With over 180 locations across the country, including 20 in New York, Bruegger’s Bagels specializes in authentic, New-York-style bagels. Their vast bagel menu includes kettle-boiled classics like “Everything” and cinnamon raisin, signatures like rosemary olive oil and whole wheat, and hand-topped “Gourmet Bagels,” like cheesy hash brown and maple French toast. Top them off with cream cheese options like sriracha honey and bacon scallion.
Honorable Mention: Carolina Cafe, Sully’s Steamers With Columbia lunch spots under $15 dwindling every day, Boca Grande Burritos is a standout in Columbia’s value dining scene. Their menu includes Mexican classics, like chorizo potato tacos for $4.25 and chicken burritos for $9.
75, as well as a “Build Your Own Burrito” option with your choice of rice, proteins, cheese, salsa and four fresh toppings for $10.75. Helpings are as generous as they are inexpensive, so come hungry.
Honorable Mention: Cookout, The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli Established in 2016, West Columbia’s City Limits Barbeque is the brainchild of James Beard nominee and pitmaster Robbie Robinson, who specializes in regional barbeque from across the South. From their “offset style,” all-wood pit Texas-style to their Carolina-style over coals, City Limits’ rotating weekly menu offers something nostalgic for everyone. Stop by on Sundays for their weekly chili and slaw dog special, as well as “Texas comfort” food like frito pies and stuffed potatoes.
Honorable Mention: Hudson's Smokehouse, Little Pigs Downtown Columbia’s Curiosity Coffee Bar has left an unmistakable mark on Columbia’s cafe culture, and barista Paris Adams is one of its most powerful bolsterers. Whether it’s Curiosity’s “Baklava Latte” with rose and pistachio, “Cinni-Vanilli” with cinnamon and vanilla syrups or signature “Cold Brew Dirty Chai,” coffee enthusiasts can count on Adams to craft the right cup to jump start their day. Honorable Mention: Kaden Parham, Piecewise and Macey Coats, Loveland Coffee Diners at Cafe Struedel in West Columbia In 1997, Cafe Strudel opened in a 600-square-foot lot on State Street.
Now, 27 years later, the brand serves its famous Southern breakfast staples from both West Columbia and Lexington locations. Menu highlights include their “Hangover Hash Browns,” topped as if they were nachos, and their “Strudel’s Smoky Bacon Bloody Mary,” which features bacon, lime, olives and cucumbers and took home Best of Columbia’s Best Bloody Mary award. Honorable Mention: Eggs Up, The Original Pancake House Columbia has plenty of brunch spots to go around, but one of the best-known is a longtime favorite on Saluda Avenue: The Gourmet Shop.
Their café section serves up classic brunch “Favorites” like their “Brie & Bacon” croissant, breakfast grits bowl and deviled eggs. They keep their beverage menu simple with a choice of a Bloody Mary, mimosa or peach bellini. Plus, if you like anything you bite or sip on, you can peruse their next-door market to find some of their ingredients for sale.
Honorable Mention: DiPrato's, The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli Columbia, SC ambassador Bianca Crawford Shelton at Gourmet Shop in Five Points. With Columbia lunch spots under $15 dwindling every day, Boca Grande Burritos is a standout in Columbia’s value dining scene. But they don't skimp on quality or options when it comes to their burrito menu, which includes pre-curated combinations of protein and toppings, as well as a “Build Your Own Burrito” option with your choice of rice, proteins, cheese, salsa and four fresh toppings for $10.
75. Helpings are as generous, so make sure to come hungry. Honorable Mention: La Cochinita Mexican, Masa Mexican Street Food Located off of Percival Road, La Isla Bonita Restaurante features “150 percent Puerto Rican” and Afro-Latino culinary specialties.
From braised oxtails to fried plantain tostones, the restaurant showcases the savory and comforting elements of Caribbean cuisine. Plus, with a rotating menu of food specials and a packed schedule of Latin American heritage events, La Isla Bonita knows how to stay busy. Honorable Mention: Legacy Bar and Grill, Trini Lime Caribbean Cafe With locations on both Richland and Main streets, Spotted Salamander Cafe & Catering is recognized across Columbia as more than just a lunch spot — the brand is also celebrated for its catering value and selection.
Spotted Salamander’s “boutique catering” services allow guests to customize their spread to meet the needs of their party. You'll wow your guests with Southern staples and charceuturie grazing, all beautifully displayed for easy access. With brown-bag lunch options like gourmet salads and desserts like Coca Cola cake with roasted salted peanut icing, it’s hard to go wrong.
