Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale

Cheap food and good drinks until late at night. Was not crowded at all when we went after a College of Charleston basketball game down the street. Service was really attentive. All the tacos I tried were pretty tasty and you can’t beat the price around downtown Charleston. Our server recommended the corn shells for the tacos and they were a good call.

Two Tacos, One Margarita We were drawn in by the sacred beacon of the $10 special with two tacos and a margarita, running all day. For people like us—the "small plate, jump-around" type—it fit our needs perfectly. The pub is a Main Street pub, small in the front, but once you hit the back patio, it explodes into a large outdoor seating area where you can legally forget your troubles. The staff was very friendly, and drink prices were standard issue. Now, about the food: we have a million Mexican spots back home, and this one didn't quite hit the authentic mark. My wife tragically declared the beef taco tasted like cheap beef. As for me, the flavor issue by applying so much hot sauce that I achieved chemical numbness—which, hilariously, only highlighted their biggest flaw: their "hot" sauce selection is a non-existent joke. The manager actually promised to hunt down something spicier just for my scorched palate in the future, mind you I didn't complain but he was aware of the lacking condiment. Overall, it was a good time to sit down, enjoy a cheap buzz, and move on. Would I go back for a quick, cheap fix? Sure. But if I want true Mexican or a night of raucous fun, I'll probably be found stumbling out of a different bar down the street.

Jan 2026 - SCVA wrapped up but I stayed over. About 1/2 our group cancelled or left early because of the huge winter storm. So I spent the wintry afternoon with beer & nachos and learning about local-Charleston gossip from Weslee, Anna, Michael, and Kareem. 🌮

We went to Charleston to see a Charleston Battery soccer game. I googled restaurants and found Juanita Greenberg’s Nacho Royale. Our family loves Nachos so we decided to try it out. We got Chicken Nachos and they were fantastic…we also order chicken tacos, a burrito, and 3 rice bowls. Everyone loved the food. Our server was good. Would highly recommend if you like nachos and tacos.

I went with a friend and we both got the special, 2 tacos and a house margarita for $10, and we loved it! The margaritas were amazing! Our server was very attentive and brought us menus and took our drink order while we decided what to eat. We got our food fast and it was still hot right off the grill. We loved every bite and we will definitely be going back again soon!!

We came in for lunch. We ordered and the order came out wrong, twice. The waitress was very nice but there was no effort to make it up to us for the wait. The food was great! There is a surcharge for using credit cards, it wasn't mentioned anytime but on the check.

Had a random lunch her on a Wednesday. Got their 10 taco and margarita special. tacos were excellent, margarita just fine - really pretty good value. Wife has a quesadilla that she really enjoyed. Wait staff attentive, good atmosphere. Really enjoyed it!

RAT INFESTATION. I wasn’t going to write this review but it’s been over a week and I cannot stop thinking about it. Don’t get me wrong… I practically lived here all of my freshman year. Me and my friend went last week to revive the memories and let me say I will never be coming back. We were sitting in the back and a full rat ran across the floor. I have never left a restaurant so fast. I lost my appetite for 2 days after that. I was speaking about my experience with someone and they told me when they used to work there and the kitchen was the opposite of clean, they had more then rats living in this establishment… I’m very disappointed

The food is good, nothing elevated or fussy but it was good and fresh. What is more impressive was the care the kitchen staff took with allergies in our party. They were incredible. Good food, incredible people.

If you want a cheap, quick shot run in here other than that I would stay away. Pretty gross, plain Tex Mex that lacks flavor. The bathrooms are also disgusting and I've definitely seen a palmetto bug run up the wall by the kitchen. It's fine as a bar but nothing else.

Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale sits in the heart of Upper King Street, Downtown Charleston. They have a small bar up front with in Door and porch seating in the back. I sat at a table at the front of the restaurant near the bar. Serve was pretty slow and finally the bartender came and took my order. She was very nice. I ordered the Taco Special. Good came out quickly. The taste was kind of bland, spiced it up with a little hot sauce . The Margarita was very tasty. The price was nice, 2 Tacos and a Margarita for $11.00. Parking is challenging due to downtown location.

Good, middle of the road Mexicanish food. Portions are average, service is perfunctory, prices are higher than in suburbia, buttoned King Street in Charleston and the rent is HIGH.

Good as always. Love the grilled shrimp!! Server was super sweet and personable. Sadly this time the Diet Coke machine wasn't working--straight syrup. But the server was super apologetic no biggie! 3.5 stars

A quick stop in between two social events to grab something to fill out bellies. Of course their display sign drew us in. Two tacos and a margarita for $10, don't mind if I do. The space is long with the bar and cooking area to the left of the tables from the entrance. They have an outside patio for additional space. Clean bathrooms which is a plus. The wait staff was friendly and accommodating. One of my friends wasted her drink and they provided her with another with no additional charge. I ordered fish tacos and a lime margarita. There's an additional 50¢ charge for fish, but you stills can't beat the price The meal was tasty and the drink was good. Just what was needed to get through the rest of the evening.

