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    Smoky Yolk Cafe

    4.0 (128 reviews)

    Smoky Yolk Cafe Photos

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    SMOKY YOLK CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Smoky Yolk Cafe

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    Bill M.

    Smoky Yolk is my new favorite spot for biscuits and gravey. My recent visit was fantastic from start to finish. ​I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy, and it was absolutely delicious. Most places don't give you enough gravey but not this place. The biscuits were freshly baked and the gravey was substantial. Our order was taken right away and everything was served quickly, which made for a perfect start to the day. ​Our server was attentive, checking on us and ensuring our drinks were full without us having to ask. ​If you're on James Island looking for a great meal along with truly great service, you have to stop by Smoky Yolk. I recommend this place and will definitely be returning soon!

    Deep fried Cinnamon roll
    Lindsey B.

    Hidden inside of a neighborhood on James Island, this is a great spot for lunch/brunch if you're not looking to go out downtown. They had a decent brunch menu with great options like biscuits and gravy. I went with the lunch menu and got the southern burger. Topped with pimento cheese and bacon, the burger was a little on the dry side but the onions and pepper jelly helped. The fried okra was delicious! You can pick that over french fries as your side. Our server was so nice and gave her honest recommendations as to what her and her wife like on the menu. I guess the southern burger was her wife's favorite thing and I'm really glad I ordered it! Mimosa flights for $20 but no carafes. They even offer a couple of coffee non-alcoholic options. We started off the table with a deep-fried cinnamon roll, which was so warm and sweet and had molten icing in the center. Definitely need to get a spoonful with the whipped cream it comes with. It is far too big for just one person but great for a table appetizer.

    Chicken and Waffles
    Jeff R.

    I was excited to go based on the recent reviews. It's in the Pisanos parking lot which we've been to many times and always want to try it. It's a bit pricey for a neighborhood breakfast store but I figured if it was good, it would be worth it. Unfortunately, it was a bit disappointing. Good coffee is important and they didnt disappoint there. It was the chicken and waffles that was a bit of a let down. The chicken was excellent, cooked perfect and juicy but the waffle was over cooked. A bit burnt and crunchy. I asked for an egg over easy, it too was over cooked and crispy. I hate crispy eggs. (See pic) The overall decor is that of a dive diner. Not terrible but worn. The outside eating area looks nice but we sat inside. The service was hit or miss. Our server was over to our table several times but when it came time to check out, she was busy chatting with the whole staff at the end of the counter. Overall, for the price, it wasn't worth it. I can say I've tried it, but probably won't be back.

    Cajun Fried Chicken Livers
    Heather A.

    Probably my favorite place for a classic breakfast on James island. I absolutely love their Cajun Fried Chicken Livers with grits. The service is always friendly and the wait usually isn't long. A cozy spot for a home style breakfast.

    Gabby S.

    We really enjoyed our meal here! The French toast and avocado toast were both really good! We sat outside and it was nice, and they do allow dogs outside on the patio. The only downside was the service. We didn't get greeted or served water for the first 20 minutes of being seated and it was not busy at all. The food came out at a fairly reasonable time but the server was just quite slow.

    Brisket Nachos
    Tony J.

    Staff friendly, super quick service and very clean. We had the Overload plate. Which everyone seemed to like, my wife the Veggie Omelet and I had the brisket nachos. Everything was good, prices were a bit high and the food just wasn't anything special. The brisket was cooked perfectly just lacked flavor. The guac was just mashed avocado which is fine just not what I expected. Overall I'd like to give it another shot with a different item.

    Overload
    Paige D.

    This place was so good we went back TWICE in three days. This second time my boyfriend ordered the French toast with sides. The French toast was not as sweet as one would expect so it was just ok. The Cajun Benny (which I ordered) was full of yummy flavors! This is very greasy (it has so chorizo so that shouldn't be a surprise but just in case this is for you folks). All in all this was NOT as good as our first meal and has dropped this down to four stars. That being said our service was great as it was the first time.

    Jacqueline T.

    Smoky Yolk Cafe is a no-frills, local hangout on James Island that excels in serving hearty, flavorful dishes for breakfast, brunch and lunch. The warm, laid-back atmosphere makes it a favorite among Charlestonians. Signature offerings like the smoked turkey smokehouse sandwich paired with dirty rice and the classic smash burger cheeseburger with fries are both satisfying and fairly priced. For an even better deal, visit on a Tuesday for a half-priced burger. With fresh ingredients and generous portions, Smoky Yolk delivers an unpretentious dining experience that's hard to beat. The staff is happy, loud and friendly, which brings a smile to your face. Mine at least.

    Prime Brisket Philly fried okra
    Zamaria W.

    You can't go wrong with anything on the menu this brisket sandwich is my go to lunch or dinner....Ooohhh my those pancakes yes best of the best if you like a buttery pancakes I hi highly recommend I always ask for crispy edges. Must experience if you're ever on James Island leaving Foley early in the morning. The staff is all very welcoming. You can be yourself good people friendly.

    Shrimp and Grits, with an over easy egg. Delicious!!
    Adam L.

