H & R Sweet Shop

Best southern food and the service and music is from another time! Great experience on many levels!

Never heard of this place but my son said he’d been hearing good things. Thought I’d been transported back in time. Blues music out of a stereo was first clue this was going to be different. Older black gent wearing a yellow shirt, suspenders and a fedora asked me what I wanted. Told him burger with grilled onions. When he said the onion rings were fresh I was all in. About 15 minutes later I got a plate of some of the best onion rings around as well as a burger with so many grilled onions that I wasn’t sure there was a burger underneath when the order came. I could barely eat half. What a way to clog your arteries! Also, cash only.

One of the best burgers I have ever eaten in my life! My husband ordered okra as a side and I had the onion rings— both cooked to perfection. I could hardly contain my excitement when I saw what style the onion rings were— the skinny, thin style. It reminded me of my mom’s home cooked meals! The root beer was also fabulous! I would love to return the next time we visit Mt. Pleasant!

Okay, my dining experience here was memorable to say the least. Ordered fried shrimp plate and cheeseburger all the way. What followed was excellent food (seriously), even better conversation with Mr. Coffee and Ms. Renee (sp?), and what had been a not so good day and turned into a great one. Please support these folks, and give the seafood side of the menu a shot;) it’s all good but that side may really stick with you.

Back in the city since high school and wanted some soul food ! This hit the spot. 10/10. May not be a good idea for a lunch break because you will be zzzzzz after this meal lol. Thanks for the good food and service.

H & R Sweet Shop in Old Village kept coming up in a restaurant group, whenever folks asked for the best burgers in the area — and I can see why! I’ve had cheeseburgers that cost twice as much and didn’t taste half as good. I can’t wait to go back and try the fried pork chop.

This was until today one of the best kept secret eateries in Mt Pleasant! I ordered the baked pork chop with rice and lima beans. It was freshly prepared, promptly served and delicious! My companion and a cheese burger with fries. The burger was big, with home made patty. With 3 sweet teas the bill was $21. I understand why this unpretensious eatery has been here for more than 40 years!

I never leave reviews. But this one deserves the time and the 5 stars! Some of the best pork chops and fried chicken. Hamburgers and onion rings were excellent. A true hole in the wall. But oh so worth it!

Great food but so slow I can never go back. I walked in and ordered a burger, fries and a side of wings. Amazing but was it worth the 50 mins I waited?? Ugh No way. The lady was real sweet but I believe some of their regular customers were served before me. 3 people walked in after me and ordered and received their food first. At the end around the 40 min mark she yells to the back, I need that burger order. 10 mins later my food was ready.

Their lunch specials are delicious and it certainly feels like my mom or grandma prepared it! The fried chicken is perfect. Thank you for being such a special place and friendly people as I recuperate. Blessings!

He knows what he is doing!! Delicious- no matter what you choose for your meal- it's gonna be one of the best. Burgers, chicken, fish...

The best burger ever and I'm a burger snob! This was better than homemade, juice dripping down your arm, need a ton of napkins. SO good!

This place is a true gem in Mt Pleasant! Their fried chicken is great and on Fridays they have a seafood special. The people are kind and the prices are very good. Heads up, this is a cash only establishment.

Best Burger in Mt P, and a great value to boot! Do yourself a favor, and Eat Here! Your taste buds and tummy will thank you!

H & R Sweet Shop on Royall Avenue in Mount Pleasant is a great place to go for delicious and flavorful food in a relaxed atmosphere for an excellent value. I really like the menu that they have here with the sandwiches and seafood. The staff here is very friendly and accommodating to make sure that you have everything that you need.

Great food, cool atmosphere, friendly service and affordable. Best fried okra we've had! Unsure why this place doesn't get more love from the locals. It's always a must visit when in the area, a true gem!

Really great find in the Charleston area! We really enjoyed our visit to the Sweet Shop! Fried Okra was great and the sweet tea sublime! I had fried shrimp and it was the best shrimp I've had in years. Only reason not a 5 star is my wife's chicken was a bit dry. But great service, great food!