Honorable Mention: Boca Grande Burritos, Scott Hall Catering To say that it’s been a big year for Lula Drake would be an understatement — after all, not two months ago, they took home Columbia’s first-ever James Beard award in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. But their charcuterie boards, which feature seasonal ingredients like aged gouda, candied pecans, marinated feta and cardamom-infused salami, are an unsung hero. Their “dessert” charcuterie board kicks it up a notch with sweet cheese and mole-style sausage.
Honorable Mention: Abundant Graze, The Hollow Chef Mike Davis, center, in the kitchen of his West Columbia farm-to-table restaurant, Terra. At the helm of West Columbia farm-to-table restaurant Terra is chef Mike Davis, who opened the restaurant in 2006 and has since kept the menu fresh with local produce and rotating weekly options. Throughout his career at Terra, he’s helped the restaurant bring home a Distinction from the Distinguished Restaurants of North America, several Wine Spectator awards and five consecutive Best of Columbia Best Chef awards.
Honorable Mention: David Grillo, Boca Grande Burritos and Josh Wilson, Black Rooster When it comes to Soda City’s rotation of Chinese restaurants, few are as notorious as Egg Roll Chen, which is known as the first Taiwanese restaurant in Columbia. For nearly 40 years, the restaurant has been serving both familiar Chinese-American staples, like “Sweet & Sour” chicken, along with regional specialties like Massaman’s Taiwanese beef noodle soup. Honorable Mention: Main Moon, Sun Ming The smell, alone, of Loveland Coffee, whose cafe is also housed in its Carlisle Street roastery, has helped propel it to the Best Coffee award.
At both their café and drive-through kiosk on St. Andrews Road, Loveland keeps its menu simple with coffee classics and a few low-ingredient latte specialties. They let the beans speak for themselves.
Honorable Mention: Curiosity Coffee Bar, Drip With both its flagship Five Points location and smaller digs in West Columbia, Groucho’s has been known for serving stacked sandwiches and salads since 1941. And most options come with their iconic, own homemade dipping sauce. Their claim to fame is the “Apollo Dipper,” a hot ham, turkey and Swiss cheese melt served with a side of their spicy Russian and Thousand Island hybrid “Formula ‘45’” sauce.
Honorable Mention: Beezers, Crave Dessert is a crucial part of the day, and Kaminsky’s Dessert Cafe is dedicated to serving it up in spades. With its vast, ever-rotating offerings, Kaminsky’s has something to satisfy your sweet tooth. Maybe you’re interested in their delicious cheesecake, or a slice of pie, or maybe a sundae? The possibilities are endless, and made at the highest quality.
And with late-night hours, Kaminsky's is the perfect sweet stop to cap off a night in the Vista. Honorable Mention: O'Haras Bakery Cafe, Tiffany's Sweets, Eats & Meeting Place Duck Donuts excels at the traditional donut, sure, but it’s best at serving up something you never knew you wanted. Flavors range from Pina Colada to Maple Bacon, savory and sweet, making each order a grab bag.
Order a dozen and relish in trying out 12 distinct, unique takes on the classic dessert, then order a dozen more to share with curious friends. Honorable Mention: The Donut Guy, Chickenbutt Donuts Diners eat at Motor Supply Company Bistro. Once again taking this title, Motor Supply Co.
proves its commitment to locally sourced ingredients and exciting dishes. Pulling from a vast array of influences, the Bistro’s menu changes daily, adapting to what’s in season and reinventing itself to keep things fresh. A meal at Motor Supply Co.
provides a welcome, delicious reminder of the versatility of local ingredients. And even with a new chef this year, after Wes Fulmer's exit, it's clear diners are still ready to come back to the downtown hotspot. Honorable Mention: Saluda's, Terra Look anywhere in Columbia – at Soda City, at a Biergarten, at your favorite event – and it’s likely that you’ll see La Cochinita Mexican’s truck pulled up.
The food truck has become a Columbia staple, serving up great tacos, quesadillas and other Mexican cuisine across the city. Be sure to stay on the lookout for their specials, which change from stop to stop. Honorable Mention: Cheese and Thank You, Wurst Wagon For such a classic side, French Fries remain endlessly versatile, and easy to mess up.
