You don’t have to wait until dinner to experience the culinary excellence Charleston has to offer. The lunch options in the Holy City are the furthest thing from boring to ensure you make the most of that much-needed break from your computer screen. From loaded okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancake) to towering sandwiches piled high with slow-roasted pork, these are my favorite midday meals that Charleston has to offer. This list is packed with flavor, but not so over the top that you will need a nap afterward.
Xiao Bao Biscuit
224 Rutledge Ave
Located in a converted gas station right off Rutledge Avenue, Xiao Bao Biscuit has been a local favorite since 2012. They serve a vibrant mix of dishes from various Asian cuisines, including Thai, Japanese, Chinese and more. My go-to order is the Som Tum salad with chicken, featuring spicy green papaya salad (and when they say spicy, they mean it) and black bean fried chicken served over rice. It sounds simple, but they pack the sweet, spicy and tangy flavors into this dish. If you want to get some street cred with the locals, order the okonomiyaki (the aforementioned savory pancake) and make sure to add the egg and pork candy.
Poke Tea House
441 Meeting Street Unit E
My favorite part of sushi has always been the rice, so being able to customize a big bowl of it topped with fresh fish and crunchy accouterments is truly a dream meal. Poke Tea House is a place that makes you feel like a regular, even if you’re walking in for the first time. You can completely personalize your order, and I get mine with sushi rice, spicy ahi tuna and wasabi yuzu sauce. Then, it’s topped with cucumber, edamame, mango, spicy salmon and avocado. It’s a lunch that leaves me feeling like I made a healthy decision and makes it easy to tackle the rest of the day.
babas on cannon
11 Cannon St
I’m usually not a salad for lunch girlie, but the pickled shrimp salad from babas on cannon made me open to the idea. It’s a simple combination of gem lettuce, South Carolina shrimp, parsley, avocado and shallot, but every ingredient is impactful. The dressing is zesty, the shrimp are sweet and tender, and the parsley adds a touch of herbaceousness. Pair this with babas’ signature housemade peanut milk mocha and you have yourself an epic lunch.
da Toscano Porchetta Shop
109 President Street
This over-the-top sandwich spot allows you to get a taste of Italy without leaving the U.S. Porchetta Shop specializes in slow-roasted, whole-hog porchetta served on focaccia from its sister restaurant, Le Farfalle. You can’t go wrong with the classic porchetta #1 with crispy crackling (pork skin), provolone dolce and salsa verde. My personal favorite is the porchetta #2 with the aforementioned ingredients plus broccoli rabe and long hot peppers. The peppers and salsa verde cut through the richness of the pork, and the fluffy focaccia soaks up all the goodness without being soggy. These sandwiches are large, so I recommend going with a friend and sharing, or you can have leftovers for the next day.
Grit Counter
3438 W Montague Ave
Located in North Charleston, Grit Counter is like your favorite fast casual bowl spot, but with grits as the star of the show. You can completely customize your grit bowl with a variety of flavors, from savory pimento cheese to peaches and cream. Next, you pick a protein, toppings and sauce. They have a lot of options in each category, so if that’s too overwhelming, you can pick one of their signature bowls. My personal favorite is the Ranchero Bowl with house chorizo, smoked tomato grits, green tomato salsa verde, sunny-side-up egg, smoked jalapeño sauce and fried hominy. Or, if you’re in it just for the grits, you can try one of their signature flights, featuring smaller servings of three or six different flavors.
Azur
159 Market Street
Azur’s menu showcases the flavors of Europe, with predominantly French influences. It really does feel like you’re sitting down in a cafe across the Atlantic when you dine here. I highly recommend the Croque Azur (their take on a croque Monsieur) or the quiche Lorraine. It’s also hard to ignore the pastry case filled with desserts when you dine here, so make sure to save room. Their owner is a classically trained pastry chef, so you’ll get a taste of Provence right here in Chucktown.
Queen Street Grocery
133 Queen Street
After a stroll around beautiful Colonial Lake, there’s nothing better than a sandwich from Queen Street Grocery. They describe themselves as “not your average corner store,” because not only do they have delicious breakfast and lunch, but a great wine and local beverage selection. My go-to order is the Tenacious Turkey with brie, green apple, sprouts and honey basil aioli on ciabatta. They also have a fun array of sweet and savory crepes. You can’t go wrong with the Johns Island crepe with banana, brown butter and brown sugar.
Bareo
73 Spring Street
From the owners of acclaimed Filipino spot Kultura, Bareo is a newcomer to the Charleston food scene that has already made a fantastic impression. This neighborhood restaurant (Bareo means “neighborhood” in Tagalog) combines the flavors of Japan and the Philippines in delectable dumplings, onigiri and more. The pork longanisa and shrimp siomai are beautiful examples of the two cuisines coming together, and I also highly recommend the tuna yuzu kosho onigiri. If you want to add a bit of whimsy to your lunch, order the kakigori— a towering Japanese shaved ice dessert with rotating seasonal flavors.
