This guide highlights the newest restaurants in Columbia, SC, as well as those coming soon. From an upscale wild game eatery to a biergarten, new coffee shops, vegan fare and Korean BBQ, Columbia’s dining scene has never been better.
New Restaurants In Columbia, SC
Arroyo Tacos + Tequila opened in July 2024
Taco + Tequila in Five Points
Arroyo Tacos + Tequila is a new taco shop in Five Points. Their menu includes several tacos, enchiladas, a few salads and appetizers. Try the loaded nachos with a group! The elote dip is also a great place to start.
Though it’s newer to Columbia, the team behind it is also involved with Saluda’s Restaurant in Five Points and Il Bucato in Forest Acres.
Vicious Biscuit opened in May 2024
3246 Forest Drive | Forest Acres
New biscuit restaurant on Forest Drive
Charleston-based Vicious Biscuit opened in Forest Acres in May 2024. As the name suggests, their menu is biscuit-focused and boy are they good!
Take your pick of their many signature biscuit entrees ranging from biscuits topped with fried chicken and gravy to a cubano biscuit. Be sure to grab an order of their fried green tomatoes to share with your group!
They offer counter service and have a covered patio out front.
TakoSushi (Forest Acres) opened in May 2024
4711-27 Forest Drive | Forest Acres
Latin-Asian fusion restaurant with a new second location
TakoSushi is a Latin-Asian fusion restaurant that melds the two cuisines in a vibrant family-friendly atmosphere. Their menu offers a range of ‘takos,’ sushi rolls and signature dishes including ramen, burgers and bowls.
Their new Forest Acres location is conveniently located on Forest Drive in the Lowe’s Foods Shopping Center. It’s the former of Baskin Robbins.
Prohibition opened in May 2024
Cocktails, live music and gourmet bites
Prohibition is a stylish cocktail bar and restaurant in downtown Columbia. You’ll find a curated selection of handcrafted cocktails and a small bites menu. It’s a great place for a date night or evening with friends.
In addition to a daily lunch and dinner service, Prohibition also serves a weekend brunch. Brunch dishes include classics like Eggs Benedict and creatives like PB&J French Toast.
The Hollow opened in March 2024
Forest-to-table restaurant in the Vista
The Hollow is a trendy farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of the Vista.
Their menu features an array of game meats like bison, duck, boar, and rabbit alongside an enticing selection of fish including northern pike, rainbow trout, and walleye salmon.
The vibe at The Hollow is a perfect blend of upscale and relaxed. An open kitchen allows you to witness culinary artistry firsthand, while the bar, high-top tables, and cozy booths offer comfortable options for any kind of gathering.
The Hollow offers a daily dinner, as well as brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
Barrio Tacos opened in February 2024
Devine Street taco shop
Barrio Tacos is a build-your-own taco spot on Devine Street. You can either craft your ideal taco with endless options or choose from their pre-set ‘El Jefe’ options.
Don’t miss their unique “bombshell tortilla” – a double-decker of soft flour and crispy corn tortillas, filled with queso and crumbled bacon.
They have a great cocktail selection with several tequila and whiskey drinks, as well as a vibrant atmosphere.
Masa Mexican Street Food opened in February 2024
2811A Rosewood Drive | Rosewood
Mexican eatery on Rosewood with cocktails on tap
Masa is a new restaurant in Columbia from the folks behind Salud, Camden’s beloved fine-dining Mexican restaurant. While Salud draws Columbia residents for its upscale experience, Masa offers a casual, customizable approach.
Build your own burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, tortas, or tacos by choosing your protein, cheese, and toppings. Don’t miss their signature corn ribs and queso for a delicious starter!
Piecewise Coffee opened in January 2024
Cayce-based coffee shop with a new Devine Street location
Piecewise Coffee is the newest addition to the Columbia coffee shop scene. They opened in the former Blum Coffee space in early 2024.
You’ll find everything you love about the Cayce-born coffee shop at their newest location. They serve Methodical Coffee and have several daily pastries, bagels, overnight oats and yogurt parfaits. Try the cheddar rosemary scone!
Daily brunch restaurant in Five Points
Ruby Sunshine is a daily brunch restaurant in Five Points. It’s located in the former Yesterday’s Restaurant space.
You’ll find all of the brunch classics you’d want, from stuffed french toast and migas, to shrimp & grits and omelets. But where Ruby Sunshine truly shines is their amazing eggs benedict selection.
Upscale Korean BBQ in downtown Columbia
MOA Korean BBQ is a restaurant specializing in Korean barbecue, with locations in Charlotte, NC and now Columbia.
