Whether you are visiting Columbia, SC, for a game at Williams-Brice stadium or moving to the area, one thing is for certain. The number of restaurants in the area is enough to keep you full and give you the variety that you are looking for in dining.
Below are the top Columbia restaurants by location and type. As the capital of South Carolina, there is a diverse population living, traveling through, and visiting the city regularly. Knowing what type of dining options are available is essential for all of these individuals and anyone dining with them.
Restaurants in Downtown Columbia, SC
Perusing the Downtown Columbia area gives visitors and locals alike a chance to enjoy the University of South Carolina Stadium and engage with other Gamecocks.
Whether you are hitting the downtown area before or after a game, there are plenty of restaurant options available for your group.
Family-friendly options, as well as adult bar and grille options, give everyone something to enjoy downtown. There are several new restaurants downtown in Columbia that have sprouted new life into the area and gained the favor of locals in the area.
West Columbia Restaurants
One of the higher-end areas of the city, West Columbia is actually in Lexington County and growing with families who are moving to the area. With its own shopping and dining areas, the restaurant options in West Columbia are as diverse as the population.
They also favor family-friendly and healthy options that meet the demand of the area. Everything from classic American to international favorites can be found in West Columbia.
Restaurants in the Vista Columbia
Located in the heart of Columbia is Vista Columbia where the urban lifestyle for big city living fuse together.
Those who come to visit Columbia, either for business or for pleasure, find this area full of options for shopping and dining in the area. Choose from some of your favorite fine dining restaurants that are romantic and offer dishes that will excite your palette at each course.
Eat by Street: Columbia’s Finest Eateries
Some of the most populated areas in Columbia daily have the majority of local restaurants with diverse options to match the taste you want.
Main Street
When you visit Main Street in Columbia, you are going to find a variety of different food options that are both fancy dine-in restaurants and cafes for those who are looking to grab and go.
Many of these restaurants also offer breakfast and lunch options to accommodate the working customers Monday through Friday in the Main Street area.
Devine Street
Over on Devine St, apartments and condos promote single and couple living in the area. The shops and restaurants offer a menu at each meal, with many promoting healthy options. Since most of the customers live in the area, the menus vary from pizza and tacos to favorite breakfast spots that offer take-out options for those on the go.
Gervais Street
With many historical facilities and museums located on Gervais Street, the restaurants in this area have to be available for kid-friendly menus and accommodate the local working staff in the area. Lunch is the highlight of this area, with visitors to the area having a diverse option of American restaurants, to Italian, BBQ, and family restaurant options on the street.
Broad Street
Over on Broad St, just a few roads over in the downtown area are local comfort food favorites with Caribbean and seafood options.
Some of these restaurants have been a part of the Columbia area for many years and are a part of the local atmosphere.
Mexican Restaurants
Sometimes, we just want a delicious plate of enchiladas and quesadillas for lunch or dinner. Here, the Hispanic population has ensured that locals and visitors alike are able to enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine in their local restaurants. While the popular favorites are available on the menu, you can choose your favorite dish with your favorite protein.
Most of these restaurants offer inexpensive lunch specials that you can get quickly and get back to your day.
Italian Restaurants for Bread Lovers
Pizza, pasta, and parmesan dishes are all favorites for locals, visitors, and especially families.
If you just want to grab a slice of pizza or a bowl of pasta, there are several options throughout the city for you.
Even if you are looking for romantic or fancy dinner options, several of the Italian options in Columbia will also fit the bill. Either way, the flavors you crave are original and bring that homemade taste to your tastebuds.
Fresh Crab, Fish and More in Seafood Restaurants
If you are looking for crab restaurants and fresh seafood options, several restaurants in Columbia offer fresh seafood despite being inland. Being just a couple of hours away from the Grand Strand, these restaurants are able to catch fresh shrimp, fish and other seafood options regularly for those visiting or living in the Columbia area.
Many locals enjoy consuming blue crabs and crab legs, so offering crab at a seafood restaurant is very common in Columbia.
Dine-in or Carry Out at Chinese Restaurants
Comfort food comes in all types of different cuisines, and Chinese food is no exception. With a diverse Asian population in Columbia, there are various Chinese restaurants in each district of Columbia that offers the same Chinese flavors from China and Taiwan.
Even Americanized favorites like orange chicken are found in these restaurants. Enjoy these restaurants for dining in or take out to fit your personal theories.
Indian Restaurants
Are you craving chicken curry or delicious vegetarian options from India?
One of the most populous countries of the world houses some of the best flavors paired with your favorite grains and proteins. Indian restaurants offer a variety of menu options to fit your diversified lifestyle and your diet preferences if you have certain restrictions.
Thai Restaurants: Diverse Flavor Profiles
Another favorite Asian option is Thai restaurants and the famous Pad Thai. Each of these Thai restaurants offers Pad Thai and other local favorite dishes that give you that Asian feel and flavor when you dine in or take your meal to go.
Like other Asian flavors, you can get full flavors infused and expect lots of noodles with these dishes when you enjoy them later.
Restaurants with Greek Cuisine
Sometimes you are looking for olives, feta, and tzatziki sauce with your lunch or dinner. At one of the local Greek restaurants in Columbia, you can get a true taste of the Meditteranean with a flavorful but light meal.
While some meals may be hearty, many of these options are some of the top dinner options for those pursuing a healthy lifestyle.
Korean Restaurants
For those looking for specific Asian flavors for dinner, a Korean restaurant may be exactly what you need.
