If you’ve been wondering whether Chubby Fish is actually worth the wait, as a local, my answer is yes.
Chubby Fish is one of the hardest restaurant reservations to get in Charleston, except it isn’t really a reservation at all. It’s walk in only and people line up hours before dinner to get their name on the list.
I’ve eaten at Chubby Fish several times now since they first opened in 2018 and have worked my way through a good chunk of the menu. As a Charleston local and someone who genuinely plans a lot of my own travels around food, I’ve eaten at a lot of great restaurants. I’m not going to tell you to stand in line for hours just because a restaurant is trendy.
And yes, I know some people think Chubby Fish is overhyped. I actually understand why. The line has become part of the restaurant’s reputation and there’s no question that has created a lot of buzz (smart on their part!)
But after going myself several times, I think the food really does live up to it and is consistently good!
Chubby Fish is a small, chef driven seafood restaurant from Chef James London, with a menu that changes daily based on what is fresh and available. That means every visit can be a little different and with all the incredible seafood coming from our coastline, that’s a pretty fun way to eat!
So if Chubby Fish is on your Charleston list, here’s how I’d actually go about getting in, what I’d order, and whether I think it’s worth the hassle.
Does Chubby Fish Take Reservations?
No. Chubby Fish does not take traditional reservations.
You won’t find a reservation time on Resy or OpenTable, and you can’t simply call and reserve a table for dinner. The restaurant currently lists itself as no reservations and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5pm to 10pm (11pm on Fri/Sat).
Instead, you put your name down in person when they open for dinner. And they write it down with a pencil and paper!
And this is where things get a little unusual. People line up well before 5pm to get their names on the list. Once you get to the front, they’ll tell you what seating options are available. Depending on how early you arrive, you may be able to eat right away or choose a later time.
They don’t call or text you when your table is ready, so make sure you know when you’re supposed to come back.
How to Get a Table at Chubby Fish
There are a few different ways to get a table at Chubby Fish and I’ve got a couple of insider tips that can make the process a lot easier.
1. Gold Table Reservations Through OpenTable
Okay, this one is NEW!
Starting October 13, 2026, there is finally another way to get an actual reservation at Chubby Fish!
Chubby Fish is joining OpenTable’s Gold Tables program, which gives diners with Gold status access to a very limited number of tables at some of the hardest restaurants to book. OpenTable launched Gold Tables this year as a new perk for its most frequent diners, with participating restaurants setting aside select tables for Gold members. Check for reservations on Open Table.
So if Chubby Fish is on your Charleston bucket list, this is definitely something to know about.
The catch? There’s always a catch, right?! You need Gold status on OpenTable to book them.
So if you aren’t Gold yet, start booking those OpenTable reservations! Gold status is earned through the OpenTable Regulars program after completing six reservations within 12 months. That’s not too hard to do!
Once you’re Gold, you’ll have access to the Gold Tables that Chubby Fish releases through OpenTable. There will be a very limited number of reservations, so this isn’t going to suddenly make Chubby Fish easy to book, but I am VERY excited that there is finally another option besides getting in line at 3:30pm.
Honestly, if you’ve been wanting to try Chubby Fish, I’d start working toward that Gold status now! Tons of other great restaurants are on Open Table now like Post House, Edmund’s Oast, Jack Rabbit Filly, Riva Mare and more!
2. Get in Line at Chubby Fish
This is the most straightforward option. Sort of.
If you really want to eat at Chubby Fish, I would plan to get there around 3:30 to 4pm.
On a weekend, I would lean toward the earlier side.
The restaurant opens at 5pm, but the line can get long well before then. I’ve driven by and seen a huge line around 3:30pm to 4pm and already finding a substantial line, so I would not treat 4pm as a guarantee of getting the first seating.
Once they start taking names at 5pm, they’ll let you know what time you can come back.
One thing I really want to emphasize: They don’t call or text you. So if they tell you to come back at 7pm, don’t wander too far away and assume your phone is going to ring!
3. Hire Someone to Wait in Line for You
Yes. This is a real thing.
There are literally people in Charleston who will stand in line at Chubby Fish for you. Smart business people!!
If you are visiting Charleston and don’t want to spend several hours standing outside, this can be a great option. I’ve got a couple contacts for someone who does this, so feel free to message me on IG @leisurelycharleston if you need it and I’ll send it your way.
