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Southern Classics on the Menu at these Charleston Restaurants

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By Bailey Laskowski

It’s that time of year – pumpkin spice lattes and holiday comfort food. When you’re looking for some real Southern cooking, Charleston welcomes you with open arms. The city prides itself on good cookin’ and Southern hospitality. Good news: this list gives you a sneak peek into the best Charleston area restaurants serving up all your Southern favorites.

Page’s Okra Grill

Page's Okra Grill in Mount Pleasant, SC
Page’s Okra Grill

A favorite among locals, this down-home restaurant is located near beautiful Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant. Page’s puts extra focus on freshness and quality, making every meal special. From chicken livers to okra stew, these recipes will leave you satisfied and filled with Southern comfort. Now featuring a full bar, Page’s is the perfect food destination for lunch, dinner or Sunday brunch. 302 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant | pagesokragrill.com

Hominy Grill

As seen on Food Network and the Travel Channel, Hominy Grill is the spot everyone flocks to for delicious homemade Southern favorites. The Charleston vibes are strong here with the old architecture and charming outdoor patio. Award-winning chef/owner Robert Stehling lets the Lowcountry’s unique cultural history and flavors guide his cooking. Every meal is served up with love and care so the flavors are unbeatable. 207 Rutledge Ave., Charleston | hominygrill.com

Slightly North of Broad

Slightly North of Broad in Charleston, SC
Slightly North of Broad

Presentation is key at this downtown hot spot. SNOB’s popularity continues to grow so make a reservation. The specials change daily, so just when you think the menu can’t taste any better, it always does. The creativity of the chefs at SNOB inspires every customer who gets a taste. Stop by for the lunch specials, which are affordable and delicious. 192 East Bay St., Charleston | snobcharleston.com

Jestine’s Kitchen

With a motto like “Southern food with lots of soul,” you know it’s going to be good. Jestine’s puts a homemade touch on Southern favorites that’s so good you’ll feel as if you’re back in your own mama’s kitchen. If you’re not too stuffed, head next door to Jestine’s sweet shop to indulge in homemade desserts after your unforgettable Southern meal. Jestine’s is affordable and conveniently located right around the corner from historic King Street. 251 Meeting St., Charleston | jestineskitchen.com

Martha Lou’s Kitchen

Martha Lou's in Charleston, SC
Martha Lou’s Kitchen

For 30 years, Martha Lou’s Kitchen has been serving up roll-your-eyes-it’s-so-good soul food. A local favorite, Martha Lou’s sticks to tradition. It’s a no-frills restaurant with an affordable menu and one of the most authentic Southern experiences you’ll find anywhere. In fact, Martha Lou’s sweet tea and fried chicken just might leave you stuffed and speechless. 1068 Morrison Drive, Charleston | marthalouskitchen.com

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Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

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