Best Oysters In Charleston SC

One of the benefits of living right on the coast is the abundance of freshly caught seafood. There’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh oysters that are caught right on the coast where you live!

South Carolina in particular is notorious for its oysters. The growing conditions lend themselves well to quality seafood, making it one of the more popular places to go to taste shellfish.

Best Oysters In Charleston SC

But if you’re new to the area or are planning on visiting while on holiday, where can you find the best oysters in Charleston SC?

Not to worry - we’ve done all the research for you. We looked at over a hundred restaurants to find the best places to go in Charleston to satisfy your oyster cravings.

So let’s take a look at where you can find the best oysters in Charleston, South Carolina!

Best oysters in Charleston SC

The Darling Oyster Bar

513 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
843-641-0821
http://www.thedarling.com/

At The Darling Oyster Bar, fresh seafood is at the heart of the menu. This should be your first stop when you get to Charleston, SC.

What’s really great about this oyster bar is that they pay particular attention to sourcing the best local ingredients. 

There’s also a focus on sustainability, which will be refreshing for those of you who are conscious of our impact on the seafood industry.

You’ll be spoilt for choice at The Darling Oyster Bar. There are oysters on the standard menu, of course.

There’s an intriguing oyster chaser for you to try to kick start your meal. Or perhaps the baked oysters will take your fancy, with three great flavors to choose from: maitre’d butter and bread crumbs, Alabama white sauce and bacon, or pimento and sourdough sloppers. There’s also a tempting fry basket of shrimp, fish, and oysters to fill up on.

Not only is there an exciting selection of oysters on the main menu, but there is also an entire section of oysters on the raw bar menu.

There are a whopping 6 oysters to choose from, all sourced from different areas of South Carolina.

Choose between James River, Single Ladies, Port Royal Wilds, Lowcountry Cups, Halfmoons, and Old Coves. Each of these oysters has a different flavor profile for you to enjoy, so you can easily choose the best of the bunch that suits your taste buds.

This wide range of oysters makes The Darling Oyster Bar one of the best restaurants in Charleston, SC for fresh oysters.

Rappahannock Oyster Bar

701 E Bay St No. 110, Charleston, SC 29403, United States
843-576-4693
https://www.rroysters.com/rappahannock-oyster-bar-charleston-sc.html 

The Rappahannock Oyster Bar is another great choice if you’re looking for a seafood restaurant with a heavy focus on oysters.

This particular oyster bar works to deliver you a mix of great tasting oysters that are locally sourced right from South Carolina. 

There are oysters from Chesapeake Bay, Chincoteague, the York river, and of course the Rappahannock river. The Rappahannock Oyster Bar wants to bring the flavors of South Carolina right to your table here in Charleston.

There are four different oysters to choose from in the Rappahannock Oyster Bar. Choose between Rappahannock river oysters, Rochambeau oysters, Olde Salt oysters, and Barchat oysters.

Each oyster has a different flavor profile to suit every palate, so you’re sure to find something for all the family.

The Rappahannock Oyster Bar also features the unique concept of the pantry seafood market.

This is so they can show their customers the real seafood that they work with, including their very own oysters and locally sourced fish and shellfish. 

There’s also a range of sauces, dry-mix blends, and a vast selection of wines. What’s really great is the selection in the pantry will change daily to reflect local supplies.

If you’re passionate about oysters, then the Rappahannock Oyster Bar is the place to go. They also offer a takeaway service for locals and visitors.

Oyster House Seafood Restaurant

35 S Market St, Charleston, SC 29401
843-723-1151
http://www.oysterhouse.menu/

The Oyster House Seafood Restaurant is situated in the French Quarter of downtown Charleston, SC. This is the place to be for both locals and tourists to enjoy fresh seafood.

They have plenty of favorites such as fresh oysters, as well as a variety of other seafood and shellfish. You’ll be able to find something to satisfy everyone at the Oyster House Seafood Restaurant!

