Unearth The Voyage
South Carolina’s dining scene isn’t just about fancy restaurants and tourist hotspots. Hidden across the Palmetto State are dozens of budget-friendly eateries where locals line up for generous portions, honest flavors, and prices that won’t empty your wallet. These beloved spots have earned their place in the hearts of South Carolinians through decades of serving up soul food, barbecue, seafood, and classic diner fare that keeps families coming back generation after generation.
1. The Beacon Drive-In — Spartanburg
Since opening its doors in 1946, this Spartanburg icon has been serving up Southern comfort food with attitude and portions big enough to feed a small army. Walk through the doors and you’ll hear the legendary call-and-response ordering system that’s become part of the experience itself.
The “A-Plenty” plates are what keep regulars coming back—mountains of crispy onion rings and golden fries piled high alongside burgers, barbecue, and hot dogs. Everything comes at prices that feel frozen in time, making it possible to feed a whole family without second-guessing the bill.
There’s no fancy décor or trendy menu items here, just honest food served fast in a no-nonsense environment that locals treasure.
2. Zesto of West Columbia — West Columbia
Walking into Zesto feels like stepping back to 1949, when simple pleasures like broasted chicken and hand-dipped ice cream cones were all you needed for a perfect meal. Families have been gathering here for three generations, drawn by the genuine old-school atmosphere and prices that respect your budget.
The broasted chicken is crispy perfection, while burgers come hot off the grill with that classic diner taste. Save room for a dipped cone—watching the soft-serve get its chocolate shell coating is half the fun.
College students from nearby universities treat Zesto like their second home, proving that good food at fair prices never goes out of style in the Palmetto State.
3. Groucho’s® Deli — Columbia (and around SC)
Born in Columbia back in 1941, Groucho’s has grown into a statewide favorite without losing its soul or jacking up prices. The “Dipper” sandwiches are the star attraction—loaded subs that arrive hot and dripping with flavor, perfect for dunking in au jus.
What started as one location has expanded across South Carolina because locals refused to let neighboring towns miss out. Fresh ingredients, generous portions, and that famous sweet tea create a combination that office workers and families count on for affordable lunches.
Multiple locations mean you’re never too far from a satisfying meal that won’t require checking your bank account first. It’s community dining at its finest.
4. Henry’s Smokehouse — Greenville/Simpsonville
Hickory smoke has been billowing from Henry’s pits for decades, creating barbecue that locals guard like a precious secret. Unlike the tourist-trap joints that charge premium prices, this Upstate favorite keeps its menu priced for the regulars who show up week after week.
Pulled pork sandwiches come piled high with meat that’s been slow-cooked to tender perfection, while plates offer your choice of classic Southern sides. The smell alone could guide you here from miles away—that authentic wood-smoke aroma that can’t be faked.
Families know they can count on Henry’s for honest barbecue without the inflated prices that come with flashy marketing or trendy locations.
5. Sully’s Steamers — Greenville (multiple Upstate locations)
Forget everything you thought you knew about bagel sandwiches—Sully’s steams theirs to create something entirely different and completely addictive. Soft, warm bagels get loaded with meats, cheeses, and vegetables before being steamed until everything melds together in melty perfection.
The genius is in the method: steaming creates sandwiches that are hot throughout, with cheese that oozes into every bite. Prices stay comfortably within everyday lunch budgets, making it easy to grab one (or two) whenever the craving hits.
With multiple Upstate locations, workers across the region have made Sully’s their go-to spot for satisfying meals that deliver big flavor without big price tags.
6. Simply Southern Smokehouse — Myrtle Beach
While tourists crowd the overpriced seafood chains along the strip, smart locals head to Simply Southern for buffet-style comfort food that won’t drain vacation budgets. Golden fried chicken, tender barbecue, and traditional Southern vegetables fill steam tables that seem to stretch forever.
The buffet format means you can sample everything or pile your plate high with favorites—either way, you’ll leave satisfied without that sticker shock. Kids eat for even less, making this a family-friendly choice that parents genuinely appreciate.
