Some of the best fried chicken in South Carolina never sees a fancy plate. It comes in a paper box, packed by a real person behind a counter, and handed over with a stack of napkins.
These six spots keep that old habit alive, from a 1949 ice cream stand to a North Charleston soul food kitchen with a line out the door. Here is where to go, when to show up, and what makes each one worth the drive.
1. Maryland Fried Chicken, Beaufort, SC
Beaufort is famous for marsh views and old oaks, but locals also know where lunch comes from. Maryland Fried Chicken sits at 111 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29902, and it has been feeding the town with a simple counter and a drive-through window.
The menu leans Southern in every direction. Fried chicken shares space with gizzards, pork chops, shrimp, and fish, and hush puppies ride along with nearly everything.
Macaroni salad and fried okra round out the sides, and sweet tea is a point of pride here. Prices land in the $10 to $20 range per person, which keeps the place friendly to families.
Service is all counter-style, with no table service, so orders get boxed up fast for dine-in, takeout, or delivery. Kids get their own menu, and high chairs are on hand.
Timing matters. The doors open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and the place stays closed Sunday and Monday.
Afternoons get busy most weekdays, while Saturday mornings tend to be quieter. Parking can be a bit tricky, so a little patience in the lot pays off before the box lands in your hands.
2. Bernie’s Chicken, Columbia, SC
Weekday lunch in Columbia has a habit of ending up on Bluff Road. Bernie’s Chicken, at 1311 Bluff Rd, is a long-standing spot built around its signature fried chicken.
Plenty of folks call it soul food at its most straightforward. Fried chicken leads the way, with fish sandwiches, a chicken filet, hush puppies, and slaw close behind.
Drinks deserve a mention too. Both sweet tea and lemonade have loyal fans, and banana pudding closes out a meal nicely.
Orders happen at the counter, then the boxes come out ready to go. There is seating inside plus outdoor tables, but plenty of people grab takeout and head back to work or class.
College students mix with families and out-of-towners, so expect a short wait during the lunch rush. Bernie’s runs Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 8 PM, and closes on weekends.
Evenings are calmer, and parking is usually easy. Catering is available for anyone who wants a whole party’s worth of boxes.
3. Zesto of West Columbia, West Columbia, SC
Since 1949, one corner of West Columbia has handled two jobs at once: dipped cones and chicken dinners. Zesto of West Columbia, at 504 12th St, still does both.
Most people expect only ice cream from a place like this. The fried chicken surprises first-timers, and it holds its own beside Zesto burgers and fries.
The menu keeps things practical. Choices include a Chicken Snack, a Chicken Leg, a Wing Dinner, and a full Tub of Chicken for bigger crowds.
Milkshakes, especially strawberry, make a fine finish. Staff work the counter quickly, filling boxes and tubs by hand for dine-in, takeout, or curbside pickup.
Hours stretch longer than most shacks on this list. Zesto opens Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 10 PM, which makes it a handy late stop.
Friday and Saturday afternoons into evening draw the biggest crowds. Dogs are welcome outside, parking is plentiful, and the hometown feel is part of the order.
4. Bertha’s Kitchen, North Charleston, SC
A line out the door is the best sign at Bertha’s Kitchen. This no-frills, counter-serve spot at 2332 Meeting Street Rd in North Charleston is known for homestyle Southern soul food.
Seasoned fried chicken is the reason many people come. Collard greens and cornbread fill out the box, and the fish is a Lowcountry favorite here.
Nothing about the setup is fancy. You order at the counter, and staff assemble each plate or takeout box straight from the line.
Covered outdoor seating gives dine-in guests a spot to settle. Sweet tea and lemonade both earn praise, so picking one may take longer than the wait.
Hours are short, so plan ahead. Bertha’s opens Wednesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from noon to 5 PM, closing Monday and Tuesday.
Sunday afternoon tends to be the calmest window. The kitchen also handles catering for groups who want soul food without the line.
5. Maryland Fried Chicken of Hartsville / The Shrimper, Hartsville, SC
Two names, one building, and a lot of fryers. Maryland Fried Chicken of Hartsville, also called The Shrimper, sits at 829 S Fifth St in Hartsville.
The name hints at the double act. Fried chicken shares top billing with catfish, popcorn shrimp, oysters, and clam strips.
Pork chops make an appearance as well, and mac and cheese plus hush puppies are steady side picks. The owners take real pride in the place, and it shows in the friendly counter service.
Orders can be eaten in the cozy dining room or carried out through the drive-through. Delivery is offered too, and every carton gets packed by hand.
Hours run Monday through Saturday, 10:30 AM to 9 PM, with Sundays off. Friday evening and Saturday afternoon draw the heaviest traffic.
Mornings stay quiet, so an early lunch is the easy route. Kids have a menu, and parking rarely becomes a puzzle.
6. Maryland Fried Chicken, Shrimp & Seafood, Florence, SC
Family-owned and proud of it, this Florence stop rounds out the list with a slightly different style. Maryland Fried Chicken, Shrimp and Seafood is at 844 S Irby St.
Unlike most shacks here, it offers table service along with the drive-through. That makes it a solid choice for a sit-down meal with the whole crew.
Fried chicken has a reputation for being juicy without much grease, and it often gets compared to home cooking. Fried shrimp, catfish stew, and signature hush puppies keep the seafood side busy.
Family chicken orders and meal boxes are filled fresh by hand for takeout. Prices stay reasonable, generally $10 to $20 per person.
The doors open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday is a day off. Late afternoons Thursday through Saturday get busy, while Tuesday mornings are calm.
A clean dining room, polite staff, and easy parking make it a fitting final stop. The box may be simple, but the care inside it is the whole point.
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