Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour

Upper King Street is where Charleston’s old food traditions meet its newer dining style. This 2.5-hour walking tour takes you through Cannonborough, Elliotborough, and possibly Radcliffeborough, pairing four restaurant stops with stories about the city’s food and changing neighborhoods.

I like the small eight-person limit, which makes it easier to ask questions and talk with your guide. I also like that the tastings are intended to make up a full meal, not just a few decorative nibbles. The main caution is value: at $110 per person, the food lineup and portion sizes need to suit your taste, and alcoholic drinks cost extra.

Key points to know

• Four restaurant stops: You’ll sample several Upper King Street establishments rather than sit down for one long meal.
• A food-and-history pairing: Guides such as Mimi, Sommer, and Charley connect dishes with Charleston’s past and present.
• Small group format: The tour accepts no more than eight people, allowing for a more personal pace and conversation.
• Meal-sized tasting plan: Most people should leave fed, though portion sizes and dishes can vary.
• Advance dietary planning matters: Vegan, dairy-free, and soy-free needs cannot be adequately handled.
• Afternoon timing: The tour begins at 3 p.m. at the Charleston Visitor Center and ends within a few blocks.

Why Upper King Street makes a good food tour setting

Upper King Street gives you a different view of Charleston than the postcard center around the Battery. This part of town has a mix of historic streets, newer restaurants, casual places, bars, and dining rooms that reflect the city’s modern food scene.

The tour begins at 375 Meeting Street, near the Charleston Visitor Center, at 3 p.m. From there, you walk toward the Upper King Street historic district. The route can cover Cannonborough, Elliotborough, and Radcliffeborough, with the exact restaurant mix varying from one outing to the next.

That changing lineup is both a strength and a weakness. It lets the company show different parts of the area, but you cannot book this tour expecting one fixed menu. The experience depends partly on which four restaurants are selected that day.

I like this part of Charleston for a food tour because you get more than a string of tastings. You can see how an older neighborhood has taken on a newer dining identity. Your guide supplies the thread connecting the buildings, restaurants, and dishes.

Four stops, four chances to find a new favorite

The core of the tour is simple: four restaurant visits spread across roughly two and a half hours. All food tastings are selected in advance, and the company aims to provide enough food for a meal.

Past food combinations have included items such as a shrimp po’ boy, chicken and waffles, ravioli, mussels, French fries, Brussels sprouts, boiled peanuts, fried Oreos, and banana pudding. That is a broad mix, and it shows why this tour is better for people who enjoy sampling than for anyone seeking one carefully chosen entrée.

Specific restaurants that have appeared on this experience or related Upper King Street outings include The Rarebit, Poogan’s Smokehouse, and 5 Church. Some groups have also stopped at a wine bar or a bowling alley for dessert-style tastings. Do not treat those names as a guaranteed schedule, since the company can change the stops.

The most useful strategy is to arrive hungry but not starving. You may receive a small bite at one restaurant and a more filling plate at another. One stop might offer a memorable specialty, while another may feel more ordinary. The overall meal is meant to balance out across the four locations.

That unevenness is worth keeping in mind. Some people have found the food plentiful and returned to two of the restaurants later. Others have felt that certain portions were too small for the price, especially when the tastings were basic dishes rather than signature specialties.

What the guide adds beyond the food

The guide is a major part of the experience. This is not designed as a silent march from table to table. A city-certified guide explains Charleston’s food traditions, the development of Upper King Street, and the cultural influences behind the dishes.

Mimi has earned especially strong praise for connecting the food with Charleston’s past. Sommer has been singled out for her clear knowledge of local history and food history, while Charley has been described as friendly and well informed about both the city and its restaurants.

Guide quality can vary, as it does on any walking tour. A few outings have felt rushed, leaving too little time for the guide to explain the area before the next bite. One group also had to wait because the guide arrived late. That appears to be the exception, but arriving 15 minutes early is still the smart move.

I would choose this tour partly for the storytelling. If you only want a meal, you can probably spend $110 on your own choices and control exactly what you order. The tour earns its price more easily when you value the local context, the small group, and the chance to try places you might not have picked yourself.

The pace: tasting, walking, and talking

The walking is described as moderate, and one party found it minimal. You should still wear comfortable shoes, since the outing takes place outdoors and moves between restaurants in the Upper King Street area.

The tour operates in rain, heat, and cold unless extreme weather forces a cancellation. Charleston weather can shift quickly, so bring clothing suited to the forecast. A light rain jacket and comfortable shoes will serve you better than dressing for a formal dinner.

The 3 p.m. start works well for a late lunch and early dinner combined. It also gives you time to explore Charleston earlier in the day. By the end, you may be ready for only a light evening meal, though that depends on the day’s portions and your appetite.

The small group is one of the tour’s clearest practical advantages. With a maximum of eight people, you can hear the guide more easily, ask about dishes, and get through restaurant entrances without the clumsy shuffle of a large group.

Is $110 a fair price?

The price is $110 per person, including the guide and the pre-selected food tastings. Alcoholic drinks and specialty beverages are not included, though you can buy them individually at most stops.

