If your passion is seafood, you may feel like you have to hop across the pond to Europe in order to find some truly delicious oysters. However, if you’re living in or visiting Charleston SC, there are plenty of great spots around the city where you can find exceptional oyster dishes. With so many options out there, how do you choose which ones will satisfy your cravings? Read on to discover our pick for the 7 best oyster bar in Charleston SC!
Best Oyster Bar in Charleston SC
Hyman’s Seafood
- Address: 215 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.8 (27157)
- Phone: +1 843-723-6000
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMTuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
5 Replies to Top 7 Best Oyster Bars an Seafood in Charleston SC
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Top 7 Most Popular Oyster Restaurants in Charleston SC
Charleston Crab House
- Address: 41 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (3852)
- Phone: +1 843-853-2900
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PMTuesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PMWednesday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PMThursday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PMFriday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PMSunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Reviews:
We went twice, once for drinks (the sweet tea with vodka was very good) with fried green tomatoes. We went back for lunch the next day for the she crab soup and hush puppies served with honey butter. The soup was fantastic and the hush puppies were the best. I would recommend making a reservation or put your name in as you could wait for a bit but definitely worth it. On the first visit, we were lucky to sit at the table where the food was loaded on trays. All the food looked great.By Cheryl Cunningham (10 months ago)She Crab soup was velvety and delicious, hushpuppies came with a delicious honey butter and the fried oysters and grits were everything you’d expect! Crunchy and cooked very well. Grits were creamy cooked nicely. Nice atmosphere with friendly staff and guests. Can be very busy during travel seasons so plan accordingly. We’ve eaten here twice and will definitely be back!By Thomas Chipman (11 months ago)So good! Fried green tomatoes came out hot and crisp with a delicious palmetto cheese sauce. The coleslaw was fresh and waffle fries were cooked and seasoned to perfection. I had the fried shrimp 🍤 and plan to be back soon! Definitely try it! We were recommended by Scott from palmetto carriage works.By Tides to travels (6 months ago)We did a quick 3 day tour of Charleston and found this gem on day 2 after a harbour boat tour and walking around downtown in the heat we were famished!! Charleston Crab House took care of that!!
Prompt welcoming service!
The hush puppies were a delightful appetizer and tasted amazing!!
I ordered the seafood sampler…. Don’t let the name fool you…. This was a MEAL and definitely enough for two to share…. Though soooo delicious I did not want to. My first time eating grits and collard greens…. I was NOT disappointed.
The atmosphere indoors was very cool and just what I would hope to find in Charleston. Beautiful old building, gorgeous stairway, not a lot of space and very busy which in my opinion added to its charm.
We did not make reservations so we’re lucky to get a rooftop table with a view of the market below.
For sure a must stop when in Charleston, but would recommend either making a reservation or stopping in during non peak hours to ensure a spot.By AR & J (6 months ago)Surprisingly delicious food! We thought this would be a gimmicky, touristy type of place, but the food was actually very good. We’ve been here twice, so far, and we’ve tried the Sea Scallops (Blackened — oh so yummy) and the Lowcountry Shrimp Boil (excellent). Our teen enjoyed the Chicken Tenders with Waffle Fries.We had very different service experiences in the two visits we’ve made here: the first time we received superb service from a very attentive and friendly server; the second time, we could barely get our server’s attention, and kept running out of drinks during our meal. Nonetheless, the food is delicious, and the place has a really fun & relaxed vibe. We’ll be back!
