The Resy Hit List: Where In Charleston You’ll Want to Eat Right Now
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There’s no question we hear more often: Where should I go eat? And while we at Resy know it’s an honor to be the friend who everyone asks for restaurant advice, we also know it’s a complicated task. That’s where the Resy Hit List comes in.
Consider it your essential resource for dining in Charleston: a monthly-updated guide to the restaurants that you won’t want to miss — tonight or any night.
Four Things In Charleston Not to Miss This Month
- The Mother of All Holidays: Raise a glass in honor of mom with a Resy for one of the many special Mother’s Day events going on across Charleston, including mom-approved fetes at Hotel Bennett (plus Gabrielle and Camellias), a prix-fixe brunch at Élevé, a buffet with Lowcountry fixings at Iron Rose, a stroll through the garden at Middleton Place, a special cooking class at Zero George, and an Italian-inspired feast at Legami. Be sure to check Resy events for additional spots to celebrate the maternal figures in your and your family’s life.
- Raw, on Ice: You’re in Charleston, so you’ve gotta get your dose of seafood, and there’s maybe no better way to savor it than from your favorite spot’s raw bar. Lucky for you, a bunch in the Holy City offer bivalves and shellfish galore, including Hit List faves like The Ordinary, Leon’s Oyster Shop, and Sullivans Fish Camp. But don’t miss spots like The Royal Tern on Johns Island, The Darling and Delaney Oyster House downtown, Islander 71 on Isle of Palms, Momo Riverfront Park in North Charleston, and local mainstay Pearlz in West Ashley.
- Sweet Treats: Pastry chef Heather Hutton’s new Roxa Dessert Bar in Hanahan is the latest project to take desserts to another level, with a Resy available just for you for a chef’s table-style experience. Looking for other desserts to try? Check out Wild Olive and its sister spot Obstinate Daughter, with a killer gelateria downstairs, Beardcats. Halls Chophouse is always a good bet for an after-dinner treat. And for something you probably haven’t had before, be sure to try the brand-new kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) creations at chef Nikko Cagalanan’s Bareo.
- In the House: In addition to an appearance by chef James London of Charleston’s Chubby Fish at chef Daniel Humm’s yearlong residency at the Charleston Place for two nights, a number of other renowned visiting chefs are showing up across the area in May. Chef Joshua Pinsky of New York’s Claud will cook family style at Vern’s on May 14. And James Beard finalist chef Jeff Chanchaleune of Oklahoma City’s Ma Der Lao visits Kultura on May 20 for a Laotian dinner as part of its Sama Sama series.
New to the Hit List (May 2026)
Annie Mae’s Bakeshop, Kwei Fei, The Lick, Little Jack’s Tavern, Marbled & Fin, Sissy Bar.
1. Wild Common Cannonborough-Elliotborough
There’s never been a better time to get a Resy for chef Orlando Pagán’s tasting menu, which earned a Michelin star in 2025 — along with Hit List faves Vern’s and Malagón. With four waves of seating Wed.-Sun. evenings, 6-9 p.m., expect a dynamic menu that’s always changing how it showcases both the Lowcountry bounty and Pagán’s Puerto Rican influences. That means journeys through courses like oysters, pho, savory egg custard spiked with blue crab, fresh Charleston Gold rice sourdough, dry-aged steak with bourbon-truffle jus, and more. A February restaurant review noted that the recent Michelin Guide accolades have boosted the popularity of this downtown hot spot, so grab your Resy now.
2. Kwei Fei Riverland Terrace
Since it opened in 2018, Kwei Fei’s menu has been divided into three sections: Loud, Hot, and Vibes. And that’s still a pretty good framework for what to expect from chef David Schuttenberg’s James Island ode to Sichuan cuisine. Tucked next door to the Charleston Pour House (a killer indie music venue with a great back deck to boot), this spot has established itself as one of those local places residents frequent to and are more than happy to share with visitors for a taste of spicy pork crescent dumplings, crispy fried ribs, cumin lamb noodles, and more rotating seasonal dishes. There’s no skimping on the spice levels across the board here, but you can opt for toned-down versions of several dishes; just navigate to the “Wimps” section of the menu.
