While traditional beef hamburgers are arguably as American as apple pie, the veggie burger is also big business in the United States.
“The nationwide appetite for plant-based burgers is only growing, with the market share expected to reach $14.9 billion by 2027, notes Globe News Wire, and delivery apps like DoorDash and GrubHub reporting orders for veggie burgers increasing by 433% and 362%, respectively,” according to a 2025 Tasting Table article.
Although plant-based alternatives like Beyond Beef make up a large part of this growing market, there always will be an argument for a burger made of vegetables that tastes like vegetables.
So when you ask vegetarians or vegans in Charleston where to get a good burger they can eat, you’ll probably hear frustration about how hard they are to find. But fear not, we have a list of the best veggie burgers in Charleston, thanks to an unscientific Instagram poll and a lot of chatting with people around town.
One common thread amongst great veggie burgers in the Holy City is sourcing stellar ingredients. Basic Kitchen’s iteration, for example, uses beets sourced through Bradford Farms, which partners with Clayton Rawl Farms in Lexington, S.C., a restaurant-farmer relationship that has existed for almost seven years. The Basic burger also uses mushrooms from Raven Farms.
Traditionally, veggie burgers were an afterthought and were often a bland and dry mix of black beans. Now, chefs are putting much more thought into them. Jérôme Meyer, executive chef at the Post House, is one of those pros.
“I believe more than ever that people are leaning into healthier options to stay in peak physical shape and increase their longevity,” Meyer said. “Butterbeans are a great source of protein without the high fat content and extra additives. We create balance with a side of fries because everybody deserves a little treat.”
Here, in alphabetical order, are eight great veggie burgers in Charleston.
Bangin’ Vegan Eats: This food truck serves 100% vegan food like loaded sandwiches, crunch wraps, fried cauliflower and loaded fries. The Dirty South burger is its signature bean patty loaded with house-made pimento “cheeze,” a fried green tomato, pineapple chutney, lettuce and jalapeños on a toasted bun. You can find the truck at places like Odyssey Bottle Shop, Sweatman’s Garden and the MUSC Greenway. More: Facebook.
Basic Kitchen: Basic Kitchen has been serving a veggie-forward menu on Wentworth Street since opening in 2017. Using seasonal, local produce, the menu aims to provide clean food that brings energy. Its Good Burger is a beet-based, house-made vegetable patty with pickled beet slaw and harissa aioli and a side of sweet potato fries. Add avocado, a pro tip courtesy of server Genevieve. More: basickitchen.com.
Big Gun Burger Shop: The Dirty Gardener at Big Gun Burger Shop across from Marion Square is a veggie burger with eggplant-tomato jam, fried kale and avocado. While known for beef burgers like the Bungalow (with bacon, caramelized onion, Havarti cheese, tomato and dill mayo), its veggie rendition is definitely worth a try. More: bigguncharleston.com.
Hugh-Baby’s BBQ and Burger Shop: Hugh-Baby’s, founded by barbecue luminary Pat Martin, serves burgers made from a proprietary blend of premium beef, ground fresh daily, as well as slow-smoked pulled pork, turkey and bologna. Much care is also put into its veggie burger, which is a house-made patty with smoked black beans, mushrooms and cashews, topped with Swiss cheese, pickles, lettuce, onion, heirloom tomato and comeback sauce. More: hughbabys.com.
Jack of Cups Saloon: This Folly Beach institution serves a menu laced with Asian and Indian flavors that leans towards vegan and vegetarian (but fear not, it also has dishes with meat). The Big Jack Burger is a house-made lentil and red bean patty on a toasted pretzel bun with provolone, lettuce, tomato and Jack sauce. Newly opened Jack of Cups Trading Post — on Folly Road — also has a veggie burger. Its Harvest Melt is a black eyed pea patty with provolone, caramelized onion, lettuce and maple Dijon on a pretzel bun. More: jackofcupssaloon.net.
The Post House: Tucked away in Mount Pleasant’s Old Village, the Post House offers a seasonal menu, classic cocktails and a stellar veggie burger. The crispy butterbean burger is stick-to-your-ribs satisfying, and is served with American cheese, carrot slaw and comeback sauce on a milk bun alongside golden, salty fries. More: theposthouseinn.com.
The Royal American: For many, mushrooms are the most satisfying replacement for meat when it comes to a veggie burger. And the portobello mushroom burger at The Royal American does not disappoint. Marinated and grilled mushroom is served with provolone, garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato and onion on a sesame seed bun. More: theroyalamerican.com.
Sesame Burgers and Beer: The restaurant’s locations in Mount Pleasant and Park Circle have the most variety when it comes to veggie burgers. Almost 15 preparations of burger can be made with a black bean patty, from the Charleston (pimento cheese, tomato and house-made dill pickle) to the mushroom Swiss (grilled mushrooms, garlic aioli, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion). You can also build your own burger by selecting from a very large list of toppings. More: sesameburgersandbeer.com.
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