Seven South Carolina seafood joints rank among the nation’s best. Why fans love them
Whether you’re craving oysters or lobster rolls, you might just find your new favorite seafood dish in South Carolina.
That’s because the state is home to seven of the nation’s best places to eat the latest catch, according to results the review website Yelp published March 6. Here are the restaurants that rank among the “Top 100 Seafood Spots” in the United States:
- 167 Raw Oyster Bar in Charleston at No. 4
Hutto Seafood Market and Kitchen in Orangeburg at No. 36
Tubb’s Shrimp & Fish Co. in Florence at No. 57
Acme Lowcountry Kitchen on Isle of Palms at No. 65
Long Island Cafe on Isle of Palms at No. 83
Low Country Fish Camp in Summerville at No. 89
The Royal Tern on Johns Island at No. 100
To create the list, Yelp said it studied restaurants that had several seafood-related comments. It “ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews” that customers left from Jan. 1, 2001, to Dec. 13, 2023.
What makes the Charleston seafood joint special?
In South Carolina, 167 Raw Oyster Bar was the only seafood joint to rank in the top 10. The restaurant in the popular travel destination of Charleston received nods for its fan-favorite lobster rolls and the Big Boy — a seafood platter loaded with shrimp, clams and oysters.
“Because 167 Raw butchers whole fish in-house, the restaurant offers specials not available anywhere else — like fish collars (a cut from the clavicle just behind the gills), which Yelpers say are unique and delicious,” the website wrote in its report.
The dining spot, which said it focuses on food found in waters along the East Coast, isn’t a stranger to receiving praise from Yelp users. It also has been recognized among the nation’s best places to go for sandwiches and burgers, both topped with seafood, McClatchy News reported.
Why did the other SC seafood restaurants make the list?
In the Charleston area, four other seafood restaurants earned top honors. On Yelp, Acme Lowcountry Kitchen, Long Island Cafe, Low Country Fish Camp and The Royal Tern all had shrimp among their most photographed dishes. That might not come as a surprise, given fans of the restaurants raved about menu items ranging from buffalo shrimp to shrimp and grits.
Farther inland, customers said they couldn’t get enough of the fried seafood and side dishes at Hutto Seafood Market and Kitchen in Orangeburg and Tubb’s Shrimp & Fish Co. in Florence.
Across the country, the top-ranked seafood joint was Blue Seafood & Spirits in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
This story was originally published March 28, 2024 at 10:49 AM with the headline "Seven South Carolina seafood joints rank among the nation’s best. Why fans love them."
