6 Great Restaurants in Charleston, SC: My Personal Favorites
Charleston has enough great restaurants that any list claiming to identify the definitive “best” is going to be subjective.
So I’m not doing that.
These are simply six restaurants in the Charleston area that I personally love and recommend: Palmira Barbecue, Stella’s, Basil Thai in Mount Pleasant, 39 Rue de Jean, Chez Nous and Halls Chophouse.
They cover completely different types of food and price points, from casual barbecue and Thai food to intimate European dining and one of Charleston’s premier steakhouses.
Charleston Restaurant Price Guide
For this guide, I’m ranking restaurants by what I would realistically expect one adult to spend on food for a normal meal, before alcohol, tax and tip.
$ — Budget: Under about $20
$$ — Moderate: About $20–$35
$$$ — Upscale: About $35–$70
$$$$ — Splurge: $70+ and very easy to go much higher
Menu prices change, so treat these as practical planning estimates rather than guaranteed prices.
Here are my six personal Charleston favorites.
1. Palmira Barbecue
2366 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC
Price Ranking: $$ — Moderate
Typical food budget: About $20–$40 per person
If somebody asks me where to get barbecue in Charleston, Palmira Barbecue is my pick.
Palmira combines traditional wood-fired barbecue with Puerto Rican influences, giving it a personality that separates it from the huge number of Southern barbecue restaurants around Charleston.
The menu includes beef cheeks, whole hog, barbacoa, sausage, pork ribs and rotating meats such as brisket, along with sides that go well beyond generic barbecue fare.
Palmira can actually be fairly inexpensive if you order simply.
But I don't recommend ordering simply.
This is barbecue.
Get several meats. Get sides. Put everything in the middle of the table and try things.
The beef cheeks are where I would personally start.
Palmira is also the most casual restaurant on this list. You aren't dressing up for a special night downtown. You are going because you want excellent smoked meat.
The owners were also featured during the 2026 season of PitMasters on Food Network.
Best for: Barbecue
Price: $$
My pick: Beef cheeks
My verdict: Probably the best combination of food quality and affordability on this list.
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2. Stella's
114 St. Philip Street, Charleston, SC
Price Ranking: $$ — Moderate
Typical food budget: About $25–$45 per person
If I'm in the mood for Greek food, Stella's is one of my Charleston favorites.
Stella's specializes in rustic and modern Greek cuisine and works particularly well if you like ordering several dishes and sharing everything at the table.
And the pricing is surprisingly reasonable for a good downtown Charleston restaurant.
You can have a very good dinner here without entering Charleston-steakhouse territory.
The danger is the sharing.
One appetizer becomes three appetizers. Somebody wants another plate. Then you're ordering dessert.
Which is exactly how Greek food should work.
Stella's is also my recommendation when you've already spent several days eating barbecue, seafood and Lowcountry food and want something completely different.
Best for: Greek and Mediterranean food
Price: $$
My recommendation: Order several dishes and share
My verdict: Excellent downtown food without an outrageous downtown price.
3. Basil Thai — Mount Pleasant
1465 Long Grove Drive, Mount Pleasant, SC
Price Ranking: $$ — Moderate
Typical food budget: About $25–$40 per person
For Thai food, my personal Charleston-area choice is Basil in Mount Pleasant.
Yes, you have to cross the Ravenel Bridge.
I think it's worth it.
Basil is more of a polished sit-down Thai restaurant than a basic takeout operation, with curries, noodles, soups and other familiar Thai dishes.
The reason Basil makes my list is simple: sometimes I just want really good Thai food.
Not shrimp and grits.
Not oysters.
Not another restaurant trying to reinterpret Lowcountry cuisine.
Thai.
If you're staying in Mount Pleasant, heading toward the beaches or visiting attractions east of the Cooper River, Basil is especially easy to work into the trip.
Best for: Thai food
Price: $$
My pick: Pad Thai or one of the curries
My verdict: My Charleston-area Thai choice, and still comfortably in the moderate-price category.
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4. 39 Rue de Jean
39 John Street, Charleston, SC
Price Ranking: $$$ — Upscale
Typical food budget: About $35–$60 per person
Now we start moving upward.
39 Rue de Jean has been one of my personal Charleston favorites for years.
It is a French brasserie just off King Street serving the kind of food I want when I have absolutely no interest in pretending dinner is supposed to be healthy.
French onion soup.
Escargot.
Mussels.
Steak.
Potatoes.
Butter.
Let's go.
Rue occupies a very useful position in Charleston dining.
It feels like a real night out.
It feels upscale.
You can have cocktails, appetizers and a substantial French dinner without necessarily entering full special-occasion-splurge territory.
The location is also excellent. You're right downtown, close to King Street, Marion Square and Charleston's historic district.
For me, this is a place where dinner can naturally become part of an entire Charleston evening.
Best for: French food
Price: $$$
My picks: French onion soup, escargot and mussels
My verdict: The sweet spot between casual dining and a major splurge.
5. Chez Nous
6 Payne Court, Charleston, SC
Price Ranking: $$$$ — Splurge
Typical food budget: About $70–$120+ per person, especially once you add wine
Chez Nous is one of the most distinctive restaurants on this list.
It is tiny, intimate and tucked away on Payne Court in downtown Charleston. The atmosphere feels less like a conventional American restaurant and more like discovering a little European restaurant hidden down a side street.
The menu is also completely different from almost everywhere else on this list.
Instead of dozens of choices, Chez Nous serves a very small daily-changing menu influenced by Southern France, Northern Italy and Northern Spain.