I know it sounds a little ridiculous to pay someone to stand in a restaurant line for you.
But if you’re visiting Charleston for a short trip and only have a few nights, I can totally see the logic. Plus, it’s hot and humid here half the year!
I’d rather have you spend those hours exploring Charleston, getting a drink, shopping or doing something you actually want to do.
4. Go With a Group
This is my favorite insider tip for getting an actual planned dinner at Chubby Fish. And especially as a parent to little kids now, I do have to plan babysitters!
If you have a group of around 8 to 10 people, you can plan ahead and inquire about one of the restaurant’s larger special event dinners.
That’s what we did the last time I went and it was such a fun way to experience Chubby Fish.
The restaurant does have a large table in the middle, and for our group, they brought out a preset selection of food from the menu. There is a minimum spend, but they brought us nearly everything on the menu!
I loved not having to order or decide what to get. Food just kept coming out, and if we wanted something extra, we could add it. The only thing we really had to decide on was the wine!
It made the whole dinner feel very relaxed because we weren’t sitting around trying to figure out what six, eight or ten people should order.
The important thing is that you need to be flexible with your date. This is not something I’d plan around a specific Saturday night a few weeks from now and expect to get. We booked in July for a September dinner!
But if you’re local or planning a Charleston trip well in advance and have a group, this is the route I would look into.
It is definitely an expensive option, so I really think you need a full group to make this one make sense. We had 8 people and it was easily over $400 per couple.
What to Do While Waiting for Chubby Fish
Here’s the part I actually think can make the whole Chubby Fish experience more fun.
Make the wait part of your evening. You know you are going to be waiting, so make a plan for that!
Chubby Fish is located on Coming Street and there are a few nearby spots where you can grab a drink while you’re waiting.
One of my favorites is The Seahorse, which is right next door and is run by the same owners. The martini at The Seahorse is one of the best! The mezcal marg is good too. Since Chubby Fish is primarily a beer and wine restaurant, grabbing a cocktail at The Seahorse while you wait is a very good move.
Elliotborough Mini Bar is another option nearby and one I have loved for many years! It is truly a ‘mini’ sized bar and that is what makes it special!
I actually have friends who will put their name down, go back home to get ready, and then come back for their dinner time. Honestly, I think that’s a pretty smart way to do it!
What Is Chubby Fish Like?
This is a small, intimate restaurant with only 40 seats and I think that’s important to understand before you go and commit all your time!
The restaurant describes its food as “Chef Driven. Dock to Table.” and focuses on fresh Lowcountry seafood and seasonal ingredients sourced from local fishermen and farmers.
The menu changes daily, so I wouldn’t go in with a very specific list of things you have to order. Though, there is some consistency with types of things like crudos, a curry dish, grilled market fish, etc.
I would always ask your server what is especially good that night. Their staff is really so warm and friendly which makes it such a good experience.
And order a lot of things to share! That is really the best way to experience Chubby Fish if you ask me!
What to Order at Chubby Fish
This is one of my favorite parts of Chubby Fish because I’ve tried so much of the menu especially that last time I went because they brought our group nearly everything!
I tried everything here obviously, but I also loved the cauliflower cacio e pepe, tempura fish was so delicious, chili garlic shrimp, and the fish curry! One of my top favorites was the sushi hand rolls so I would not skip those if they have them!
The menu changes daily, so don’t take this as a permanent Chubby Fish menu. Think of it more as dishes I’ve tried and would happily order again when I see them on the menu.
The Caviar Sammich
The Caviar Sammich is one of those dishes that sounds almost too simple when you read the description. Tater roll. Crème fraîche. Caviar. That’s basically it. But, it is seriously so good!
Oysters
If you’re a seafood person, obviously you’re going to want to order local oysters here.
Chubby Fish works with oysters from different regions and the selection can change. The restaurant’s current menu lists oysters from South Carolina, North Carolina and Massachusetts, among others.
I love that you can really taste the differences between them, rather than just ordering “a dozen oysters” and calling it a day.
Celery Salad
This is one of my favorite examples of why I think Chubby Fish is worth the hype. A celery salad doesn’t exactly sound like the thing you’re going to remember from a big dinner.
But, it was one of my favorites and pairs so well with the crudos, seafood, etc! The version I’ve had has had this combination of celery, crunchy vegetables, salty cheese and other really thoughtful flavors that make it much more interesting than you expect.