There was a SCREW in my nachos - I do not recommend going here. We went here on a Sunday afternoon and had the worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. I found a SCREW in my nachos. I could not believe it, after a few bites I looked closer at the plate and my mouth dropped. After bringing this is my waitresses attention the manger came over and was extremely rude and did not see the fact that I had a screw up my meal as a big deal. I do not recommend going here. It was a terrible experience.

Standard Mexican cuisine, but the prices and convenience are hard to beat. The 2 tacos and margarita for $10 is an every day deal and well worth it. They're pet friendly and have a kids menu too! The service is straight to the point and knowledgeable. It's a relaxed restaurant/bar that's great for lunch or quick drinks.

Came by after a show at The American theatre . Sat at the bar and ordered nachos and margaritas . They were pretty busy but the bartender was friendly and efficient . We ordered chorizo on our nachos which was a solid choice . The chips were crispy and fresh and the meal filling . Would come back when I wanna have a splurge :-)

On a layover in town and came here Easter afternoon for a late lunch/early dinner. We originally sat at the bar but decided to move to the back patio because it was empty back there. Our server was great. Very attentive and good energy. The menu we were originally given was super sticky and had hair stuck to it. They gave us new ones when I mentioned it. Food was ok. They charge for a chips and salsa. They're good, crispy and salty. Reminded me of Tostitos. I saw them pour the chips out of big silver bags so probably a similar brand. I guess typically the salsa cups are smaller than what we received because she said she snagged us the bigger size. Thankful for that. The chicken burrito covered in queso was tasty and big enough to split. It wasn't necessarily hot but it wasn't cold. The taco had a long hair in it. Seemed to be a trend this day. Luckily my boyfriend caught it before he ate it. Our sever took the taco off the bill. Overall, I'm happy they were open on Easter but they need to do a little better with the cleanliness and sanitation.

We did a takeout and quick drinks and appetizers at Juanita Greenberg's. I felt welcomed and my food came out pretty quickly. We took margaritas and guacamole. Packed tacos for family. The crispy taco was not that great but other options like chicken taco, burritos were great. The price was fare as well. The ambiance was nice and the place stays open late. Great for late night dates.

Juanita's is historic and well known in Charleston! It's located on King St. The inside is rather small, but there is a rather large outside patio. Parking is available, but limited and only street parking. I ordered the $8 special, which comes with 2 tacos and a beer. The tacos can be ordered corn or flour style. There is a $1 upcharge for the steak taco. I ordered the grilled fish taco (Mahi Mahi) and the ground beef taco on corn tortillas. It came with the Juanita Greenberg beer. My tacos were simple, but really good. The bartender was friendly and cordial. The service and food came really quickly. Overall, I had a great experience and will be back. She recommended that I try the nachos or burrito next time.

1st time here. Decided to stop here while walking on King St for some place to eat. The $10 tacos & margarita special caught my friends attention and drew us in. We shared the queso with chorizo. We all enjoyed the queso. For my entree. I had the chicken rice bowl, which came with black beans, Monterray Jack minus Pico. The bowl was filling and flavorful. I would definitely order it again. Our server was cheerful & patient as we figured out what we wanted, and also when my friend spilled her margarita after only having a sip.

As someone who eats a LOT of Mexican food, this sort of scratched the itch. I will say that it is not your actual typical Mexican food re flavor profile and offerings. You're not getting authentic street tacos here. You are getting... probably a lot less spice than usual, though they give many types of hot sauce! I knew what I wanted for food this evening, so it was fine! I would say that you need to be in the mood for a bar like this - it's not swanky. It owns exactly who it is - it's a sports bar with pretty good food. Service was VERY friendly, and the food was what our crew of 7 wanted. Again, this might be because being in CA most of the time means my asks for tacos / nachos etc are a little different, but you can't beat the hours, location, and convenience of this place.

Far and the way, the worst meal I have ever had in any restaurant in over a half dozen countries. Even even the margarita was not well done. Save your money, go someplace else. The service was fine, I just hope these kids never get charged with serving a noxious substance by the police! The atmosphere was nothing special.

Skip it, I hope this helps other hungry vacationers avoid this dump. It's a dive bar at first, restaurant way last. Gross nachos with old tasting grilled chicken, mealy sour cream, watery queso, and half dead lettuce. The watery margarita did little to help choke it down. They need to fix these nachos or change the name. Sprite was fine. Hard pass :(

I didn't expect much from a divy Mexican joint but holy cow is this food terrible. The queso and chips were the highlight because they serve Tostito's. The quesadilla was burnt bc some lazy cook decided the salamander should be used instead of a griddle. I figured I'd eat the cheese and meat but there was literally no flavor. None. No salt, no garlic, no cumin... nothing. Just warmed over boiled chicken and bland cheese. I have no clue how this place stayed open for 30 yrs but let me tell you, you'll get a much better meal a few blocks over at The Matador. Hell, Taco Bell is a major step up.

