Charleston Brunch Food Tour: Upper King Street tastings

Eight tastings across three historic Charleston neighborhoods, walking from King Street to the Aiken-Rhett House

A three-hour brunch food tour through Charleston's Upper King Street, Marion Square and Mazyck-Boragard neighborhood with a live English-speaking guide, tasting eight Lowcountry dishes including Hot Little Biscuit, Fried Green Tomatoes, Croffle with Fried Chicken, Shrimp & Grits, Pimento Cheese and a secret local specialty. Choose between a small group or private tour. Comfortable walking shoes are essential as the route covers fair ground.

Step-by-step itinerary

Charleston Upper King Street Food Tour

• Meet near William Aiken House
• Enjoy Hot Little Biscuit
• Stroll toward Marion Square
• Taste Fried Green Tomatoes
• Walk through Mazyck-Boragard neighborhood
• Savor Croffle with Fried Chicken and honey
• Indulge in Shrimp & Grits and Pimento Cheese
• Discover Secret Dish near Aiken-Rhett House Museum

The experience

The tour starts near the William Aiken House on King Street (a 300-year-old avenue and the second most historic street in Charleston) with a buttery, handmade Hot Little Biscuit. From there you walk toward Marion Square, where the route shifts to Lowcountry cooking fundamentals: crunchy Fried Green Tomatoes and creamy Pimento Cheese, known locally as the Caviar of the South. The guide walks you through the neighborhoods rather than driving between stops, so you see the streets themselves: the old fire stations, the historic facades, the way the city is built.

Moving into the Mazyck-Boragard neighborhood, you taste a Croffle (a cross between a croissant and waffle) topped with Southern Fried Chicken and local honey, then Shrimp & Grits, the dish that defines Lowcountry cooking. A Passionfruit-Mango Sweet Tea and a Pecan Cluster with Santome Prosecco round out the stops before the tour ends near the Aiken-Rhett House Museum, where the guide reveals the Secret Dish: a warm, nostalgic specialty with a unique local twist. The whole route takes three hours and involves a fair amount of walking. The operator recommends comfortable shoes.

You pick between a small group tour or a private option at checkout. Both include the same eight tastings and live guide. The difference is who else is on the walk. If you have dietary requirements, contact the operator in advance so they can arrange substitutions at the restaurants along the way.

What’s included

• Eight tastings including Hot Little Biscuit, Fried Green Tomatoes, Croffle with Southern Fried Chicken and honey, Shrimp & Grits, Pimento Cheese, Pecan Cluster, Passionfruit-Mango Sweet Tea and a secret local specialty.
• live English-speaking guide for three hours.
• small group or private option.

Options for this experience

2 options

Small Group Charleston BrunchGuide in English · 09:30, 11:30 and 13:30Pick this option to take part in our Secret Food Tour Charleston Brunch with a group of 12 people or fewer.

Private Charleston BrunchGuide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 13:30Pick this option to switch to a private food tour of Charleston Brunch that is just for you and your group.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 3h, runs Tuesday to Sunday, 5 start times, from US$ 110.99 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesTuesday to Sunday5 departure times: 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 and 13:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 121 private ›

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Secret Food Tours

Is this one for you?Book the small group tour if you want to meet other food travelers and split the guide's attention across the neighborhoods. Choose private if you prefer the guide's full focus on your party and the freedom to linger at any stop without pacing the group.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly do I taste on the Charleston Brunch Food Tour?

Eight dishes: Hot Little Biscuit, Fried Green Tomatoes, Pimento Cheese, Croffle with Southern Fried Chicken and honey, Shrimp & Grits, Pecan Cluster, Passionfruit-Mango Sweet Tea, and a secret local specialty revealed at the end near the Aiken-Rhett House.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

The tour covers a fair amount of ground over three hours, moving through Upper King Street, Marion Square and the Mazyck-Boragard neighborhood on foot between tasting stops. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

Can I do this tour privately, or is it a group experience?

You choose at checkout: a small group tour or a private tour. Both include the same eight tastings and live English-speaking guide. The private option means just your party.

What is the Aiken-Rhett House and why does the tour end there?

The Aiken-Rhett House is the best-preserved complex of antebellum domestic structures in Charleston, built as the home of William Aiken Jr., a former governor of South Carolina. The tour reveals the Secret Dish near the museum as its final stop.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the starting point?

The tour does not include pickup or drop-off. Public transportation options are available near the starting point on Upper King Street. You'll meet the guide near the William Aiken House to begin.

Can I do this tour if I have dietary restrictions?

Yes, contact the operator in advance of the tour with any dietary requirements, and they will work with the restaurants along the route to arrange substitutions for the eight tastings.