Their menu includes several great appetizers, like Korean chicken wings and kimchi bulgogi nachos. For entrees you can choose things like stone bowl bibimbap, bulgogi stew or even a salmon poke bowl.
The real fun in the evening is sitting at one of their 16 grill tables. And don’t worry, your server handles all of the grilling for you!
MOA’s sister restaurant is 929 Kitchen in the Vista.
Biergarten on the Congaree River
Bierkeller is a brewery in Columbia, SC modeled after a traditional German biergarten. They brew German-style beer and offer traditional German fare.
It’s a kid-friendly spot with great outdoor seating. Pair it with an adventure on the Riverwalk for the ultimate afternoon out.
Upscale pan-Asian small plates and cocktail bar in the Vista
The Dragon Room is a pan-Asian restaurant on Gervais by the chef behind Black Rooster (West Columbia) and Bourbon (Main Street.)
It’s perfect for a date night out, or a late night out because it’s open to 2am on the weekends.
Their menu includes a variety of Asian favorites, from noodles and lobster rangoon dip, to bao buns, ramen and yakitori.
945 Sabal Street | BullStreet District
Brewery and restaurant in the BullStreet District
Iron Hill Brewery offers award-winning brews and handcrafted fare in Columbia’s growing BullStreet District. It’s part of a Delaware-born chain with over 20 locations in 5 states.
While Iron Hill boasts a larger production facility in Exton, PA, their Columbia location features a small, on-site brewery.
They have a sports bar vibe with outdoor seating and a robust food menu.
2910 Rosewood Drive | Rosewood
New all-vegan restaurant in Columbia
The Hoot is a vegan restaurant in the Rosewood area of Columbia, SC. It’s a laidback spot with excellent plant-based fare and craft cocktails.
Their 100% plant-based menu includes boiled peanuts, gluten-free cheez tots, ‘chicken’ nuggets and their take on a philly cheesesteak. They also have a ton of house cocktails, spritzes and non-alcoholic options.
The Hoot hosts a weekly trivia night on Tuesdays. Each week is a different theme– you can see the next few coming up on their events page.
904 Knox Abbott Drive | Cayce
Casual Asian fusion restaurant in Cayce
From the masterminds behind Thai favorite Duke’s Pad Thai comes their latest culinary adventure: Little Bee Bun Mee. The two are located just next to each other in Cayce, SC.
Little Bee Bun Mee offers a fusion adventure. Their menu features poke bowls, unique Asian tacos, sandwiches and classic rice bowls.
They also have great fresh fruit drinks, like their mango madness and strawberry lemonade, in addition to Thai Tea and Thai Coffee.
Popular chain known for Nashville-style hot chicken
While we normally like to stick to local restaurants, Dave’s Hot Chicken opened with such fanfare in Columbia that we had to include them.
This popular chain is known for their take on Nashville-style hot chicken, featuring crispy exteriors and a range of heat levels to suit your spice tolerance.
Dave’s Hot Chicken in Columbia occupies the former SmashBurger spot, conveniently located next to Moe’s on Devine Street.
Restaurants Coming Soon To Columbia, SC
- Methodical Coffee: Greenville-based coffee roaster is opening in the Bull District (November 2024)
- Tupelo Honey: brunch restaurant in the Bull Street District
- Restaurant chain Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks announced plans to open their first South Carolina location. It will be in the 900 block of Five Points.
- Taco Mundo Kitchen Y Cantina: Taco Mundo (of Myrtle Beach) is moving into the former Liberty Tap Room & Grill space in the Vista. They are in the same restaurant portfolio with Pearlz, TBonz and Kaminsky’s.
- Cocky Rooster of Richmond, VA is opening a Five Points location in the former Sushi Yoshi space.
- Aroma of India is opening in Five Points next to Men’s Warehouse.
- The former Bird Dog in Five Points is currently undergoing renovations and will be rebranding to Touchdowns.
- Local brewery Steel Hands Brewing announced Steel Hands Vista Distilling & Brewing. Expect carefully curated cocktails, experimental craft beers and a restaurant.
Other Columbia Restaurant News
- Godspeed Cola coffee pop-up can be found at Papa Jazz record store in Five Points.
- Chubby’s Burgers of Blythewood opened a second location just off Forest Drive near I-77.
- Alley Street Eats opened on Rosewood in the former San Jose. They serve Asian cuisine including noodles, Bao buns and tempura. View the full menu here.
- Enzo’s moved from Five Points to 600 Heyward Street (Olympia Mills)
- Kao Thai moved from the Vista to Main Street
- Moctezumas moved to the former Lizard’s Thicket on South Beltline
- Blum Coffee closed in late 2023 and Piecewise opened their second shop in the space.