Long wait time and noisy. But the food is truly worth the trouble. Tilapia cooked to perfection

This was our last supper on our Charleston trip. And it did not disappoint! We waited around 40 minutes since they do not take reservations. The food was worth the wait, the ginger scallion sauce on the whole fish was delightful, we also had the bone marrow with shrimp. Not sure how the shrimp and marrow compliments each other but they were both good on their own. This is a must try in Charleston! read more

Chubby Fish - Oyster - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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" This fish will change your life!" We were visiting Charleston and met a local who told us to cancel our reservations anywhere else and go to Chubby Fish. It was an amazing experience - each dish was outstanding - the flavors and combinations of fresh ingredients and local fresh fish were phenomenal. Chef James and Yoyo have succeeded in creating an amazing food experience in a town known for its food. From the warm, friendly environment to the engaging wait staff, the atmosphere, the food and the hospitality of Chef James and Yoyo made this the highlight of our trip to Charleston. Chubby Fish is an experience not to miss!!! You will still be talking about it on the way home! read more

The best seafood, ever! The seasonings on each dish leaves you wondering, how did they do it, it's fantastic and unique. The whole fish, baked clams, spicy shrimp, root vegetables were all fantastic. All with great service read more

Chubby Fish deserves more than 5 stars in my opinion, I was truly not prepared for how good the food was going to be. It had only been recommended to us once and we decided to go with family. Everything was 10/10 could-not-possibly-get-any-better good. I'm so glad the server recommended we treat everything as shareable. As they were bringing things out I just kept thinking yep, this is it, nothing will top this- & the next thing they brought out was just as amazing. Every dish was so flavorful and unique, not to mention presented beautifully. Definitely recommend the grouper, tilefish curry, chili garlic shrimp, and ceviche as must haves. The celery salad was an amazing light dish & the tagliatelle and fried oyster roll were to die for. Also recommend the not fried chicken ice cream, we loved the cereal coating and it was super cute. I didn't like the corn ice cream sandwich as much but it's a great dessert if you like raspberry. I will be recommending chubby fish to anyone and everyone in Charleston, thanks for such an awesome experience. :) read more

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We decided to pop into Chubby Fish for weekend date night. We walked into a very intimate, cozy, and simple nautical-themed restaurant and were immediately greeted by the hostess. She gave us the option of sitting at the bar or at the community table in the center of the restaurant. Our waiter politely greeted us, gave us the drink menu, and told us the menu was hanging right above the kitchen. I really appreciated the simplicity of the menu. We opted for the "Charred Lamb Ribs with Romesco" and "Rainbow Trout with Garlic Scallion Sauce". When I took the first bite of the lamb ribs, I was immediately blown away. The lamb is seasoned and charred perfectly. It just melts in your mouth. My husband is a picky eater, and he was hooked. The lamb is a must when you dine at Chubby Fish! The rainbow trout was delicious too! If the sight of a whole fish or the thought of eating a fish that hasn't been deboned for you scares you, you will probably not appreciate this dish the way I did. But you know what? End the whole-fish phobia. Try not to let the bones stop you from trying a fresh catch. This one's worth it! Make sure you spoon the garlic scallion sauce onto the fish. It pairs so well with the trout. What sets Chubby Fish apart from its seafood-centric counterparts in the city is the team's promise on local, sustainable seafood. Because the ingredients - specifically, the seafood - are locally sourced, some of the menu items will rotate/change. Chubby Fish is pretty close to seafood (and even non-seafood alike) perfection. We are Chubby-lievers! I think it's safe to say this is a newfound favorite for us. We'll definitely be back! read more