3. Sushi-Wa Wagener Terrace
Walk into Sushi-Wa and you’re in the hands of generous chef-owners Kazu Murakami and Chris Schoedler, who offer a sushi experience unlike anywhere else in Charleston. Five nights a week, Sushi-Wa serves just a handful of guests some of the best sushi in town, omakase style — a traditional Japanese chef’s choice format. Murakami and Schoedler make the tough decisions for you, though enticing (and worthwhile) upgrades will be up for grabs, like A5 wagyu nigiri. Bar offerings focus on sake, with large and small-format bottles. Again, let Kazu and Chris be your guides.
4. Vern’s Elliotborough
Even with its national profile, the low-key digs of this Cannonborough-Elliottborough spot don’t immediately telegraph how epic chef-owner Dano Heinze’s menu can be — serving up offerings you didn’t even know you needed in your rotation. Dishes include snails, fresh crudo, a simple-but-rewarding steak, and handmade pastas like gnocchetti. And that classic but inventive approach extends to the wine list, curated by Dano’s wife and business partner, Bethany. What gives? The couple spent time in famed Charleston locales like the now-defunct McCrady’s before a California sojourn that wound them back east to Charleston. That bicoastal experience has helped shape Vern’s well-deserved reputation, and made it a local gem.
5. FIG Ansonborough
Photo by Lindsey Harris Shorter, courtesy of FIG
In a city full of crowd-pleasing tourist fare, FIG remains an oasis. Having breezed through its 20th anniversary in 2023, chef-owner Mike Lata’s first major restaurant still manages to lure locals downtown, either with a Resy in its modest, comforting dining room or to take a chance at the petite bar that’s always first come, first served. Diners return for seasonal offerings and well-executed specialties like chicken liver pâté and even the fresh catch (grilled triggerfish with mushrooms recently). For Lata, who also opened The Ordinary on King Street more than 10 (!!) years ago, rock-solid preparations remain simple, but creative enough to leave an impression.
Photo by Lindsey Harris Shorter, courtesy of FIG
6. The Lick At 10 Windermere Charleston/West Ashley
The Lick has planted its flag in West Ashley as an upscale destination answering the question: “What do you actually want to eat tonight?” That means there’s something for everyone — burgers, wagyu, and prime-cut steaks, Bolognese, even a stocked raw bar. On the drinks side of things, take your pick from tailor-made concoctions helpfully divided between bright, boozy, and rich creations. The latter includes the Mexican Armada, with Tequila, lime, grenadine, orgeat, and bitters, plus an egg white. It all adds up to a comfortable and reliable spot worth making a Resy to save a seat for your next night out.
7. Merci Harleston Village
8. Linnette’s Kiawah River
Open three meals a day at The Dunlin, one of the Charleston area’s newest resorts, you’ll find Carolina crab Benedict in the a.m., burgers and shimp rolls around lunchtime, and brown butter crab rice for dinner. A short drive from downtown on Johns Island, Linnette’s overlooks the picturesque Kiawah River, an idyllic setting for a rum swizzle or the house “Lazy Man’s” old fashioned, made with local High Wire Distilling’s Jimmy Red bourbon. Popping in for a drink? Check out the romantic downstairs Willet Room.
9. Sullivans Fish Camp Sullivan's Island
Chef Jason Stanhope became captain of Sullivan’s Fish Camp just before summer 2025, taking over the popular island spot that nods to workaday seafood outposts tucked along creeks and rivers throughout the Carolinas during the pre-war era. But this is Sullivan’s Island, so things will be stepped up a notch. We’re talking snappy starters like beet carpaccio and clam and fish chowder, perfectly crispy shrimp, or a knockout fish sandwich. Of note, Stanhope earned a James Beard nod for FIG in 2015 and opened Lowland in 2023. Those bona fides add a few flourishes to throwback fish camp. For example, South Carolina-ground corn meal forms the crust of pillowy hushpuppies, fried fish, and shrimp.