I definitely miss having H & R Sweet Shop down the road from me. It always escapes me as an option when I'm on that side of town. I might need to set a proximity notification on my phone to remember to go get a burger! The food here is great and I love the old school vibes. You get a ton of food and it's so cheap. They play old jazz records and the guy behind the counter is crushing the lunch counter fashion game. This is one of the best kept secrets in old village!

Drive over for the Monday Special "Turkey Wings" and also wanted the fried Okra which looks great on the photos. Proprietors didn't have either item. We need to professionalize these businesses. Have to drive across town to get Turkey wings at Hannibal's. I'm sure they are lovely people but they need to do better.

I've been reading about H&R for quite a while with great reviews. Stop by for a cheeseburger and fries and they were delicious. Great hamburger in a place that has great appeal.

Lot's of places to get burgers around here, but after 1 visit I am sold on H&R Sweet Shop. The one-of-a-kind seasoning on the perfectly griddled patty let me know this cook knows his craft. Sesame bun and fixings were very fresh. LOVED the fried shoestring onion rings. Friendly folks. Great find.

Great burgers, delicious onion rings. I like the combination of seasoning that they use in their fresh handmade burgers. Mt. Pleasant location that's been here since I was a kid- it's nice to come home and see some old familiar locales! Super friendly people and a great local business. They now have some local artwork for sale- I loved the palm fish - what a neat idea! Fried chicken that one of the other folks got looked delish- next time!

Only 4 stars because it is so no frills and only one table seats more than 2. But the burgers and the chicken are fantastic and extremely low priced as well!

This is the best place in Mount Pleasant to get any real soul food. If you're looking for delicious homemade from scratch , authentic, low country cooking for a super reasonable price , please come to eat here.

My first word is... GO.. This shop is old.. but spotlessly clean and a true gem of a place. Once you pull open the rickety old door to get in, the smell of aging hits you.. can't really describe the smell, it's not off putting but am aroma of days gone by, like from granny's house back in the day.. walk up to the counter as you pass tables which seat two or four, not many about ten max I would say and you arrive at a long counter. Here is where all the magic happens, every sense is aroused. The eyes, where to look, what to read, snacks, treats, drinks, most from days gone by.. music... Jazz to classical, from a record player, how do I know that, because the needle slipped & the music repeated as it often did with record players. No WiFi, no computers to ring in the check here. It's all done by the lone owner.. and no credit cards either. He is known as "Coffee". What a gem of a man, with the suspenders, straw hat from the fifties & bow tie. He takes the orders, cooks the food attends to customers, plays the music, keeps it clean & presents amazing southern soul dishes. There are daily specials and evening dinners. Phenomenal experience

Low key, solid neighborhood joint. Gentleman at the counter and dj extraordinaire. One of the best cheeseburgers I've ever had. Cheese melted like butter. I hesitate to call it a dive joint cause it's really not. Just a storefront that over the years had probably been a couple of things but always a local go to. The man in the Sunday suit, tie and hat did it all and had an excellent soft blues 40's 50's musical sensibility. We'll just call him Mr. Sweets. Definitely a place to try. I've heard the fried chicken is amazing as well. Looking forward to going back soon!!!!

We stopped in here, and I want to start out first by saying that I really did enjoy my experience here and the food was great! This burger is AMAZING and you cannot beat the price for a burger, fries, and a drink. That being said, I really wish I had read reviews to know that it came with onions because I REALLY dislike onions, and they were all over this thing! Also, as a few other people have mentioned, it's cash only - we didnt know that but luckily had $20 on us and that was more than what we needed. The gentleman working really blew my mind - it appears he was handling everything on his own, and he didn't miss a beat! Yes, it looks a little rough from the road but do not let that trick you! Get a burger. It is absolutely worth it.

This is a hidden gem For anyone who doesn't live in the old part of Mt Pleasant. There is probably a handful of family owned restaurants that are multi generational in the Lowcountry - And I'm talking Lowcountry that extends beyond South Carolina's borders. However despite the impressive lineage of this restaurant, the food is the reason to come. The daily specials posted, are understated. you are not going to know that you're going to get the best oxtail of your life when you order the okra soup. And maybe that's because It's a chefs prerogative. The hamburgers are huge and hand formed. The restaurant itself is dark, cozy and spic and span. This is a great spot for families, as place to catch up with a friend, or to dine solo. H&R is in the tradition of family Bon appetite!

