Hot Mustard

Hot Mustard in Charleston is an absolute gem of a Chinese restaurant, though it's clear from some reviews that not everyone understands what makes it special. Let me set the record straight: this is a five-star experience for those who know and appreciate authentic "dirty Chinese" food in all its glory. First, let's address the so-called "rude" service. This perception likely comes from Americans unfamiliar with the no-frills, direct style typical of many traditional Chinese establishments. Here, the couple running the show—cooking and taking orders—are incredibly efficient and helpful, ensuring you get exactly what you pay for. It's not rude; it's refreshingly honest and straightforward. And what you pay for is an incredibly affordable, flavorful meal. The dishes are exactly what you'd hope for: comforting, unpretentious, and absolutely delicious. Whether you're craving noodles, stir-fried dishes, or classic Chinese appetizers, every bite is packed full of authentic flavor. This is not the place for fine dining or fusion creations. It’s a place to indulge in classic Chinese comfort food done right. The ambiance? Exactly as you'd expect—a casual, laid-back vibe where the focus is solely on the food. We dined in and had an unforgettable time. The service was as expected: efficient, direct, and perfectly fitting for the environment. Hot Mustard is not for those seeking high-end or experimental cuisine. It's for people who love great food at a ridiculously reasonable price and can appreciate the charm of a hardworking, no-nonsense kitchen. If you approach it with the right expectations, you'll find it’s an incredible example of what a local Chinese restaurant should be. In short, Hot Mustard delivers exactly what it advertises: delicious, affordable Chinese food served with a side of unpretentious honesty. I couldn’t recommend it more for anyone craving authentic, no-frills Chinese dining. Just don’t come expecting luxury—come expecting a great meal and a genuine experience.

I work downtown I placed an order at 4:40, received my order at 5:15. I wasn’t able to go on my break until 6:15, my food still has steam coming off of it!! So good I recommend to anyone wanting hot food delivered!

Walking through the front door you will be met with quite a dirty establishment. I walked in to a bag of trash on the first table I saw. Dirty floors, walls, ceilings, tables. The menu board looks outdated and hard to navigate. The lady that took my order was cold and un-friendly, bordering on rude. Her hands and fingernails were visibly very dirty which was disconcerting given she was directly packaging food/steamed rice and in contact with outgoing orders. One good thing is the food came out in about 60 seconds, piping hot. How they managed to make chicken and broccoli that fast is beyond me; but good on them! The chicken was moist, but incredibly oily. It was salted correctly but as for flavor... lacking. No garlic, onion, and no extra flavor. Nothing at all to get excited about. It was sopping with oil. It also seemed to have been colored with a red hue. Obviously intentional, but unable to tell if it is just red food coloring or what. The sauce was really more oil than sauce. The ONLY flavor/ingredient detectable was soy sauce. I am not sure how others have said this is the best Chinese they've ever had. It saddens me to hear that. Save your money and keep hunting the Charleston area. I contemplated on leaving a review. The last thing I want to do is hurt a business. But I also didn't find any of these important descriptors that would've been helpful to my decision on coming here.

If you want to waste your money this is the right place! I ordered the “house fried rice” and I couldn’t even eat it. It went directly to the trash bin right away. I don’t know what type of meat they serve in that place.

Food was awesome and the wings were great will return good customer service no public restroom but overall great food

Best wonton soup in downtown Charleston, the broth has a ton of flavor, and the wontons are fresh and not overcooked. I just tried out the other nearby restaurants wonton soup in the same night, and this location is taking the gold medal. Best egg rolls downtown, too.

One of the worst Chinese restaurants I've ever been to. I usually love hole in the wall places because they really focus on the food, but this place is not only run down but the food is absolutely terrible. Had their sweet and sour chicken and the chicken was literally black inside and extremely chewy. Unrecognizable as chicken, the quality of ingredients here is abysmal.

Don’t go here! I went here with my mom and sister and we were racially profiled. We ordered lo mein and rice then the asian guy behind the counter said “oh, you don’t want fried chicken?” And then laughed. Not only did he make a racist joke, but the meat was yellow inside. If I could give this zero stars, I would.

