Charleston, South Carolina is a city known for its charm, history, interesting architecture, and…fantastic food?

If you’re a foodie, you simply can’t miss this Southern gem rapidly gaining credibility in the culinary world, filled with amazing dishes and eateries just waiting to be explored.

From legendary Lowcountry staples like shrimp and grits to the city’s modern farm-to-table masterpieces, Charleston’s food scene is as unique and interesting as its dramatic past.

I’m here to share the 7 top Charleston food tours with you, that are sure to open your eyes and tastebuds to a whole new world.

Be sure to see our reviews of Charleston Plantation Tours, Charleston Horse Carriage Rides and Charleston Boat Tours.

Best Food Tours in Charleston

	Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours	Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class	Charleston Private Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
Location:	99 S Market St, Charleston	1 Vendue Range, Charleston	99 S Market St suite 5, Charleston
Start:	Between 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM	9:00 AM	Between 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM
Duration:	3 hours	4 hours	3.5 hours
Includes:	Chicken bog, benne wafers, she-crab soup, handmade local ice cream, secret dish	Lunch, cooking demonstration by Chef Forrest Parker, alcoholic beverages, coffee and/or tea, copy of recipes, 90-minute walking tour	Chicken bog, benne wafers, she-crab soup, handmade local ice cream, secret dish
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Charleston Food Tours For 2026

1. Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
2. Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class
3. Charleston Private Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours
4. Downtown Charleston Food Tour
5. Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour
6. Charleston’s Historic Downtown Food Tour
7. Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour

Charleston Food Tour Reviews

1. Charleston Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

Taking place right into the heart of historic Charleston, this tour will immerse you right into the heart of Southern cuisine and culture. If it’s your first time in this magnificent city, it’s a great way to get a lay of the land while gaining insight into what really keeps it going.

The Charleston Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours takes you on a fun excursion through one of Charleston’s most captivating neighborhoods, with cobblestone streets lined with antebellum architecture.

There are various start times available to better accommodate your schedule, with a couple of different meetup points to select from, as well. We met up with our guide and the rest of our small group, setting off to our first tasting.

Our guide was absolutely fantastic – super friendly, and welcoming, and did a great job of sharing information both historically and culturally relevant to what we were passing or tasting.

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with tourist traps, I personally enjoy the more “authentic” places that offer more of a feel for a city. We got to visit 4 different eateries, sampling all kinds of classic and newer dishes along the way.

Carolina-style BBQ is truly delicious but trying the iconic She-Crab soup and fried green tomatoes was something special! I won’t spoil the fun, but you’ll also get to savor their signature “Secret Dish”, which you’re bound to love!

We had a great time with our guide leading the way as well as the rest of our group members, but you can always opt for a completely private tour, too!

Other Charleston Experiences You May Enjoy:

2. Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class

Next up, we have an intimate, 4-hour excursion that brings together history, culture, and tasty food into a seamless morning with unforgettable company.

The Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class experience takes things a step further than just touring – you’re actually going to learn how to cook some of the city’s iconic dishes so you can enjoy them no matter where you are!

Led by renowned local chef, Forrest Parker, things kick off with a 1.5-hour historical walking tour where you’ll be thrown into the deep end of Lowcountry cuisine, learning about its origins.

Getting to take a relaxing stroll through downtown and learning from a knowledgeable guide was a great way to start the morning, and our group was small enough that we felt free to ask any questions we had with ease.

It’s interesting learning about 400 years of history and local cuisine, gaining insight into the Holy City and what’s elevated it to become one of the planet’s top foodie destinations in recent years.

One of the most interesting parts for me was visiting a location where an enslaved chef once came up with a recipe that still has a huge influence over local menus!

We then headed to a charming bistro where Chef Forrest actually showed us how to whip up a couple of the most iconic recipes in Charleston, giving us some tips and tricks to use in the future.

He did a great job of explaining things to us, and it felt like more of a group contribution at the end of it. We couldn’t let all that amazing food go to waste, so after he was done cooking things up, we all got to sit down and enjoy the delicious lunch expertly paired with wine.

He was so thoughtful that he even included print-out versions of the recipes so we weren’t relying on our memory, alone!

3. Charleston Private Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours

If you’re someone who enjoys discovering gems off the beaten path from the typical tourist route, you’re going to love the Charleston Private Walking Food Tour with Secret Food Tours.

Many people out there hesitate to go on group tours because they’re worried they’ll get stuck seeing things they have no interest in or will just feel like another head in the crowd. That’s why I love this tour so much – it is based on your specific interests and goes at your pace, rather than the other way around!

