THE SOUTH
The Charleston Michelin Guide: Here Are All the Winners
And also several stellar local restaurants inspectors missed
By Eric Barton | Nov. 21, 2025
The Obstinate Daughter
AUTHOR BIO: Eric Barton is editor of The Adventurist and a freelance journalist who has reviewed restaurants for more than two decades. Email him here.
When the Michelin Guide finally turned its inspectors loose on Charleston for the American South edition, the city showed up the way locals knew it would. Three restaurants walked away with one star, three more landed Bib Gourmand status, and another nine in and around the Holy City earned that coolly understated “recommended” tag from the inspectors.
But stars and Bibs only tell part of the story of where you should actually eat in Charleston right now. So this guide starts with the official winners and then keeps going, pulling in the restaurants Michelin missed but locals and industry folks talk about in the same breath.
Think of this as the full Michelin-worthy guide to Charleston: the star holders, the barbecue and seafood joints with Bibs, the quietly excellent neighborhood spots, and the places that may never see a red book inspector but absolutely deserve a reservation.
Chubby Fish
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Located in the East Side neighborhood, Chubby Fish is a haven for seafood enthusiasts. Chef James London partners with local fishermen to present a daily-changing menu that highlights the freshest catches, such as triggerfish crudo and blue crab tagliatelle. The casual, no-reservations policy adds to its laid-back charm.
Award: Recommended
The Establishment
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Chef Elliott Howells treats seafood like it deserves a spotlight, not a supporting role. There’s gnudi buried under lump crab and parmesan bread crumbs, broiled Steamboat Creek oysters with nori butter, and halibut in a bright aji amarillo sauce all read like proof that the kitchen is happiest when it has something that just came off a boat. The room feels polished but relaxed enough that you can dissect that gnudi dish like a food critic and no one will look twice, especially if you remember to order dessert.
Award: Recommended
Fig
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Short for "Food Is Good," Fig has become synonymous with elevated Southern cuisine in Charleston's Cannonborough neighborhood. Under the guidance of Chef Mike Lata, a James Beard Award winner, the restaurant offers a menu that evolves with the seasons, showcasing dishes like ricotta gnocchi with lamb Bolognese. The understated elegance and impeccable service make Fig a perennial favorite.
Award: Recommended
Husk
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At Husk, chef Rick Ohlemacher keeps the original thesis intact: Southern food, but only if it passes through a Charleston filter first. The menu leans hard into the pantry—pimento cheese with Broadbent country ham and warm biscuits, deviled eggs with bacon jam, maybe mountain trout over potato salad or sunchoke rigatoni with embered mushrooms. The room feels like a genteel old house party, but the plates are sharper than the setting suggests, proof that the restaurant’s “ingredients first” mantra still has plenty left to say.
Award: Recommended
Leon's Oyster Shop
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In the old garage on King Street, chef Andrew Hartenstein runs a kitchen that understands the hierarchy of pleasure: char-grilled oysters first, fried chicken second, everything else fighting for third place. The oysters arrive hissing under parmesan bread crumbs and lemon, and the chicken comes out in craggy, peppery pieces that drip onto the oilcloth-covered tables. Add the “Very Good Celery Salad” with dates, pistachios, and cheddar plus a frozen G&T or cheap beer, and you start to understand why half the city seems to end up here after beach days and birthdays.
Award: Bib Gourmand
Lewis Barbecue
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Pitmaster John Lewis brought Central Texas barbecue to Charleston and never bothered to dial it down for the coast. Brisket is sliced to order at the counter, each slice ringed with a thick smoke halo and just enough wobble in the fat cap, while links of “hot gut” sausage and pulled pork crowd the tray alongside tortillas and classic sides. Out back, picnic tables, long lines, and those towering custom smokers turn dinner into a low-key backyard party that just happens to serve some of the best meat in the state.
Award: Bib Gourmand
Lowland
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Part of the luxury boutique hotel The Pinch, Lowland reimagines classic tavern fare, featuring dishes like crispy quail paired with a delicate toum dipping sauce and a standout celery salad with dates, walnuts, mint, and aged cheddar. The ambiance combines rustic charm with modern touches, just the kind of place Michelin inspectors appreciate.
