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Food tours in Charleston: what to eat and which tour to book
Charleston cooks Lowcountry food: the cuisine of the South Carolina and Georgia coast, built on shrimp, crab, oysters and rice, with deep roots in the cooking of enslaved West Africans and the Gullah Geechee people. That means shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, red rice, Hoppin' John, Lowcountry boil and, in the cooler months, oyster roasts. The city has one of the busiest restaurant scenes in the American South, with most of it on and around King Street in the peninsula, and seafood shacks on the creeks and islands just outside town.
Use this page to know what to order, where to find it and what it will roughly cost. The dishes and areas below say what each part of town does well. The tours are real GetYourGuide listings, with prices as seen when we checked; prices and times change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay.
What to eat in Charleston
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimp and grits | Local shrimp over creamy stone-ground grits (coarse-ground corn), usually with a gravy of bacon or sausage, peppers and onion. Once a fishermen's breakfast, now on almost every menu. | Southern restaurants across the peninsula, especially on and around King Street; also at brunch. | roughly $22–34 as a main |
| She-crab soup | Rich, creamy crab soup traditionally made with crab roe, finished with a splash of sherry. Strongly associated with Charleston. | Seafood restaurants downtown and on Shem Creek. | roughly $9–15 a cup or bowl |
| Lowcountry boil Frogmore stew / Lowcountry boil | Shrimp, smoked sausage, corn on the cob and potatoes boiled together with seasoning and tipped out on the table. Usually eaten outdoors in groups. | Seafood shacks on the creeks and islands around the city; some downtown restaurants offer a plated version. | roughly $25–35 per person |
| Charleston red rice red rice | Rice cooked with tomato, onion and often bacon or sausage. A staple side across the Lowcountry with links to West African rice dishes. | Southern and soul-food restaurants, and as a side at barbecue and seafood places. | roughly $4–8 as a side |
| Oysters oysters / oyster roast | Local oysters, raw on the half shell or steamed in clusters at an oyster roast, a cold-weather social tradition where piles of oysters are tipped onto tables with knives and crackers. | Oyster bars downtown and seafood places on Shem Creek and the islands; oyster roasts are mainly in the cooler months, roughly autumn to early spring. | roughly $2.50–4 per raw oyster; oyster-roast events usually charge a flat fee |
| Hoppin' John | Black-eyed peas or field peas cooked with rice and pork. Traditionally eaten on New Year's Day for luck, but on menus year-round. | Southern and soul-food restaurants. | roughly $5–9 as a side |
| Fried green tomatoes | Slices of unripe tomato, coated in cornmeal and fried, often served with a remoulade or pimento cheese. | Southern restaurants and brunch places downtown. | roughly $10–15 as a starter |
| Benne wafers | Thin, crisp, sweet sesame cookies; 'benne' is the word for sesame that came with West African cooking. | Bakeries, gift shops and the City Market stalls. | roughly $6–12 a pack |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
King Street (Lower and Upper King)
The peninsula's main street. Lower King is mostly shops; Upper King, north of Calhoun Street, is packed with restaurants and bars, and the side streets nearby hold many of the best-known Southern restaurants.
Charleston City Market
Long, historic market sheds running from Meeting Street toward East Bay Street. Today it is mostly crafts, souvenirs and Gullah sweetgrass baskets rather than fresh food, with a few snack and sweet stalls. Worth a walk; eat elsewhere.
Charleston Farmers Market, Marion Square
The city's main farmers market, with local produce, prepared food stands and baked goods in the square on King Street.
Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant
A tidal creek across the Cooper River where shrimp boats dock beside seafood restaurants with decks over the water. Good for fried shrimp, boils and oysters.
Folly Beach and the islands
Beach town about 20–30 minutes from downtown, with casual seafood, tacos and beach bars. Johns Island and James Island also have seafood shacks and barbecue.
Food tours in Charleston compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston: Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise | 2.5 hours | from €107 per person | — | Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark. | Check dates |
| Charleston: Small Group Food Tour – Savor the Flavors | 2.5 hours | from €98 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Charleston: Downtown Culinary Walking Tour | 2.5 hours | from €98 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Charleston: French Quarter Guided Food Tour with 7+ Tastings | 3 hours | from €102 per person | private | Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them. | Check dates |
| Charleston: Historic Downtown Food Tour | 2.5 hours | from €88 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
| Charleston Harbor Mimosa Brunch Cruise | Brunch Included | 2 hours | from €58 per person | — | First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide. | Check dates |
Charleston: Luxury Harbor Dinner Cruise
On GetYourGuide · run by SpiritLine Cruises
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €107 per person
- Rating
- 4.3 ★ from 872 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- 2.5-hour Luxury Dinner Cruise of Charleston Harbor Sunset views of the harbor during the summer months 3-course dinner included made to order from local seasonal ingredients Cruise by top sites such as Fort Sumter and…
- Suits
- Evening eaters who want dinner and drinks rolled into one, plus the city after dark.
- Starts
- Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Charleston: Small Group Food Tour – Savor the Flavors
On GetYourGuide · run by Bulldog Tours
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €98 per person
- Rating
- 4.8 ★ from 174 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Food samples Local guide Bottled water Tips (optional)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Meet at the Bulldog Tours headquarters on 18 Anson Street
Charleston: Downtown Culinary Walking Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Charleston Culinary Tours
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €98 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 133 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- 184 E Bay St suite 103, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
Charleston: French Quarter Guided Food Tour with 7+ Tastings
On GetYourGuide · run by Secret Food Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from €102 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 115 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Group size
- private
- Suits
- Couples, families or friends who want the route and pace set around them.