The value depends on how you measure a food tour. If you compare it only with the cost of the food, the price may feel high, especially if a stop offers a small portion or a familiar side dish. A party that prefers to order freely could likely spend less at its own choice of restaurants.

You are also paying for the guide, the planning, the restaurant coordination, the neighborhood walk, and the chance to sample four places without committing to full meals. For people who want an introduction to Upper King Street, that package can make sense.

The best value comes when you use the tour as a first look at the area. Take note of the restaurants you like, ask your guide what else to order, and return later if a stop catches your attention. Several diners have done exactly that after finding a favorite during the tour.

The weakest value comes if you expect a long sit-down meal at every restaurant. This is a tasting route, not four separate restaurant reservations. Portions are designed to add up, and the quality may not be perfectly even from stop to stop.

Dietary restrictions require careful planning

The company asks you to provide dietary restrictions at least 36 hours before the tour. The information also says that notice must be given at least 24 hours ahead, so I would use the safer 36-hour window and contact Charleston Culinary Tours directly before booking if your needs are complex.

Shellfish allergies have been accommodated successfully with advance notice. Multiple allergies may also be possible, but you should confirm before paying.

The tour cannot adequately accommodate vegan, dairy-free, or soy-free diets. It is also not recommended for people with severe dietary needs, and the company does not accept responsibility for serious allergic reactions.

Substitutions may not match the regular tasting exactly. A replacement could be a different item rather than an equivalent serving, because each restaurant may have limited alternatives. If food safety is a serious concern, this is not the right outing to approach casually.

Who will enjoy this Charleston food tour?

I would recommend it to first-time Charleston visitors who want a quick introduction to Upper King Street and prefer to let someone else handle the restaurant planning. It also suits couples, friends, and families with older children who enjoy trying several dishes in one afternoon.

The tour is not recommended for children under eight. Young children may also find the walking, waiting, and adult-oriented restaurant settings less appealing.

This is a good fit for you if you:

• Like trying several foods instead of ordering one familiar meal
• Enjoy local history mixed with restaurant stops
• Prefer a small group to a large sightseeing tour
• Want ideas for where to eat later in your visit
• Can manage a moderate amount of walking
• Do not need a strict vegan, dairy-free, or soy-free menu

I would think twice if you are a serious food critic seeking only destination restaurants. The lineup has received mixed reactions, and not every dish will feel special. You should also consider another tour if you want alcohol included, since drinks are extra.

What the 4.5 rating tells you

The experience holds a 4.5 rating from 200 reviews, which points to a strong overall record but not universal agreement. The most consistent praise goes to the guides, the history, the friendly small-group setting, and the amount of food.

Mimi is repeatedly singled out for making the afternoon feel personal and for explaining how Charleston’s past appears in its cuisine. Sommer receives similar praise for making the history clear without taking over the tour. That guide-led quality is one of the safest reasons to book.

The weaker comments focus on restaurant selection, inconsistent portions, and pacing. One person felt rushed between stops. Another disliked a wine bar and wished the final waffle tasting had been a full portion. A few people felt the meal was too basic for the price.

That pattern gives you a useful way to decide. Book it for the guided introduction and the chance to sample four places. Skip it if you care more about choosing your own dishes and getting full-sized portions.

Practical details before you go

Meet at 375 Meeting Street at 2:45 p.m. for the 3 p.m. departure. The end point is listed near 569C King Street, though the precise ending can vary, and all tours finish within a few blocks of the starting area.

The location is near public transportation, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You will need to make your own way to the meeting point and arrange your return afterward.

The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Late cancellations and changes are not refunded, and the company may offer another date or a full refund if the minimum number of people is not reached.

Should you book the Upper King Street Food Tour?

Book this tour if you want a small, guided taste of modern Charleston, with enough food to replace lunch for most people and enough history to give the meal some shape. The guides, especially Mimi and Sommer, are a strong part of the appeal, and the four-stop format can reveal restaurants you would not have chosen on your own.

I would not book it blindly at $110 if your main goal is maximum food quantity. The restaurant lineup changes, drinks cost extra, and the quality and portion size may vary. For the best chance of enjoying it, arrive hungry, give dietary information well in advance, wear walking shoes, and treat the tour as both a meal and a neighborhood introduction.

FAQ

Where does the Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour begin?

It begins at 375 Meeting Street, Charleston, near the Charleston Visitor Center.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 3 p.m. You should arrive 15 minutes early.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

How many restaurants will I visit?

You will visit four restaurants in the Cannonborough, Elliotborough, or Radcliffeborough areas.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of eight travelers.

Is alcohol included in the price?

No. Alcoholic and specialty drinks are available for individual purchase at most locations but are not included.

Does the food count as a full meal?

The company aims to provide a full meal, and the food is enough for most people. Portions and substitutions can vary by restaurant and dietary need.

Can the tour accommodate dietary restrictions?

You must communicate restrictions directly to Charleston Culinary Tours in advance. Vegan, dairy-free, and soy-free restrictions cannot be adequately accommodated, and the tour is not recommended for severe dietary needs.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refunded.