Authentic Chinese American fare! The dumplings are amazing!!!!! Shrimp egg fo young, chicken lo mein memorable. We got takeout twice in one week!!!! Don't let the looks fool you, it's the real deal!

First time trying here. I walk by the dinky exterior all the time, but I know some of the best food comes from places that don't always look too promising. Paid $13 and some change for small beef lo mein, a pork egg roll, and a bottle of Diet Coke + tip (already included). The beef lo mein is edible, noodles and veggies are good but did not trust the beef. Pork egg roll one of the worst egg rolls I've ever had. Severely undercooked and soft inside and out. Staff very nice and friendly and my order was done really quick despite not ordering ahead!

Walking through the front door you will be met with quite a dirty establishment. I walked in to a bag of trash on the first table I saw. Dirty floors, walls, ceilings, tables. The menu board looks outdated and hard to navigate. The lady that took my order was cold and un-friendly, bordering on rude. Her hands and fingernails were visibly very dirty which was disconcerting given she was directly packaging food/steamed rice and in contact with outgoing orders. One good thing is the food came out in about 60 seconds, piping hot. How they managed to make chicken and broccoli that fast is beyond me; but good on them! The chicken was moist, but incredibly oily. It was salted correctly but as for flavor... lacking. No garlic, onion, and no extra flavor. Nothing at all to get excited about. It was sopping with oil. It also seemed to have been colored with a red hue. Obviously intentional, but unable to tell if it is just red food coloring or what. The sauce was really more oil than sauce. The ONLY flavor/ingredient detectable was soy sauce. I am not sure how others have said this is the best Chinese they've ever had. It saddens me to hear that. Save your money and keep hunting the Charleston area. I contemplated on leaving a review. The last thing I want to do is hurt a business. But I also didn't find any of these important descriptors that would've been helpful to my decision on coming here.

Very nice family owned business. It's a local carry out but their food is delicious and not great. The location is across from my friend's apartment and the food portions are generous. We ordered the beef and broccoli, shrimp lo mein and egg rolls and was just enough food.

Good prices, and food is ready pretty quickly but it's the worst fried rice I've ever had. They use yellow rice which is really uncommon, and the flavor just isn't good. I've tried a few things from here and have not found anything that was very good.

Worst Chinese food I have ever ate. Fried rice is trash and my lo mien was half lettuce.

Hot Mustard on Meeting Street in Charleston is a good place to go for all things Chinese food that is fresh and delicious. I have been coming here for a long time and they have been reliable for good food at a good value. The staff here is very friendly and works hard to make sure that everything is right and is prepared well.

If you need a meal to hit the spot, order from Hot Mustard. Food is ready fast, portions are great and the food is delicious.

Was in town a few weeks back for one night only and, I gotta say, I had big dinner plans. I also got majorly sidetracked hanging out with Charleston Running Club. Needless to say, dinner got away from me and neighborhood options were limited. I noticed Hot Mustard when I checked into my hotel and prejudged in a really shitty way. Decided to stop by for takeout on the way back to my room and was glad I did. Tofu was well prepared and they were happy to add fresh broccoli to my order. The price was also more than fair. While Hot Mustard won't be earning any Michelin stars in the near future, absolutely worth a try if you've got a hankering for some Americanized Chinese or dinner in a hurry.

One of the only Chinese places my hubby and I will order from. We've been eating Hot Mustard for 5+ years and now live in MT P and will still make the 20 minute drive for their food. Their veggie lo mein is always so delicious with some of the best zucchini ever. The chicken pad Thai is always amazing and my hubbys fave. The people who run it are the most genuinely kind people and remember us every time we come in, the lady who runs the counter is THE SWEETEST. We are for sure lifers of this amazing hole in the wall Chinese place.

I was starving so against my better judgment I ate here, despite having second thoughts looking at how filthy it was inside (and outside). I ordered teriyaki chicken and the only time I've seen it look like that was in a grocery store under a lamp. I'm not sure there was any actually chicken in it. I hate wasting food but I couldn't get through half a plate of it.

