Of 374 routine food inspections at Charleston addresses from July 13 to Oct. 9, 2026, 362 earned an A, 10 a B and 2 a C. Look up any restaurant on SC Food Grades.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Figures come from the state’s SC Food Grades database; grade definitions from the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Understanding Restaurant Inspections page.
Restaurants, grocery stores, food trucks and school cafeterias in Charleston are inspected by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA), which runs retail food safety in the state. Inspections are unannounced. Every establishment posts a letter grade, A, B or C, and the full report for each inspection is public.
Who to call
- SCDA Retail Food Safety: 803-896-0640, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, retailfood@scda.sc.gov
- Report a food safety problem: SCDA food safety complaint form
- Look up a restaurant: SC Food Grades
The last three months in Charleston
We searched SC Food Grades for every inspection with a Charleston address in Charleston and Berkeley counties dated July 12 to Oct. 12, 2026. The search returned 595 inspections dated July 13 to Oct. 9. Of the 374 routine inspections:
| Grade posted | Routine inspections | Share |
|---|---|---|
| A | 362 | 97% |
| B | 10 | 3% |
| C | 2 | 1% |
There were also 221 follow-up inspections in the same period, which SCDA carries out within 10 days of a routine visit that needs a recheck; 211 of them ended with an A. A single inspection is a snapshot of one visit. Read the report, not only the letter, before drawing a conclusion about any establishment.
What the grades mean
SCDA scores each risk-based inspection on a 100-point scale:
| Grade | Score | SCDA’s description |
|---|---|---|
| A | more than 87 points | Food safety practices appeared to meet the requirements of Regulation 61-25. |
| B | 78 to 87 points | Food safety practices need improvement. |
| C | fewer than 78 points | Food safety practices need significant improvement. |
The posted grade is based on the score and the establishment’s compliance history, so in some circumstances set out in the regulation, the grade on the door can differ from the most recent score.
What inspectors check
SCDA says its inspections focus on the five risk factors most often behind foodborne illness:
- holding temperatures for hot and cold food
- cooking temperatures
- cleanliness of equipment that touches food
- food sources, which must be approved
- employee health, including a policy that sick workers stay home
Routine inspections happen one to four times a year, depending on the establishment’s risk category. New establishments are inspected before they open.
How to look up a restaurant
- Open SC Food Grades.
- Type the establishment’s name, or enter “Charleston” as the city and pick Charleston County.
- Add dates to narrow the search.
- Click the PDF icon on any result for the full inspection report, with the inspector’s notes.
A city search for “Charleston” also returns North Charleston results; check the city column.
Method
Counts come from SC Food Grades searches for the city “Charleston” in Charleston County and Berkeley County, all facility types, July 12 to Oct. 12, 2026, run on Oct. 12. We kept only rows whose city is exactly Charleston, which drops North Charleston but includes unincorporated areas that use a Charleston mailing address. We count inspections, not establishments, and report the grade as the database lists it. We do not rate or rank establishments. This page is refreshed monthly.
What this means for you
- Nearly all routine inspections at Charleston addresses end with an A.
- The letter is a summary; the PDF report says what the inspector found.
- Saw something unsafe? Report it to SCDA, not the city.
Related guides: new businesses in Charleston and farmers markets.
Frequently asked questions
Who inspects restaurants in Charleston?
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Retail Food Safety Department inspects restaurants, grocery stores, food trucks, schools and other retail food establishments statewide. Its phone number is 803-896-0640.
What do South Carolina restaurant grades mean?
Inspections are scored out of 100. A means more than 87 points, B means 78 to 87 points and C means fewer than 78 points. The posted grade also considers the establishment’s compliance history.
How do I look up a restaurant inspection in Charleston?
Search the state’s SC Food Grades database by name, city or county. Each result links to the full inspection report as a PDF.
How do I report a food safety problem at a restaurant?
File a complaint with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture through its food safety complaint form, or email retailfood@scda.sc.gov.
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