“ I have been a Charleston foodie/restaurant worker my entire life. I studied culinary arts and worked with talented people. But I have never experienced culinary taste buds explosion before like Chubby fish resturant ever. The subtle depth of flavors with light textures finished with the freshest seafood is beyond genius. Chef James London is a James Beard Best Chef Southeast finalist. Absolutely amazing space, very well executed with a beautiful location. The bar has definitely been raised! We are blessed to have this restaurant in our city. No reservations or parking, the restaurant fills up fast. I am going back as often as possible, nothing comes close to the culinary experience and dining satisfaction. You notice when guests are leaving they have an ecstatic look on their face, are light in their step almost like a ballerina floating on air. ”

“ We had the time of our lives at Chubby Fish on Tuesday night. Every single dish we ordered was incredible and worth the wait. Tapas style small plates are perfect for sharing with a group - they recommend ordering 3 per person. The team at Chubby is so thoughtful and had no issues accommodating my allergies. Chubby is such an impressive spot to bring friends and family while they're in town visiting! We ordered: Caviar sandwiches Bluefin tuna crudo Wagyu tartar Tuna belly toast Cauliflower Cacio e peppe Chili garlic shrimp Shrimp tempura bone marrow smoked curry Angel hair with octopus Life raft fried chicken icecream ”

“ Chubby fish dinner was so much fun! You had to line up around 4pm to get a table there but the food were amazing tho, worth the wait. We came and hang out at the Seahorse bar before they got our table ready and was able to ordered some yummy drinks and we can bring our drink to the restaurant. Fyi, the restaurant only serve wine and beers for the alcohol option. The host took us to our table and we sat infront of the cooking area which was so fun watching them cooking and prepping the food. The restaurant was small so it quite loud in there. We had the bluefin tuna belly toast from the raw bar, seared bluefin toro from the small plate option and bone marrow with shrimp tempura and spicy mayo from the large plate. Everything was so good and fresh and the service was pretty on point. They cheffs crew behind the tall bar counter table were friendly and very patience in answering all of my curios questions on their menu and food recommendation. Way to go Chubby Fish! ”

“ Always worth the wait!! The menu changes slightly to highlight the freshest seafood and veggies. The grilled oysters in curry, pasta, and fried chicken iced cream dessert are must gets. Also loved the tuna crudo & the caviar sammie (while expensive) is fun to try. Servers are knowledgeable and helpful with recommendations - overall fun & inviting atmosphere ”

“ Waited two hours to get in, but the food was excellent. The atmosphere was lively, and the service was solid. The yellowfin tuna crudo was a standout--flavorful with a nice crunch from the finely chopped tuna. Olive oil tied it together well. The grilled oysters were great. The Thai sauce added depth, and the oysters were intentionally a bit raw, which worked. The caviar sammich had good flavors, though the buttery bread slightly overpowered the caviar. Could've been more balanced. The poached golden tilefish started off bitter, but the sauce helped. We spoke to the waitress about it, and she was very accommodating. The flounder was good too, and the sauce was generous. We finished most of the fish and ended up packing the remaining fish to bring back to our hotel. Great spot, and was worth the long wait. However, if you're traveling to Charleston for the first time, the wait might cause your schedule to be disrupted, missing other spots to visit during your trip. I wish there was a better way to not stand in line for so long. ”