Award: Recommended
The Obstinate Daughter
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Sullivan’s Island doesn’t beg for attention, and neither does this second-story stunner with its nautical brickwork and reclaimed wood floors. Chef Jacques Larson leans into the Lowcountry larder—think housemade pastas with Geechie Boy grits and local shrimp. It’s the rare place where a pizza with pickled lemon can hold its own against an heirloom tomato salad.
Award: Recommended
The Restaurant at Zero George
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The Restaurant at Zero George gives chef Vinson Petrillo and chef de cuisine Tyler Chavis one of the tiniest professional kitchens in town and a tasting menu that feels anything but small. Lamb tartare “cigars,” foie gras tucked into a waffle, and a run of seasonal snacks you eat with your hands turn the opening minutes of the meal into a little theater. From there, the menu shifts with whatever is best from local farms and waters, the kind of dinner where you leave trying to decide which course you liked most and failing, happily.
Award: Recommended
Rodney Scott’s BBQ
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Rodney Scott’s BBQ is built around one act: whole hogs slowly taking on smoke over live coals until the meat shreds at the touch of a fork. Scott, a James Beard–winning pitmaster, sends that pork out drenched in a tangy vinegar-and-chile sauce that soaks into white bread and onto everything else on the tray. Ribs, chicken, mac and cheese, and collards round out the spread, but it is that pile of chopped pork on a plastic tray on King Street that reminds you why people will happily stand in line in the South Carolina heat.
Award: Bib Gourmand
Sorelle
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A stately Italian newcomer on Broad Street, Sorelle feels like it was built for long lunches and even longer pours of Barolo. A collaboration between Beemok Hospitality Collection and chef Michael Mina's MINA Group, the restaurant combines Southern ingredients with Northern Italian technique. The pasta room, visible behind glass, is oddly hypnotic.
Award: Recommended
Vern’s
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Into Elliotborough, Vern’s feels like a European café got a Southern education. Chef Daniel “Dano” Heinze and his wife/beverage director Bethany Heinze—both Chez Panisse alums—serve a menu that shifts with the markets, but don’t miss the crudo or the impossibly tender beef tongue. The room is casual but thoughtful, like your most stylish friend who always manages to wear linen without looking wrinkled. In all, it has everything Michelin inspectors seem to value: a creative chef, a well-sourced wine list, and a dining room that makes everybody feel not just important but like they’ve arrived home.
Award: Michelin Star
Xiao Bao Biscuit
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Chef Josh Walker and co-owner Duolan Li turned a former gas station into a can’t-skip stop for Asian comfort food, where lunch can feel like a very good mistake. The okonomiyaki—a cabbage pancake topped with pork candy and a sunny-side egg—lands at tables alongside pad kra pow over rice, dumplings slicked in chili oil, and whatever seasonal curry is on that week. On busy nights, servers weave between tightly packed tables with plates balanced in both hands and the open kitchen sending up a constant mix of steam, spice, and the smell of searing beef.
Award: Recommended
Restaurants Michelin Missed
While the inaugural Charleston Michelin Guide hit a lot of favorites, a whole lot of excellent spots that should have made the cut didn’t make it in. Below are a few Michelin-quality restaurants. Inspectors: consider this your to-do list for next time you’re in Charleston.
Bintü Atelier
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Inside a small house in North Central, chef Bintou N’Daw serves Senegalese-inspired dishes in a space that feels more like a salon than a restaurant. Her yassa poulet and mafé arrive with stories, not just sauces, and the warm hospitality might convince you to linger long after dessert. Reservations are rare and worth it.
What it deserves: Recommended
Brasserie la Banque
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In a historic 1853 bank building, Brasserie la Banque channels Parisian charm into downtown Charleston. Spearheaded by Indigo Road Hospitality Group's Steve Palmer and Executive Chef Jeb Aldrich, the restaurant offers French classics like steak frites drizzled with a house-made sauce enriched with foie gras. The ambiance strikes a balance between elegance and approachability, inviting diners for anything from a leisurely lunch to late-night bites in the cozy basement bar.