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My friend has been begging me to try this place with her since it opened. We finally agreed to try it tonight. We arrived shortly after they opened at 5:00pm and were given a choice of being seated facing the wall, at a normal table for two, or on the end of the shared community table....we chose the normal table. We started with a glass of wine and the arabica soda. Wine was standard fare while the soda was a delightful concoction of carbonation, coffee, and sugar. Wow! Our server, Ryan, made the recommendation and he was spot on to the taste. We ordered an assorted dozen of the raw oysters, the beef tartare with trout roe and ranch rice, the grilled oysters with nduja and Parmesan, the buffalo trigger fish wings with ranch, and the braised grouper cheeks with chorizo and white soy. The raw oysters tonight were the row 34's and Paine's Creek from Maine served with a muscadine mignonette, and the Single Lady and Sea Cloud from South Carolina served with a tosazu. The oysters were fresh and briny and had a lovely plumpness to each one. The beef tartare was a bit different. It came topped with the trout roe, a side dish of seasoned rice, and dried seaweed squares. We made little sushi rolls with them and it had a briny taste that was lightened by the rice. The trout roe did have a tendency to overpower the beef flavor but it is something I would eat again. The grilled oysters were a set of four and were disappointingly tiny and overly salty from the nduja and Parmesan. I couldn't taste the oysters at all, they were so lost beneath the salt. My friend however, loved them because of the nduja. The buffalo trigger fish wings were a surprising delight that were full flavor, spicy, and meaty with fish despite being taken from a little used portion of the fish. This was the one dish where I felt we actually got our money's worth. Be prepared to be messy with this one and Ryan even provided us with moist towelettes! Score another point for Ryan. The braised grouper cheeks. This was the one major disappointment of the night. Every other dish, even if I did have a complaint were all items I would be willing to try again. The grouper cheeks were so tough and fishy tasting that it makes me queasy to even consider them ever again. The chorizo was not spicy at all and the rice was just a tad over cooked. Prior to trying this, they (not Ryan, but another server) mistakenly served us the wrong dish (smoked mackerel curry) and we had to wait an extra 15 minutes before the correct dish was served. All of this occurred without any apology or acknowledgement of mistake on their part! I can understand that mistakes happen, but at least own up to it! I feel that if Ryan had been aware of this incident, he would've been a gentleman about the whole situation. Overall, this place has promise, so I will be back and will update my review accordingly, but no grouper cheeks for me! read more

Chubby Fish - The coffee soda!! - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

A refreshing oasis along Coming street,welcoming and friendly perfect for date nights. We took seating at the bar where the kitchen is, warning though if you can't stand the heat pick a table instead. Menu overhead changes daily depends on what's the fresh catch of the day. Tonight we had American snapper crudo,lamb,oysters,garlic shrimps,blowfish,amberjack etc. ( see pictures). It was a feast! Save room for desserts, we had the "not fried chicken "which was highly recommended by our Airbnb host. True enough it was creative, fun but most of all delish. read more

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We had such a wonderful experience here for my birthday this evening! The atmosphere is welcoming, comfortable, and allows for casual or classy attire. Hands down, I've eaten at a lot of fine dining and regular establishments all over the country and this was the most attentive and genuine service I've ever had! Constantly filling water glasses, asking to bring us another drink, replenishing our plates with clean ones, and explaining complex menu items. We had a main server but it was evident everyone here works as a team and pitches in frequently to make sure the customer is having the best experience possible. Moving on to the food... WHAT A COOL CONCEPT! All of the menu items are locally sourced and the menu changes daily to accommodate this. They have a couple of dishes they keep on there regularly but everything else changes. We tried 3 of their raw bar items and 2 of their small plate items and they were all spectacular! The Charred Lamb Ribs were to die for and my favorite dish of the evening, but we also enjoyed the Chili Garlic Shrimp, Cobia Tataki, Amber Jack Crudo, and Red Snapper Crudo. The Not Fried Chicken Waffle Ice Cream was total treat as well! I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an excellent meal in Charleston! read more

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Hostess lies and doesn't say anything straight. Makes false promises and then gaslights you into thinking you're in the wrong. Was excited to eat here, but will never come back. Overhyped, and the fame got to their heads for sure. Eat somewhere else and save your money and time. read more

Went yesterday with my wife, the second time. food is great. just a few remarks -it's veery noisy - our meals were served 30 min apart (charred lam ribs and smoked wrechfish curry) - the charred lamb ribs... i think lamb merits less cooking.. - wine glasses are too expensive But i will come back next time i am in Charleston :) read more

This was my favorite place we went in Charleston. I had been following them on Instagram for a bit and was excited about their dishes. We only went for pre-dinner snacks and drinks, (because we tried to fit a lot of meals in!) but I'm really bummed about that. We sat at the bar that overlooks the kitchen, and everything that came out looked phenomenal. We started with the snapper crudo, which was simple but allowed the natural light flavor of the fish to shine. We then got the grouper cheeks and holy moly I could eat this dish every day. I know they change their menu a lot, but if this is on it when you go you should order it immediately. They were served with almost a tasted like a gumbo and over rice. The people sitting next to us ordered the baked oysters w/ Nduja and then they ordered them again! A ton of people also ordered the mackerel curry and I really wish we would have done that too. It smelled so amazing. Anyways, this would be on the top of my list if we return to Charleston. read more

Chubby Fish - Seafood Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Creative and delicious food; great service; an exceptional experience. Would highly recommend trying it!