By Melissa D (4 months ago)Bowens Island Restaurant
- Address: 1870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (2316)
- Phone: +1 843-795-2757
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: ClosedTuesday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMWednesday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMThursday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMFriday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMSaturday: 11:00 AM – 9:30 PMSunday: Closed
- Reviews:
This place was recommended by a friend as the place to have a seafood dinner and sunset views. She was not wrong, although the prices were definitely reflective of the reputation. Although there are a couple of not fried options, the fried seafood abounds, as well as raw oysters (which we did not try so I cannot review). The fried shrimp were good but I didn’t think they were outstanding. The fried flounder was lightly breaded and flaky. The fried oysters were probably the standout. The French fries could have used more seasoning, and I wished for some vegetable sides as options, even if they were fried as well!! Overall a nice dinner, and I’m glad I went.By Miriam W. (5 months ago)Have been trying to get here for a while now and finally made it. Was NOT disappointed. We only got raw oysters, hush puppies, and beers, but wow. The oysters were absolutely amazing, and they had a decent selection of craft beers. It was a bit pricey, but that’s the world we live in now and, and the oysters were worth it. All of the staff was super friendly and helpful.By Fred G (8 months ago)I have lived here a long time and never gone out here. It Is a wonderful place for photos. We catered a meal in the space seen here on the dock. The restaurant remained open for everyone else. It’s a long drive down a rough road. Parking is in the dirt (or mud depending on rain). Accessibility was a problem for some of out older guests. The shrimp and grits were pretty good. The private spaces and the views were just amazing..By wanda kelley (6 months ago)We enjoyed our meal at Bowens Island Restaurant for the last meal of our visit to Charleston. With so many upscale dining options in town, we were thankful to have a casual meal on the waterfront, oddly rare to find in town.
The food was good, but let’s be honest you’re going for the atmosphere and sunset. Food came out fairly quickly and was decent. The fries were a little cold and everything cost a little more than it needed to be, but the tourist tax was in full effect and once the sun sets you get your moneys worth.
Our menu favs – oysters, boiled shrimp, hush puppies
By Chris H. (4 months ago)Local “hole in the wall” on the water with outdoor seating and great view. Place your order at the counter and seat your self. Waited in line for about 20 minutes. Food delivered to table within 15 minutes. Fried fish and shrimp were hot and good. Hush puppies overcooked, French fries were standard fair. Good price for seafood, full bar, lots of beer choices, casual setting.By Gail Hicks (11 months ago)Hank’s Seafood Restaurant
- Address: 10 Hayne St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (2296)
Leon’s
- Address: 698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (2220)
167 Raw Oyster Bar
- Address: 193 King St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (2174)
The Darling Oyster Bar
- Address: 513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (1770)
Oyster House Seafood Restaurant
- Address: 35 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.4 (1648)
That’s it for our list of the best oyter bar in Charleston SC! If you have any arguments or additional information, please leave a comment. We love to hear from our readers. And don’t forget to check out some of the other posts on our blog for more travel inspiration. Happy beachcombing!
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Fun place with good food. The seafood here was great. The owner greeted us and made sure we were taken well attended too. We had a party of 7 and they got us seated in 30 minutes. Appetizers were great and came out quickly. Our server was attentive and knowledgeable. The menu can be a little overwhelming but there are some great options. The gator sausage, sea bass croquettes and the famous Carolina delight are great apps. The shrimp platter and flounder were our favorites of the entrées. The hush puppies were fantastic as well. Highly recommend for some good fried seafood.
The restaurant has a great vibe in downtown Charleston with excellent food and great service. This was a great find which we selected based on our desire for seafood and it had the highest google review score. Our server Ashley B. Did a great job explaining the specials, waiting on the table, and checking in on us.
All the food was fantastic, the fried shrimp were particularly good and the hush puppies were amazing. Everything was priced fairly and I would be happy to return during my next visit to Charleston. Food came out quickly and our waiter dropped by at regular intervals.
Just ate here with my wife for our anniversary. Didn’t know anything about the place just that it had great reviews and it didn’t disappoint. We started with the Carolina Delight appetizer and that was delicious. My wife got the Deep South platter and I had a platter with Chilean Sea Bass & deviled crab. All of it was phenomenal. I’m not much a fan of seafood personally, but I enjoyed everything I tried here. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the owner personally visited every table to chat for a few minutes and gave us a free dessert for our anniversary. Couldn’t ask for a better experience.
Food was delicious and would definitely return! Please be aware of the crispy flounder because it’s huge and worth every penny. The service and atmosphere was great. We stopped by the gift shop area and purchased the lemon grass body scrub which left my skin soft and no need for any lotion.
Simply fantastic. The food is extremely fresh, tasty and not oily like many fried seafoods. The combination of flavors, sauces and cooking is perfect! The service could not be any better. Our server Victoria did an amazing job, recommending when we asked without pushing and checking on us regularly. One of the owners stopped by and gave us a very warm welcome, which shows he truly cares. Excellent first experience and definitely coming back.