Who hasn’t felt the disappointment of getting a basket of sad, soggy fries? Luckily for us, Transmission Arcade has the perfect fries to snack on while you try to win another game or simply people-watching along Main Street. You can go for their classic hand-cut fries, but if you want a new spin on the French fry, order their Bahn-Mi fries to share. Honorable Mention: Market on Main, The Hoot For years, Zesto has had the classic Southern fried chicken on lock.
The chain, with locations across Richland and Lexington counties, offers perfectly crispy fried chicken as a part of a menu of classic diner food, making it a perfect choice for a meal on a summer night. Enjoy your chicken tenders with a heaping of fries, and maybe tie the whole meal off with a soft serve. Honorable Mention: Drake's Duck In, Kiki's Chicken and Waffles Zesto's fried chicken Since 1997, The Mediterranean Tea Room has served Columbia a sample of classic Greek and Middle Eastern Cuisine.
The Devine Street eatery offers gyros, falafel, pita pockets and more. Whether you want to grab a gyro to go or sit and eat for a bit. If you want to get a taste of Greek cuisine, stop by the Mediterranean Tea Room to try it out.
Honorable Mention: Arabesque, Zorba's Grits are a Southern staple, but talk to anyone and you’ll find a slightly different take on how to get the best grits. Enter Mr. Friendly’s, which makes delicious, creamy grits to satisfy everyone — even us Southerners with very specific rules on how we like them served up.
Their stone-ground grits make the perfect side, serving up classic Carolina comfort in any dish you put them next to. Honorable Mention: The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli, The Flying Biscuit Cafe Pitas on Taylor Street serves up Columbia's favorite gyro, according to the Best of Columbia 2024 contest. Pitas’ gyros have remained a Columbia favorite for years, and it’s easy to see why.
Their house-baked pita bread is delicious, and their commitment to serving local produce makes their meals stand out from the pack. It’s a great choice for when you’re on the go and need a little something special during the lunchtime rush. The packed dining room on Taylor Street is daily evidence of this eatery's success at the gyro.
Honorable Mention: Greek Boys, Zorba’s As part of their late-night menu, Transmission Arcade serves up delicious burgers that you can customize to your heart's content. The Super Smash Burgers bring a level of excess to the hamburger, and that’s before you even consider the add-ons. And for any vegans out there, they offer their own Beyond Burger, too.
Honorable Mention: Jack Brown's, Rush’s Rebel Dogs is elevating the humble hot dog, offering a huge variety of choices for a “gourmet hot dog.” Their menu features signature dishes like the Pimento Chilli Cheese Dog and the Cowboy Grub, but they also offer the option to build your own hotdog. Choose from beef, turkey and vegan protein options, then feast upon toppings like Sauerkraut and Vegan Chilli.
Whether you want something classic or experimental, Rebel Dogs has it covered. Honorable Mention: City Limits Barbecue, Jimmy’s Mart The Carolina Classic hot dog combo at Rebel Dogs. Ice cream should be a simple, creamy sweet treat, easy to reach for on a hot day in Columbia.
Thankfully, we have Sweet Cream Co.’s handmade ice cream to satisfy our cravings. Their small-batch ice cream comes in a variety of interesting but never fussy flavors, and their menu switches out often, so you can try something new each visit.
When you see the line spilling out onto Main Street during our famously hot summer nights, you know you've found the best spot in town. Honorable Mention: Lick, Zesto No matter what kind of Indian food you’d like, 2-Gingers has it in spades. The restaurant offers a vast range of Indian cuisine from specific regions of the country, so you can get the familiar classics or explore a new flavor palate.
Whether you want to pick up a quick entree to go or enjoy a fuller meal, 2-Gingers serves it up authentically from their Bush River Road location. Honorable Mention: Delhi Palace, Village of India Il Giorgione has been crowned Columbia’s favorite Italian restaurant once again. The restaurant and wine bar has brought quality cuisine and vibes to Devine Street for years, serving a variety of pizzas and pastas.
Whether you grab a nice salad, enjoy a slice of their Margherita or a taste of their Rigatoni al Dorato or stop by the bar, Il Giorgione provides the perfect food and mood for an Italian restaurant. Honorable Mention: Di Vino Rosso, Pasta Fresca Inakaya has once again cemented its place as Columbia’s favorite Japanese restaurant, and it’s a well-deserved honor. The restaurant offers a vast sushi menu, serving up a great variety of nigiri, sashimi, maki rolls and much more, including a creative specials menu.