We barely found good reviews about the place itself, but we were getting take-out anyway, so we thought we'd give it a try. The food could have been better, but it wasn't the worst.

looks sketchy from the outside but is an absolute hidden gem. and the prices are great for the quantity and quality of food. hot mustard is my new obsession!!! they also will make something extra spicy if you ask. so good

Oh man - not very good. I've heard there's a few things you can order from here and not be disappointed, but I haven't found it yet.

WORST DELIVERY SERVICE EVER! Have you ever heard of a delivery order already paid for being left outside your door because you didn't pick up the phone twice??? Then I call them back and the man who delivered my food to my porch starts yelling at me and telling me if I didn't pick up in two calls then that's what they do.. like who does that?? Food already paid for just left outside for anyone to take??? I'm supposed to eat food that was left outside on the floor? He said it was ok because he double bagged it!!!! Like no sir, worst experience ordering food ever. I will NEVER get food from here again and I will for sure let everyone I know to do the same!

This is the worst place ever. Their is horrible. One of their delivery drivers was so rude on the road. They almost hit me trying to cut me off ON PURPOSE and slammed their breaks in front of me so I would hit him. He then flicked me off. I called their store to complain and they rudely hung up. I WISH I COULD GIVE IT 0 STARS. He was mad at me for a reason from the person in front of me! Horrible. I've never had their food though, and never will. Would never want to support a business that is so rude.

Was behind a delivery driver on the road and this man was the rudest man ever and almost purposefully hit me twice while flicking me off the whole time. He was angered over an incident that was completely not my fault and out of my control. Could never give a place like this business who has employees this rude.

Very unpleasant place and food. Old, tacky, not inviting--a hole in the wall place without the charm. Ordered the Teriyaki Chicken and rather than getting the nice looking strips of chicken depicted on their menu, it was a mess of chicken bits and pieces that were very fatty and greasy. Perhaps my bad for ordering a Japanese dish in a Chinese restaurant. Anyway, can't recommend it. Sorry to the owners, but they've got to improve things dramatically if they hope to prosper.

Pretty nasty... I was disappointed when I ate Hot Mustard. I was really hoping with this one because charleston really needs a good chinese place. Got the sesame chicken... very typical. Chewy, bad quality chicken... sauce wasnt that good. Better than Chopsticks but not by much...

Good food and fast delivery.. I eat a lot of Chinese food this is one of the best I had.

I have eaten here twice and was sick each time. The first time, I had been sampling food for my wedding all day and me and the future father-in-law had a late night snack at this place. We both woke up sick (bloated stomach, nausea) the next day but figured since we had been cake tasting the previous day at 8AM, BBQ sampling, cocktail sampling - all for the upcoming wedding then we figured our sickness was probably due to those adventures and not the Chinese food. Fast forward a 3 months to the night before my wedding, the father-in-law again wanted some Chinese food and I so obliged. Hot Mustard was closest to our hotel, so again I walked over to order take out from this place about 10PM. I woke up at 3AM and vomitted my brains out. I was sick for two days and was miserable for my entire wedding day. I remember standing up giving my vows thinking I am about to vomit all over my wife's dress, boy I could not wait until that ceremony was over. People kept telling me it was just nerves but I knew better. What was even worse, the lady and her son operating the restaurant are some of the rudest people I ever came across while visiting Charleston. When I took my food and told the owner she was being kind of rude I left, she then proceeds to come from behind the counter and starts dropping F bombs on me in the middle of the street as I walked back to my hotel kiddie corner to the restaurant. I dared not to turn back around, she seemed angry enough to have a gun. I would avoid this restaurant at all costs or at least have an iron stomach and full bottle of pepto. If I could rate this place zero stars then I would.

i was really tired Friday night I pulled a double and when I got home I just wanted to relax I ordered food from them hoping to pacify my kids and while the food came quickly it was disgusting it tasted like the rice had been sitting in card board the beef and broccoli were greasy and slimy you could tell the chicken nuggets and fries were either reheated or microwaved my 1 year old granddaughter who can eat fries for breakfast lunch and dinner wouldn't even eat them even with ketchup so i had to drag my exhausted ass into the kitchen and cook and i pretty much wasted my hard earned money i'm not ordering from them again

Don't be disillusioned by the exterior... this was my favorite Chinese in Chas. Cheap, fast, and tasty. I always got sesame chicken combo, so can't speak for other meals. You also get a soup or soda with every combo meal. Get you some!

