People Cross County Lines In South Carolina Just To Try These Legendary Soul Food Icons
South Carolina cooks up soul food so good, people plan road trips around lunch.
Every county seems to hide a kitchen where someone is frying chicken the way their grandmother taught them, simmering collards until they sing, and serving plates that feel less like a meal and more like a memory.
These restaurants do not chase trends or fancy plating. They just keep doing what they have always done, which is exactly why folks drive an extra hour to get there.
1. Bertha’s Kitchen – North Charleston
James Beard does not hand out awards for fun, and Bertha’s Kitchen earned its America’s Classics honor by doing one thing brilliantly: cooking food that tastes like somebody’s grandmother made it.
Lines start forming before the doors open because regulars know the fried chicken will be gone by mid-afternoon.
Red rice here is not a side thought. It is the co-star, soaking up every bit of flavor and turning a simple lunch into something you talk about for weeks. Lima beans over rice and cornbread round out plates that feel both filling and comforting.
Hours are limited, so showing up early is not optional. This is the kind of place that closes when the food runs out, not when the clock says so.
2. Hannibal’s Kitchen – Charleston
Forty years in business tells you everything. Hannibal’s Kitchen has been feeding Charleston since the early 1980s, and their crab rice alone is worth the detour downtown.
I first tried it on a random Tuesday, and by the time I finished, I understood why people schedule meetings around lunch here.
Turkey wings arrive tender enough to fall apart with a fork, seasoned in a way that makes you wonder why anyone bothers with anything else.
The dining room is straightforward, no decorations competing for attention, just good food and people who know what they came for.
Open Monday through Saturday, Hannibal’s keeps it simple and keeps it consistent, which is exactly what soul food should be.
3. Big Mike’s Soul Food – Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is known for boardwalks and seafood joints, but Big Mike’s Soul Food reminds you that sometimes the best meal is the one that feels like Sunday dinner.
Fried chicken here comes out crispy, hot, and seasoned just right, the kind that makes you slow down and actually taste your food.
Collards are cooked low and slow, tender without turning mushy, and the cornbread has that perfect balance of sweet and savory. Blue-plate specials rotate, but the chicken plate stays constant because people would riot otherwise.
Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, Big Mike’s is where locals go when they need a break from tourist traps.
4. Gullah Grub Restaurant – St. Helena Island
St. Helena Island is where Gullah culture thrives, and Gullah Grub Restaurant serves that heritage on every plate.
Shrimp and okra gumbo here is thick, flavorful, and loaded with ingredients that have been part of Lowcountry cooking for generations. Red rice is another star, cooked with tomatoes and spices until it turns a deep, rich color.
The dining room feels like someone’s house, warm and welcoming, with limited hours that make reservations a smart move. Open Wednesday through Friday, plus Sunday, with special dinner seatings on Thursday and Friday.
This is not fast food or fusion. It is tradition, served with pride and a side of history.
5. Nigel’s Good Food – Ladson & Hanahan
Nigel’s Good Food operates two locations, both drawing fans who want Gullah-inspired comfort without the drive to the islands. Lowcountry seafood platters arrive piled high with shrimp, fish, and sides that do not play second fiddle.
Mac and cheese here is creamy, baked with a golden top, and rich enough to make you rethink every boxed version you have ever eaten.
Smothered dishes are another specialty, with meats cooked until they practically melt, covered in gravies that beg for a biscuit. The welcome is genuine, the kind of place where staff remember your face after one visit.
Check hours by location, as each site runs its own schedule.
6. Workmen’s Café – James Island, Charleston
One woman runs this lunch counter, and she does it so well that regulars plan their entire day around her hours.
Fried chicken at Workmen’s Café is the kind that makes you close your eyes on the first bite, crispy outside and juicy inside, served with mashed potatoes and gravy that taste homemade because they are.
Meatloaf is another favorite, seasoned perfectly and served in thick slices that hold together without falling apart. Hours are very limited, weekdays only, and the best way to confirm is to check the Facebook page before you drive over.
This is lunch-only dining, so do not show up at dinner expecting a plate.
7. Kiki’s Chicken & Waffles – Columbia
When someone says Kiki’s has the best soul food in Columbia, they are not exaggerating. The moment a waffle hits the table, still steaming, topped with fried chicken that crackles when you cut into it, you understand the hype.
I dragged a friend here once who claimed to hate waffles, and she ordered seconds.
The chicken is seasoned with a blend that walks the line between savory and slightly spicy, and the waffles are fluffy without being too sweet. Multiple locations around Columbia mean you can find one close to wherever you are.
