Collard greens, grits and southern fried chicken. These are the backbone of the menu at most mom and pop restaurants in South Carolina, but there are exceptions. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Mom & Pop eateries in the Palmetto State. Prepare to get hungry.
- Aunny’s Country Kitchen - 926 Front St, Georgetown, SC 29440
Yelp/Tony G.
Yelp/Mac T. Aunny’s has been voted the best down home cooking in Georgetown. We can certainly see why. Check out this pork chop, squash casserole and the collards….oh, the collards. Try ’em for yourself. More info.
- Wade’s Family Restaurant - 1000 N Pine St, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Google Maps [streetview]
Facebook/Wade’s Family Restaurant Wade’s is one of the longest-running Mom & Pop restaurants in the state. They’ve been dishing up great old-fashioned southern comfort food in the Spartanburg area since 1947. Natives will tell ya you just can’t go wrong at Wade’s. More info.
- Hoskins Restaurant - 405 Main St, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Facebook/Hoskins Restaurant
Facebook/Hoskins Restaurant Fresh seafood, steaks and fried chicken like your momma used to make are a specialty at Hoskins. This mom and pop establishment is still in the same family and same location as when it started in 1948. More info.
- Olde House Cafe - 1274 Bells Hwy #920, Walterboro, SC 29488
Yelp/Patricia H
Yelp/Lynn E. Olde House has a buffet that’s a winner with delicious food at a reasonable price. We love their motto, “County cookin’ makes you good lookin’.” More info.
- Eva’s on Main - 129 S Main St, Summerville, SC 29483
Googlem Maps [streetview]
Facebook/Eva’s Eva’s opened on Main more than 70 years ago. Even though the legendary matriarch of this small restaurant passed away five years ago, the spirit of her down home cooking lives on at this old established mom and pop in Summerville. More info and hours.
- Ruth’s Drive In - 659 W Carolina Ave, Hartsville, SC 29550
Facebook/Ruth’s Drive In
Facebook/Ruth’s Drive In Ruth’s first opened their doors way back in 1945. Great down-home cookin’ at super reasonable prices keeps ’em coming back again and again to Ruth’s. More info.
- Mary’s Cafe - 1349 Firetower Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Google Maps [streetview]
Facebook/Marys Cafe/JK Vega Mary and her husband Van Vu opened their doors in 1995 serving up home-style mom and pop meals. Mary’s is a favorite of both locals and visitors to the Rock Hill area. More info.
- Howard’s Restaurant - 336 E Main St, Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Facebook/Howard’s Restaurant
Facebook/Howard’s Restaurant Howard’s plates up southern soul food and traditional american fare. Plus, they’ve been around for more than 50 years. Check them out in Moncks Corner. More info.
- Bill and Fran’s Restaurant - 11724 SC-34, Newberry, SC 29108
Facebook/Bill and Fran’s Restaurant
Facebook/Bill and Fran’s Restaurant Newberry folks have been gathering for home cooking at Bill and Fran’s since 1977. Good food and southern hospitality are the hallmarks of Bill and Fran’s Restaurant. More info.
- Mama Penn’s Restaurant - 2802 N Main St, Anderson, SC 29621
Facebook/Mama Penn’s Restaurant
Facebook/Mama Penn’s Restaurant Good home-style cookin’ and southern-style hospitality are exactly what you’ll find at Mama’s. It’s hard to believe this restaurant has been serving Anderson since 1977. Find out the secret to their longevity. More info.
- Dye’s Gullah Fixins - 840 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (inside the office building)
Yelp/Michelle S.
Yelp/Mon S The owner of Dye’s was born and raised in a household of Gullah cuisine. Get traditional home-style lowcountry meals at Dye’s. More info.
- Old Macdonald Fish Camp - 355 Currytown Rd, North Augusta, SC 29860
Facebook/Old Macdonald Fish Camp
Yelp/Toni H. Famous for many things, including an all-you-can-eat hushpuppies and grits bar. This family-owned restaurant has been serving fresh seafood in North Augusta since 1977. More info.
- Yoder’s Dutch Kitchen - 809 E Greenwood St, Abbeville, SC 29620
Facebook/Yoder’s Dutch Kitchen
Yelp/Calren M. Pennsylvania Dutch style home cooking in the South? You bet. Yoder’s has been at it for nearly 40 years and the folks in Abbeville love it. More info.