10. Bintü Atelier East Side
Chef Bintou N’Daw planned to return to New York City after a year in the kitchen Chez Nous. But finding local menus lacked the flavors of her native Senegal, she decided to stay a while. Traditional Gullah cuisine carries traces of West African influence, but N’Daw’s dishes represent inspired adaptations that make her dishes unique. Yet, Charleston’s African ties proved formative for Bintü Atelier — a common thread. And Bintü remains among our most cherished spots in town for a reason, after all. Dishes like pepper soup come served with chicken, yucca, yams and crawfish in a spicy broth. Tucked off a Line Street sidewalk in Charleston’s East Side, which has its own rich cultural history as a historically Black neighborhood, Bintü is open for lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday.
Read more about Bintü Atelier here.
11. Chubby Fish Downtown
Plenty of accolades, but bo reservations at this Elliottborough hot spot at the corner of Coming and Bogard streets; visitors instead queue up to enter starting at 5 p.m., choosing to hang nearby or step next door to Seahorse, the team’s newest addition, a teeny cocktail and seafood bar. Inside the main event, diners choose from staples like slider-sized caviar sandwiches, seasonal local seafood delivered daily, and even housemade pastas. This is all to say: You really can’t go wrong with anything plucked from chef-owner James London and chef Carlos Paredes’ menus. Drinks? They’ll bring them to you on the sidewalk while you wait or gladly replenish your A+ chilled selection at the table.
Find more info here.
12. Marbled & Fin Charleston Downtown Charleston
From the team that brought you Minero and Husk, this luxe “modern steakhouse” tucked into the unassuming corner of a newly upfitted strip center surely grabs your attention. Dining options include caviar and Japanese wagyu, lobster and tomahawk steaks, while the raw bar stocks fresh specialties pulled from the seas like ice-cold shrimp or dressed oysters, ready for the perfect bite. The wine list features selections under the Angel Oak label, sourced from the ownership group’s Argentine vineyards, along with a generous array of wines by the glass. Pro tip: Love the Charleston location? Check out the team’s latest Marbled & Fin in Savannah.
13. Rodney Scott’s BBQ Downtown
In a town full of great food, the local conversation about traditional S.C. barbecue could begin and end with Rodney Scott. (And that’s not to knock the acolytes of delicious mustard-based offerings.) Pitmaster Scott imported his family’s whole-hog craft from Hemingway, S.C., to the Holy City in 2017, smoking pigs on pits steps from King Street in downtown Charleston. (He’s now up to six locations across the South.) Pulled pork mopped in Scott’s vinegar-based sauce is the name of the game, characteristic of its eastern Carolina roots. But Scott’s smoked chicken and turkey as well as his ribs are also A+. And it’s a barbecue joint, so you know the sides are key: hushpuppies, mac, baked beans, and more. Pro tip: Grab a bag of pork skins at the register. You’ll be back for more.
Find more info here.
14. The Crossing Charleston
The Cooper hotel’s opening marks one of the most high-profile openings on the Charleston shoreline in a generation, with The Crossing nestled inside, ready for diners in the second-story dining room overlooking the river. Executive chef Nick Dugan has crafted a three-meals-a-day menu stocked with Mediterranean-influenced knockouts, starting with morning shakshouka and ending with tender grilled octopus, fresh local catch, and Colorado lamb chops with chermoula and couscous. Beverage director Cameron Nadler, formerly of New York’s Polo Bar, pairs seafood-driven offerings with thoughtful cocktails like the Battery Rose Margarita, with reposado Tequila, hibiscus, rose, and citrus. If The Crossing’s introduction is anything like sister restaurant Sorelle, you’ll enjoy an impressive dining and hospitality experience that diners are growing to expect from Charleston’s blockbuster new additions.