Frances T recommended this place. I was in the neighborhood, on purpose, and just had to check it out. I eat a lot of chicken. If there are 14 meals per week where chicken could be consumed (a lunch and dinner each day) chicken is probably in my tummy for 10 of those. It's really the only meat I eat. 97% of the time I get grilled chicken, and if I do get fried chicken, I almost always take the skin off before eating. This fried chicken was so good I just ate everything including the bones. This is basically a house that was turned into a restaurant. It's pretty rough looking inside and out. The toilet in the restroom has to sit at about a 31 degree angle. Good luck having a seat on that thing ladies! It was cold out, but the dining room was very warm, and the bathroom was arctic cold. Not sure why there was such a dichotomy and temp variation. It's a guy wearing fancy clothes doing the cooking and a girl taking orders: that's it's. But the food is unbelievable. The fried chicken was crispy without being greasy, and whatever seasoning that dude used was PERFECT! Not too bready either. Came with a side of fries (disappointed that they were frozen crinkle fries). I got a leg, a thigh, a breast, and a wing, AND fries, for $6. SIX DOLLARS! You can't get 4 day old chicken that cheap at a gas station. And this chicken is soooo good. If you are like me, and take the skin off of fried chicken, you have two choices- 1) ignore your instinct and just eat everything; 2) don't even come here.

I have no idea who H & R are, but whoever they are, I'd like to give them a hug and thank them for opening this location back in 1945. I met a friend here for lunch yesterday, in the pouring rain, and would come back in a hurricane if it meant that I could have another one of these magical burgers. I mean, it's just a burger, but the flavor, and juiciness, and cheesiness, and the toppings ... oh man, I'm salivating again. The fries were just fries, so let's get back to the burger. $6 for a cheese burger, fries, and an extra $1 for a never-ending sweet tea, which I'm pretty sure had some peach flavor in it. Man. Every bite of this burger was awesome. It only took about 10 minutes for it to be placed in front of me after ordering, and even less time to devour it. Sautéed onions, melted cheese, sliced cucumbers, sliced tomato, chopped lettuce, and big ol' buns holding it all together. The rest of the menu looked pretty awesome too. $1 for a hot dog!? Daily specials are listed as well, and based on what the guys in front of us ordered, they look like they will feed an army of one for yet again, a great price. I will definitely be back to try out some of those gems. I only wish I lived closer :-)

After seeing H & R listed are Yahoo's 100 Best Burgers in the U.S. (#45) I just had to give this Mount Pleasant institution a try. The glowing Yelp reviews had me intrigued also. I must say H&R lived up to the hype. The building they are in is old but that adds to the ambiance. They have been in business since 1945 - wow that is amazing. I have had the pleasure or ordering to go and also eating in and both experiences were awesome. I got the cheeseburger both times and the wife got the TUE special - fried pork with Okra soup. I was worried she might nut enjoy the Okra soup but it was so delicious she didn't even let me try it. Apparently some things are just to good to be shared. I did get to try the pork and it was moist and delicious. Nice flavorful bread coating and well spiced. The burger was simple but everything I wanted it to be. A hand formed well spiced patty with some fried onions and tasty cheese on it. Add in the nice bun and lettuce and tomato and it was perfection. This was how burgers should be nothing fancy just delicious. As I am writing this I am already craving their burger and making plans for my next visit. This tasty treat was only $6 dollars and was the best burger I have had in years!!! I have also had their onion rings and fried okra. Both were very cooked perfectly and coated with the delicious batter. I will say the onion rings and what I would call onion strings but I must say they are very tasty. The fired okra is a must try if you like me are a fan of fried okra. The service is very good but they take time putting your meal together so don't be alarmed as it is well worth the wait. What is so special about H&R is the atmosphere. The old building, the music and the regulars. The regulars are so fun to talk to as many of them have been coming in since they were kids. On my last visit the gentleman sitting at the counter shared some of the history of H&R and spoke about the owners father. He told us what a great a man he was and how he paid for boxing lessons for him when he was a kid. Such history and great food. I love this place and hope all who read this review come and try H&R and take in this amazing place. You will not be disappointed.

