17 Best Seafood Restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina
Last Updated on August 20, 2023 by Molly Egan
You’ll find the Best Seafood restaurants in Charleston, SC, broken down for you here to live your best life in the Lowcountry.
The Heart of Southern Seafood is at Seafood Restaurants in Charleston, SC
There is no better place for seafood, cuisine, and a general gastro experience in America.
Best Seafood Restaurants in Charleston:
Bowen’s Island Restaurant, James Island ~ Best Sunset and Dive
167 Raw, Downtown~Best Bar and Patio
Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar, Downtown
Charleston Grill, Downtown
Sullivans Fish Camp, Mount Pleasant
Hank’s Seafood Restaurant, Downtown
Oyster House on Market, French Quarter
Fleet Landing, Downtown
The Darling Oyster Bar, Downtown
The Ordinary, Downtown
Leon’s Oyster Shop, North Downtown
Delaney Oyster House, Downtown
Peninsula Grill, Downtown
Babas, Cannonborough
Chubby Fish, Downtown ~ The Best Seafood Restaurant worth standing in line for!
Pearlz Oyster Bar, Downtown
Rappahannock Oyster Bar, Downtown
The Best Seafood Restaurants on King Street:
Darling oyster bar
The Ordinary
167 Raw Bar
These three are necessary since you will spend time on King Street! Easily walk on foot for a casual atmosphere when hungry, high-quality seafood, and the best local seafood.
What are Seafood Towers?
The best way to indulge in a variety of high-quality seafood offerings. The platters are a great way to enjoy a raw bar of popular seafood.
It is a vertical seafood platter and typically includes oysters, clams, shrimp, jumbo shrimp cocktail, lobster, crab, mussels, ceviche caviar, and cocktail sauce and horseradish.
Charleston Oysters
Oysters have a rich history in Charleston, South Carolina, dating back centuries to when Native American tribes were the first to consume these bivalve mollusks from the local estuaries.
Charleston’s oyster festivals celebrate this historical connection to the mollusk, while ongoing conservation efforts underscore the need to maintain healthy oyster populations for future generations.
Are you a foodie looking for the best breakfasts out West? See Vail, Bozeman, or Ketchum.
Price Breakdown for the Best Charleston Seafood Restaurants:
One dollar sign ($): generally indicates relatively low prices, with most menu items priced under $10.
Two dollar signs ($$): generally indicate moderate prices, with most menu items priced between $10-$20.
Three dollar signs ($$$): generally indicate higher prices, with most menu items priced above $20.
Bowen’s Island Restaurant
James Island
$
1870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
A charming local spot to catch fresh fish on your boat ride and shuck oysters! This is the freshest seafood in Charleston. Watch how perfectly shucked oysters fresh from the water are magical!
Insiders Tip: Best sunsets in town! It is a great stop leaving Folly Beach.
Eat this: Steamed oysters, fried shrimp.
167 Raw
French Quarter, Downtown charleston
$$
193 King St, Charleston, SC 29401
This restaurant has the best rear patio, champagne, and fresh seafood!
Eat this: Lobster Roll, Soft-shell Blue Crab Legs, Lobster rolls
Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar
Downtown
$$
This restaurant is very well known on Bay Street in a touristy area. Therefore anticipate crowds but enjoy the seafood!
Eat this: She Crab Soup, Shrimp and Grits, Caribbean Jerk Mahi Mahi
Charleston Grill
Downtown
$$$$
Charleston Grill is an upscale restaurant with a unique French and traditional Southern cuisine twist. The octopus salad is a personal favorite dish.
Eat this: Seasonal seafood tasting menu and crab cakes.
Sullivans Fish Camp
Mount Pleasant
$$
This charming former general store is a delicious restaurant on the main street in Sullivan’s Island.
Eat this: Seafood Platter, Lowcountry Boil, key lime pie.
Hank’s Seafood Restaurant
Downtown
$$$
10 HAYNE STREET CHARLESTON, SC 29401
This restaurant participates in sustainable seafood practices. It is an upscale seafood restaurants in charleston that is worth your while. Since its a favorite of locals and tourists – make a reservation early!