But for those who aren’t sushi’s biggest fans, Inakaya has an array of entrees like teriyaki dinners and hot pots to try. Honorable Mention: Miyo’s, Camon Japanese Restaurant While the beloved play zones have mostly been phased out, Chick-Fil-A still remains a hit with kids. No picky eater can resist the chicken nuggets, waffle fries and the toys that make up the kid’s meals.
And, if you’re not afraid of a sugar rush, you can trade out the toy for an ice cream cone. Honorable Mention: D's Wings, Flight Deck Transmission Arcade is known, obviously, for its arcade and pinball machines. It's also known as a local watering hole, a great place to see and be seen.
But as you play another late-night round and mingle, the staff at Main Street's late-night hotspot is also serving up some incredible dishes. Open until midnight from Sunday to Tuesday and until 2:00 a.m.
Wednesday to Saturday, Transmission serves up a variety of American classics like burgers, fries, chicken tenders,and specials to keep it interesting. And, for those who might have a late-night craving from home, they do deliver. Honorable Mention: Bar None, The Dragon Room Transmission Bar + Arcade is Columbia's favorite downtown bar.
For anyone who likes Mexican food, Real Mexico will have something great to satisfy you. Just off of Bush River Road, this small restaurant offers a huge variety of burritos, quesadillas, tacos and so much more. They specialize in authenticity, which extends to their imported Mexican beers and sodas that offer another way to experience Mexican cuisine.
Honorable Mention: Cantina 76, Coa Agaveria Y Cocina A family owned and operated restaurant, Arabesque has brought authentic Lebanese cuisine to Devine Street for years. They offer brunch, lunch and dinner, serving up a wide range of Lebanese foods. Stop by for classics like hummus, kabobs, falafel and stay to explore the rest of their menu.
Don’t forget to try the pizza! Occasional live music offers enhanced ambience for those wanting to dine-in. Honorable Mention: Noma Bistro by Al Amir, Pitas Ah, Cookout. Their milkshakes remain beloved by all for their wide variety of flavors – 40+ is enough to make your head spin – and a very thick consistency.
The line between milkshake and ice cream is certainly blurred, but that might be the best part of the shake. So spend some time with the menu, and don’t forget to grab a spoon to go with it. Honorable Mention: Kaminsky's Dessert Café, Rosewood Dairy Bar For any Southerner, Chick-Fil-A is the standard-bearer of fast food.
The chain has the market cornered on chicken, creating the perfect chicken sandwiches and nuggets along with their classic waffle fries. In addition to the standard entrees, they also have some of the best milkshakes, and breakfast menu worthy of an early morning drive. Oh, and don't forget a sweet tea with their beloved pebble ice.
Honorable Mention: Bojangles, Five Guys The Dragon Room, the latest project from Kristian Niemi of Bourbon and Black Rooster, has gotten a lot of attention, and for good reason. The restaurant and cocktail bar serves a menu of interesting small plates that draws from inspirations across Asia, and has a wonderful cocktail program. If you’re looking for a new place to try, take it from Columbia and get over to The Dragon Room.
And if you miss regular dining hours, don't fret. The late-night bar has a small menu of food items to satisfy those after-hours munchies. Honorable Mention: The Hollow, Masa Mexican Street Food Pizza is the people’s food, and Columbia’s best pizza joint is a watering hole for all.
On any given day, you’ll find college students, families and sports fans gathered around these New York-style pizza pies with their generous cheese and fluffy crust. Village Idiot has been serving our capital city since 1990, with locations in Five Points and Olympia-Granby, and has won Best Pizza consecutively since 2019. Honorable Mention: Il Focolare and Labrasca’s Columbia’s best place for a first date is perfectly outfitted for cozy vibes and intimate conversation.
It also happens to have just won a James Beard Award in Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages. It’s safe to say the wine parlor has made an impact since opening its Main Street doors in 2016. Order a glass from their rotating wine list, some small plates to share and get to know your next true love.
And if those first date jitters are getting to you, the staff is highly trained to offer recommendations and walk diners through their hand-selected wine offerings. Honorable Mention: Black Rooster and The Hollow Dishes from Lula Drake Wine Parlour. Photo by Bee Turner/Provided Living in South Carolina, we have the luxury of being able to eat outside at least 60 percent of the year.
And if you can’t handle the summer heat, all the better to save your outdoor eating for Liberty on the Lake. The kitchen is serving up almost anything you could want — sandwiches, steak, pizza, even a summer-exclusive seafood menu. Whatever you choose, you’ll be eating it by a gorgeous Lake Murray view.