Tuna Crudo
The tuna dishes I’ve had here have been another standout for me! I do love tuna though.
Chubby Fish tends to take really beautiful seafood and add unexpected combinations of flavors, textures and sauces without completely covering up the ingredient itself. This one was topped with corn, avocado, cilantro and was sooo good!
That’s one of the things I appreciate most about the cooking here.
Whole Market Fish
The market fish is another great one to order, especially if you’re going with a group and want to try a few different things. On our most recent visit, it came with these focaccia croutons on top that were SO good. They added such a great crunchy element to the fish.
And Save Room for Dessert
You might not think of Chubby Fish as a dessert destination, but don’t skip the last course.
I’ve had the Not Fried Chicken Ice Cream many many times, which is exactly the kind of playful dish that makes this restaurant fun! It looks like a fried chicken drumstick but is actually dessert. We ate it too quickly for a photo! It’s been on the menu since they opened and is definitely worth it!
We also had the olive oil cake (pictured above) which was to die for served with fresh plums and whipped cream on top.
A Note About Allergies
I also want to mention allergies because Chubby Fish was particularly thoughtful about this when we visited. And now that I have a child with an allergy, I care about this even more so you might want to know!
One of my friends has a severe peanut allergy and this was a restaurant where she felt really comfortable eating. The staff was very knowledgeable and took the time to tell her which dishes were made with peanut oil.
For example, the focaccia croutons that came on our market fish were fried in peanut oil. They let her know and put the croutons on the side so the rest of us could still enjoy them if we wanted. They did this with every single dish and told her what she could or couldn’t have.
I really appreciated how attentive they were. If you have a serious allergy, I would of course always let your server know when you arrive (or ahead of time) since ingredients and preparations can change, but based on our experience, I was really impressed with how thoughtful the team was.
Is Chubby Fish Worth the Wait?
This is probably the question you’re really asking. For me, yes! Would I stand in line for hours every time I wanted dinner in Charleston? Absolutely not. We have way too many good restaurants here for that.
But if you’re visiting Charleston and you’re a serious foodie, I do think Chubby Fish is worth making a little extra effort for. They have been listed in the 50 Best Restaurants list and are on the Michelin guide for Charleston so there’s certainly a good bit of hype, but it’s warranted!
I’ve eaten at a lot of restaurants in Charleston and I plan plenty of my own travels around food, so I’m not easily convinced that a restaurant is worth the hype just because it’s hard to get into. Usually it’s the opposite!
And yes, I think the line has definitely added to the Chubby Fish hype. When people see a restaurant with a line out the door every night, they’re going to want to know what all the fuss is about.
But after eating here multiple times, the food is genuinely that good. And because the menu changes with what’s fresh, there’s always a little bit of an element of surprise, which is part of the fun.
So, I wouldn’t tell you to spend half your Charleston vacation standing in line for dinner, but if you are a foodie and Chubby Fish is on your list, I think it’s worth figuring out!
Chubby Fish Charleston: What to Know Before Going
If I were sending you to Chubby Fish for the first time, these are the things I’d tell want you to know:
- Don’t show up at 5pm expecting to walk right in. Get there early. I would say 4pm weekdays and 3:30pm weekends especially if you want an earlier seating time.
- Don’t assume you’ll get a text. You won’t. Remember your return time.
- Be flexible. The earlier you arrive, the more options you’ll generally have for seating.
- Bring water and something for the weather. You’re potentially going to be outside for a while and Charleston summers are hot. And maybe bring a book or something fun to pass the time.
- Make a plan for the wait. The Seahorse is right next door and makes a great pre-dinner stop after you’ve put your name down. I also LOVE mini bar!
- Don’t get too attached to a specific dish. The menu changes daily and seasonally.
In My Opinion: Dining at Chubby Fish Charleston
So, is Chubby Fish worth the effort? I think so. I wouldn’t plan an entire Charleston trip around getting a table here, but if you’re a foodie and want to try one of the restaurants that has Charleston talking right now, I’d make a plan and go for it!
And now that you know a few tricks for getting in, hopefully you don’t have to spend your entire afternoon standing in line to do it! 🙂
Continue reading:
- Our Guide to Charleston’s Michelin Star Restaurants
- Iconic Food to try in Charleston
- My Ultimate Charleston Foodie Guide
save it for later!