Charleston: Historic Downtown Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Empire Tours and Productions (Charleston Tour Company)
- Length
- 2.5 hours
- Price
- from €88 per person
- Rating
- 4.7 ★ from 67 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- Skip-the-line access to Charleston's finest food establishments Enjoy she-crab soup, savory BBQ slider, collard greens, cornbread, & the daily special dessert Expert guide Gratuities
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Your guide will meet you underneath the awning in front of the Charleston Tours & Activities windows. Our guides typically arrive ~15 minutes in advance so if you arrive before that please be patient. Please try to arrive 10 minutes early if possible to get checked in.
Charleston Harbor Mimosa Brunch Cruise | Brunch Included
On GetYourGuide · run by Palmetto Breeze Charters
- Length
- 2 hours
- Price
- from €58 per person
- Rating
- 4.9 ★ from 24 reviews (on 3 Oct 2026)
- Included
- 2-hour shared afternoon Charleston Harbor brunch cruise Light, self-serve brunch bites included Appetizer-style items; not a full buffet or sit-down meal) Spacious 55-foot open-air catamaran with partial shade Two onb…
- Suits
- First-timers who want a broad tasting of the classics with a local guide.
- Starts
- Your Sunday Funday Sail will depart from Shem Creek, one of Charleston’s most picturesque waterfront areas. You’ll find us between Water's Edge Restaurant and Mount Pleasant Seafood along the boardwalk. Look for the Palmetto Breeze sign, which will guide you to the walkway leading to the lower dock. Check-in takes place at the top of the walkway, where our friendly crew will greet you and prepare you for boarding.
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
Charleston has little true street food. The casual options are barbecue joints, biscuit shops, food trucks at breweries and markets, and seafood shacks out of town where you order at a counter and eat at picnic tables.
Sit-down meals
Sit-down dining is the heart of the scene, from long-running Southern restaurants to chef-driven places on and around Upper King. Weekend brunch is a big deal. Popular restaurants book up days ahead, especially Thursday to Saturday, so reserve if you have a specific place in mind.
Cooking classes
Classes in Charleston usually teach Lowcountry dishes such as shrimp and grits, she-crab soup or biscuits, often as a demonstration followed by the meal. Check whether it is hands-on or demonstration only, and whether drinks are included.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | $45–65 (about €40–55): biscuit breakfast, a casual lunch, a counter-service or bar dinner |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | $100–150 (about €85–130): one sit-down Southern dinner with a drink, plus casual meals |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | $250+ (about €215+): a chef's tasting menu or a seafood dinner with wine |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Most restaurants have vegetarian mains, and Southern vegetable sides are common, but many 'vegetable' dishes, such as collard greens, red rice, Hoppin' John and beans, are cooked with pork. Ask how sides are made.
Halal: Halal options are limited and mostly in Middle Eastern and South Asian restaurants away from the historic centre. Pork appears in many traditional dishes and sides; seafood is the easiest choice.
Gluten-free: Gluten-free awareness is good in the US, and many menus mark gluten-free dishes. Watch for fried seafood (breaded or battered, shared fryers), flour-thickened gravies and soups, and biscuits. Grits are made from corn but check what goes into the sauce.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- Tipping twice: some restaurants add an automatic gratuity for groups (often six or more) or a 'service charge', and the card machine still prompts for a tip. Read the bill before tipping; if gratuity is already included, you do not need to add more.
- Menu prices that don't include tax: food and drink bills in Charleston carry state and local sales tax plus a hospitality tax, which together add roughly 10–11%. Budget for tax and tip on top of menu prices — roughly 30% more in total at a sit-down restaurant.
- Eating at the first restaurant you see around the City Market and Market Street, where many places are aimed at tour groups. Walk a few blocks north toward Upper King or the side streets, or cross to Shem Creek for seafood.
- Parking tickets and towing downtown; meters and residential parking zones are enforced. Use city garages or walk; read signs carefully before leaving a car on the street.
Top tours & activities in Charleston
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
How much should I tip in Charleston?
Restaurant servers in the US depend on tips, and 18–22% of the pre-tax bill is normal for table service. At bars, about $1–2 per drink or 18–20% of the tab. Counter-service places may show a tip screen; a small tip is optional. On food tours, roughly $10–20 per person for a good guide is customary. Check the bill first for an automatic gratuity.
Do I need restaurant reservations?
For the best-known restaurants, yes, especially Thursday to Saturday nights, weekend brunch and in spring, when the city is busiest. Reservations often open a few weeks ahead. Many places keep bar seats for walk-ins, which is a good way in if you are one or two people. Seafood shacks on the creeks and islands are usually walk-in only.
When is oyster season?
Local oysters are eaten mostly in the cooler months, roughly from autumn to early spring. That is also the season for oyster roasts, where clusters of steamed oysters are tipped onto tables and shucked by the guests. Oyster bars serve oysters year-round, though in summer many come from other regions; ask where they are from.
What is Lowcountry food?
It is the cooking of the coastal South Carolina and Georgia region around Charleston and Savannah, based on local seafood and rice, with strong West African and Gullah Geechee influences. Key dishes include shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, red rice, Hoppin' John, Lowcountry (Frogmore) boil and oyster roasts. It overlaps with general Southern cooking but leans much more on seafood and rice.
Is the City Market good for food?
Not really for meals. The historic market sheds are mostly souvenir, craft and sweetgrass-basket stalls, with some snacks, sweets and benne wafers. It is worth walking through for the buildings and the basket makers, but for a proper meal go a few blocks away. For fresh local produce, the Saturday farmers market at Marion Square in season is the better bet.
Where should I eat seafood by the water?
Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, across the Cooper River, is the classic choice: shrimp boats dock beside restaurants with decks over the creek, best around sunset. Folly Beach and the islands south of the city have casual seafood places too. Both are a short drive from downtown; allow time for traffic on summer weekends.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.