A totally different dining experience. Your small or large plates come out one at a time, which is perfect if you like sharing food and exploring many different items on the menu. everything we ordered was unique and amazing! They certainly know how to elevate food!! read more

Terrific experience at Chubby Fish last night. Starting with a couple of their fish crudos, some small plates and full entrees...nothing disappointed! Very creative work by the kitchen with a chicken fried fish collar (swordfish) as well as blow fish tail tempura. Beautifully done and delicious. An excellent addition was the squash salad...really tasty! Mains included the fried oyster roll and the smoked mackerel curry. Incredible! Nice small beer and wine lists that are good companions to the menu. Staff were very attentive and our waitperson Hannah was terrific. read more

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Lovely gem of a restaurant that has only been open six weeks in what I believe is the Elliotborough neighborhood of Charleston. Serving sizes are small plates, except for the whole fish and maybe the oysters. 1. The best dish was the Octo Salad, a salad with octopus, succotash and a perfect vinaigrette. I've never had octopus cooked so perfectly and cut so well; normally it is a rubber tire, but Chubby Fish's is tender. We should have ordered a second one! 2. The lamb ribs with Romanesco sauce were really tasty -- and the rich orange sauce was a treat -- but the ribs had way too much fat on them. 3. Even dessert was interesting. The I Love Summer peach sorbet sandwich was just right (not too sweet combo of sorbet and sugar cookies), and the not-fried-chicken-and-waffles was a clever presentation of maple-ish ice cream shaped in a coating of corn flake crumbs (so it looked like a leg of breaded fried chicken) and a center of lightly crunchy chocolate designed to look like a chicken bone. I could envision them getting up to five stars in the future, since the chef is clearly inventive and talented and the staff are friendly and helpful -- important traits since the menu is definitely peculiar. When I return to Charleston someday, I look forward to seeing how this restaurant progresses. read more

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The most amazing and delicious meal we have ever had. Every step...from out hostess to our server to the kitchen crew. We not only had a delicious meal but a full culinary experience. Recommendations from our server and our oyster chef were perfect and so amazing. The portions were shareable and perfectly prepared and presented. We showed up at4:45 for 5:00 opening and there was already a line. Sat at the bar...which was a true visual experience (don't sit here if you don't want to order everything they make!). If ever in Charleston this is a must have. You will not regret it!! read more

Our last meal in Charleston found us in Chubby Fish, and I think it's one of those places where you wish you could come back to at least once or twice more because there's so much stuff to try on the menu. We got there at around 6 PM and had to wait about 20 minutes for a seat. We ended up sitting at the bar, which was pretty cool given that you could see the kitchen at work. In terms of the food, my favorites were the grilled oysters, bone marrow; and the lamb. The dessert, which is essentially ice cream formed in the shape of a piece of fried chicken, is a nice innovative touch for those who have a sweet tooth. read more

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Every dish that we ordered surpassed the previous. Our expectations were surpassed with every bite. Chubby fish is, by far, one of the best restaurants in Charleston. read more

Chubby Fish absolutely delivered an incredible meal. Really the entire dining experience was fantastic. We had the great fortune to be able to sit at the chef's counter. Multiple cooks engaged us and literally took time to visit with us. So much so, that I started wondering if other cooks might get irritated that they were visiting with us for so long. I saw none of that though. It's a small kitchen that they all navigate calmly and with precision. For as good as the food is and as busy as the restaurant is, I would expect a little chaos in the kitchen. Nope, not any of that. Hailey was our server and she too was top notch. She provided great recommendations and based those recommendations off a vision for what our entire meal would be and how things would go together. We ended up ordering the tuna crudo, grilled oysters, broccoli, striped bass curry and blue crab tagliatelle. All were great, some were epic! This ended up being a top 3 all time meal for us. Here's how we would rank the dishes. Number 1 was the broccoli and it was a clear number 1. I could never not order that broccoli. And this is coming from a BBQ loving meat eater. Number 2 was the clue crab tagliatelle - delicious pasta. Number 3 was the grilled oysters. This is almost interchangeable with number 2. So great! Number 4 was the tuna crudo for me. The tuna itself was the showstopper of this dish. Number 5 is the striped bass curry. Great flavor and everything worked well together. It was just a lot of rice. More rice than we needed. Maybe for a larger group than just 2 people that would work better. Nothing was disappointing. Like I said above a top 3 overall meal for us ever. Chubby Fish is a can't miss restaurant if you are in Charleston. Can't miss! read more