    Fantastic!!! Great place for breakfast. My daughters and I stopped in for breakfast in a visit, and we loved it!! One ordered pancakes and was very pleased. Pancakes were light and fluffy. And delicious. Daughter 2 ordered a Traditional breakfast with eggs over medium, and had them add cheese to the grits. I'm always impressed when the eggs actually come over medium because of the small difference in time between easy, medium, and hard. These eggs were perfectly over medium, and the grits were good. I ordered the shrimp and grits and they were so good! The depth of flavor was incredible. Deep, rich brown sauce and perfectly cooked shrimp. The sauce was right on the border of spicy: enough to make me tell it was, but not enough to inhibit me from devouring this delicious meal. Service was spot on. If you're looking for breakfast in the greater Charleston area, this place is worth the drive!! You've gotta check it out. You can thank me later!!! :)

    biscuit benny's
    Karen R.

    NAME CHANGE. NOW SMOKY YOLK all items our group ordered were delicious. great friendly service. same owners. breakfast all day. full bar

    Tequila with breakfast food!  Yes please
    Ryan H.

    Have to update. Went back this morning for a fantastic breakfast. I had the breakfast burger and it was delicious with perfect bacon, sausage, and runny egg. The drippings went well with the perfectly seasoned home fries. The place was busy but amazingly good service by all the high school kids. My wife loved her traditional breakfast and added gravy!!! Good call. Nothing to complain about. I think they have figured it out. We will be back!!!

    Chicken and waffles

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    1 year ago

    The service was OK, but was the worst food that we experienced in an area that has some of the best in America. We won't be returning.

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    1 year ago

    Been here many times. Food is really good but the restaurant is a bit dirty, better management would have this place at a five star quickly.

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    1 year ago

    It was a nice breakfast! The home fries were delicious. We were the only people here, but would come back!

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    Ask the Community - Smoky Yolk Cafe

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    A review posted in honor of the experience one of my friends had this past week -…read more My husband and I came to Charleston specifically for the food, and out of all the amazing meals we had, Miller's All Day was hands down our favorite. We came for breakfast and started with the banana bread with Nutella cream cheese -- absolutely incredible. We also split the cornmeal pancakes, which were so good we came back the next morning just to have them again. I ordered the B.E.C. with the home fries, and I can honestly say they may have been the best potatoes I've ever had in any form. Perfectly crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and they practically melted in my mouth. My husband had the turkey club and said it was fantastic as well. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and memorable. We loved it so much we went back the very next day. 10/10 -- highly recommend if you're visiting Charleston!

    We came here on a weekday afternoon and there was already a 15-minute wait to be seated…read more We ordered the chicken and waffle salad, the grits, the pimento cheese and crackers and the avocado toast. Everything was pretty standard and there was not something that we absolutely loved. The grits were a heavier dish while the avocado on the toast was more like a spread. The chicken and waffle salad had waffle "croutons" but it kind of just tasted like an older waffle dried up. The chicken in the salad was a little thicker than it should have been. The pimento cheese and crackers were very tasty. The ambiance is fast casual and it is very hush there. Our server Hamilton was very kind and helpful.

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    Breakfast/Brunch on the patio is always a treat. Kind and attentive staff, sunshine, prosecco and…read moregood vibes abound. If you want to increase your chances of a great day start it at Frannie & The Fox.

    Stopped in on a really hot day…read more I opted for the pepperoni pizza because it's supposed to be made in a brick fire oven. Taleggio was recommended to the party sitting next to us, but they had them add sausage, which I wish I had done, but I didn't know about it until my order was already put in. With that said, the pepperoni pizza was definitely a four out of five. The only thing that would have made it a five out of five was a little bit more moisture to the crust or some type of garlic butter to it. The flavor was really good on the pepperoni. The crust was nice and chewy as far as the underneath. 4/5 Before I tasted it, when the waitstaff, who wasn't our waiter, ended up bringing the pizza to us, they asked if we needed anything. We asked for a sauce. I asked them what sauces they had. They gave us a couple of options. I picked two sauces, but unbeknownst to me, those sauces were dips, and the dips were $3 each. The young lady did not tell us that, unfortunately. One of the sauces was a garlic sauce, and the other thing was the restaurant's rendition of ranch. Both were rather bland. I'd have to give them a 2 out of 5. They weren't nasty, but they lacked flavor. My wife ordered this shishuka, which would be the eggs, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. She gave it a four out of five. I tasted it. The eggs were bland to me. I would give it a three out of five based on the two forkfuls that I had, but the waitstaff was amazing. I definitely want to go back to try their brunch and to try that other pizza without the extra sauces.

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    It's been quite a while since I made the effort to return to The Harbinger Café on Upper King and…read moreit reminded me instantly why this spot is such a Charleston favorite. The vibe is still effortlessly cozy and creative--flowers, greenery, unusual Christmas gifts, and those little bakery touches that make you want to linger over your latte. This time around, everything felt even better than I remembered. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the service had that relaxed but attentive feel. I tried a couple of their seasonal items, and once again the flavors were bright, fresh, and a little unexpected in the best way. Their baked goods are still the standout--beautifully made, not overly sweet & just delicious. It's the kind of place where you can sit with a book, catch up with a friend, or just enjoy a slow morning with coffee and something delicious. Consistently great atmosphere, consistently great food, and a place that really gets better with every visit. Why did it take so long to return. I've now placed it in the top of my list for a great coffee spot.

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