The Best Steakhouse Restaurants in Charleston

In the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina, Spanish moss hangs from the oak trees overlooking cobblestone streets and historic mansions. Tourists travel to the local beaches like Sullivans Island to relax. Charleston also has a thriving culinary scene, especially when it comes to steak. Charleston chophouses serve the finest cuts of beef served alongside local seafood and Lowcountry classics. But where do the savviest diners go for a great steak in Charleston? Welcome to the Tastemaker 20. We pulled data covering thousands of local eateries to discover the best of them all according to OpenTable's smartest, most knowledgeable diners. Book a table at the best steakhouse in Charleston today!

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Updated March 14, 2022

Burwell's Stone Fire Grill

$$$$

Steakhouse

Downtown Charleston

4.7

2807 reviews

Burwell’s Stone Fire Grill, one of the best steakhouses in Charleston, embraces the concept of “a modern twist on an old school steakhouse.” Modern elements of its dining experience include a dedication to using local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients. Another notable feature is the signature hot rock appetizers, which invite diners to sear a choice of beef tenderloin, wagyu or tuna on a 700-degree black lava stone. Those seeking an amazing steak also enjoy a choice of five wood-fire grill steaks, among them a wagyu hanger steak and 45-day aged New York strip. A lamb T-bone, jumbo sea scallops and catch of the day are also tempting options. Sides including Charleston Gold risotto and seasonal market vegetables are offered a la carte.

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Oak Steakhouse

$$$$

Steakhouse

Downtown Charleston

4.6

4667 reviews

Oak Steakhouse, a small chain with five locations across the southeast, has a charming venue for its Charleston restaurant – a three-story brick structure dating to the mid-19th century. The former bank building features original fireplaces, pine floors and soaring ceilings, lending it a stately atmosphere fitting for special occasion dining experiences. The dinner menu and wine list are just as impressive. Five cuts of certified Angus beef ranging from 5 to 14 ounces are the focal point of the menu. They come with a choice of sauces and the option to add luxury items like lobster tail, scallop Oscar and foie gras. A dozen family-style sides include truffled pomme frites, pimento cheese and jalapeno cornbread and grilled asparagus.

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Grill 225

$$$$

Steakhouse

Downtown Charleston

4.7

1319 reviews

Inside the luxurious Market Pavilion Hotel is one of the best steakhouses in Charleston – Grill 225. It’s the only restaurant in the city to serve only USDA Prime beef. With wood-paneled walls, high ceilings and starched white tablecloths, the space embraces old-school luxury while remaining approachable. Its incredible steaks, chops and seafood represent a dedication to impeccable ingredients prepared with a perfectionist’s touch. The highest quality prime beef, wet aged from 42 to 50 days, comes in a choice of eight cuts with custom options including 10 sauces and additions like king crab, roasted garlic and warmed goat cheese. Don’t miss Grill 225’s signature nitrotinis, high-drama cocktails chilled to -320 degrees under a shroud of liquid nitrogen.

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Stars Restaurant - Rooftop & Grill Room

$$$$

American

Downtown Charleston

4.1

2126 reviews

The two biggest draws to Stars Rooftop & Grill Room are the unmatched views from its rooftop bar – the only 360-degree views in Charleston – and its signature live-fire cooking techniques. Experience both by enjoying a pre- or post-meal drink on the rooftop. Local beers, creative cocktails and 15 wine on tap are all available in the bar. Downstairs, the restaurant’s exhibition kitchen gives diners a glimpse of the live flame used to prepare meats, seafood and vegetables over the grill, spit or hearth oven. Steaks seared to perfection over live fire include a spit-roasted and wood-grilled Angus rib eye served with mac and cheese and green beans, and a filet mignon with chimichurri, mashed potatoes and a watercress salad.

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Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse - North Charleston

$$$$

Brazilian Steakhouse

North Charleston

4.4

578 reviews

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse presents a lively churrascaria experience – an all-you-can-eat taste of Brazil. For a set price, diners can enjoy custom cuts from 16 arm-length, rotisserie-grilled skewers of beef, lamb, chicken and pork wielded by costumed gauchos. Among them are beef ribs, spicy sausage, garlic steak, leg of lamb and top sirloin. Sides are courtesy of a lavish salad bar featuring more than 30 cold items and six cooked Brazilian-style dishes. Brazilian collard greens, black beans and a balsamic mushroom blend are especially good sides for beef cuts. The steakhouse offers a full bar and a wine list featuring bottles from Argentina and Chile. Caipirinha cocktails are also a specialty.