What really sets this excursion apart is that it’s fully customizable, so you get to tell your guide what interests you and they’ll curate an itinerary based around it. As you may have already guessed from the name, the tour is also completely private, so it’s just you and your party, along with your guide.

It’s a more personal, intimate way to experience Charleston’s culinary delights in a way that doesn’t feel so “touristy”. Experience local eateries and specialty spots you may not find on guidebooks and YouTube travel channels because they’re so exclusively “local”.

Of course, your itinerary may be a bit different from mine if you choose to customize yours but you can expect delicacies like shrimp and grits to artisanal pastries and melt-off-the-bone BBQ.

Along the way, you’ll listen to your guide’s educational commentary about how the African slave trade introduced very specific ingredients and cooking methods to the local cuisine, that still make up the scene today.

Whether you’re a history buff, a foodie, or some combination of both, you’re sure to love this experience.

4. Downtown Charleston Food Tour

If you are on a tight schedule but still want to go on a solid food and/or history tour, look no further than the Downtown Charleston Food Tour. There are plenty of tour start times to choose from, making it that much easier to fit into your itinerary.

The Downtown Charleston Food Tour is an intimate, small-group experience that will take you through an array of traditional dishes at 4 restaurants, topping it off with a delicious dessert.

Meet up with your local foodie guide in the heart of downtown, following them through some of Charleston’s most beloved food spots. You’ll try everything from buttery biscuits to savory she-crab soup, all while learning about Lowcountry culinary traditions.

You’ll learn about which ingredients make up these signature dishes as well as the techniques and heritage behind each one. Make sure to come hungry, because the quantity of tastings you’ll have in just 2.5 hours is more than what you’d have in a single meal.

The braised short ribs with cola reduction were absolutely amazing and is something I’ll be sure to have again every time I come to Charleston. We stayed around half an hour at each stop, so we had plenty of time to rest and enjoy our food while hearing all about it – nothing feels rushed.

If you’re not someone who walks a lot, each of the stops is quite close to the starting point, so it’s nothing too strenuous! Combine all that with the charm and hospitality offered at every stop, and it’s a fantastic experience I’d recommend to anyone of any age or background.

5. Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour

Charleson Upper King Street Food Tour is a beautiful experience that highlights the varied flavors and history behind the city in a way that’s welcoming and approachable.

Instead of going out to a restaurant for dinner, why not choose this excursion as a fun and interactive alternative that’ll give you more insight into what makes Charleston tick.

Not only that, but it’s the chance to explore 3 different neighborhoods: Connonborough, Radcliffeborough, and Elliotborough, all with an expert guide to lead the way.

Start off by meeting your guide at the conveniently located Charleston Visitor Center at 3:00 pm, which is the perfect time right in between lunch and dinner! I personally recommend skipping lunch as you’re going to try quite a lot, but that’s up to you!

With a maximum of just 8 group participants, expect this to be a more customized tour that allows you more time to ask questions and less being herded around.

Of course, this tour isn’t just about checking boxes off on a list – it’s personalized to your group’s interests, with your guide providing commentary about the history behind the city and each dish you sample.

Our guide was amazing, making sure everyone was happy and was slow enough that we never felt rushed through any stop. You’ll go beyond the surface, learning about the Upper King Street district, which is known for innovative Southern cuisine you can’t find anywhere else.

Explore the farm-to-table movement, along with how the different flavors came to be thanks to the varied history and culture found here for hundreds of years. Whether it’s your hundredth or first time in Charleston, I guarantee you’re bound to learn and try something new here!

6. Charleston’s Historic Downtown Food Tour

Next up, is the 2.5-hour Charleston’s Historic Downtown Food Tour which is your key to tasting the metropolis’ finest flavors, spanning hundreds of years. This is the perfect intro to this region’s rich food culture, where you’ll not only try the gems but learn about how they came to be.

Led by a knowledgeable local foodie guide, the tour takes you around the city’s charming cobblestone streets, stopping at carefully curated eateries that showcase just how dynamic the food scene here is.

If you’re a history buff, you’re definitely going to love this lunchtime experience, which is as educational as it is indulgent. The group sizes are kept quite small as well, which feels a bit more personal not just in terms of your tour guide’s conversation, but also the way you see the city, itself.

You have plenty of time to stop for photo ops, ask questions, or simply take your time at each eatery and not rush through your food. Sure, you could go to these eateries yourself, but chances are, you’re not going to find most of them on tourist-recommended sites.