You just don't find places like this anymore. I agree with the stepping back in time feeling. From the building to the music to the photos on the wall, you really can imagine what it was like 50 years ago in there. I ordered a burger and it was delicious. I also loved the fries. The prices are amazing for what you get. Can't wait to go back and try more off the menu.

Was told from a friend about this little small place w the best burgers around. The place is not only quaint but simply amazing! From the friendly smiles when you walk in to the homemade burger and fried okra. You want a good atmosphere, friendly smiles and dadgum GREAT food then you must try it!!

Wow, what a great place to enjoy a good burger! Tucked away in old Mt. Pleasant, don't let the look fool you. Inside there is serious cooking going on and you are missing it. Go for the burger! Or the cheeseburger, or the bacon cheeseburger! Then come back and have something else like the pork chop sandwich, the chicken sandwich, or order the daily special. You will enjoy one good home cooked meal, and leave so full. I have been here 2x this week, once with my better half, then with 2 coworkers. Each time we had friendly service, by both the owner and then Rene. We all agreed this is a place that is full of local flavor and spirit. While we dined, many customers walked in to pick up to go orders or also dined inside. No frills, but good food, good music and a great price. Cash only! Look at all the other reviews, you're missing a Mt. Pleasant original!

I love these kind of places. The kind that take you back. Brings back memories of being at granny house after church. It's small and local. The food is great all and all if you are looking to get away from chain restaurants and try something that represents home this is the place to eat

Clean Amazing and Fabulous!!! Local Place Full Of Love and Blessings In Every Bite! True Cooking At It's Best. Xoxo

Once I walked in I LOVED the atmosphere! You can tell this is truly a staple in the community. The Friday special was fried fish and shrimp with collards, mac n chz, and red rice. The food was good and very reasonably priced! Just the right amount of seasoning not salty or bitter. Best word to describe it: COMFORTING!!!

Lord have mercy, it ain't fancy but it's good. I enjoyed a huge juicy cheeseburger, piping hot fries, and an ice cold soda, all for $8.

Yes, the burger is great! For me though, the winner winner is chicken dinner. That fried chicken is beyond delicious! I lived two blocks from H&R. I must have driven past it a thousand times driving car pool. The kids walked there to buy candy. Why oh why did I not know there was such soul touching food right in front of me!?! I guess the name 'Sweet Shop' means sweet deal, sweet Jesus, down home good food (oh, and some candy on the side). If you don't feel like hanging out, listening to some blues and getting the local flair, order ahead. They'll have it hot, ready and waiting.

Outstanding. Got the fried chicken plate, 2 good sized boneless thighs, fries, and a salad for $4. Not to be missed. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Folks working were extremely nice. Great jazz on the speakers.

Great serice even better food. Food is cooked to order, seasoned to perfection and worth every penny but not over priced. You won't be disappointed.

Great cheeseburger and the special type of ambience and local sense of place that has all but disappeared from Charleston. Service was very friendly and polite. The menu is simple with burgers and wings and various daily specials and dinner plates. Atmosphere is homey and well worn. The cheeseburger itself is the prize - free form with a good crisp, it's a big lunch and an amazing value. The fries are crinkle cut and unfortunately don't match up to the quality of the burger. If you're picky about where you set down to eat, get your burger to go and sit on a bench on the Pitt St bridge. If you want to catch a glimpse of the most magical burger chef, set down at the bar, enjoy the tunes, and keep your eyes on the kitchen door. It is as if if William from This Is Us came to life and ran the kitchen. A bit surreal but overall a magical and welcome departure from chain burgers and tourists.