What an amazing experience! Dock to table fresh with an Asian flare which keeps the meal very cohesive. try the wagu tartare and bone marrow. Our favorites included the spade fish tempura, spicy yellowfin tuna nigiri, grilled golden tile fish, and b-liner snapper with ginger and scallion sauce. love the small, med and large plate concept so you can try more options. go with a group and try it all. don't forget the desserts! the not fried chicken was so innovative and good, and mint ice cream bar was so refreshing (real mint) read more

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We stumbled across this amazing restaurant on our first night in town during an anniversary trip. We had several other restaurants recommendations planned throughout our trip but this one was not on the list. It did not disappoint and is the restaurant we enjoyed the most! Everything was fresh! Everything was amazing! read more

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Dined with my father last night, he had never been. We got there early to beat the onslaught, the hostesses were very polite and helpful, they sat us outside and brought out a big fan. We ate all across the menu and everything was excellent. Service was great, our server was helpful in guiding us through the dishes and personable. Always recommend and definitely will be back. Great clean food served in a charming space. read more

LOVE this place! 100% locally owned/operated (ie, no restaurant group masquerading as a local spot). The quirky, mismatched plates and glasses, the simple, cool lay out...just fantastic. Staff is cool and loved their product. Make no mistake, the food is the best part. It's terrific! When you want to get off King and get local, go to Chubby Fish but they don't take reservations so get their early and in person to get on the waitlist. read more

Truly loved finally trying this place! The restaurant is super small inside and really crowded. Food comes out fast and it's so fresh and delicious. The pasta with crab was amazing and not too heavy. The garlic shrimp was prob my fave because the sauce was so good and flavorful! Tuna crudo is also delicious. The wait is about 30ish minutes if you come early on a weekend night so it's not too long ! read more

Come see Chef James before he gets a James Beard award. One of the best dinning experience of my life!!! Swordfish Schnitzel, Chili Garlic Shrimp, Amberjack Crudo, Chard Lamb Ribs. Every plate was perfect. Dinning tip, ask for the Chef's table and enjoy the show and service! * read more

Amazing. Kate, Neil and the entire crew are wonderful. Food is superb. Try to sit at the bar if possible!

It's like Seattle meets Paris in this quaint little gem. Good eats and a funky and fabulous vibe. Heard they are expanding next door which will be great since they don't take reservations. read more

Prepare to be wowed!! We had read all the hype and set our expectations low before going, but there was no need. Chubby Fish absolutely lives up and then some. We came on a Friday night at peak time, and as others have mentioned they don't take reservations, so we grabbed a drink and finagled a spot to wait. This was a bit difficult since it was pretty packed, but soon cleared out and we were seated in 30 min. We started off with oysters, and the topping they pair with them really highlights them. The nigiri bites were so good -- packed with so much flavor, and a little heat, in every bite. The octopus was refreshing and flavorful, with avocado and cilantro, a really nice combo. We had the blue crab tagliatelle next--perfectly balanced and savory, really tasty. Our highlight was the bluefish curry. Don't think soupy curry -- this is light and packed with flavor and just the right amount of heat. The coconut rice on it is out of this world, and it's a nicely sized portion to share, too. It was seriously so good -- we couldn't stop gushing about how great it was while we were eating it. Lastly, they've created this amazing neighborly, community vibe there. I didn't know if we had lucked out sitting between two particularly friendly tables, but reading reviews others have commented on the social vibes too. Maybe it's because the food is so good you have to lean over and recommend it to you neighbor, and see what they got so you can order it next time. Maybe it's because the servers are laid back and seem like they already know everyone in the restaurant. Whatever it is, we left feeling like we had the perfect meal in the perfect place and can't wait to go back. read more

The grilled oysters with a beautiful curry sauce left me in awe in the best way! Brian was a terrific server and was super attentive. He gave the best recommendations including the blowfish tail and smoked wreckfish. I quite literally wanted to lick my plate!! Please please go! Worth the wait :) read more

one neg, hostess said u need resoz, waitress said there was no resoz otherwise, place is charming, staff knowledgeable and friendly , food fyre! a little pricey would def be back read more

