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Samosa Chaat with cocktails. - Ma'am Saab, Charleston, SC
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Ma'am Saab

$50 and over
Pakistani

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 4 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • Innovative
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
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown Charleston
  • Cross street
    Meeting Street and Wentworth Street.
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

  • Ma'am Saab Tasting Menu Experience

    $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.
    Ma'am Saab Tasting Menu Experience Photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 297 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.4Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Charleston

    Innovative

  • Charleston

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Ma'am Saab in Charleston charms with its "amazing" food and "excellent" service. Known for its "delicious" butter chicken and creative cocktails, the vibrant atmosphere enhances the dining experience. While some reviews mentioned inconsistent service, the "outstanding" flavors and "thoughtful" menu design keep this restaurant a "favorite" among locals and visitors alike.

297 Reviews

  1. Makenzie

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food and wonderful service! We will definitely be back to eat here again.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Brittanie

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and drinks were delicious! Will be going back!!

    Is this helpful?

  3. ERIKA

    New York City

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed everything about Ma’am Saab! Definitely recommend doing the Chef’s tasting experience if you’ve never had Pakistani cuisine! it gives you a little taste of so many dishes that this restaurant offers! Our server Brittany was very friendly and attentive, this 3 course dinner was served in the most impeccable timing, as soon as we devoured the first course, it was cleared away and the second course arrived, same transition to third course Drinks were amazing!! If they’re doing the special smoked/fried wings you need these in your life!

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  4. Andrew

    Charleston

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    I’m not sure if it was because it was Valentine’s Day, or that we had the latest reservation. But the dinner seemed very rushed. The staff seemed very rushed, and the food was not that great.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Niren

    VIP

    Charleston

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Food is only okay, they claim it to be authentic Indian/Pakistani food but it’s not. It’s just a hotch-potch of food thrown in with Indian spices. Very weird ambience. Not worth the price

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  6. Lauren

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I pretty much never write reviews, but I feel compelled to write this one to say that our experience with the tasting menu at Ma'am Saab was incredible! The flavors were out of this world, the portions were generous, the spice level was perfect, and what capped off the experience was the incredibly hospitable and jovial waitstaff. We felt like we were dining in a close friend's home. We were so well taken care of, especially for my picky 5 year old who LOVED the chicken pakora the brought for him outside of the tasting menu. It was also Valentine's dinner night, which I know can be a hectic time in restaurants, but truly our experience could not have been better! I can't wait to return!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Lauren

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We loved our dining experience at Ma’am Saab. We tried the chef’s tasting menu because we wanted to try everything, and it was a lot of food! My fiance was impressed with the diversity of flavor in each dish with it being his first time trying Pakistani food. The service was great as well.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Meg

    VIP

    Charleston

    11 reviews

    3.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    The food is delicious, but don’t expect great service. We had water filled only the once and our server basically never returned. They also asked other tables about food allergies but not us. The table next to us waited a LONG TIME for their food. The server actually told them, “oh no the chef has a timer in the kitchen for what he feels is an appropriate length of time to wait between courses”

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  9. David

    VIP

    Greater Boston

    28 reviews

    5.0

    28 reviews

    Dined on February 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a FABULOUS restaurant. The unique combination of the decor & atmosphere, amazing, creative, and fresh food, and a staff that makes you feel like you’ve entered their home makes for a wonderful dining experience. I raved to my daughter (a Charleston food Instagram-er) about it and then took her there last night and she is equally impressed. We’re making a trip to Ma’am Saab a once-a-month thing now. While Charleston has no shortage of great restaurants, not too many deserve high scores across the board like this one!

    Is this helpful?

  10. Joseph

    Raleigh

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I have been twice in the last four days. Everything about the restaurant was amazing, the best buttered chicken I have had to date. Spice levels were on point, food was piping hot, and the presentation was beautiful. We had two different servers on the separate nights we went and they were both awesome. The General Manager was present and often the person delivering the food to the table and checking in on the tables.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

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

Ma'am Saab is rated 4.5 stars by 297 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 4 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Ma'am Saab

251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-1602

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Meeting Street and Wentworth Street.
  • Neighborhood
    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
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Delivery, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • 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.

Featured in

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