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Ma'am Saab

$50 and over

Pakistani

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 11, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 11 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Vegetarian-friendly
Lively

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.

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

Location
251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-1602
Phone number
(843) 259-2660
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
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

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.

What 300 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

4.6Food
4.4Service
4.5Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

South Carolina
Innovative
South Carolina
Healthy
Charleston
Innovative
Charleston
Healthy
Charleston
Good for special occasions
Charleston
Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Ma'am Saab in Charleston is a standout destination for authentic Pakistani cuisine. Guests rave about the "amazing food" and "friendly, attentive service." The butter chicken is a "must-try," while the vibrant ambiance and eclectic decor create a memorable dining experience. It's "one of the best dining experiences" in Charleston, with a unique blend of flavors and a welcoming atmosphere.

300 Reviews

KA
KeithA
Charleston4 reviews
4.0
Dined on February 26, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
My partner is vegan and I am not. They had something for both of us. I will be back to try other items on the menu.
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K
Katie
Washington DC5 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 23, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely amazing food and ambience. Drinks were superb and the FOOD! highly recommend!
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B
Brendan
Kansas City1 review
5.0
Dined on February 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was outstanding. Everything else was on point. Will be going back.
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M
Makenzie
Charleston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 16, 2025
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.
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B
Brittanie
Charleston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food and drinks were delicious! Will be going back!!
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E
ERIKA
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
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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A
Andrew
Charleston1 review
1.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
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.
1 person found this helpful
N
Niren VIP
Charleston1 review
2.0
Dined on February 15, 2025
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
1 person found this helpful
L
Lauren
Charleston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
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!
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L
Lauren
Charleston1 review
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
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.
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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 4.5 stars by 300 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 11, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 11 times today

Experiences are available.

251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-1602

Additional information

Phone number
(843) 259-2660
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
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Ma'am Saab

Make a reservation

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Featured in

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Charleston’s 12 most drop-dead gorgeous restaurants

Experiences

Ma'am Saab Tasting Menu Experience

Menu

What 300 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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 reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

12 Charleston restaurants that our local editor loves

Charleston’s 12 most drop-dead gorgeous restaurants