This particular restaurant will be a great choice for those who are passionate about fresh oysters. There’s a raw menu dedicated to the finest oysters that Charleston has to offer, allowing you to enjoy beautiful local flavors. 

Taste oysters on the half shell with fresh, daily selections. Why not tempt your taste buds with a chilled oyster shooter?

Or perhaps you’re looking for a warm dish with the fire roasted oysters.

Maybe the oysters Palmetto takes your fancy? Whichever way you want to enjoy your fresh oysters, the Oyster House Seafood Restaurant is the place to be.

You’ll be spoilt for choice in terms of other seafood in this restaurant. This is the ideal place for fish lovers to visit so they can enjoy the finest local cuisine!

There are also a few non-seafood meals, as well as vegetarian options to suit the whole family.

Bowens Island Restaurant

1870 Bowens Island Rd, Charleston, SC 29412
843-795-2757
http://bowensisland.com/ 

Seafood is at the heart of what Bowens Island Restaurant offers, and they come with an impressive reputation for their beautiful food.

Bowens Island Restaurant is beloved by both locals and tourists alike.

This particular restaurant has been serving wonderful seafood for more than 75 years, so you can rest assured that you’ll be able to find some special oysters right here.

What’s really great about the Bowens Island Restaurant is that they only serve locally sourced oysters. This is reflected in their prices, as the oysters are subject to the market price.

So you won’t have to worry about eating anything other than wonderfully fresh, local oysters.

You can choose between half trays, full trays, or all you can eat oysters. This will be the ideal place for those who are always reaching for more!

There are also fried oysters on the menu, which will be the pick for those who want warm, wholesome food.

Choose between a fried oyster platter, or a shrimp and fried oyster platter to get your seafood fix. There is a range of other seafood platters to help whet your appetite.

You’ll find all the tasty oysters of your dreams right here in Bowens Island Restaurant! This is a great place to get started with your Charleston SC seafood journey.

There are even a few non-seafood treats to tempt even the fussiest eater in your family.

Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar

205 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401
843-853-8600
http://amenstreet.com/ 

The Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar is located in the heart of downtown Charleston, SC. This particular restaurant likes to put an emphasis on sourcing the best fresh, local, sustainable seafood dishes to satisfy all of your cravings.

You’ll find the finest oysters, clams, fresh fish, and shrimp right here in the Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar. You’ll be able to find the best quintessential Southern cooking and flavors to satisfy all palates.

Oysters are of course one of the more popular cuisine choices here in Charleston SC. So of course they are the major feature of the Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar!

This particular restaurant claims to boast Charleston’s best raw bar, with a fresh fish and seafood menu that changes daily to reflect their locally sourced ingredients. There’ll be something for everyone to try here.

Amen Street is one of the must go to places in Charleston if you’re interested in tasting fine oysters. You’ll be able to enjoy both half and full dozen oysters, which are fresh, and have been cleanly shucked. 

There’s an impressive range of over 20 oyster varieties for you to choose from. These are sourced both locally, as well as from all over the east coast to bring you the finest flavors around.

You can enjoy all of the oysters on offer in a variety of ways, including raw, baked, fried, or stuffed.

Another great thing about this particular restaurant is that you can also enjoy plenty of delicious Southern cuisine.

There's something for everyone here at the Amen Street Fish and Raw Bar! It’s safe to say that this is the ideal restaurant for oyster connoisseurs to visit.

In summary

And so our guide to the best oysters in Charleston, SC comes to an end! You should now know the best places to go in Charleston to find the tastiest oysters around.

Whether you’re a local, or just want to pay the area a visit, all of the restaurants we’ve highlighted above will be perfect for the occasion.

 Why not do a tour of all five of the restaurants so that you can compare the quality of their oysters for yourself?

All of the restaurants we’ve reviewed above should have something to suit all the family.

We hope you enjoy your meal of fresh, tasty oysters farmed right on the South Carolina coast!