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Ma'am Saab

$50 and over

Pakistani

Make a booking

2 people

22 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 8 times today

Experiences are available.

Innovative
Neighbourhood gem
Good for special occasions

Nestled in the historic district of downtown Charleston, experience an elevated take on Pakistani cuisine by Chef Maryam Ghaznavi. Be prepared to embark on a journey into Pakistan- featuring a focused menu with dishes originating back to the mughal era. Expect crowd favorites like Butter Chicken, Biryanis, Bihari Kabab and more, along with extensive craft cocktail, mocktail and Delta 9 THC infused libations inspired by the flavors and spices from the subcontinent. With architectural details that pay homage to the history and culture of the subcontinent while looking into the future thanks to Artificial Intelligence based artistry, Ma’am Saab (which means “Boss Lady” in the Urdu language) is unique to any other restaurant in Charleston.

Order delivery or takeout

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Maryam Ghaznavi

From the OpenTable editors: Ma’am Saab translates to “boss lady” in Urdu, and that’s the correct way to describe chef Maryam Ghaznavi, who kicked off with a pop-up in 2020 before opening this restaurant in 2023. She’s all about upscale Pakistani cuisine with a shot of Southern charm, which means a tasting menu of flavorful butter chicken and biryanis, plus happy hour smash burgers and craft cocktails. Exposed brick, floral wallpaper, and ultraviolet lighting help set the party scene.

Additional information

Dining style
Elegant Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Pakistani, Indian, Cocktail Bar
Hours of Operation
Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(843) 259-2660
Website
http://www.maamsaabchs.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Catering
Now offering catering for small to large events - From office get-togethers, birthdays, anniversaries to welcome dinners and wedding receptions. We're here to take your guests on a culinary journey that they'll remember for a long time. Please get in touch with us to design the perfect catering package.
Private party facilities
Choose Ma'am Saab's unique dining room to host your next event. Whether you're looking to host a small party or large party, expect an experience and menu like no other. Please get in touch with us and allow us to create the perfect evening for you and your guests.

Location
251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-1602
Area
Downtown Charleston
Cross Street
Meeting Street and Wentworth Street.
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Featured in

Experiences

Ma'am Saab Tasting Menu Experience
US$65.00 per person
Multiple dates available
Transport your palate to the vibrant streets of Pakistan and immerse yourself in the rich and diverse flavors of the region, where every bite tells a story of tradition and technique. Multi-course dinner. Minimum party of 4 is required to participate. A la carte beverage menu available separately.

What 260 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.6Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Charleston
Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Ma'am Saab offers an exceptional dining experience with "incredible food" and "outstanding service." Renowned for its flavorful dishes, including the "superb butter chicken," this Pakistani-Indian fusion restaurant boasts a beautifully designed atmosphere and attentive staff. Guests highly recommend the chef's tasting menu and creative cocktails, making it a must-visit in Charleston.

261 Reviews

A
Abdal
Oklahoma City
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined today
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 4
Out of the menu items. Slow service. Portion size small for price. Reheated bread.
Is this helpful?
R
Ryan
Dallas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Incredible food. The cholay biryani and the butter chicken were both amazing
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D
Dana
VIP
Charleston
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This place is AMAZING!!!! The staff is warm and welcoming!!! The ambiance is SO cool!!! And the food is absolutely phenomenal!!!! Well done!!! High recommend!!!!
Is this helpful?
A
Ambreen
VIP
New York City
19 reviews
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent experience. Staff was friendly and helpful. Had karahi which was absolutely delicious. Wished for Pakistani masala tea:) Kababs were great as well.
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K
Kathy
Chicago
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 14 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One of my favorites in Charleston! The food is incredible!!
Is this helpful?
L
Lawson
Charleston
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on 1 December 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 5
We made reservations for a table for two. I have eaten at the restaurant when it first opened and the food and service were great! On this visit however, the service was not even close to being average so we told the manager to cancel our order and we left without eating. And we will not return. It all started when the host, which we later found out was the manager, keep us waiting for a long period of time, then seated us at a dirty table. When I asked if he could wipe our table down, he said, Yeah, I can wipe it down AGAIN! The table was a small table for two which still had the water cup rings on the table along with rice and other food! The table had clearly, not been wiped. Then we server greeted us and we had to ask for menus, he seems to be upset with us, that we did not receive menus when we were seated. The server seemed to have attitude and we decided to leave. I know from my previous visit that the service and food were good, but I’m not sure what has happened! The server said he has been there for two weeks and has never met the owners. So maybe, there are some management issues or something. This visit was Thanksgiving weekend which seemed to be slower for them! We saw many empty tables and it is usually full!
1 person found this helpful
C
Carl
VIP
Greater Boston
22 reviews
4.0
22 reviews
Dined on 27 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Food is typically great here. Unfortunately they took one of the signature dishes off the menu - Lamb Biryani but offered a shrimp one which was average. Mine came out cold and had to be sent back. The service was quite poor - very unusual for this place. They all seemed to be new and don’t know much about the menu. Further, the bartender didn’t come to work and thus no mixed drinks were available. We really like this place but may hold off for a few months and see if they can get the staffing situation sorted out.
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k
kristen
Atlanta Metro
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on 27 November 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
We were expecting something more Pakistani and less Indian. The food was only okay.
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N
Nancy
Montana
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 21 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere of the restaurant.
Is this helpful?
E
Erin
VIP
Charleston
5 reviews
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on 16 November 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
Food was ok, chutneys and raita so watery / not traditional. Cocktails too sweet, not as refined. Ambiance felt cheap, I remember when it first opened it felt cooler- darker, more intimate with cool music and bustling scene. Now even on Saturday night it just felt kind of empty and tacky. Not sure what’s going on and why it changed. Server was nice, but didn’t inform us gratuity was already included on the bill, not appreciated for only a 6 person party. Again, just felt tacky overall.
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FAQs

Ma'am Saab offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (843) 259-2660.

Ma'am Saab is rated 4.6 stars by 260 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

22 Dec 2024

19:00

Booked 8 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-1602

Additional information

Cross Street
Meeting Street and Wentworth Street.
Area
Downtown Charleston
Hours of Operation
Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Pakistani, Indian, Cocktail Bar
Dining style
Elegant Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Website
http://www.maamsaabchs.com/
Phone number
(843) 259-2660
Catering
Now offering catering for small to large events - From office get-togethers, birthdays, anniversaries to welcome dinners and wedding receptions. We're here to take your guests on a culinary journey that they'll remember for a long time. Please get in touch with us to design the perfect catering package.
Private party facilities
Choose Ma'am Saab's unique dining room to host your next event. Whether you're looking to host a small party or large party, expect an experience and menu like no other. Please get in touch with us and allow us to create the perfect evening for you and your guests.

Ma'am Saab

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Featured in

12 Charleston restaurants that our local editor loves

Charleston’s 12 most drop-dead gorgeous restaurants

Experiences

Ma'am Saab Tasting Menu Experience

Menu

What 260 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

Does Ma'am Saab offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Ma'am Saab restaurant rated?

Is Ma'am Saab currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Featured in

12 Charleston restaurants that our local editor loves

Charleston’s 12 most drop-dead gorgeous restaurants