Being a burger connoisseur, I had to try a burger from H & R Sweet Shop, after our friend told us about their fantastic "made to order" food. And from the glowing reviews, I was convinced it was a "must try." The food was made on the spot, fresh, served piping hot in a "to go" tray. You could tell they took the time to fix it just right, (grease and all) to customers' satisfaction. The burger was delicious, complimented by a generous order of fries and a drink, very reasonably priced! The experience reminded me of a hometown soda shop experience that you simply do not have much these days.

H & R Sweet Shop is truly one of a kind. Everything served is home made. The hamburgers are totally 1970's genre- not the assembly line McDonald's that millennials know. The shop is very small and service can be somewhat irregular. H & R Sweet Shop is fun to stop in- have a burger and enjoy your day.

Stopped here for a quick bite. Bacon cheese burger was so good and filling! Definitely coming back!

Best burger ever! This place was definitely worth coming to. We are from out of town and just took a chance based on the other great reviews. We will definitely be back!

Coffee is the man! Always dressed to the nines and wearing his sharpest neckwear! He makes an excellent burger and handles the school kids like a pro while others are trying to enjoy their supper in peace. Coffee is an awesome guy who loves jazz music- chat with him about it any chance you get! Can't wait for another one of his burgers!!

All I can say is wow! I don't know how I didn't find this place! I just ate my food and couldn't wait to write a review! I had the cabbage with rice and pork chops. Let me just, I have not been able to find good cabbage in Charleston since I've been here. The price is very reasonable and the food is outstanding. I can't wait to come back tomorrow and try something else. This is definitely a hidden gem and I am a customer for life!

Great food + Great price + Great conversation = a must stop and eat. A local spot to relax and enjoy home cooking.

Stumbled across a review for the Sweet Shop (which I am surprised there are not more of for this little gem!) and just couldn't wait to try it for myself. I wasn't sure what to expect but enjoyed it and think you should go and enjoy it, too! As far as I could tell from what little info I could find online, they were open until 6pm on Saturday. We got there shortly after 5pm for dinner and from the road we couldn't even tell whether they were open or not. The Hat Shop next door had a large CLOSED sign in window that you could easily see, and thinking the two businesses operated on same hours we almost gave up, but once we were actually up to the door we saw a very old, faded OPEN sign sitting pretty low in the Sweet Shop's window. (Note- hours are still slightly unclear but inside they have a sign showing they are open until 8pm) We pushed the door open and the daylight flooded into a dark and narrow "dining room". There are a few tables along one side and as you make your way back you see the counter on the right. First, there is a glass counter filled with candies and snacks and right beyond it is a bar counter with 5-6 stools for seating. Behind the counter sat Coffee, who seems to be the one man show operating H & R Sweet Shop. He was snacking when we came in, listening to music, and just hanging by himself. I was excited to be able to chat with him and get his story, BUT unfortunately within a minute of us sitting down the front door flung open and in came nearly a dozen middle schoolers who had been playing basketball at the park next door. The kids were LOUD. Coffee took our order (fried chicken dinner and a cheeseburger) and then immediately started taking theirs. They flung wadded up dollar bills and coins at him as they ordered sodas, mini donuts, candy bars, etc. A few of them ordered chicken wings. Coffee disappeared into the kitchen and re-emerged with three to-go boxes of wings for the kids. By now, their crowd had grown as more kids came and joined them, and there was a line of 4-6 waiting for candy and sodas. Coffee fulfilled these orders (I saw them more as "demands") and as they got rowdier you could tell his patience got thinner. He directed them to "GO PLAY OUTSIDE!!" several times and they would quiet down momentarily before getting all excited again. Yes kids will be kids, but kids shouldn't be hanging out unsupervised in a dining establishment! At first we were a little put off that our order which was taken first was not prepared first, but in hindsight I think Coffee was just trying to get the kids in and out as fast as possible. Plus once our food came it was well worth the short time we did wait! To be fair, this place is extremely simple. You get paper towels for napkins and the ketchup comes in packets. It's pretty run down with wallpaper peeling off the walls, dim lighting, outdated menu boards where prices have been taped over and re-written, and the list could go on. But you're not going here for the atmosphere so if it bothers you just order to go! Fun fact/interesting story: while we were eating two groups of gentlemen came in and sat beside us at the counter. One of them lives downtown Charleston but drives into Mt. P to eat at the Sweet Shop and had brought a friend along with him. He was telling the story of how Coffee's family used to run a barber and beauty shop in the building and years ago they started selling candy bars and sodas to the kids that would come by afterschool. As time went on, their "sweet shop" became more prominent than anything and they opened up the kitchen, too. Now the rest is history but they're still cooking up delicious soul food in the back of this joint! Overall- the food is good and greasy and just about the tastiest soul food you will find in Mt. P. Keep in mind that it is CASH ONLY. And if you try to call them and don't get an answer, don't assume they are closed! We listened to the phone ring over and over (and over!) again while Coffee totally ignored it. Thinking he couldn't hear it, I said "Someone is really trying to get in touch with you" to which he responded, "My customers are here, I take care of them first".

