South Carolina’s soul food scene runs deeper than what most visitors ever get to see. While the tourist crowds flock to flashy spots, locals slip into small, time-worn restaurants where recipes have been passed down like heirlooms.
These kitchens serve fried chicken with crisp golden skin, slow-simmered collards, cornbread warm from the pan, and desserts that taste like Sunday at grandma’s house.
There’s nothing fancy about them, and that’s exactly the point, the comfort, history, and flavor have been drawing regulars for decades, making these soul food treasures part of South Carolina’s true heartbeat.
1. Bertha’s Kitchen, North Charleston
Nobody talks much about this legendary spot, but everybody knows where it is. Bertha’s has been serving the community for over thirty years with plates that could feed a small army…