One of the best cities for foodies is in South Carolina, Yelp says. Why it ranks high

Simone Jasper
·1 min read

South Carolina is home to one of the nation’s top-ranking cities for foodies — so come hungry.

Charleston ranks No. 6 on a list of smaller cities that make a big mark on the U.S. dining scene, according to results published Wednesday, June 29.

The tourist destination earned a top spot in the rankings after the business review website Yelp examined places with fewer than 250,000 residents. It also “looked for the cities that had the highest restaurant ratings from out-of-towners and then took a look at what visitors were loving on Yelp,” findings show.

In total, 10 regions made the national list, called “Small Towns, Big Flavor.” Of those, Charleston was the only spot in the Palmetto State.

“Charleston restaurants regularly make Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat list, making it no surprise as a top destination for food lovers,” the report said.

This year, Yelp named two restaurants in nearby North Charleston among the nation’s best dining spots. The website has also said that the region is home to a top-notch brewery and pizza shop.

But if you don’t want to take Yelp’s word for it, Forbes Travel Guide recently named two Charleston-area restaurants among the “most outstanding” in the world. Months earlier, a local soul food restaurant made a list of eateries that The New York Times was “excited about,” McClatchy News reported in October.

Overall, Asheville, North Carolina, was named the top U.S. foodie spot. The other highest-ranking regions:

  • Hawaiian Islands (Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina and Kapa‘a areas)

  • San Luis Obispo, California

  • Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

  • Bend-Redmond, Oregon

  • Wilmington, North Carolina

  • Boise, Idaho

  • Santa Fe, New Mexico

  • Savannah, Georgia

This South Carolina city ranks among the nation’s best places to live. Here’s why

This South Carolina beach is one of the best in the nation, report finds. Here’s why