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Best Seafood Restaurants in Charleston, SC

As of November 2026, Chubby Fish is #1 in TasteSignal's Seafood ranking for Charleston, SC, followed by Leon's Oyster Shop and The Ordinary. Critic recognition from Michelin Guide, Condé Nast Traveler and 8 other outlets in the last five years.

Charleston is one of the great seafood cities on the East Coast. Restaurants whose identity is seafood compete here, ranked on critic recognition, diner ratings, momentum and staying power.

By Aaron Pennell · Updated November 2026

← Back to all rankings

Best Seafood Restaurants in Charleston, SC (November 2026)

79% Confidence
#1

Chubby Fish

$$–$$$DowntownNo change
Why #1
  • Critic recognition from Michelin Guide, Condé Nast Traveler and 8 other outlets in the last five years.
  • Fresh critic coverage in the last six months (Michelin Guide, Oct 2026).
  • Diner ratings: 4.7 on Google (1,039 reviews); 4.7 on Yelp (about 320 reviews); 4.7 on Tripadvisor (110 reviews).
  • On major critic lists in 4 different years (2021, 2024, 2025, 2026).

Under 50 seats. Menu rewrites every day based on what local fishermen bring in: whole fried fish, blue crab tagliatelle, grouper cheeks, chili garlic shrimp, tuna crudo, grilled oysters.

4.7
TasteSignal Crowd ScoreBlended across 3 platforms · how this is calculated

Diner ratings checked Nov 2026. Platforms with fewer than 50 reviews are not counted.

Address252 Coming St, Charleston, SC 29403
HoursTue to Sat dinner from 5 PM. Closed Sun and Mon
ReservationsNone. Walk-in only
Walk-inYes, walk-in only. Same-day sign-up list. Leave and come back at your return time.

Hours, prices and booking details are from our 2026 checks. Confirm with the restaurant before you go.

Chubby Fish: full profile and sources →
#2

Leon's Oyster Shop

$$–$$$DowntownNo change
Why #2
  • Critic recognition from Michelin Guide, Condé Nast Traveler and 3 other outlets in the last five years.
  • Fresh critic coverage in the last six months (Michelin Guide, Oct 2026).
  • Diner ratings: 4.5 on Google (3,391 reviews); 4.2 on Yelp (about 1,490 reviews); 4.3 on Tripadvisor (981 reviews).
  • On major critic lists in 5 different years (2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026).
4.3
TasteSignal Crowd ScoreBlended across 3 platforms · how this is calculated

Diner ratings checked Nov 2026. Platforms with fewer than 50 reviews are not counted.

Address698 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
HoursDaily 11am-10pm
ReservationsBook on Resy
Walk-inYes (reservations only for parties of 6-12)

Hours, prices and booking details are from our 2026 checks. Confirm with the restaurant before you go.

Leon's Oyster Shop: full profile and sources →
#3

The Ordinary

$$$$DowntownNo change
Why #3
  • Critic recognition from Condé Nast Traveler, Charleston City Paper and 2 other outlets in the last five years.
  • Fresh critic coverage in the last six months (Charleston City Paper, Aug 2026).
  • Diner ratings: 4.6 on Google (1,552 reviews); 4.4 on Tripadvisor (1,153 reviews); 4.5 on Yelp (about 860 reviews).
  • On major critic lists in 4 different years (2021, 2024, 2025, 2026).

An oyster hall and Southern seafood restaurant set inside a 1927 bank building at 544 King Street. Two stories with vaulted ceilings and a marble raw bar counter.

4.5
TasteSignal Crowd ScoreBlended across 3 platforms · how this is calculated

Diner ratings checked Nov 2026. Platforms with fewer than 50 reviews are not counted.

Address544 King St, Charleston, SC 29403
HoursDinner from 5 PM. Closed Tuesdays
ReservationsBook on Resyor call to book
Walk-inYes. Bar seats available. Arrive at 5 PM open or after 9 PM.

Hours, prices and booking details are from our 2026 checks. Confirm with the restaurant before you go.

The Ordinary: full profile and sources →
Ranks 4 to 10
#4

Sullivan's Fish Camp

$$–$$$Sullivan's Island★ 4.2No change
#5

167 Raw Oyster Bar

$$–$$$Downtown★ 4.7No change
#6

The Establishment

$$$Downtown★ 4.7▲ from #8
#7

Bowens Island Restaurant

$$–$$$James Island★ 4.0▲ from #12
#8

Royal Tern

$$–$$$Johns Island★ 4.6▼ from #6
#9

Amen Street Fish & Raw Bar

$$–$$$Downtown★ 4.6▼ from #7
#10

The Darling Oyster Bar

$$–$$$Downtown★ 4.6▼ from #9

Best seafood restaurants in Charleston by area

Where the top-ranked spots in this category are, from downtown to the islands. The number is each restaurant's overall rank in Seafood this month.

How this ranking works

Each card shows the evidence behind the rank: critic and local-guide coverage (linked), diner ratings, recent news and staying power. We log every list, award and rating with its date and source, apply the same rules to every restaurant, and refresh the ranking monthly. Arrows compare each restaurant with last month. Read how TasteSignal ranks restaurants.

Frequently asked

What is the best seafood restaurant in Charleston?

As of November 2026, Chubby Fish is #1 in TasteSignal's Seafood ranking for Charleston, SC, followed by Leon's Oyster Shop and The Ordinary. Why it leads: critic recognition from Michelin Guide, Condé Nast Traveler and 8 other outlets in the last five years.

How does TasteSignal rank the best seafood restaurants in Charleston?

Every restaurant in the category is ranked from named, dated evidence: critic and local-guide coverage, diner ratings on Google, Tripadvisor and Yelp, recent news and how long it has stayed on critics' lists. Our confidence in this category's data is 79% this month. Rankings refresh monthly.

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