Best CHINESE PLACE downtown :) I love the Pork fried rice with $2 shrimp and my egg roll lol. Most amazing place I ever been too

Ordered delivery for my cadet at The Citadel when nobody else was still delivering during the Joaquin storm. Food was great and they called him when they got there so he could meet them at the door. He will order fe them again.

I consider myself quite an authority on heavy, greasy, gallbladder-failure- inducing Chinese food. I grew up with it as my comfort food like most folks around here had their Mac n cheese or pecan pie. IMHO Hot Mustard serves up better than average take-out for cheap and heaps of it. The pleasantly light heat of their (awesome) Gen Tso's becomes unbearable time you finish the huge plate of it. I recently tried the pork dumplings and they rivaled Vanessas' and Prosperity's in NYC. The delivery guys are always very friendly and it's free even in the rain. Do yourself a favor and don't ever visit the scary brick and mortar store- delivery is that easy. I love my Hot Mustard!

Asked for a cup of water with my meal, they said they didnt have cups, no condiments of any kind on the table, not the most friendly staff. Food not that good, sorry.

Got delivery for lunch and it was very mixed. The delivery was fast and efficient. Three of us ordered various items. I got the wonton soup and found it to be bland but not offensive. The thai shrimp was not good. Fried shrimp and steamed broccoli tossed in mayo. Ate three bites and tossed it. Still regretting those three bites. The jalapeno beef was "ok" according to my coworker. The pad thai was "pretty good" as per another co-worker. The portions are huge but not high quality.

Mmm. Greasy American Chinese food. Cheap & tasty. This is not fancy, but it tastes good, and the delivery driver is one of the nicest guys around. It's my go to place when I order Chinese.

One of my favorite Chinese food places in Charleston. This was my go-to place for years until I recently moved out of downtown. The food is good as long as you are looking for greasy and cheap Chinese food. I will admit that the quality dips occasionally and I have has some chicken that was a little more chewy than normal. Service is even better and they have the best delivery driver in Charleston. He is super quick and friendly and never complained about coming up to my 4th floor apartment.

One of my favorite Chinese places in Charleston. Was my go-to until I recently moved out of downtown. The food is good; I especially like the crab rangun here. I will admit that occasionally the quality dips and the chicken is a little chewy but it is usually very good. The service is even better and they have THE best delivery driver in Charleston. He was always quick and friendly and never complained about coming up to my 4th floor apartment.

restaurant looks really shabby on the outside but dont be mistaken there food is awesome. I love it and the only place that delivers where i work downtown. Pricing is okay. lunch special is a steal deal .

I eat at Hot Mustard for lunch, pretty often, being I work down that way. And they have a reasonable lunch special and their customer service is great. Never had a bad experience, so enjoy........

wanted to have chinese and did not know a good place. call hot mustard and had a great meal. delivery was fast and food was great and lost of it.

This food is really not good And the service is awful! I've gotten the teriyaki chicken and beef before and I really don't suggest ordering either one. The service is shocklingly awful even after I gave him a tip! I normally don't complain but the delivery guy was so rude when delivering that I told "the owner" who couldn't care less. I told him that I did not feel comfortable using his business again and asked for a refund from my untouched food. He then begin acting like he could not speak English (He was Asian) then asked if I wanted him to call 911? (How is that a solution to a customer complaint?) I was being very respectful and asking to speak to the owner (as I used to be a manager & have had to deal with rude/upset customers) He still said No, and said he was the owner (not sure if that's true) and he refused to refund me my money. I had heard the food was mediocre but after my service experience I will not be going back there ever! I can pay for bad food but elsewhere.