What a great place - amazing food, cute rustic decor, and a welcoming staff. Love that they are eco-conscious with focus on local and sustainable fish. Favorite dishes include the amberjack crudo and blowfish tempura served with a beurre blanc. And don't leave without trying their "not fried chicken" which is a cornflake crusted Belgium waffle flavored ice cream in the shape of a chicken drumstick - ugh so good! Sitting at the counter is fun to watch the chefs preparing your food - Chef London is usually right up front eager to explain each dish with great pride and enthusiasm. read more

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I love the atmosphere at Chubby Fish. It's lively yet intimate and the staff is wonderful. I'm only giving it one star because of a misleading description on the menu. The smoked mackerel served with rice was honestly insulting. For $34 the dish was comprised of a bowl of creamy coconut sticky rice topped with a mere sprinkling of smoked mackerel crumbs! I kid you not. They should explain it in the description because most people, me included, would naturally think they would get a smoked mackerel fish! Yes. A whole fish or at least a half. It pretty much ruined what would have been a perfect night. I can help the feeling of being ripped off. read more

Felt vaguely attacked by the fact that this restaurant knew me so well (haha). Every detail was appealing to me. It was nautical without being corny, the dishes were eclectic and so cute, the service was fantastic (and shockingly fast)--everyone was charming and witty. But the food was the best. We had a dozen mixed oysters, the cauliflower, the bibb salad, shrimp tempura & bone marrow, octopus, tuna, fried oyster roll, and not fried chicken ice cream. We decidedly didn't need the roll but we powered through being there troopers we are. Everything was incredible but do not sleep on the cauliflower. It's beer & wine only but our server made great recommendations considering we don't really drink either. Plates are all meant to be shared family style. Tempted to go back for every meal on our trip. read more

Everything was amazing-- food, service, etc. Still dream about the Wagyu Beef Tartare. read more

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We really loved this place! They had a great atmosphere, service and the food was amazing. They do not take reservations so we got here early and had no problem getting a seat. We sat at the bar in front of the oysters and the kitchen. It was a great seat to watch all the wonderful food being prepared. We were there for happy hour so we got some good drink prices and took advantage of that! I don't really have anything bad to say except the parking can be a little tricky. Other than that it was a wonderful experience and we are very much looking forward to getting back. read more

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Visiting Charleston with our "foody friends " and picked Chubby Fish based on proximity to our B&B and Yelp rating. When we got there ( no reservation) we're told one hour for inside or immediately outside. We sat outside and they brought over a fam to keep us cool and keep the bugs away. Hunter was our waiter and gave us some great recommendations - totally blown away by the food! Had grouper tempura, tuna crudo, grouper with a yellow sauce with beets and radish and a killer tilefish curry - all excellent. Don't miss the "not fried chicken " dessert! Would definitely recommend and will return. Only question is where did the name "Chubby Fish " come from? Get the fish part, but figure there must be a story behind the chubby part. Excellent food and service! read more

Chubby Fish has been on my radar for a while and I finally got the experience all that they offer last night. Initially I was put off by the "No reservations" but decided to go early and line up. It opens at 5pm and we were outside by 4:50, at least 10 people were in line !! So I suggest if you want to go on a Friday night go early and ensure all the people in your party are present. They will not seat you until all the party arrives!! Worrisome since the restaurant is so small. It all worked out and we were seated for the most amazing experience and food. It really is outstanding. The flavors, presentation and knowledgeable staff is why there are lines outside before opening. It's worth the wait for sure. They focus on small plates, ideal for sharing and the theme is mainly fish orientated. Chubby Fish is a foodie paradise with an eclectic selection of dishes that have you wondering about their awesome creativity and marrying of flavors. Delicious. The restaurant itself has a hip & cozy vibe. Each one of the staff were outstanding. Thank you for an awesome experience. We will be back. read more

Best meal we have had out ever! Everything was perfectly seasoned, the attention to detail and presentation was incredible. Not joking when I say it's the best place we've eaten ever. Get there early to be added to waitlist because they don't take reservations and this place is filled from open to close. Totally worth any wait though! read more

One of the Top 10 meals I've had in the United States. Extraordinary food, extraordinary creativity. Extraordinarily worth it. Bravo.