While Joint Base Charleston has several of its own dining options on-base, there are times you'll want to head off base to get away and grab a bite but stay close by. We've pulled together a list of some great dining options near the base so you don't have to wonder.
From family restaurants to classy steakhouses, the community surrounding Joint Base Charleston is no stranger to delicious dining establishments. These restaurants provide everything the military member and their family need when it comes to dining away from home. Doesn't the food just taste better when you go out to eat and don't have to cook? No need to drive far either, Joint Base Charleston's military residents can find great restaurants right by their base.
SOUL FOOD
photo via Nigel's Good Food
Nigel's Good Food Express
3760 Ashley Phosphate Rd, North Charleston, SC 29418
Nigel's Good Food Express is a local favorite and a top-rated spot in North Charleston. The portions are large, and the food is delicious. They have great sides as well as apps and mains. We recommend the fried pork chops and chicken wings, mac and cheese, Geechie wings with a side of white rice(gravy) and don't forget their okra soup - it's just Like Grandma's!
Distance from base: 5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · No-contact delivery
Open: Mon-Sat 11 am-9 pm
DINER
photo via Marie's Diner
Marie's Diner
5646 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406
Marie's Diner is a pretty unassuming spot from the outside and the term "Hole in the Wall" gets tossed around frequently when referring to this North Charleston establishment. But, get here early to make sure you get a seat for a home-cooked breakfast or some of the best fried chicken in town for lunch.
Located in Doscher's Shopping Center on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston, you'll find a blue-collar lunch crowd as it's close to the airport, but everyone's welcome to dine at Marie's. Check the whiteboard when you take a seat to see what's available for the day, but you can usually count on several meat options and a variety of delicious sides to mix and match for the perfect plate. $14 gets you all-you-can-eat and includes tea.
Distance from base: ~7 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · No delivery
Open Mon-Fri 7am-1pm
MEXICAN
photo via Tiki Taco
Tiki Taco
7089 Rivers Ave Ste A, North Charleston, SC 29406
Tiki Taco is a laid-back restaurant with great atmosphere, quality food, and good prices. This local restaurant offers delicious marinated pork, chicken, seafood, beef and veggie tacos, giant quesadillas, vegetarian soups and burritos, homemade salsas, margaritas & more.
Tiki Taco serves authentic and tasty tacos at a good price. The interior is a little cramped since it's located in an old house, but the outside patio area is good for hanging out. The fact that they sell the tacos individually means you can choose from a variety of meats and toppings. This place seems like it would be packed with tourists, but we went during lunchtime on a Thursday and saw mostly local business and military people here.
Distance from base: 7 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · No delivery
Open: 7 days a week, opens at 11 am
ASIAN
Phuong Vietnamese Restaurant
5634 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406
Phuong is a small, clean little Vietnamese restaurant with great Pho and friendly service. The exterior of the restaurant is a little sketchy, but don't let that deter you. When you get inside you'll see that the inside looks very nice, and they have some pretty delicious Pho!
Distance from base: 6.5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · No delivery
Open: Tue-Sat, 11 am - 2 pm, 5 pm - 8 pm
ITALIAN
photo via Gennaro's
Gennaro's Italian Restorante
8500 Dorchester Rd, North Charleston, SC 29420
Wonderful Italian food, impeccable service, and large portions. I recommend making a reservation, especially on Saturday nights. The establishment is old and could use some updating, but don't let that deter you from enjoying some of the best Italian food in the area!
Distance from base: 4.5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · No-contact delivery
Open: Wed-Sun 4 pm-9 pm
SEAFOOD
Bonefish Grill
5041 International Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29418
If you're in town for a show at the Coliseum or out near the airport and looking for a great place to eat, then Bonefish Grill is your best bet. Just make sure to make a reservation before arriving as they are very busy during events. The restaurant itself has great ambience and service is fantastic as well
Distance from base: 6 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Curbside pickup · Delivery
Open: 7 days a week, opening at 11 am
photo via Seafood Pot
Seafood Pot
5629 Rivers Ave, North Charleston, SC 29406
The Seafood Pot offers high-quality New Orleans-style seafood served in a family-friendly atmosphere with exceptional service. They really bring the taste of New Orleans to North Charleston with their seafood platters, seafood boils, New Orleans-style seafood, and more.
Distance from base: 7 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · No delivery
Open: Mon-Sat, 11 am - 7 pm
The Crab Shack
8486 Dorchester Rd, Charleston, SC 29420
Charleston Crab Shack specializes in fresh, local seafood. This is a great place to enjoy great seafood with your friends in a laid-back environment. Charleston Crab Shacks has also been ranked as one of South Carolinas 10 best seafood spots by Southern Living magazine.
