King Street Charleston Restaurants: What to Know

King Street Charleston restaurants run from the shops of lower King to the busy restaurant strip of Upper King above Calhoun Street, and a single walk along the street tastes the city. Lower King has historic buildings and cafes, while Upper King has the newer restaurants, bars and counters.

Try shrimp and grits and local oysters, which are in season from fall into spring. Book dinner a week or more ahead on weekends, and use garages in the historic district.

How are King Street Charleston restaurants laid out?

The street runs the length of the Charleston peninsula. Its lower end is a shopping district with a handful of cafes and bakeries. The middle section has hotels and long-established restaurants. Upper King is the part that most diners mean when they talk about eating on King Street, and it runs from about Calhoun Street north toward Cannon and Spring.

Because the street is long, think of it in sections. Decide whether you want a polished dinner, a counter lunch or a drink and a snack, then choose the section that fits.

Upper King dining: restaurants to know

Upper King has a recognizable mix of rooms. Look for a fried chicken and oyster spot in a former auto garage, a seafood hall in an old bank building with a raw bar, and a small walk-in biscuit counter. Names and hours change quickly, so read the menus posted outside before you choose.

A Southern restaurant on Queen Street is a few blocks from King. Addresses and hours vary between listings, so check each place's page before you go.

What is Charleston shrimp and grits?

Shrimp and grits is the Lowcountry dish most visitors want to try. Shrimp, often from local waters, are cooked in a savory sauce with bacon, onion and sometimes sausage, then served over creamy stone-ground grits. It began as a breakfast dish in coastal fishing communities and is now served at any meal.

Order it as a main course, and look for stone-ground grits. The texture should be creamy but not thin, and the shrimp should be tender.

Where do you find Charleston oysters?

Oysters are a Lowcountry tradition, and the season runs through the cooler months, roughly from fall to spring. Raw oysters are served on the half shell with lemon and hot sauce, and roasted oysters are steamed and served in a pile for sharing. Several restaurants on and near King Street have oyster bars.

If you are not sure what to order, ask the server which oysters came in that day, and start with a half dozen. Eat them soon after they arrive.

Charleston reservations: how to book

Popular restaurants on King Street book up, especially on weekends and during festival periods. Reserve a table for dinner a week or more ahead, and earlier for large groups. Some counters and shops take walk-ins only, so arrive at an off hour to avoid lines.

If you cannot book, a bar seat is often available without a reservation. Ask about the wait when you arrive.

What is the best time of year to eat on King Street?

Spring and fall are the easiest seasons for walking, with mild weather and long days, but they are also the busiest, and festival weekends fill the hotels. Summer is hot and humid, so lunch indoors and dinner on a patio after sunset works well. Winter is quieter, with shorter lines and the oyster season at its height.

Book earlier in spring and fall. In winter, many restaurants have last-minute seats.

How can you eat on a budget on King Street?

King Street is not a cheap street, but there are ways to eat well for less. Lunch menus at restaurants are often cheaper than dinner. A counter such as a biscuit stand or a barbecue place costs less than a sit-down meal. Sharing starters and splitting a main is common.

Check whether the restaurant adds a service charge for large parties, and carry a card, as some small counters are cashless.

What about parking and getting around?

Parking in the historic district is hard. Garages are the easiest option, and street parking is metered. The CARTA bus runs along King Street, and walking is the best way to see the street itself. Weekends and market days bring crowds, so go early.

Wear comfortable shoes, because the pavements are uneven in places, and the cobbled lanes off the main street are prettier than they are flat. In summer, carry water and plan indoor stops in the afternoon heat, and in the cooler months a light jacket is enough for evening walks between restaurants.

What else belongs on a South Carolina trip?

Charleston is the gateway to a region of barbecue, rice dishes and seafood. The South Carolina food guide covers the wider state, and the Louisiana food guide shows how a neighbor along the Gulf cooks. Every city is on the US guides page.

Charleston rewards a second visit, and a list helps. With the Mosey app you can rate the oysters, biscuits and barbecue you try on King Street and keep a Charleston list for your return.