Located away from the main tourist traps, this spot maintains the kind of authentic Southern cooking and fair pricing that keeps locals returning all year long.
7. Hoskins Restaurant — North Myrtle Beach
Operating since 1948 on Main Street, Hoskins represents everything great about old-school Southern dining. Breakfast plates arrive steaming with eggs and grits, lunch brings meat-and-three combinations that change daily, and dinner features seafood caught fresh from local waters.
The house pies alone are worth the trip—towering slices of meringue or fruit filling that locals know to save room for. Open Tuesday through Saturday, the limited schedule only adds to the charm and ensures everything stays fresh and made-to-order.
Three meals a day, all reasonably priced, all prepared with the kind of care that’s kept generations of families coming back to this coastal treasure.
8. Shrimp Shack — St. Helena Island (near Beaufort)
Cash in hand and appetite ready—that’s how you approach this St. Helena Island institution that’s been serving coastal communities since 1979. The famous shrimp burgers are unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere: fresh shrimp formed into patties and fried to crispy-tender perfection.
Hours are limited to daytime service, and the casual setting means picnic tables and paper plates. But locals know that these minor inconveniences are worth it for seafood this fresh at prices this reasonable.
Located off the beaten path near Beaufort, the Shrimp Shack rewards those willing to seek it out with authentic Lowcountry flavors that haven’t been polished up for tourists or marked up for profit.
9. Nigel’s Good Food — North Charleston • Ladson • Hanahan
Geechie wings might sound unfamiliar to outsiders, but locals across the Charleston area know them as Nigel’s signature dish—crispy, flavorful, and absolutely worth ordering. This trio of locations serves up Lowcountry soul food with portions and prices that reflect community values over profit margins.
Meat-and-three plates let you build your perfect meal from rotating sides, while shrimp and grits showcase coastal ingredients prepared with traditional techniques. The atmosphere feels like eating at a friend’s house, casual and welcoming without any pretense.
Multiple locations mean neighborhoods across the Charleston region have access to honest soul food that respects both tradition and budgets.
10. Early Bird Diner — Charleston (West Ashley)
Chicken and waffles done right—crispy fried chicken perched atop fluffy waffles drizzled with syrup—that’s the signature that put Early Bird on Charleston’s breakfast map. But regulars know this West Ashley spot delivers solid comfort food from morning coffee through late-night cravings.
Diner prices in Charleston can be hard to find as the city gentrifies, making Early Bird’s reasonable menu a neighborhood treasure. Burgers, sandwiches, and classic Southern sides round out options that satisfy without requiring a special-occasion budget.
The reliable consistency keeps locals coming back whether they need breakfast before work or dinner after a long day—always good, always affordable, always welcoming.
11. Bertha’s Kitchen — North Charleston
No fancy décor, no trendy menu updates, no apologies—Bertha’s Kitchen serves soul food the way it’s meant to be served, period. Fried chicken emerges from the kitchen with crackling-crisp skin hiding juicy, perfectly seasoned meat that’s earned legendary status across the Lowcountry.
Okra soup, mac and cheese, and collard greens complete plates that taste like Sunday dinner at grandma’s house. The no-frills setting keeps overhead low and prices accessible, ensuring that everyone can afford a proper soul food meal.
Beloved by locals who recognize authentic cooking when they taste it, Bertha’s proves that the best food doesn’t need fancy presentation or inflated prices—just heart, skill, and tradition.
12. Peaches Corner — Myrtle Beach
Since 1937, this boardwalk counter has been feeding beachgoers hot dogs, burgers, and thick shakes without ever losing its vintage charm or inflating prices beyond reason. Generations of families have made Peaches Corner part of their Myrtle Beach traditions, stopping by after a day in the sand for quick, satisfying meals.
The menu hasn’t changed much because it doesn’t need to—sometimes simple done well beats complicated every time. Counter service keeps things moving fast, perfect when hungry kids and sunburned parents need food now.
Pure beach nostalgia served with every order, Peaches Corner represents the Myrtle Beach that locals remember and tourists lucky enough to find it get to experience.