- Poppy’s Burgers & Subs - 3290 US-17 BUS, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
Yelp/Craig K
Yelp/Phrost G. Possibly the newest “Mom and Pop” restaurant on the list, Poppy’s in Murrell’s Inlet is the family dream of John and Lisa Canney. They moved to the Grand Strand area about five years ago and have been feeding families home-style burgers and subs ever since. More info.
- Oliver’s Restaurant - 1301 US-501 BUS, Conway, SC 29526
Facebook/Oliver’s Restaurant
Facebook/Oliver’s Restaurant Whoa. Look at those Chili Cheese Fries. Oliver’s has been family-owned and operated in Conway since 1964. That’s how many servings of these Chili Cheese Fries? More info.
South Carolina has a plentiful list of Mom & Pop restaurants. Where’s your favorite? It’s possible we didn’t list them all so feel free to add your fave in our comments.
Yelp/Tony G.
Yelp/Mac T.
Aunny’s has been voted the best down home cooking in Georgetown. We can certainly see why. Check out this pork chop, squash casserole and the collards….oh, the collards. Try ’em for yourself. More info.
Google Maps [streetview]
Facebook/Wade’s Family Restaurant
Wade’s is one of the longest-running Mom & Pop restaurants in the state. They’ve been dishing up great old-fashioned southern comfort food in the Spartanburg area since 1947. Natives will tell ya you just can’t go wrong at Wade’s. More info.
Facebook/Hoskins Restaurant
Fresh seafood, steaks and fried chicken like your momma used to make are a specialty at Hoskins. This mom and pop establishment is still in the same family and same location as when it started in 1948. More info.
Yelp/Patricia H
Yelp/Lynn E.
Olde House has a buffet that’s a winner with delicious food at a reasonable price. We love their motto, “County cookin’ makes you good lookin’.” More info.
Googlem Maps [streetview]
Facebook/Eva’s
Eva’s opened on Main more than 70 years ago. Even though the legendary matriarch of this small restaurant passed away five years ago, the spirit of her down home cooking lives on at this old established mom and pop in Summerville. More info and hours.
Facebook/Ruth’s Drive In
Ruth’s first opened their doors way back in 1945. Great down-home cookin’ at super reasonable prices keeps ’em coming back again and again to Ruth’s. More info.
Facebook/Marys Cafe/JK Vega
Mary and her husband Van Vu opened their doors in 1995 serving up home-style mom and pop meals. Mary’s is a favorite of both locals and visitors to the Rock Hill area. More info.
Facebook/Howard’s Restaurant
Howard’s plates up southern soul food and traditional american fare. Plus, they’ve been around for more than 50 years. Check them out in Moncks Corner. More info.
Facebook/Bill and Fran’s Restaurant
Newberry folks have been gathering for home cooking at Bill and Fran’s since 1977. Good food and southern hospitality are the hallmarks of Bill and Fran’s Restaurant. More info.
Facebook/Mama Penn’s Restaurant
Good home-style cookin’ and southern-style hospitality are exactly what you’ll find at Mama’s. It’s hard to believe this restaurant has been serving Anderson since 1977. Find out the secret to their longevity. More info.
Yelp/Michelle S.
Yelp/Mon S
The owner of Dye’s was born and raised in a household of Gullah cuisine. Get traditional home-style lowcountry meals at Dye’s. More info.
Facebook/Old Macdonald Fish Camp
Yelp/Toni H.
Famous for many things, including an all-you-can-eat hushpuppies and grits bar. This family-owned restaurant has been serving fresh seafood in North Augusta since 1977. More info.
Facebook/Yoder’s Dutch Kitchen
Yelp/Calren M.
Pennsylvania Dutch style home cooking in the South? You bet. Yoder’s has been at it for nearly 40 years and the folks in Abbeville love it. More info.
Yelp/Craig K
Yelp/Phrost G.
Possibly the newest “Mom and Pop” restaurant on the list, Poppy’s in Murrell’s Inlet is the family dream of John and Lisa Canney. They moved to the Grand Strand area about five years ago and have been feeding families home-style burgers and subs ever since. More info.
Facebook/Oliver’s Restaurant
Whoa. Look at those Chili Cheese Fries. Oliver’s has been family-owned and operated in Conway since 1964. That’s how many servings of these Chili Cheese Fries? More info.
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