Diners' Choice: Hot spot restaurants in Charleston

OpenTable

Updated May 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants that are the best hot spots in Charleston? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

O-Ku

4.9

4.9 (2840)

$30 and under

Japanese

Downtown Charleston

About the restaurant

O-Ku, a Japanese restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina, is a triumph of execution and concept. The restaurant's menu is a modern take on traditional Japanese cuisine, and it features fresh, seasonal ingredients that are prepared with care. The dishes are beautifully presented, and the flavors are both complex and delicate. Focused on incorporating authentically Japanese flavors into the fare, O-Ku's menu is comprised of signature contemporary Japanese entrées and traditional sushi of the season reflecting the uniquely designed space. Guests can enjoy chef specialties including kurobuta pulled pork don-buri, braised short rib with shiso pesto, coconut curry, and hakozushi a box-style sushi. A wide variety of nigiri, sashimi and crudos are also available. The beverage program at O-Ku is a sophisticated blend of specialty cocktails, premium sake, bubbles, red and white wines and unique beer selections.

Top review

Kayla

Dined 4 days ago

We were excited for our date night. It was exactly what we wanted. Great food. Love the ambiance. Lat was great 10/10

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4.9

4.9 (206)

$30 and under

Chinese

North Charleston

About the restaurant

Jackrabbit Filly proudly serves award-winning, heritage driven New Chinese American cuisine in the heart of Park Circle, North Charleston. Our ingredients support local farmers and fishermen. Our wines are all-natural and support women producers. And our cocktail list supports a good time. We can't wait to have you in!

Top review

Janeen

Dined 6 days ago

Delicious, exciting and unique experience .. everything was fantastic!

Indaco

4.8

4.8 (3928)

$30 and under

Italian

Downtown Charleston

About the restaurant

Located on Charleston's Upper King Street, Indaco (Italian for "indigo") serves rustic Italian cuisine. Wood-fired pizzas, hand-crafted pastas, housemade salami and cured sausages fill the restaurant's menu which can be enjoyed family-style or a la carte. With community tables, an open kitchen, and a comfortable atmosphere, Indaco can accommodate 100 guests for a casual night of food and drinks. The wine list is focused on affordable Italian varietals, the Negroni cocktail is on tap, and the fresh sodas are made in-house. The massive wooden doors on Upper King Street are your first indication that Indaco is different from the typical Charleston restaurant. Rustic details continue inside with butcherblock tables, lime-wash walls, and white brick. An open kitchen with nearby community tables lets interested diners keep an eye on the action inside the kitchen. Outside, a patio puts you streetside to watch Upper King Street's vibrant nightlife scene.

Top review

Dined 2 days ago

Friendly, prompt, attentive wait staff Food was delicious

Galpao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse - Charleston

4.8

4.8 (718)

$50 and over

Brazilian Steakhouse

Downtown Charleston

About the restaurant

Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse delivers an exquisite dining experience inspired by the rich Gaucho culture and culinary traditions of Southern Brazil. Galpão Gaucho’s rodizio experience offers an unparalleled dining experience, featuring 18 unlimited selections from the grill, including the new 24-karat Golden Steak™, paired with unlimited visits to an extensive 45-item gourmet salad bar.

Galpão Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse, an authentic Brazilian dining experience.

Top review

Sharniece

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing service! The staff was super friendly and attentive. The food was delicious, served hot and we enjoyed the variety.

Ichiban Steak House & Asian Fusion

4.7

4.7 (232)

$30 and under

Sushi

West Ashley

About the restaurant

It all started with the idea to create a modern Asian Fusion Cuisine for our local community, we offer everything from Japanese Teppanyaki, Sushi to Chinese Food. We have the freshest sushi & sashimi in Charleston, as well as a Teppanyaki show ready to cook your meal to perfection, We are open all day 7 days a week.

Top review

diane

Dined on Mar 12, 2025

Had a great time as always Our waitress and chef were both very good

843 KOREAN BBQ & SUSHI HOUSE

4.5

4.5 (514)

$30 and under

Korean

North Charleston

About the restaurant

843 Korean BBQ and Sushi offers a delectable menu featuring traditional Korean BBQ dishes like Bulgogi and Kimchi, as well as a wide variety of sushi options. Enjoy your meal with a refreshing glass of Soju and end the night with some fun karaoke!

