10 South Carolina Soul Food Spots Locals Secretly Hope Stay Off The Tourist Radar

Y’all, there’s nothing quite like true South Carolina soul food—the kind of cooking that makes you close your eyes, savor the flavors, and let out a satisfied sigh with every bite.

Growing up in the Palmetto State, I learned that the best meals aren’t found in big cities or trendy restaurants, but along winding backroads and in small-town kitchens where recipes have been cherished and passed down for generations.

These spots may not be flashy or fancy, but every plate tells a story—of family traditions, local ingredients, and the deep roots of our heritage—better than any history book ever could.

1. Martha Lou’s Kitchen: Pink Building, Golden Reputation

The first time I walked into Martha Lou’s, the smell nearly brought tears to my eyes – it was exactly like my grandmother’s kitchen. This modest pink building in Charleston houses culinary magic that locals have treasured for decades.

The fried chicken achieves that mythical balance of crispy outside and juicy inside that keeps regulars coming back. Every vegetable side tastes like it was picked that morning and cooked with a generous helping of love.

What makes this place special isn’t just the food – it’s how Martha Lou and her family make everyone feel like they’ve been invited to Sunday dinner at their home.

2. Harold’s Country Club: Gas Station Turned Gourmet Haven

Would you believe the best ribeye steak in the Lowcountry comes from what looks like an old gas station? Harold’s Country Club in Yemassee started as a gas station in the 1930s before evolving into something extraordinary.

Saturday nights here are legendary – the weekly steak night brings farmers, shrimpers, and lawyers all to the same tables. The menu changes daily, written on a chalkboard, but the warm hospitality never wavers.

My cousin got engaged here last year because it meant more to her than any fancy restaurant could. That’s the kind of place Harold’s is – part of the family story.

3. Bertha’s Kitchen: Blue Building, Soul-Satisfying Cooking

“Just get whatever they’re serving today” – that’s my standard advice for first-timers at Bertha’s Kitchen. This James Beard Award winner still feels like a secret among North Charleston locals who line up for daily specials written on a whiteboard.

The lima beans simmered with ham hocks might change your life, and I’m not even exaggerating. Three generations of the same family work side by side in this bright blue building, preserving recipes that stretch back to the Gullah Geechee traditions.

Cash only, cafeteria-style service, and worth every minute of the wait that often stretches out the door.

4. Buckshot’s Restaurant: Where Hunters and Food Lovers Unite

Buckshot’s sits at a crossroads in rural Colleton County where hunters, farmers, and increasingly, food enthusiasts who’ve heard whispers about their hash and rice, gather around plastic tablecloths. The place smells like butter and smoked meat in the best possible way.

My father swears their chicken bog (a traditional South Carolina rice dish with chicken and sausage) is better than his mother’s – but he’ll only admit this when she’s not around. The owners know most customers by name and exactly how they like their tea sweetened.

Come during cane syrup-making season and you might score a bottle of the liquid gold they produce out back.

5. Fiddlers Seafood Restaurant: Ridgeland’s Seafood Sanctuary

Hidden in plain sight along Highway 17 in Ridgeland stands Fiddlers, where the seafood arrives so fresh it practically jumps onto your plate. The building doesn’t look like much – which is exactly how locals prefer it.

Their deviled crab has been made the same way since 1999, with a family recipe that balances sweet crab meat with just enough spice to make you notice. I’ve celebrated everything from job promotions to breakups at their wooden booths.

The hushpuppies alone are worth the drive – golden, crispy orbs that somehow remain light as air inside. Don’t expect fancy presentation, just expect to leave happy.

6. Ella & Ollie’s: Edisto Island’s Hidden Pearl

The first rule about Ella & Ollie’s among Edisto locals: don’t tell the tourists! Tucked away on a quiet corner of this barrier island, Chef Brandon Rushing transforms the day’s catch into masterpieces that honor Lowcountry traditions while adding his own creative touch.

The she-crab soup here ruined me for all others – velvety, rich with roe, and hitting that perfect balance of sherry and cream. My grandmother still talks about their fried oysters from our visit three years ago.

What makes this place magical is how it feels both sophisticated and completely unpretentious, much like Edisto Island itself. The banana pudding arrives in a mason jar – pure Southern comfort elevated.

7. Blacksheep: Beaufort’s Boundary-Breaking Kitchen

Chef Mallory headed to culinary school up North but brought her grandmother’s soul food wisdom back to Beaufort when she opened Blacksheep. The modest storefront on Boundary Street hides a culinary experience that blends traditional techniques with modern presentations.

Their shrimp and grits transforms the humble classic with roasted tomato gravy that I’ve tried (and failed) to recreate at home six times. The prix fixe menu changes weekly based on what’s available from local farmers and fishermen.

Last summer, I watched my usually stoic father tear up over their peach cobbler – “Just like my mama used to make,” he whispered. That’s the highest praise possible in South Carolina.

8. Big Mike’s Soul Food: Georgetown’s Flavor Sanctuary

“Big Mike” Jenkins could have opened his restaurant anywhere, but he chose a converted house on a quiet Georgetown street where he grew up. The screen door still slams with that distinctive summer sound when customers enter.

The oxtails fall off the bone after being slowly simmered in a gravy so good you’ll want to drink it. Every table gets a basket of cornbread that arrives steaming hot, with honey butter melting into every crevice.

What I love most is watching Mike’s mother still working the register at 82, telling stories about Georgetown’s history to anyone patient enough to listen. Three generations of my family make the pilgrimage here every Easter Sunday.

9. Peculiar Pig: Smoky Perfection in Summerville

When Mr. Willie opened Peculiar Pig in a former service station in Summerville, locals worried his Brunswick stew recipe might finally become too popular to keep secret. The dining room holds just six tables, and you’ll often find three generations working together in the open kitchen.

The ribs emerge from ancient smokers out back with a pink smoke ring that brings tears to barbecue purists’ eyes. Everything comes with a side of red rice that puts others to shame – each grain distinct yet coated in tomato-pork goodness.

I once drove here during a hurricane warning because I couldn’t bear the thought of evacuating without one last taste of their banana pudding. Worth risking my life? Absolutely.

10. Momma’s Kitchen: McClellanville’s Maritime Soul

Finding Momma’s Kitchen requires determination – it’s located down a gravel road in fishing village McClellanville, with only a hand-painted sign nailed to a cypress tree marking the spot. Miss Geraldine opened it after retiring from shrimping, bringing recipes developed over decades at sea.

The seafood purloo (our local version of pilaf) contains whatever was caught that morning, always perfectly seasoned with herbs grown in coffee cans along the restaurant’s windowsills. Plastic chairs and tables covered with newspaper complete the no-frills atmosphere.

When Hurricane Hugo destroyed the original building in 1989, locals rebuilt it themselves in two weeks – that’s how essential this place is to the community’s soul.