Eat this: Hank’s Seafood Towers, Fresh oysters, Charleston Shrimp & Grits, Ceviche
Oyster House on Market
French Quarter
$$
35 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
This raw bar is quite a treat! Enjoy the oysters, scallops and shrimp and grits! A fun space in a former warehouse too.
Eat this: Oyster Sampler, Shrimp and Grits
Fleet Landing
Downtown
$$
186 Concord St, Charleston, SC 29401
This restaurant is proudly a part of the sustainable seafood initiative. The waterfront dining room is a memorable and unique view for seafood dining in Charleston.
Eat this: Seafood Hushpuppies, shrimp and grits
The Darling Oyster Bar
Downtown
$$
513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
This is the BEST seafood happy hour. Grab a fresh oyster and a great cocktail. It is famous for locals and being on king street; therefore, we prefer a casual seafood restaurant experience by snagging a pre-dinner or happy-hour seafood fix!
Eat this: oysters and fresh lobster, Oyster Spaghetti, and Fried Chicken
The Ordinary
Downtown
$$$$
544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403,
An upscale Charleston seafood restaurant with food and drinks you will remember! A great place to celebrate. The oyster sliders, lobster, and oysters are divine!!
Eat this: Crispy Oyster Sliders, Seafood Tower
Leon’s Oyster Shop
North Downtown
$$
698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
This is a lovely restaurant and vibe – an oyster shop housed in a former gas station. It is Upper King Street from the downtown Charleston area.
The cocktails are memorable, just like the fried seafood – try the hushpuppies and fried fish dishes.
Eat this: Char-grilled Oysters, Hushpuppies, Crispy Clam Wraps
Delaney Oyster House
Downtown
$$
115 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401
A charming historic Charleston house that serves the fresh seafood that you want! A great casual atmosphere inspired by America’s oyster houses. The wine selection was a treat!
Eat this: Oysters Rockefeller, Seafood Tower
Peninsula Grill
Downtown
$$$$
112 N Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
This South Carolina fine dining restaurant has delicious seafood and romantic atmosphere – ahem, courtyard.
The champagne bar is a nice touch to the lowcountry cuisine and the wine list is award winning.
Eat this: Salmon, Coconut Cake
Babas
Cannonborough
$$
11 cannon street charleston, sc 29403
This neighborhood cafe and restaurant is a must on your visit. During the morning, grab an espresso or pastry, and sit on the back patio for a lovely treat.
There are two locations. The seafood dishes are only a part of the magic this restaurant delivers.
Eat this: oysters, caviar, shrimp, pastries and cheese.
Chubby Fish
Elliotborough
$$$
252 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA
This is hands down the best seafood in Charleston. It’s the kind that you don’t want to tell your friends or post on social media so that the lines don’t grow longer.
Enjoy seafood from local rivers and the Atlantic Ocean – the fresh Lowcountry seafood you’ll love!
Locals Tip: This is walk-in only, so go early and anticipate a line! Eat before like the elderly and be happy!
Eat this: Everything! Seasonal fish is a must, as well as their fried chicken and fried oysters.
Pearlz Oyster Bar
Downtown
153 East Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
This quintessential Lowcountry cuisine of fresh oysters, catch, and crab cakes showcase why they have expanded to multiple locations.
Eat this: Lobster roll, various seafood tacos, linguine pasta, Lowcountry fish and chips.
Rappahannock Oyster Bar
Downtown
$$
153 East Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
Located in the former cigar factory near Cooper River, this indoor and outdoor restaurant is a fun experience with delicious seafood! Quintessential Lowcountry cuisine is found here.
Eat this: crab cakes, oyster po’boy, lambs’ n clams.
Conclusion
You have yet to have the finest fresh seafood with a visit to Charleston. The best seafood in Charleston, SC, will blow you away!
So many of these restaurants are sustainable seafood restaurants with fresh oysters, local oysters, and local fish in their seafood dishes and daily specials.