Distance from base: 4.5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Curbside pickup · Delivery
Open: 7 days a week, opens at 11:30 am
BBQ
photo via Jim 'N Nicks
Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q
4964 Centre Pointe Dr, North Charleston, SC 29418
Jim 'N Nicks BBQ is a slow-smoked Southern barbeque restaurant that's known for creating a sense of home with the friendly personalities of staff, the quick and easy ordering process, and the quality of food served. Customers get a convenient way to order food for pick-up and delivery, which is especially useful when they are on the go. They also get delicious award-winning barbeque and great-tasting southern food that keeps folks coming back time after time.
Distance from base: 5.5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Drive-through · Delivery
Open: 7 days a week, from 11 am
SOUTHERN
Sweetgrass Restaurant & Porch
4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29418
Sweetgrass Restaurant & Porch is nestled inside the Crowne Plaza Hotel Charleston Airport. This restaurant is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so you can enjoy a relaxing meal before or after your flight or pretty much any time of day. At breakfast, you can either order off the menu or opt for their buffet, and their lunch and dinner options are always delicious.
Distance from base: 6 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · Delivery
Open: 7 days a week, 7 am-10 pm
STEAKHOUSE
Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse
2411 Mall Dr, North Charleston, SC 29406
Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse & Churrascaria is a unique dining experience known as rodizio dining where dinner is served continuously and you can enjoy as much meat as you want. Choose from a wide range of meats, which are cut tableside to your preference and served by their gauchos from long skewers. This one-of-a-kind restaurant will make you feel like you're in Brazil!
Distance from base: 7 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · Delivery
Open: Mon-Sun for dinner service
BURGERS
photo via Big Billy's
Big Billy's Burger Joint
5070 International Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29418
Big Billy's Burger Joint serves delicious burgers made out of different types of meat, including natural, free-range, grass-fed, and wild game that tastes great with their house-made hand-spun milkshakes!
All their burgers are 100% free-range antibiotic and hormone-free. In 2012 they started developing their own unique process for curing, seasoning, and grinding their meat.
Distance from base: 5.5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · Delivery
Open: 7 days a week, 11 am - 8 pm
FUSION
photo via Dashi
Dashi
1262 Remount Rd, North Charleston, SC 29406
Dashi is a vegan-friendly restaurant that offers a plethora of menu and beverage choices, with Mexican flavors and Asian influences. This fun and casual counter-order setup allows you to seat yourself. If you're hungry for tacos, try their taco trio or have a build-your-own. But they also serve great bowls and salads as well.
They even have local canned beer for sale!
Distance from base: 8.5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Curbside pickup · Delivery
Open: Tue-Sun, opens at 11 am
MIDDLE EASTERN
Istanbul Shish Kabob Restaurant
4940 Centre Pointe Dr Suite C, North Charleston, SC 29418
Located in a strip mall, Istanbul has a wide selection of authentic Turkish and Arabic cuisine. Most notably their Shish Kabob which is a cut of lamb seasoned with onions, parsley, and spices. The meat is cooked over an open flame giving it a great flavor and they serve fresh pita bread that they JUST pulled out of the brick oven. Folks who have spent time in the Middle East have said the food could rival anything they've ever had there.
Distance from JBC: 5.5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Takeout · Delivery
Open: Tue-Sun, opens at 11 am
Zimos Falafel, Gyro & Taco Food Truck
4414 Durant Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405
Zimos' menu is so complex it might make your head spin! They offer an extensive array of Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with everything from Kafta Kebab to Philly Cheese Steak, as well as tacos and gyros. The service is fast and friendly from great people that make you feel right at home.
Distance from base: 8 miles
Offers: Takeout · No dine-in · No delivery
Open: Varies, Food Trucks
PIZZA
photo via Steel City Pizza
Steel City Pizza
8600 Dorchester Rd, North Charleston, SC 29420
Great service, excellent food, and a clean, trendy atmosphere. I wouldn't recommend this location on Tuesdays. The trivia crowd arrives early and takes over the best tables in the front of the establishment, making it difficult to get in before trivia starts. Other than that, every time we've been it's been excellent.
Distance from base: 5 miles
Offers: Dine-in · Curbside pickup · No-contact delivery
Open: Open 7 days, opens at 11 am
Conclusion
While there are certainly many options in the area, we've found this list to make some of the best dining choices near Joint Base Charleston. They all have different menus, prices, and atmospheres, but they all have one thing in common: if you're wanting to get away from the base but not leave the area too far behind, these restaurants are worthy stops for any cravings you might have.
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