Honorable Mention: Backstreets Grill and Bierkeller Columbia Throughout the Best of Columbia awards, you’ll see Halls Chophouse listed as winner more than once. Their service and high-quality reputation are likely just two of the factors leading to their win as Best Restaurant, overall. Halls takes “steakhouse” to the next level with fine wines and the best cuts, beautifully plated.
Columbia locals clearly think what you get is worth the higher price tag. Honorable Mention: Ratio and Terra We all have fantasies of eating at the fanciest local restaurant without concern for the bill. For most, Halls Chophouse is the setting of that fantasy.
From their seafood tower to their hand-selected steaks, Halls is serious about what they bring to the table, with price tags and customer service to prove it. So find a distant relative to reconnect with and make your dreams of ordering a porterhouse with a side of shrimp and grits come true. Honorable Mention: MOA Korean BBQ & Bar and Smoked The Devine Street, Shandon and Rosewood neighborhoods only continue to grow in popularity, creating stiff competition for best restaurant in the area.
This year, a long-lasting local favorite takes the title. Open since 2012, Il Giorgione offers a taste of Italy — in both food and experience — dropped in the middle of our Southern state. Drive down Devine Street and your eyes will automatically be drawn to the romantic fairy lights and brick exterior.
Honorable Mention: The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli and The Hoot Five Points is so much more than where the college kids drink Thursday through Saturday, and the restaurant scene in that area is nothing to be scoffed at. If you don’t frequent the area, start with the best: Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Cafe.
A great locale for both lunch and dinner, go there for fun, rotating twists on all your Southern favorites: crab cakes, fried okra and more. Honorable Mention: Home Team BBQ and Saluda’s As Forest Acres’ best restaurant, Tazza Kitchen has a lot to offer: delicious food, a varying menu, reasonable prices, plus great indoor and outdoor dining experiences. You can’t go wrong stopping by for lunch or dinner.
From the spicy sausage and black pepper honey pizza to the wood oven chicken thighs, their menu really has it all. More importantly, they seem to do it all well. Honorable Mention: Pasta Fresca and Tombo Grille Columbia’s love for Real Mexico is no secret.
Drive by their small parking lot off Bush River Road at almost any hour and you’ll find it packed to the brim with hungry patrons eating in or taking food to-go. Their extensive menu is full of crowd pleasers and authentic dishes to match any craving. Enjoy chips and salsa and a margarita while you pour through each option in their cozy atmosphere.
Honorable Mention: Luzianna Purchase and Roy’s Grille A chef prepares a meal at Bodhi Thai in Lexington, SC. Looking for a good Thai food option in the greater Columbia area? You’ve got several to choose from. The ambiance of Bodhi Thai in Lexington offers a slightly elevated experience, scratching your itch of a fancy date night and your craving for Thai food.
Go for dinner, and you’ll find a slightly different menu from your neighborhood Thai establishment — from braised pork belly to house-made squid ink pasta. Honorable Mention: Flight Deck and O’Hara Public House The revitalization of Columbia’s Main Street has brought about so many delicious restaurants, ranging in price, style and cuisine. You could walk for blocks from the Statehouse, passing different options.
Or, locals say, just stop across Gervais Street at Halls Chophouse. The steakhouse offers much more than just steak. You’ll likely find yourself having a hard time choosing between their classic cuts, fresh seafood or maybe even a rack of lamb.
Honorable Mention: Bourbon and Lula Drake Wine Parlour Ratio is one of Columbia’s few Peruvian restaurants and worth the potential trek from other areas of the city. You’ll want to bring a group of friends for cocktails and a taste of all their tapas, like papas bravas, pan con chicharron, ceviche and more. Plus, afterward, you can all order a different dessert.
Just the thought of their crema catalan with apples and sea salt caramel is hard to pass up. Honorable Mention: Chubby’s Burgers & Brewhouse and Tiffany’s Sweets, Eats & Meeting Place A waiter serves food during the 2022 Columbia Food and Wine Festival kickoff dinner at Ratio in Elgin. File/Forrest Clonts While Motor Supply Co.
Bistro sits tucked away on Gervais Street with an unassuming exterior, its reputation looms large amongst foodies in Columbia and beyond. This farm-to-table favorite offers sustainably sourced meats, South Carolina seafood and everything house-made. Sit out on the patio for a Sunday brunch.
