Charleston’s dining scene is hot. Just about every food writer, publication and food-focused TV show has made a stop in one of the Holy City’s restaurants, sampling everything from hot dogs to chicken and waffles. Charleston has been featured on several shows, including the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” and “Best Thing I Ever Ate” plus “Unique Eats” on the Cooking Channel, to name a few.
Here’s a sampling of restaurants and dishes that have appeared on these two TV shows.
DINERS DRIVE-INS and DIVES
- Tattooed Moose: Duck club with truffle fries
- Johns Island, SC tattooedmoose.com
- Best known for lunch, hipster bar with great beer and food selection.
- Fuel Cantina: Braised pork tacos and jerk chicken sandwich
- 211 Rutledge Ave., downtown Charleston, fuelcharleston.com
- Gas station converted to restaurant, great outdoor patio that’s pet friendly.
- Early Bird Diner: Chicken & waffles
- 1644 Savannah Highway, West Ashley, earlybirddiner.com
- Serving the best meal of the day all day: breakfast.
- This family restaurant has a long history of cooking up franks.
- The Glass Onion: Smoked pork loin po’ boy or fried chicken
- 1219 Savannah Highway, West Ashley, ilovetheglassonion.com
- Fresh local ingredients, Southern dishses, affordable menu.
BEST THING I EVER ATE
- Magnolia’s
- 185 E. Bay St., downtown Charleston, magnoliascharleston.com
- Featured: Pimento cheese with flatbread (Tyler Florence)
- Fine Southern dining, award-winning cuisine.
- FIG Restaurant
- 232 Meeting St., downtown Charleston, eatatfig.com
- Featured: Hanger steak with agrodolce sauce (Alex Guarnaschelli)
- James Beard Awards for Best Chef: Southeast (Chef Mike Lata and Chef Jason Stanhope)
- Savannah’s Candy Kitchen of Charleston
- 32 N. Market St., downtown Charleston, savannahcandy.com
- Featured: Caramel apple in this old-fashioned candy store
- Husk Restaurant
- 76 Queen St., downtown Charleston, huskrestaurant.com
- Featured: Smoky bacon cornbread (Johnny Iuzzi)
- Created by James Beard Award-winning Chef Sean Brock, who also launched McCrady’s
- Jack’s Cosmic Dogs
- 2805 U.S. Highway 17 North, Mount Pleasant, jackscosmicdogs.com
- Featured: Cosmic Dog – Jack’s original blue cheese slaw & famous sweet potato mustard (Alton Brown)