Typically, you're looking at something close to:
Two appetizers.
Two entrées.
Two desserts.
That's it.
And that's part of the experience.
You don't go to Chez Nous because you want 40 menu options and six substitutions.
You go to see what they're cooking that day.
Pick something.
Trust them.
Eat.
The food is genuinely excellent, and the intimate setting makes Chez Nous particularly good for a romantic dinner or special occasion.
There is one major catch:
It is very expensive for the amount of food you're getting.
This is absolutely a splurge restaurant.
If money isn't a concern, I think Chez Nous is fantastic. But if value is your primary consideration, Palmira, Stella's or Rue de Jean are obviously going to make much more sense.
Best for: Romantic dinners, European food and adventurous diners
Price: $$$$
Menu: Tiny daily-changing menu, generally two appetizers, two entrées and two desserts
My verdict: Fantastic, intimate and genuinely unique—but sooo expensive.
6. Halls Chophouse
434 King Street, Charleston, SC
Price Ranking: $$$$ — Major Splurge
Typical food budget: About $80–$150+ per person
And then there is Halls Chophouse.
Let's establish something immediately:
Halls is expensive.
I also think it's worth putting on this list.
Halls is an old-school upscale steakhouse on King Street built around premium steaks, seafood, substantial sides, cocktails, wine and extremely attentive hospitality.
And the steak menu demonstrates how quickly the bill can climb.
Once you start ordering premium steaks, sides, appetizers, cocktails and wine, a dinner for two can become a serious financial event.
But Halls isn't trying to compete with Palmira on price.
You're paying for an occasion.
This is where I would go for a birthday, anniversary, major celebration or simply one extravagant steakhouse dinner during a Charleston vacation.
And if you're going, I wouldn't try to save a few dollars by ordering the steak you don't actually want.
You're already at Halls.
Commit.
Order the steak.
Get sides for the table.
Have a drink.
Enjoy yourself.
Best for: Steak and special occasions
Price: $$$$
My recommendation: Get the steak you actually want
My verdict: The ultimate big-money dinner on this list and the obvious choice when you want a classic steakhouse splurge.
My Charleston Favorites Ranked From Least to Most Expensive
If price matters, here is roughly how I would rank my six favorites from least expensive to most expensive:
1. Palmira Barbecue — $$
Approximately $20–$40 per person
2. Basil Thai — $$
Approximately $25–$40 per person
3. Stella's — $$
Approximately $25–$45 per person
4. 39 Rue de Jean — $$$
Approximately $35–$60 per person
5. Chez Nous — $$$$
Approximately $70–$120+ per person
6. Halls Chophouse — $$$$
Approximately $80–$150+ per person
The exact order of Basil and Stella's could easily flip depending on what you order.
And Chez Nous versus Halls depends heavily on wine and what you order at Halls.
Either way, once you hit #5 and #6, we've left the casual-dinner portion of the program. 😂
Which Charleston Restaurant Would I Choose?
If you want barbecue, go to Palmira.
If you want Greek food, go to Stella's.
If you want Thai, cross the bridge and go to Basil.
If you want a French downtown dinner, go to 39 Rue de Jean.
If you want an intimate European-style experience with a tiny changing menu, go to Chez Nous.
If you want a big steakhouse splurge, go to Halls Chophouse.
There isn't one winner because these restaurants aren't competing for the same occasion.
That's exactly why they're my six favorites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is my favorite barbecue restaurant in Charleston?
Palmira Barbecue is my personal choice. Its menu combines traditional barbecue techniques with Puerto Rican influences, with meats including beef cheeks, whole hog, barbacoa, ribs and brisket.
What is the most affordable restaurant on this list?
Palmira Barbecue is generally the least expensive, particularly if you're ordering a straightforward portion of meat and a side.
What is the most expensive restaurant on this list?
Halls Chophouse and Chez Nous are both firmly in splurge territory.
Halls can become the most expensive very quickly if you're ordering premium steaks, sides and drinks.
Chez Nous can also produce a surprisingly large check given its small, tightly curated menu.
What is unusual about the menu at Chez Nous?
Chez Nous serves an extremely small menu that changes daily, influenced by the cuisines of Southern France, Northern Italy and Northern Spain.
Rather than offering dozens of dishes, the restaurant typically serves around two appetizers, two entrées and two desserts.
That's a major part of the experience.
Where should I eat Greek food in Charleston?
My personal pick is Stella's on St. Philip Street. Its menu focuses on rustic and modern Greek food and works especially well for ordering several plates to share.
Where should I eat Thai food near Charleston?
My personal recommendation is Basil in Mount Pleasant, across the Cooper River from downtown Charleston.
What Charleston restaurant would I choose for a date night?
For a normal date night, 39 Rue de Jean is probably my favorite balance of atmosphere, food, location and price.
For a much more intimate and expensive experience, Chez Nous.
For the full steakhouse celebration, Halls.
Eat Well. Then Get Haunted.
Charleston is one of America's great restaurant cities.
But don't make the mistake of finishing dinner and immediately heading back to your hotel.
When the restaurants start filling up and the sun goes down, Charleston's historic district enters its best hours.
Old churches.
Dark alleys.
Centuries-old homes.
Historic graveyards.
And more than 350 years of stories involving war, disease, crime, tragedy, death—and allegedly a few people who never quite left.
After dinner, join Ghost Tour Charleston and explore the darker side of the city on foot.
Eat well. Then get haunted.
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