Icon

Ma'am Saab

Name: Ma'am Saab
Address: 251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC, United States, 29401-1602
Telephone: (843) 259-2660
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.6

Visa Dining Collection

$30 and under

Pakistani

251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-1602

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Charming
Good for special occasions
Vegetarian-friendly

Ma’am Saab is a bold, modern Pakistani restaurant redefining the dining scene in Charleston’s historic district. Inspired by the vibrant energy of today’s Pakistan, our kitchen blends age-old recipes with contemporary flair, offering an experience that feels both rooted and refreshingly unexpected.

Step into Ma’am Saab and you’ll find yourself on a flavor journey from the bustling streets of Karachi to the greenlands of Lahore, reimagined through a modern lens. Our menu pays homage to tradition while pushing boundaries, featuring craveable dishes like our signature Butter Chicken, with its rich and velvety golden curry; the off-menu Lamb Biryani, a slow-braised, deeply spiced classic (available in limited quantities nightly); the bold and fiery Chicken Karahi; and Taj-e-Sabzi, a crown jewel of seasonal vegetables elevated with spice and soul.

Come for the food. Stay for the storytelling. This is Pakistani cuisine—modern, magnetic, and unapologetically flavorful.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Jason Lapp

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
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Pakistani, Indian, Cocktail Bar
Hours of operation
Happy Hour Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(843) 259-2660
Website
http://www.maamsaabchs.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
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.
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

Location
251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-1602
Neighborhood
Downtown Charleston
Cross street
Meeting Street and Wentworth Street.
Parking details
Public Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Kosher, 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 with our multi-course dinner experience. Minimum party of 2 is required to participate.

What 342 people are saying

Ma'am Saab reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

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

4.7Food
4.4Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Charleston
Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Ma'am Saab delights with "amazing food" and a "wonderful dining experience." Guests rave about the "best butter chicken" and the "chef's tasting menu." While some service issues were noted, the restaurant's "rich, bold flavors" and "friendly staff" make it a standout spot in Charleston. Highly recommended for flavor enthusiasts!

342 Reviews

C
Carol VIP
Las Vegas1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
What a great find! We will return every trip to Charleston! Our favorite!
Is this helpful?
J
Jon
South Carolina1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Food was outstanding and server really went above and beyond to make for a wonderful experience. A place you don’t want to miss and a great addition to chs!
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner VIP
Atlanta9 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Very tasty! The staff was very helpful and attentive. Lots of yummy options
Is this helpful?
S
Samantha Dewan VIP
New Mexico4 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Amazing food and wonderful service. We love the modern take on this cuisine.
Is this helpful?
I
Isabella
Atlanta2 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My friends and I had such a good time at Ma'am Saab! We had never been before and everything was amazing, from the food to the service to the ambience! I would highly recommend getting the chutney sampler with your meal, they were all so delicious and it was nice to be able to try them all! We cannot wait to come back and try some more things on the menu!
Is this helpful?
A
Anaya
South Carolina1 review
2.0
Dined on June 28, 2025
1. Overall 2
2. Food 5
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 5
My friend and I were excited to try a potential new favorite spot as locals to Charleston, but were disappointed in the lackluster service. The food itself was phenomenal!! The price point should warrant exceptional service to accompany the great menu items.
Is this helpful?
J
Jesse
Denver / Colorado4 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Was such an awesome experience! The food was amazing. My 70s father doesn’t like what he calls “ethnic food” and the best review for Maam Saab is that he absolutely loved everything and wants to go back!
Is this helpful?
V
Varsha VIP
Baltimore / Maryland7 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 27, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We made a last minute reservation because we saw this place while getting to our hotel and just had to go here. Highly recommend the butter paneer and cholay ! The paneer was prepared so well- golden brown hand torn bits in the most dunkable curry base. The naan was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Our server was extremely nice and accommodating of our little baby, overall great experience. Thinking about ordering delivery tomorrow while I write this
Is this helpful?
L
Lindsay
Baja California Sur2 reviews
3.0
Dined on June 21, 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 5
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 5
I came here to celebrate my birthday with a few friends. The food was excellent and came out quickly! We were very disappointed with the service. After we got our first cocktail and apps, we never saw our server again. Our entrees were delivered and we weren’t checked on once. All of us wanted a second drink and dessert but were never asked. We all had run out of water and were very frustrated when we left.
Is this helpful?
M
McKenna VIP
Asheville / Western North Carolina7 reviews
5.0
Dined on June 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food is amazing, and drinks are great, especially the Kashmiri. Service was attentive and gracious.
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 4.6 stars by 342 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 9 times today

Experiences are available.

251 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401-1602

Additional information

Cross street
Meeting Street and Wentworth Street.
Neighborhood
Downtown Charleston
Hours of operation
Happy Hour Tue–Sat 4:00 pm–6:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Pakistani, Indian, Cocktail Bar
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Public Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Kosher, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Delivery & takeout
Order direct

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 reservation

About this restaurant

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 342 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