These are frequented by locals with high standards for their traditional cuisine, and you’ll get to skip past the lines with VIP access to really make the most of your time! At some stops we even got to chat with the owners and the chefs, who offered insight you just won’t get by going to a restaurant casually.

I found it fascinating how so many French dishes came to be melded together with African ingredients to create a cuisine all on its own, unique from all the rest of the world.

Seeing the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon was pretty cool for this history nerd, as I had no idea there was such a massive pirate problem in the 1700s! I also enjoyed going to the city market, where you can pick up all the ingredients you need for a good local dish.

7. Charleston’s Historic Downtown Food Tour

Last but certainly not least, is the Savor the Flavors of Charleston Walking Food Tour, which is also 2.5 hours and comes with many different start times. After going on this tour, I really felt like I had a better grasp on what “true” Charleston was like – after all, food is the way to the heart of anyone.

The expertly curated journey dives deep into the city’s rich food culture with a guide who was born and raised in this interesting metropolis! Expect plenty of Southern hospitality right from the get-go, when you meet up with your guide and the rest of your small-group tour at Anson Street, downtown.

The guide’s passion for his city and its food was contagious, and we were all eager to get started! He regaled us with interesting stories in a way that kept our attention the entire time, focusing on the Gullah influences, farm-to-table movement, and cultural melting pot that have all played a role in shaping Charleston’s local cuisine.

If you’re bringing kids along for the ride, I highly suggest putting this tour at the top of your list. Our guide did a great job with the smaller kids in our group, and keeping children’s attention is no small feat!

From creamy stone-ground grits and succulent pulled pork, along with classic benne wafers, you’ll have a smile on your face and a happy stomach!

A Food Lover’s Guide to Charleston Tours

Charleston smells like brine and browned butter before you even sit down.

I had my first she-crab soup here on a humid Tuesday in March, standing at a bar with no stool, and I have been coming back for fifteen years.

This is a city that treats lowcountry cooking like a living cuisine, not a museum piece. Shrimp and grits, Carolina Gold rice, Frogmore stew, whole hog barbecue done the South Carolina way with a mustard-based sauce.

A good food tour here does not hand you a plate and walk away. It explains why the rice matters, why the pork is cooked the way it is, and why a city this size produces this many serious kitchens.

Why Charleston

Charleston earns its reputation honestly. The Gullah Geechee foodways that shaped lowcountry cooking are still alive in the kitchens here, not just referenced on a menu.

You will eat well whether you spend twelve dollars on a biscuit or two hundred on a tasting menu. That range is the point.

This is a strong trip for anyone who wants to understand where a regional American cuisine actually came from, not just taste it. It is a weaker trip if you are strictly vegetarian, since pork and shellfish run through most of the city’s best cooking and a lot of the vegetable dishes still start with a pork stock.

When to Go

Late March through May is the best window. The heat has not turned brutal yet, the historic district is walkable without soaking through your shirt, and the farmers markets at Marion Square are running full.

Avoid late July and August unless you like ninety-five degrees with matching humidity. Restaurant patios empty out and walking tours turn into a survival exercise.

Late September into November works almost as well as spring, with the added bonus of oyster season starting up again. Charleston oysters are best from the fall through early spring, when the water is cold and the R months are in play.

What You Will Actually Eat

Lowcountry Classics

Shrimp and grits is the dish everyone comes for, and it is worth the reputation when it is done right. Look for stone ground grits, not instant, and a gravy built on real andouille or country ham rather than a shortcut roux.

She-crab soup is Charleston’s other signature, a cream based soup built on blue crab roe with a splash of sherry stirred in tableside. Skip any version that tastes like plain crab bisque with orange food coloring, since the roe is what separates the real thing from the tourist version.

Frogmore stew, sometimes called a Lowcountry boil, is shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes dumped straight onto newspaper on the table. It is casual, communal food, and it tells you more about how this region actually eats than any plated tasting menu will.

Carolina Gold rice shows up under half the dishes in this city, and it deserves more attention than it gets. It is the rice that built the lowcountry economy two centuries ago, nearly went extinct by the 1920s, and was brought back by a handful of growers who tracked down the original seed stock.

Order red rice or hoppin John somewhere that names the farm, and you are tasting a piece of agricultural history most visitors walk right past.

Markets and Casual Bites

The Charleston City Market runs along Market Street through several open air sheds, part souvenir stalls, part real food vendors. Look past the t-shirt tables for the boiled peanut carts and the sweetgrass basket weavers, a Gullah craft tradition passed down through generations.