Hours are posted online, and each location keeps a consistent schedule, so planning a visit is easy.
8. Wade’s Restaurant – Spartanburg
Wade’s Restaurant earned a 2024 James Beard America’s Classics honor, and one bite of their squash casserole explains why.
This Upstate institution has been serving scratch-made vegetables and yeast rolls for decades, and people willingly add 20 minutes to their drive just to eat here.
Chicken pie is another standout, a savory, flaky dish that feels like comfort in a bowl. The meat-and-three format lets you mix and match sides, and every vegetable tastes like it was picked that morning.
Daily menus are posted, and some items sell out, so arriving early is smart.
This is the kind of place that makes you want to move to Spartanburg.
9. Mama Penn’s Family Restaurant – Anderson
Mama Penn’s feels like sitting at a kitchen table surrounded by people you have known forever. Breakfast starts at dawn, and by 11 a.m., the lunch crowd rolls in for meat-and-three plates that hit every comfort food note.
Hand-battered fried chicken is the star, crispy and seasoned so well that you do not need sauce.
Southern sides rotate daily, but favorites like collards, mac and cheese, and cornbread are constants. The staff treats everyone like family, and regulars have their usual orders memorized.
Open Monday through Saturday, breakfast runs from 7 to 11 a.m., and lunch and dinner start at 11. This is Anderson’s go-to spot for a reason.
10. OJ’s Diner – Greenville & Easley
Since the mid-2000s, OJ’s Diner has been serving rib-sticking plates that make people forget about chain restaurants. Ribs here are fall-off-the-bone tender, slathered in sauce that balances sweet and tangy without going overboard.
Turkey meatloaf is another favorite, moist and flavorful, served with sides like okra that taste like someone actually cares.
Two locations mean you can find OJ’s in Greenville or Easley, both offering the same generous hospitality and true Southern cooking. Lunch and early-dinner hours keep things straightforward, and the menu does not try to be fancy.
This is the kind of place you bring out-of-town guests to prove South Carolina knows what it is doing.
11. Charlene’s Home Cooking – Moore
Charlene’s Home Cooking feels like walking into a friend’s kitchen, the kind where you are handed a plate before you even sit down.
Fried pork chops are thick, juicy, and seasoned with a blend that tastes like it skipped the recipe card and went straight to memory. Oxtails are another specialty, cooked until they are tender and rich.
Mac and cheese here is the real deal, creamy and baked with a golden crust. Peach cobbler is the dessert that makes you loosen your belt and order another slice anyway.
Hours can be tricky, often closed mid-week, so checking the posted schedule before you roll is smart.
This is Moore’s best-kept secret, though the word is getting out fast.
12. Aunny’s Country Kitchen – Georgetown
Located on Front Street near the water, Aunny’s Country Kitchen serves Lowcountry plates that make day-trippers linger over dessert.
Fried pork chops are the kind that crunch on the outside and stay juicy inside, served with rice and gravy that soaks into every bite. Collards are cooked until tender, seasoned just right without being too salty.
The location adds to the charm, with Georgetown’s waterfront just steps away, making this a perfect stop after exploring the historic district. Hours run from breakfast through dinner most days, but confirming before you roll is a good idea.
This is Georgetown’s local favorite, and once you try it, you will understand why.
13. A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen – Columbia
Plant-based soul food sounds like an oxymoron until you try A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen. Nashville-hot chicken minis here taste like the real thing, crispy and spicy, made entirely from plants.
Mac and cheese is creamy, greens are seasoned with the same love as any traditional kitchen, and dessert options make you forget you are eating vegan.
The Main Street location offers patio seating only (no indoor dining), and the menu proves soul food does not need meat to taste like home.
Open Wednesday through Saturday, with breakfast (7:00–9:45 a.m.) and lunch/dinner (11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.) windows, so planning ahead is key.
This is Columbia’s answer to anyone who thought soul food and plant-based eating could not coexist.
14. Lizard’s Thicket – Multiple Midlands Locations
Family-owned since 1977, Lizard’s Thicket is pure Midlands comfort, with multiple locations serving breakfast through dinner daily.
Country-style steak with rice and gravy is a local favorite, served with a round of vegetables that taste like they were cooked by someone who actually cares. Fried chicken is another staple, crispy and reliable every single time.
Locals swear by the vegetables as much as the meat, which says a lot about how seriously this chain takes its sides. The name is quirky, but the food is straightforward, no gimmicks or fusion experiments.
Hours are listed online for each location, making it easy to find one near you and plan a visit.