Or, try a full fine-dining experience, from cocktails to dessert. Either way, you’ll taste the thoughtfulness in every bite. Honorable Mention: Cola’s and The Dragon Room If you’re across the bridge for lunch or dinner, locals say Duke’s Pad Thai is the place to be.
In their fun, fast-casual atmosphere, Duke’s offers classics like drunken noodles and tom yum soup. But you’ll also find some surprises on the menu like Pad Thai tacos and a full vegan menu. You’ll have to go more than once to try it all, not even including their sister banh mi shop next door.
Honorable Mention: Black Rooster and Cafe Strudel If you’re paying attention to Columbia’s food scene, you know that City Limits Barbecue just recently was named a semifinalist for Best Chef in the Southeast. Located in West Columbia, this family owned restaurant has been pumping out Columbia’s best ribs since 2016 with a commitment to authentic Southern practices. They’re only open Saturdays and Sundays (with a full barbecue menu only on Saturdays), so go early and plan accordingly.
Honorable Mention: Home Team BBQ and Hudson’s Smokehouse Are you looking for a salad that goes beyond the typical expectations of dressed lettuce and chopped tomatoes? Maybe one that even comes with a honey croissant served on the side? Go no further than California Dreaming. At this favorite local chain, housed in a former train station near USC's campus, salad heads can take their pick from the Caesar to the club to the eponymous “California Dreaming” salad with warm ham, almonds, cheese and plenty of fixings. Honorable Mention: Boca Grande Burritos and Groucho’s I think it’s safe to say Blue Marlin is a Columbia institution.
With a motto like “low-country inspired, Columbia made,” their status as the best seafood restaurant makes sense. You may want to make a reservation to try their Charleston crab cakes, award-winning shrimp and grits and “blackout cake” — a gooey chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Take a pre-dinner walk around the Vista to get extra hungry for all this menu has in store.
Honorable Mention: Bonefish Grill, Ocean View, Pearlz and Smoked Looking at the thoughtfulness of their menu, it follows that the owners and managers behind Halls Chophouse of Columbia put a lot of intention into their service. It’s no doubt that this reputation helped launch Halls into its place as winner of best restaurant in Columbia. If there’s any way a perfectly cooked steak could taste better, it’s from a friendly, helpful waitstaff taking your order and putting it on the table.
Honorable Mention: Craft and Draft and Curiosity Coffee Bar This isn’t the first award for Blue Marlin’s shrimp & grits. In fact, the dish’s official title is “Award Winning Blue Marlin Shrimp & Grits,” featuring the classic shrimp, andouille sausage and tasso gravy. As a bonus, the grits are Adluh stone ground grits, another Columbia gem.
Doing a tour of shrimp and grits throughout SC? Blue Marlin has got to be on your itinerary. Honorable Mention: Saluda’s and The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations continue to pop up throughout South Carolina — and for good reason. Their smoothies come in a variety of flavors and a large cup, plenty to enjoy for a reasonable price.
If you needed any more incentive, they’re always releasing new and limited edition flavors to stop by and try. Not to mention, their sandwiches and wraps hit the spot during a busy lunch hour. Honorable Mention: Good Life Cafe and Tasty as Fit With chicken and waffles in the name, Kiki’s is clear with what they’re bringing to the table.
In reality, their full menu goes above and beyond with soul food favorites. Come for the chicken and waffles, stay for the fried okra, smothered pork chops and the full soul plate — four wings, two sides and a corn muffin. Want chicken and waffles with a twist? Try the chicken wings and French toast or the chicken & waffle salad.
And it's not just Soda Citizens singing Kiki's praises, the northeast Columbia location is a favorite for political candidates stumping in town, and Chefs/Owners Kitwanda “Kiki” and Tyrone Cyrus earned a nod from the James Beard Awards this year. Honorable Mention: Lizard’s Thicket and Roy’s Grille The Southern brunch spread at Kiki's Chicken and Waffles in Columbia, SC. Mr.
Friendly’s self-describes as a “new Southern cafe.” Whatever that means, exactly, they must be doing it right to have won Best Southern Restaurant this year. While anyone will feel at home grabbing lunch or dinner in the relaxed ambiance of the Five Points culinary institution, the food itself is far from casual.