What it deserves: Recommended
Chez Nous
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There’s no sign out front, and the menu is handwritten daily in French and Spanish. Chez Nous, in a quiet corner of Cannonborough, is a whisper of a restaurant from chef Jill Mathias. Expect two appetizers, two mains, two desserts—like duck confit over lentils or chocolate pot de crème—and no substitutions, which somehow feels like a luxury.
What it deserves: Michelin star
Circa 1886
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Behind the historic Wentworth Mansion, Circa 1886 offers a refined dining experience that pays homage to Charleston's rich history. Chef Marc Collins presents a menu that reimagines Southern classics with global influences, set within the elegant confines of a restored carriage house. The restaurant's accolades and romantic ambiance make it a destination for special occasions.
What it deserves: Michelin star
Costa
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In the Cannonborough-Elliotborough area, Costa is chef Vinson Petrillo’s ode to coastal Italian fare with a Charleston accent. Petrillo, of Zero George fame, brings Michelin-starred polish to dishes like saffron bucatini with blue crab or silky tuna carpaccio. The room is swank without being smug, with a long marble bar that practically dares you not to order a negroni.
What it deserves: Recommended
The Grocery
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The Grocery plays with Southern staples without fuss. Chef Kevin Johnson, a former Beard semifinalist, built a menu around pickling, preserving, and wood-roasting, long before it was cool. It feels neighborly in the way of an actual grocery—minus the fluorescent lighting and Muzak.
What it deserves: Recommended
King BBQ
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What happens when you take a Carolina pitmaster and hand him a wok? You get King BBQ, an ambitious mashup of Eastern NC barbecue and Cantonese techniques from chefs Shuai Wang and Corrie Wang. Located in North Charleston, King BBQ is where burnt ends get lacquered in hoisin, and the housemade char siu may ruin you for all others.
What it deserves: Recommended
Kultura
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In the Cannonborough-Elliotborough district, Kultura offers a contemporary exploration of Filipino cuisine. Chef Nikko Cagalanan crafts dishes that honor his heritage, such as adobo and sinigang, presented with modern sensibilities. The intimate setting and heartfelt cooking provide a unique dining experience in Charleston.
What it deserves: Recommended
Maison
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In Charleston's North Central neighborhood, Maison delivers a spirited take on French bistro fare. Chef Vandy Vanderwarker, formerly of The Ordinary, presents dishes that balance classic techniques with modern flair. The lively ambiance and thoughtfully curated wine list make it a go-to spot for both casual dinners and special occasions.
What it deserves: Michelin star
Merci
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Merci may be new, but it already feels like a downtown fixture. Chef Michael Zentner and his wife Courtney, who also own The Drifter, apply classical French techniques that shows in dishes like slow-roasted chicken with escarole. The interior is soft-lit and polished, with banquettes that encourage lingering over a second glass of Bordeaux.
What it deserves: Recommended
The Ordinary
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Located in a former bank on Upper King, The Ordinary is chef Mike Lata’s seafood temple—and a James Beard semifinalist many times over. Raw bar towers and razor clams in brown butter serve as a reminder of what makes this place special. The high ceilings and pressed-tin details give it a Gatsby-era sparkle.
What it deserves: Recommended
Pink Bellies
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What began as a food truck has blossomed into a vibrant brick-and-mortar on Charleston's King Street. Chef Thai Phi channels his Vietnamese heritage into playful dishes like garlic noodles and beef pho. The energetic setting and bold flavors have quickly made Pink Bellies a beloved spot among locals.
What it deserves: Recommended
Slightly North of Broad (SNOB)
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A stalwart in the French Quarter, SNOB offers an upscale take on Lowcountry cuisine. The menu highlights regional ingredients in dishes like shrimp and grits and pan-seared duck breast. The warm, inviting atmosphere and consistent quality have solidified its status as a Charleston classic.
What it deserves: Recommended
Wild Olive
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On Johns Island, Wild Olive has been serving rustic Italian long before the Charleston food boom made it fashionable. Chef Jacques Larson (again) focuses on house-cured meats and pastas, with a wine list that’s as serious as the cheese board. It’s the kind of place locals whisper about, then immediately regret sharing.
What it deserves: Recommended