15. Sissy Bar North Charleston
Rock-solid riffs on classic cocktails complement a relaxed, Southern California-inspired menu to create Sissy Bar’s focused-but-not-trying-hard vibe in North Charleston’s hip Park Circle community. From the team that brought you Dalila’s downtown, Sissy Bar’s cocktails include a tropical mezcal Negroni known as the Bikini Bottom as well as the Cuatro Loco, a take on an espresso martini with añejo Tequila. (Plus, check for the mai tai of the month.) From the food menu, make sure the Cali burrito, gochuchang-tossed nuggets, shoestring fries with chile ranch, and the Baja fish tacos hit the table. One of those will give you enough of a craving to warrant a return trip so you can sample the rest of the menu.
Find more info here.
16. Chef Daniel Humm x The Charleston Place, Presented by Resy Charleston Place Hotel
Renowned chef Daniel Humm continues his yearlong residency at The Charleston Place, pivoting to a new a la carte format this spring. New tasting menu additions include fried chicken, and the bacon-wrapped “Humm Dog” with celery-truffle relish, served in griddled brioche. Starting in April, the pop-up will host a number of collaborations with visiting chefs. Announced guests include Sean Brock (formerly Husk Charleston and McCrady’s), James London (Chubby Fish), Dano Heinze (Husk Charleston), and Michelle Weaver, who retired in 2024 from the Charleston Place kitchen after a generation.
17. Annie Mae’s Bakeshop Downtown
The latest boutique bakery to take downtown Charleston by storm, this spot already has people lined up out the door for fresh biscuits, housemade pie by the slice, cookies, pastries, and more. Yes, you read that right: pie by the slice — we’re talking banana caramel, Key lime, and sweet potato praline, for example. You can’t go wrong with any of these to go with your pistachio cream latte. The product of Annie and Jason Vierra, the couple spent the past couple of years selling bread and pastries to Charleston restaurants before unlocking the doors on St. Philip Street downtown.
Find more info here.
18. Minero Johns Island Johns Island
Sprung from its original home downtown, Minero has established itself on Johns Island, serving tacos, chargrilled wings, and cocktails you didn’t even know you were craving. Be sure to start with the wings, cooked over fire and shaken in a brown paper bag to douse them with Valentina hot sauce. True to the restaurant’s foundation, Minero is still pressing its own corn and flour tortillas, ready to be filled with chicken smothered with rich, red mole coloradito; pork al pastor with avocado puree, and more. Margaritas come a half-dozen ways: classic, mezcal, top-shelf, using blanco Tequila and pineapple, and frozen among the selections.
19. The Ordinary Cannonborough
Chef Mike Lata showcases the freshest seafood, mostly pulled from Charleston waterways, at this King Street seafood hall. Sidle up to the marble bar or grab a Resy with a friend and take your pick from oysters farmed in the Carolinas or delicate preparations of fresh-caught bluefin tuna, snapper, triggerfish, and more. Can’t decide? It’s time for a seafood tower, which is pretty much what it sounds like: tiers of select seafood from the raw bar with all the fixins (that’d be lemon, cocktail sauce, and mignonette — housemade vinegar dressing perfect for briny oysters).
20. Little Jack’s Tavern North Central
This King Street mainstay is celebrating 10 years of dishing out a handful of tuned-up modern comfort classics, including its renowned Tavern Burger, which first gained national attention when Bon Appetit named it burger of the year in 2017. Today, the burger remains a key attraction. alongside crabcakes, garlic knots, light salads, chicken Milanese, and a divine housemade shrimp burger. True to its tavern roots, more than a dozen classic cocktails are at the ready — and you know they can make it exactly how you want it. And if wine’s your vibe, almost all the bottles clock in under $100.
