7 Amazing Burgers In Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston flies somewhat under the radar as a burger mecca, but the city is virtually overrun with options for those seeking a good, juicy burger to sink their teeth into. From the classic to the crazy and from fast food to upscale, there's a spot on every street that offers the burger experience you crave. Here's The Daily Meal's vastly whittled-down list of seven heavenly burgers you can't miss in Chucktown.
Poe's Tavern: This beachfront burger shack uses all ground-in-house Angus chuck and cooks their burger creations to order. For a traditional burger, try the "Hop Frog," with barbecue sauce, Applewood bacon, and Monterey Jack. If you're looking for a bigger burger commitment, try the "Black Cat" with grilled onions, chili, Applewood bacon, and pimiento cheese, or the outrageous "Annabelle Lee," topped with a Charleston-style crabcake and fresh vegetable remoulade sauce.
Pawley's Front Porch: Take a detour into Columbia, S.C., en route to Charleston to check out what Southern Living deemed one of South Carolina's Top 10 burgers. It is Pawley's "Wadmalaw" burger, topped with chipotle barbecue sauce, fried pickles, bacon, and Cheddar. Pawley's grinds all their own beef daily, using Angus chuck, and customers can choose between multi-grain, ciabatta, a pretzel roll, or a sesame Kaiser Roll for their bun. Other fun burger choices include "Sullivan's Island" with grilled pineapple and guacamole, and "The Fripp," with salsa, Boursin cheese, and a fried green tomato on top.
Sesame: Everything down to the ketchup and mayo is made in-house here, and everything's hormone-free to boot. Sesame is a straightforward shack with quirky burgers like "The Memphis," with house-made peanut butter, bacon, and banana slices, "The Hawaiian," with grilled pineapple and ham, and the fancy "Napa Valley" burger topped with fig and bacon jam, blue cheese, and a red wine reduction — all for the reasonable price of $7.45.
Tristan: Sometimes you really have to splurge to have a truly exceptional burger, and Tristan certainly falls under this category. Their $25 foie gras burger is a mixture of beef and foie gras, and comes with a side of black truffle-studded mayo and delicate shoestring fries — definitely a meal to eat with your pinky raised and handkerchief tucked just-so in your collar.
Melvin's BBQ: The burger here is something of a well-kept secret, surrounded by the lauded barbecue options on the menu. Declared "America' Best Cheeseburger" by Emeril Lagasse in 1999 and voted America's Best Hamburger two years in a row on CitySearch.com, Melvin's burger is classic all-American staple done to perfection. The un-fussy bun is toasted until flat and slightly crispy around the edges, and the one-third pound beef patty is thin, wide, and evenly encased in perfectly melted yellow American cheese. Served atop a bed of fries in a red-and-white paper basket with a big onion ring balanced on top, you can't beat this traditional masterpiece.
A.C.'s Bar and Grill: Here at this laid-back grill, you can gobble down a "Grand Mariner Burger," a $10.75 creation consisting of a half-pound of Angus beef, grilled and then flambéed in Grand Mariner. The whole shebang is finished with grilled mushrooms, citrus-spiked pepper bacon, and natural Swiss cheese. Is it any wonder this place draws crowds of hipsters and downtown construction workers alike?
Rita's Seaside Grille: For just $10 a pop, Rita's offers exactly the type of greasy, delicious, and fortifying beachy burgers you'd expect from the grill's name. Try "Rita's Barnyard Burger," served on an English muffin and topped with a fried egg, Cheddar, and Applewood smoked bacon. Or go really crazy and get the "Reuben Burger," served on rye bread with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing. Make sure you wait 30 minutes before taking another dip in the ocean.