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Peninsula Grill

$$$$

American

Downtown Charleston

4.7

6688 reviews

Peninsula Grill, inside the historic district’s Planters Inn hotel, is famous for its seafood and classic lowcountry cuisine. It’s also one of the best steakhouses in Charleston, and its lamp-lit courtyard among the city’s most enchanting dining spaces. Half a dozen steak options include an 18-ounce prime Kansas City strip, a 16-ounce rib eye and a 32-ounce porterhouse. Choose from classic steakhouse sauces like Bearnaise and horseradish cream, or a more unusual option such as ginger-lime beurre blanc. Note the array of lowcountry-inspired side dishes such as speck ham and cheddar grits and garlic-braised butter beans. Also not to be missed is Peninsula Grill’s signature 12-layer ultimate coconut cake for dessert.

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Church and Union - Charleston

$$$$

Contemporary American

Downtown Charleston

4.5

6292 reviews

Housed inside a former church with its original brick walls, stained glass and vaulted ceilings, 5Church is a striking and unique restaurant in Charleston. It is however the second location of a popular Charlotte, North Carolina restaurant of the same name. The eatery’s innovative new American cuisine ranges from steakhouse classics to contemporary, globally inspired options such as ramen and a poke bowl. For steak aficionados, the prime “60-second” New York strip is a must-try entrée. It’s also the single dish responsible for earning 5Church an honorable mention among the best steakhouses in Charleston. The signature steak is brushed with rendered beef fat and seared (for precisely 60 seconds) on one side only, resulting in a single-sided crust under a medium-rare slab. The dinner menu also features a 9-ounce filet with Yukon croquette, baby carrots and pistou, which is more conventionally prepared.

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Experiences available

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Topsail Restaurant & Bar

$$$$

Seafood

Mount Pleasant

4.5

710 reviews

Topsail Restaurant and Bar in Mount Pleasant opened in early 2019, making it a relative newcomer to the Charleston restaurant scene. Seafood is the specialty, reflected by the venue’s refined nautical theme and menu showcasing numerous lobster dishes, local oysters and whole roasted fish. But don’t overlook the meat options, among them an excellent filet mignon with bacon- and gruyere-topped Brussels sprouts, fingerling potatoes and a wild mushroom demi-glaze. Topsail’s signature tropical cocktails, including a blood orange old fashioned and a jalapeno margarita, make a fine prelude to a steak or seafood meal.

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California Dreaming - Charleston - Priority Seating

$$$$

American

West Ashley

4.2

2044 reviews

Since its 1984 debut, California Dreaming has expanded to a chain of eight restaurants in the region, including five venues in South Carolina. The Charleston restaurant dates to 1987 and boasts a glorious location overlooking the Ashley River. Score a seat on the wrap-around deck for uninterrupted views of the water. Lunch and dinner menus at the restaurant feature California-inspired cuisine ranging from market-fresh salads to burgers and nachos topped with a choice of creamed spinach, BBQ chicken or seafood. Steaks are a definite highlight. The rib eye, New York strip and filet mignon are USDA choice, aged for at least 28 days and seared at 1800 degrees. They come with a choice of side and a house or Caesar salad. There’s also a slow-cooked prime rib available after 4 p.m. and all day on Sundays.

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Takeout available

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Husk - Charleston

$$$$

American

Downtown Charleston

4.6

13788 reviews

Husk in Charleston, just like its sister restaurants in Nashville, Greenville and Savannah, is a celebration of southern ingredients. Acclaimed chef Sean Bock selects ingredients exclusively from the south for his innovative farm-to-table cuisine. Menus change nightly, but diners seeking a great steak might discover new takes on its presentation. Past menus have often featured a Tennessee strip steak served with creative seasonal sides such as farro, charred eggplant, heirloom tomato and roasted garlic jus, or wilted spinach, fingerling potatoes, preserved tomato and braised butter beans. The delightful venue for such rustic fare is a pair of beautifully renovated Victorian houses on Queen Street.

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Ichiban Steak House & Asian Fusion

$$$$

Sushi

West Ashley

4.5

198 reviews

Ichiban Steak House and Asian Fusion offers Charleston diners a fun, interactive take on Japanese cuisine. Its excellent steak options, which are prepared with flare on a table-side hibachi grill, include filet mignon and combinations of steak with chicken, shrimp, salmon and scallops. The full entrée comes with soup, house salad and fried rice. Sushi, Asian fusion and Chinese dishes also feature on the menu. Highlights for diners in the mood for steak include a pepper steak fusion dinner with a choice of sauces (black bean, mango, Thai basil and more) as well as General Tso’s beef and sesame beef entrees. Steak teriyaki is another good choice among the Japanese-inspired options.

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The Best Steakhouse Restaurants