Embrace that pickled kimchi flavor with pork and get some of the savory dishes that Korea has to offer. These dishes are often made with authentic recipes passed down from family members who lived in Korea and brought over during a move.
Japanese Restaurants: From Veggies to Sushi
Sushi night can make for a great date night with your significant other or for your group if you are going out with friends.
Because sushi ranges in everything from delicate seafood options to vegetarian rolls, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the sushi bar. You can also opt for Japanese hibachi style food, where your favorite proteins and veggies are grilled on the flat top and infused with classic Japanese flavors and completed with fried rice or hibachi noodles.
Don’t Miss BBQ Options at Columbia Restaurants
Are you looking to get some hometown smoky flavor restaurant options while you are in Columbia?
Some of these BBQ restaurants have award-winning menus that offer everything from smoked and BBQ brisket, pulled pork, chicken, and even smoked sides for a complete meal. Bring the family over and enjoy eating in a laid back and casual atmosphere for lunch or dinner.
Savory Soul Food Restaurants
Maybe you are craving a meal that hits you down to your soul. If so, one of the infamous soul food restaurants offers dishes that are seasoned to perfection in each dish.
The flavor in the sides of the dishes is as packed as the entrees, cooked with love and recipes passed down over generations.
Steak Restaurants
Going out for dinner to celebrate a birthday or just enjoy your family is done easily at steak restaurants all over Columbia.
These restaurants offer a variety of steak cuts and flavors to get your steak and potato fix. Pair your steak with shrimp or lobster tail for that perfect surf and turf steak duo and get the full fine dining experience.
Vegan Restaurants for a Plant-based Diet
Not all residents in Columbia partake in animal protein or products. With significant growth in this population, vegan restaurants have started appearing throughout Columbia and are very successful. Offering dishes throughout the day, vegans have healthy areas to enjoy their lifestyle.
In fact, many meat-eaters have visited and returned to these restaurants for dishes due to their great flavor.
Fine German Restaurants
Enjoying a laid back atmosphere with authentic German beer and German cuisine can be found in a few places throughout Columbia. These restaurants are small in size, but the authentic flavors they pack has a large punch and a loyal following from the local community.
If you are looking for a schnitzel or another German favorite, they have what you are looking for.
Jamaican Restaurants
Enjoy an evening in the islands when you head over to one of several Jamaican Restaurants posted around Columbia. Everything from jerk chicken to island-style oxtails is available. Get your favorite sides of greens and rice too while you are there.
You can enjoy the island atmosphere in the restaurant or take your meal to go and enjoy back at your home or hotel for a more intimate setting.
New Restaurants in Columbia SC
Periodically, new restaurants in Columbia, SC, find their way into these new and developing communities.
Since the population is constantly changing and diversifying in Columbia, so are the dining needs of those living there. Head over to the downtown area of Columbia or West Columbia for some of the more recently new restaurants that offer authentic flavors with a local touch.
Romantic and Nice Restaurants
If you are looking for the best place to take your significant other out for a dinner date, there are several romantic restaurants found throughout the city.
Enjoy one of the fine dining and nice steakhouse restaurants in the Vista Columbia area, or find a tucked-away booth in one of the smaller Italian restaurants on a side street. The aura in these nice restaurants just needs dim lighting and a private space for a romantic evening. Be prepared for a dress code in some of the fancy restaurants.
Restaurants Catering to Families and Kids
When you bring your kids out to town, you should consider one of the kid-friendly restaurants that embrace them when they come through the door.
Offering a layout that embraces highchairs and private spaces for families is ideal since toddlers or even teenagers tend to be busier than others. Enjoying a restaurant that offers an environment that is kid-friendly with kid menus and a welcoming atmosphere keeps families returning and ideal when you want to enjoy a meal out with those you love.
FAQs
What are must-try restaurants in Columbia, SC?
We like:
· Saluda’s
While you are in Columbia, there are a few restaurants that really harness the culture of Columbia. They are a must-try in town, whether you are alone, on a couple's trip, or bringing the family.
Hendrix Restaurant
Enjoy an evening out with your favorite bar and grill dishes when you visit Hendrix Restaurant. One of the newer restaurants in Columbia, Hendrix offers a casual experience for diners with local chef-inspired flavors in each dish.
Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse
Offering that Brazilian-style menu, Cowboy is one of the fine dining options that Columbia has to offer locals and visitors to the area. Enjoy your proteins Brazilian-style and a full salad bar. Everything from different cuts of beef, pork, chicken and other types of protein are available at Cowboy when you visit.
Cola's Restaurant
Given the city's nickname, Cola's Restaurant embraces local cuisine from Columbia and surrounding areas to offer their guests at each visit. The dishes are designed by local chefs and give you that full experience of flavor from your appetizer to your dessert.
Blue Marlin
If you want some of the freshest seafood around in Columbia, head over to the Blue Marlin. They have local seafood shipped in throughout the week from the Grand Strand and Charleston areas so that they can offer their guests the freshest dishes straight from the ocean. Crab legs and shellfish are among the favorite dishes on the menu.
Saluda's
Located in the Five Points area of Columbia, Saluda's is a local restaurant that is known for its American classics and giving a new spin on these classic dishes. It is one of the nicer restaurants in Columbia and highly popular, so make sure that you make your reservation online ahead of time.
How Many Restaurants Are in Columbia, SC?
There are over 550 established restaurants currently in Columbia.
When you include the number of cafes, diners, casual restaurants, and fine dining options throughout the city, there are hundreds available. No matter what you are craving, there is a restaurant in Columbia that has what you are looking for.