlic sauce, smoked duck, lobster mac and cheese and strawberry shortcake. Jamal was the highlight of our evening. Our family highly recommend you ask for Jamal if you visit High Cotton. The next visit we will look our finest and definitely ask for Jamal.“

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

“Great places to eat and enjoy a good drink and people“

“Charming southern fare in a beautiful Victorian setting! The shrimp dumplings are a standout—perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavor. The cozy, historic ambiance adds to the experience, making it a must-visit spot in Charleston. Great service and a menu that truly captures the essence of Southern cuisine. Highly recommend!“

“We stopped by for brunch as walk-ins and were told there’d be a 30-minute wait. True to their word, our table was ready right on time. We ordered a Bloody Mary with pepper vodka (cucumber vodka was also an option), the crab soup, and the brunch burger. The flavors were outstanding, and the portions were generous—so much so that we didn’t have room for dessert. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere was vibrant, and the turnover of tables kept the energy fresh. No complaints—just a fantastic brunch experience!“

“The seafood egg roll and crab cakes stuffed with shrimp was really good. Also had Mac n cheese and Lima beans. Huge portions so could not eat it all but I really wanted to. Their sweet tea was perfect for this GA girl. Definitely on my list for revisits.“

“Visiting from Missouri, brother-in-law brought us here. I had the fish & shrimp basket. The food was outstanding I really liked the sweet tea. Cheyenne was an outstanding server, she was very professional, personable and very attentive.“