The Charleston Farmers Market sets up in Marion Square on Saturday mornings from April through December, produce and prepared food side by side. It is a good stop before a big lunch, since a few vendors sell breakfast biscuits and shrimp rolls you can eat while you browse.

Barbecue and Biscuits

South Carolina barbecue runs on mustard based sauce, which surprises visitors expecting Texas or Memphis style. Rodney Scott’s BBQ, built on whole hog cooking over wood coals, is the single best introduction to it in the city.

Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit does one thing, a cathead biscuit the size of your fist, and does it early in the morning before the line gets long.

Get there by 8 a.m. on a weekend or plan on standing outside.

Where to Eat and Which Tour to Book

• Husk. Chef driven Southern cooking built on a strict rule about sourcing everything from the region, so the menu changes constantly with what is actually in season nearby.
• FIG. Chef Mike Lata’s long running restaurant, French technique applied to Southern ingredients, one of the most consistent tables in the city for close to two decades.
• The Ordinary. A former bank building turned oyster hall, worth it for the raw bar alone and the towering seafood platters.
• Xiao Bao Biscuit. Not Southern at all, an Asian influenced kitchen in a converted gas station, and a good reset if you have eaten three straight days of pork and cream.
• Leon’s Oyster Shop. Fried chicken and oysters under one roof, loud, casual, and one of the better lunch stops in the city.
• 167 Raw. A small oyster and seafood counter that gets crowded fast, worth the wait for the tuna poke and the rotating raw bar list.
• Poogan’s Porch. An older Charleston institution in a converted Victorian house, a good stop if you want classic she-crab soup and fried green tomatoes done the traditional way.

For a guided experience, Charleston Culinary Tours and Bulldog Tours both run walking food tours through the historic district that stop at four or five spots in about three hours, tasting portions at each. A guided tour is worth it on your first visit, since the guides explain the Gullah Geechee history behind the food in a way you will not get just walking in and ordering.

Book a food tour in the morning if you can. Afternoon slots run later in the day when the heat is worst and some kitchens are between lunch and dinner service.

What It Costs and How to Plan

A guided walking food tour in Charleston typically runs sixty-five to one hundred dollars per person for three hours and four to five tasting stops. That price usually includes the food but not extra drinks.

Dinner at a serious kitchen like Husk or FIG runs seventy-five to one hundred twenty-five dollars a person before wine, and reservations should go in two to three weeks ahead for a weekend table. Lunch spots and barbecue joints run fifteen to twenty-five dollars a person and mostly do not take reservations.

The historic district is walkable, so skip the rental car if your hotel is downtown. Parking is expensive and mostly unnecessary once you are in the food corridor around King Street and the Market.

Tipping runs the standard twenty percent at sit down restaurants, same as anywhere else in the United States. Tour guides on walking food tours typically get an additional ten to fifteen dollars per person if the tour was good, which it should be if you booked one of the established companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Charleston food tour worth it if I already know Southern food?

Yes, mainly for the history. A good guide connects the dishes to Gullah Geechee cooking traditions in a way that changes how you taste the rest of your trip, even if the flavors themselves are familiar.

How much walking is involved on a Charleston food tour?

Most walking tours cover about a mile and a half over three hours at an easy pace, with plenty of stops to sit and eat. It is manageable for most fitness levels, though the humidity in summer makes it feel longer than it is.

Is Charleston a good food trip for someone who does not eat pork or shellfish?

It is harder here than in most American food cities. Pork stock and shellfish run through a lot of the classic dishes, so plan on researching specific restaurants ahead rather than relying on a general tour.

What is the difference between South Carolina barbecue and other regional styles?

South Carolina barbecue centers on a mustard based sauce, unlike the tomato heavy sauces of Memphis or the vinegar pepper sauce of eastern North Carolina. Whole hog cooking is the traditional method, and Rodney Scott’s BBQ is the clearest example of it done well.

Do I need a reservation for the best Charleston restaurants?

For Husk, FIG, and The Ordinary, yes, two to three weeks out for a weekend. Weeknight tables can sometimes be had with a few days notice, especially early or late in the service.

Is Charleston worth visiting for food alone, without the historic sightseeing?

Honestly, yes. The food carries the trip on its own, and the historic architecture and horse drawn carriages you will see anyway just walking between restaurants.

How many days do I need for a real Charleston food trip?

Three full days lets you cover the classics, barbecue, oysters, and one serious tasting menu, without rushing. Two days works if you plan tightly and skip the farmers market or one of the sit down dinners.