— Forrest Parker · Charleston Top 10 Guide · created over 1 year ago
While the national press continues to focus on our fine dining scene, those of us who live here sometimes also crave the mom and pop experience of the everyday - the ethnic eateries, meat and 3's, bbq joints and fryhouses that also make this such a dynamic food city. Please weigh in on similar restaurants and eating experiences that may be found in the Lowcountry.
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Enjoy with an Orangina and a bag of Zapp's!
uh, with a side of duck fat fries please and an ice cold PBR. Get ready.
Tacos al Pastor - a trickle down from Lebanese immigrants to Mexico City who eventually replaced the lamb on their trompos (vertical rotisserie) with ancho marinated, thin sliced pork with a pineapple on top of the spit. As the pork roasts it is bathed with sweet pineapple juice that tenderizes the pork, then caramelizes into a crispy, chewy pork candy. Now if only I could find guaraches in Charleston?
We all used to head up to North Charleston to hit no less than 3 Vietnamese restaurants in close proximity (Ha Long Bay, Binh Minh and 1 other.) Now all are sadly gone. The lone remaining true Vietnamese restaurant in the entire city is in the H&L supermarket. On the plus side, they offer some uncommon items and have some mind bending smoked duck they also offer for takeout. They do not have Banh Mi, sadly, but the pho, cha gio and cafe su da are all exactly what you want - the quintessential mom and pop shop.
While the Charleston Scene has grown full of high end compositional restaurants, there are fewer mom and pop "ethnic" restaurants than when I lived here in the 90's. Thankfully, the good folks at El Centro Americano continue making their home made Central American fare, such as these Salvadoran Papusas - corn masa cakes filled with a variety of fillings (beans and chicharrones here) for just a few dollars. You may have a language opportunity, but the food is simple, killer and these are good people. (My step son left his camera and we were gone an hour before we realized it. They had his camera bag waiting when we got back there.) Real good people, real good food.
Another Road Trip, again well worth the effort. More of that Midlands sauce (this is where I was introduced to it courtesy of my good friend Chef James Clark) it's non stop here. The skins are good, but the bbq, hash, fried chicken and hushpuppies are off the chain, and the sweet tea pitchers are on the table. Basically, it's gang warfare for SC Midlands BBQ with Hwy 26 as the DMZ between The Original Earl Duke's and Sweatman's.
OK so as Southerners, we get pegged as eating everything either fried, BBQ'd or smothered in some way shape or form. But cardiology aside, really, is this a bad thing? The Wreck is about as simple as it comes, and is consistently a rewarding experience. Order anything. Fried. And enjoy the red rice, sieva beans, hushpuppies and grit cakes that come with. Did I mention boiled peanuts come with your drinks?
OK a bit of a hike from the peninsula, granted. But on Fridays and Saturdays only, you will find fresh crackling skins, pulled whole hog bbq (light and dark varieties), ribs, really good baked beans and some awful fine banana pudding. This is the real deal kids. Sauces are on the table (as they should be) and that SC Midlands style (Tangy - sweet and a bit thick, like they mixed Lowcountry Gold with a shot of Vinegar and plopped in some Duke's mayonnaise for good measure.) is the bomb.com.
I thought the old Bookstore Cafe next to the King St library had closed. Turns out they just moved out to Mt P and it's just as good as you remember. Check the specials before you make a decision.
Chef Sarah Kelly & Co consistently crank out some of the best locally inflected chow around. Sometimes composed, sometimes simple, always just plain good.
Add a fried pork chop or some chicken and don't forget the cornbread.