Even their lighter fare of “maters & melons” features South Carolina heirloom tomatoes and watermelons elevated with EVOO, pesto and a balsamic reduction. Honorable Mention: Little Pigs and Lizard’s Thicket It may not be surprising to see Halls Chophouse win Best Steak, but that doesn’t make the award any less deserved. Locals would say Halls wins for good reasons: high quality ingredients, thoughtful presentation, perfect cooking methods.
From a filet mignon to a New York strip or a ribeye, you can make sure to get your perfect steak — all in view of the S.C. Statehouse.
Honorable Mention: Saluda’s and Texas Roadhouse Columbia’s best sushi is stiff competition. With their fresh ingredients, great ambiance, and expansive menu, Inakaya has truly earned the award. There, you can stick with a classic tuna roll, branch out with something from the specialty menu or go all in with a full sushi dinner.
With Menkoi Ramen House and Sato Steakhouse also on his resume, owner and chef Kazuhiro Sato seems to bring this high quality approach to all of his restaurants. Honorable Mention: TakoSushi and Tsunami To be a restaurant in the South and get the honorific of best sweet tea is high praise! This year, the title goes to a beloved SC deli chain, Groucho’s. If you don’t already know, Groucho’s originated in Columbia in 1941.
These days, you can get their delicious sandwiches throughout the state and beyond. You may want to stop by even just for a cup of their award-winning sweet tea. Honorable Mention: Lizard’s Thicket and Rush’s Mexican restaurants are popular locations to enjoy some community and gossip over a drink and chips, and Cantina 76 is no exception.
The Mexican-inspired taqueria provides a variety of fun and flavorful tacos that make it great for groups of all kinds. Don't be surprised to find everything from work lunches to college get-togethers or family dinners at the restaurant's Main Street and Devine locations. Honorable Mention: La Cochinita Mexican Tacos at Cantina 76 in Columbia, South Carolina Boca Grande Burritos sits in the heart of Forest Acres serving up classic burritos and snacks.
The restaurant's options are pretty straightforward with a variety of meat choices, but the real magic comes with Boca Grande's specials. The restaurant features new combinations weekly with creative options ranging from a Chicken BLT Taco to a Red, White & Blueberry Burrito. And the food is easy to enjoy with Boca Grande's upbeat staff members and large portions.
Honorable Mention: The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli, Mediterranean Tea Room Duke's Pad Thai's relaxed and inviting environment makes it a great place for people who want to try their first curry or certified Thai food lovers. The restaurant's menu is extensive, with options for noodles, curry and even tacos in various flavors and spice levels. Plus, Duke Pad Thai has a robust vegan menu, making it a solid choice for any group with differing diet restrictions.
Honorable Mention: Mai Thai, Kao Thai In an area with a fried chicken or burger restaurant on every corner, finding a restaurant (especially a bar) with strong vegan options can be challenging, but The Hoot makes it easy. The restaurant's menu is entirely plant-based with bar classics reimagined with vegetarian alternatives like beyond patties and tofu. Definitely try the fan-favorite hushpuppies or the bar's new brunch menu in the bar's relaxed and welcoming environment in the Rosewood neighborhood.
Honorable Mention: Good Life Cafe, A Peace of Soul A glass of beer sits on a bar counter in front of a patron as they wait for the arrival of their food at The Hoot in Columbia on February 2, 2024. The Hoot is led by veterans of Columbia's food and dining scene, including a former part-owner of The Whig, so it's no surprise locals enjoy the spot for a casual night out. The restaurant is entirely meat-free, but the burgers can hold their own with beyond patties tastily grilled and topped with fresh veggies and a special Hoot sauce.
It's worth a stop even for meat lovers! Honorable Mention: Good Life Cafe, A Peace of Soul Lula Drake Wine Parlour prides itself on serving unique wines from little-known vineyards across the world — even earning the restaurant Columbia's first-ever James Beard Award for its outstanding wine. While it would be easy for the restaurant's many accolades to make the place pretentious, the restaurant's staff thrives on creating an approachable atmosphere where visitors can ask questions and focus on finding food and drinks they love. Honorable Mention: Il Giorgione, Di Vino Rosso A good wing spot is crucial in a city with plenty of tailgating opportunities, and West Columbia's D's Wings provides a great option.
The restaurant has a classic sports bar feel, but the star of the show is the restaurant's long list of wing options. Visitors can choose between various dry seasonings and wet sauces ranging from mild to "suicide" in heat levels. Plus, with weekly specials, the restaurant is easy on the wallet, too.
Honorable Mention: Publick House, Carolina Wings.