“ Was in Charleston and had heard great things about this place. We lined up at 4:20 pm , they open at 5pm and don't take reservations . There are 40 seats so we ended up having to come back at 630. While we waited I was hoping this place would be worth the wait. We walked back and were seated promptly. The place is packed , loud and tight but somehow it makes an incredible vibe. I felt a little awkward at first because I don't go to places like this often. I'm not a shirt and tie guy , so I was wearing very casual clothing and felt comfortable . Our server was Hunter and I'm so glad he was our server. Hunter explained how everything worked . He recommended that for the 2 of us to start out ordering 3-4 plates and if we needed more we can always add on. They serve everything family style so you share each plate. They bring everything 1 at a time after you finish each dish. You have to have a little patience. But as busy as this place is one of the things I loved the most is that nobody is in a hurry or rushing anything . You can totally relax while you wait for your next dish. The staff are all top notch. Everyone I came in contact with was stellar and seemed like they love their jobs. So we took some of Hunters recommendations and started off with poached sea bass , the taste was amazing with the smoky fish broth leaving a comfort food feeling in my soul. Next we had the curried golden tilefish. This dish knocked my socks off and both of us thought it was incredible. We continued with a whole flounder in brown butter with capers . It was fabulous we picked the bones clean ! Lastly, we had bone marrow shrimp tempura , this was my first time trying bone marrow.This dish was outstanding , it was so savory and delicious with the perfect heat and umami flavor. And for desert we shared the not fired chicken ice cream which was very unique and tasty. My only regret was not having a bigger stomach , but we were both stuffed so our magical night was over. Everything about our visit was amazing . I would never go to Charleston again without going back to try some more ! I couldn't recommend this place anymore. Just make sure to get in line early if you want to eat at 5. ”

“ Holly crap! Top 5 in Charleston Wow oh wow oh wow Ambiance to super comfy and relaxed Service is totally spot on in every way Food is ridiculous Go at 3:30pm and wait in line When they open at 5 you can eat then or put your name on the list for later Everything is sold out every night by 5:45pm so don't think you will creative and figure out another option Did of mention that the food is over the top ”

“ We chose a chilly night to venture here since the buzz is all about the wait and lines. Surprise, no wait or line for us. Parking is extremely challenging in the neighborhood so uber is the best option . We were sat at a communal table and enjoyed chatting with our neighbors. Service was very pleasant and we appreciated the tip to take a photo or 2 of the menu. Everything is shareable size so it added up quickly. We decided upon the curry grilled oysters, crab tagliatelle was the best, salad with the caper dressing was amazing. Tempura snapper portion was large, sauce was uninspired. Pineapple sorbet dipped in chocolate was good but the chocolate was more presentation than taste fir me. Loved the sorbet though. Wine list was uninteresting and I tried 3 whites which were flavorless before switching to a local beer. Frankly, food was good, seems to be a high hype IG than quality thoughtful food pairing. We do not eat meat so maybe that is the category that is incredible.... Too much quality competition in this city.... ”

“ Love the seafood in Charleston! It was my first time visiting this city and Chubby Fish was high on my bucket list for when I was here. Went on a Saturday so I imagine a pretty popular / crowded day and got in line about an hour before open (got there at 4pm when it opens at 5pm). There were definitely quite a few people who beat us there but once it came to opening, we were able to get sat right away. I believe there's an option where you can request a later slot! We sat at the bar and absolutely loved every dish! Stand outs were the caviar sammich, grilled oysters, the blue crab tagliatelle and the tuna on toast. I love that they have several rotating options as well as consistent hits. Their wine was fantastic as well. Service was helpful, knowledgable, and quick! I can't wait to come back and try even more of the items :) ”

“ I loved chubby fish. The food is amazing and our server was so nice. However, I was kind of overwhelmed by how close we were sitting to other tables. It's a smaller space so I respect that they are trying to maximize the number of customers inside as possible, but it was definitely slightly too cramped for my liking. They're so popular so I hope that they consider expanding! When it comes to the food, everything was divine. Some of my favorites were the oysters, the charred lamb ribs and the blue crab tagliatelle. The oysters were so fresh, higher salinity (which is how I like it), and came with a wonderful dip called tosazu, which is soy, rice vinegar, scallion and ginger. The yellowfin tuna crudo gets a honorable mention in my opinion because it was delicious and fresh, albeit not groundbreaking. The charred lamb ribs almost melted off the bone and were delectable on the bed of romesco. There was so much flavor! I loved the blue crab tagliatelle too, as there were large chunks of crab meat. The bone marrow entree was slightly too heavy and oily for my liking, but still really good. We ended our meal with their "short rib" dessert. It was chocolate ice cream, gochujang and shortbread cookie. I believe they work with Life raft treats for their desserts. ”