A nice change of pace taking my wife to H &R Sweet Shop. It was almost like traveling back in time fifty years. The Cheeseburger was bigger than I had expected and the fries were quite tasty. The food is very affordable, especially given how great it tastes. The restaurant has been family owned since it's founding. The chef and woman running the counter were both very friendly and made us feel welcome. It is cash only so come prepared.

Lordy Mercy!! Diamond in the rough. I've been hearing about this place from my Uncle for weeks and finally tried it. He said go there with a healthy appetite and get the burger. I went with an appetite and got the burger. Holy giant plate of goodness. First of all the Mr. Coffe and his neice are the sweetest people and want you to feel at home. Then there is the food. If you leave hungry, that's your fault. This burger was super juicy and so full of flavor. I left stuffed. For my next visit Mr. Coffee's neice said try the fried chicken. I can't wait!! FYI: this is an old school cash only joint.

We went back the next day before leaving Charleston. My son loved the fried chicken so much that he ordered it again, this time he requested just dark meat and it was even better than the previous day! Hubby loved his cheeseburger and fried okra. My fried whiting was not am wow-worthy so I'll probably stick with the fried chicken next time I am in town. All of that food for about $30. Can't beat it!

Best burger in Charleston by far, and you can't beat the price! It's been open since 1945 and the owner is the sweetest old man. I would recommend this place to anyone!!!

This is the ideal local business that serves good food at reasonable prices. If you're looking for fried shrimp or a cheeseburger and fries this is the place. Love the Sweet Shop. It's a local and cultural institution.

I'm on a mission to try all the whole in the walls, usually black-owned and cash only, in Charleston. This is one of the final ones for me to try. On a random street in Old Town Mt Pleasant, you find this little one story building. Go inside and get some grub! -The proprieter/waiter/cook is a more senior gentleman wearing possible the most dapper outfit you'll ever seen. This day he was wearing a fedora, a suit and a tie. I think having him wait on you is worth the experiece. -The portions were ample, well fried (shrimp, fish, red rice and a salad) and the price was right. ($8) -Like all the whole in the walls, the service is a little different than you might expect-- no real logical way of ordering -The decor is pretty dated and somewhat peeling, but definitely adds to the experience While the fish was not the best I've had in the area, the burger looked amazing, and is well known as the best item on the menu (and cheap ~$4). Check it out. (Cash only)

The name is a little misleading seeing as how they don't really offer much in the way of sweets. I like to think it's more about the reaction when you're given your plate of food---Sweeeet! Located in the old village of Mt. Pleasant next to the community center, there isn't much in the way of ambiance about this place. It's been there for awhile and it shows. The food is simple, but good and hardy. I had the pork chop special with white rice and lima beans and my mom had the chicken special with white rice in lima beans, each of us had a bottle of water and our bill combined was only $15. The pork chop was nicely seasoned but the mound of rice covered in lima beans with pork was what did it for me. Super yummy-ness! I had a humongous piece of pork that came in my beans which was practically like an extra meat entree itself. A great place to eat if you're in the neighborhood and looking for something meaty, greasy and delicious. Vegetarians beware, this is not a place for you! Looking forward to next time when I think I'm going to try one of their burgers.