Top review

Hideki

Dined on Apr 17, 2025

Great Korean BBQ and other Korean cuisines! We enjoyed a lot especially Galbi BBQ!

The King Claw - Charleston

4.5

4.5 (140)

$30 and under

Seafood

West Ashley

About the restaurant

"King Claw is inspired by the low country, viet-cajun style of boil-in-a-bag seafood that retains all the juicy flavor combinations of the sea. We then add our own unique blend of spices to seal the deal. You won’t find our flavor combination anywhere else. We prepare our seafood fresh to order and encourage our patrons to get their hands dirty with our signature seafood combinations. We firmly believe in bonding over great food and drinks with family and friends, and what better way than to dig right in with your hands? Come open up a bag, where the juiciness awaits you."

Top review

Tracey

Dined on Apr 12, 2025

It was our first time eating here. We had the seafood boils. The shrimp and crab legs were nicely done not mushy which is what can happen when you get a boil. The potatoes were good and not an overwhelming number of them. The only item I didn’t care for was the corn. This was mushy. Our server Teresa was great, she made recommendations and was very friendly and attentive. We would definitely go back again.

Port of Call - Food & Brew

4.5

4.5 (28)

$31 to $50

American

Downtown Charleston

About the restaurant

Port of Call in Charleston offers a fusion of coastal charm and culinary innovation. With a menu celebrating Southern classics with a modern twist, impeccable service, and an inviting ambiance, it's a culinary gem for locals and visitors alike. Come savor the essence of Southern hospitality and excellence at Port of Call.

Top review

tomboysuze

Dined on Apr 20, 2025

It was a perfect low key Easter brunch for out of towners after mass.

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Experience

Port of Call Happy Hour

Bahama Breeze - Charleston

4.4

4.4 (285)

$30 and under

Caribbean

North Charleston

About the restaurant

When you're at Bahama Breeze Island Grille, life's one big party. It's an escape from the ordinary and a much-needed excuse for you to let loose. Famous since 1996 for tropical cocktails, live music, and more, the vibe here is always as amazing as that Caribbean-inspired food we're known for. Bahama Breeze offers your favorites: seafood, salads, chicken--all with island flair. From Jerk Chicken Pasta to Seafood Paella, you can enjoy the islands one taste at a time, discovering new flavors along the way. Naturally, we're the perfect spot for all the sunniest moments in life: happy hours with friends, anniversaries, birthdays, date nights and unique culinary experiences. So, when you're ready to raise your glass and move your feet, the party's in full swing and the islands are waiting for you or if you'd rather bring the Island party home, online ordering is a Breeze too!

Top review

RichardVIP

Dined on Mar 30, 2025

The food at Bahama Breeze is phenomenal and I highly recommend Dakotah as a server. He was fantastic.

Lamar's Sporting Club

4.2

4.2 (21)

$31 to $50

Lounge

Downtown Charleston

About the restaurant

Sophisticated lounge offering excellent craft cocktails, upscale bar bites, and weekly top shelf happy hours in a comfortable setting and home of Sir Wieners Hot Dogs (as seen on Bravo Tv).

Enjoy College & NFL games with 10+ HD TVs. Lunch & Brunch are available on the weekends during football season.

Lamar's was designed for like-minded individuals who value nightlife experiences, sports, and exclusivity. The establishment features an intimate lounge with a classic and upscale ambiance. With rich, dark wood paneling, subdued lighting, and plush leather banquettes, sofas, and cocktail tables, the venue provides both comfort and luxury seating. The sporting club lifestyle is reflected in the carefully curated decor, which includes antique-inspired elements such as modern-vintage artwork, chandeliers, eclectic bookshelves and wildlife on display.

Located on the corner of King & Spring, Lamar's is the ultimate way to elevate your sports viewings & evening experiences in Charleston.

Top review

Traevon

Dined on Apr 26, 2025

Great environment, Waitress was fantastic and very accommodating. Food was very well prepared and portioned. Would come back again.

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