CHARLESTON — In less than two months, Michelin will announce the latest version of its American South guide, which features restaurants in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and metro Atlanta.
Charleston had a decent showing in last year’s version of the guide, the first of its kind covering the South. In total, the city had 15 restaurants in the American South guide, representing 7 percent of the 228 featured establishments. Three earned stars, three were listed as Bib Gourmands and the remaining nine can claim to be “Michelin-recommended”.
While we await the arrival of the 2026 American South guide, set to be released Oct. 21 in Nashville, Tennessee, we’ve rounded up all of the restaurants featured in the latest iteration. Below, find our alphabetical guide to the Michelin Guide, with anecdotes, updates and dishes to expect at 15 of Charleston’s most sought-after dining establishments.
Chubby Fish
Michelin-recommended
Even in this sweltering summer heat, the line outside Chubby Fish endures. The no-reservations seafood spot, long celebrated among locals, has enjoyed a recent wave of praise from outside media outlets and organizations, including the 50 Best organization, which, along with the Michelin Guide, is considered one of the most trusted authorities on global fine dining.
Visit Chubby Fish for items like caviar sliders; grilled oysters doused in crab fat curry and sprinkled with puffed rice; and seared tuna toro, delicately cooked and surrounded by shiso, jalapeños and bits of crispy shallots.
Patrons can share those ever-evolving small plates plus larger entrées, such as grilled wreckfish with beet butter, smoked wahoo curry and tagliatelle with clams. When your dinner is complete, consider popping by Chubby Fish’s next-door bar, Seahorse, for a taste of some of the most interesting cocktails in Charleston.
Dining and Cooking