Was overall a fine experience. Service was good, can't complain there. We got the trifecta dip- not worth it. The only good dip was the guacamole... which had a hair it in. Take what you can get I guess. Drinks were fine too, would've probably gotten another. The tacos were very good. Don't sit outside unless you want to share your food with the flys. Would probably come back.

God there's so much potential. This place is ridiculous. Nothing, not even the staff was pleasant.

I ordered the nachos "pizza style". After waiting a bit for it to come out the pizza was burned and had majority of the slices inedible. Also there was rotten browned lettuce on top. See photos below. Staff were friendly. However, it wasn't busy so there was no excuse for poor quality food. I sense from looking around that this is the standard that they have with their food. In a nut shell I've had better quality food at Taco Bell.

Great great food at a reasonable price for downtown. The fact that a nacho place has bagged chips is a little disappointing, but the taste is still good. Some of the slowest service I've ever had- the food came out fast but the actual server took upwards of 15 minutes to know I was there, and she never came back again. Could've been a fluke, so I'll go back.

Absolutely DISGUSTING!!!!' We threw our whole order out!!! By far worst restaurant of my life and my family. We got GROSS nachos. Wilted salad and gross burrito.

We walked in and bartender said to sit anywhere, even in the back. No one ever came to take a drink order or give us a menu. We waited 20 minutes before we walked out. I do not recommend! The atmosphere is more outdoor, there were flies everywhere and the tables in the back were sticky

Staff is very friendly. Drinks were so good. The food is nothing special. Now the bartender (red head) she can mix a very good margarita. I also ordered a tequila sunrise but that was mixed by a server and I'm not sure what orange juice was used because it had an odd taste. We sat at the tables closer to the bar because the area that leads to the patio sitting smells like wet dogs. I would go back for drinks and the service. I ordered a trifecta appetizer. As others stated it seems like the salsa, queso, and guacamole are from a grocery store. My daughter enjoyed the Mediterranean tacos platter. This is not traditional Mexican cuisine so if that's what you're looking for this isn't it.

Juans in Mt P has been a go to bar for me for years, but I had only sporadically popped into the one downtown from time to time. Recently I've been in for drinks and then for food a couple times and I have to say I really like it. I typically think of Juans as a more of a drinking spot than an eating spot, but every time I get food I find myself impressed. My favorite lately is the simplest of items... ground beef tacos. Yes, for $7 you can get two tacos and a beer. Make sure to get the crispy ones that they fry on the grill and they mix some hot sauce in with the meat. They're full of flavor and a great lunch or cheap dinner. I also forgot how big the patio was at this location. I ate lunch out there one day with a friend and I was wishing I didn't have things to do after so I could have just sipped frozen margs all day.

holy juaTITas. These nachos were good- but not that good. proportions were a little off but for late night drunk nachos they are perfect.

So very good. Nachos are just as awesome as I remembered. must try. Salsas a great too.

You can't beat the Nachos Royales and the corn nachos! Love the steak! Great atmosphere too, pretty cool layout. Service is fast-and servers very outgoing and professional.

Wanted to like this place, with the unusual name. Friendly servers. Ordered the Beef Burrito Wrap with Rice and Beans. Generous portion size. Disappointing no spiciness at all, and a requested salsa was $$$ extra for thimble-size. While the variety and choice of Margaritas at first appeared interesting, disappointed to not find one authentic Margarita. All the margarita choices were made with the house's margarita mix. So ordered a draught IPA that barely tasted like an IPA. I also sensed they are dealing with staff shortages since many tables had dirty dishes, and were waiting to be bused in the middle of the afternoon. There is potential here, and a great location. Needs more work on the menu.

Prettying good experience for lunch on Friday. We were tired and hungry after a full morning of Charleston site seeing. We had Macey the Golden Pup with us so we were seated in the backyard patio. We ordered chips, salsa, and guacamole dip to get started. I thought the salsa and guacamole were above average. The salsa tasted fresh and had a good consistency (not too thin, not too thick). It was a little spicy and I liked that. I really enjoyed the guacamole. It had nice flavor and the light green indicated the avocados were the perfect ripeness. I ordered taco plate with a grilled shrimp taco and a grilled fish taco. The taco were meticulously constructed with fresh ingredients and topped with a flavorful white sauce. They were both good, I only wish the fish taco had a bit more fish in it. The plate included rice and black beans. No surprises with these, but the rice was a little dry. I fixed that with a tablespoon of salsa.

Cheap Tequila and great nachos what more do you want? Nacho Royale is also located right on King's Street which makes it convenient to just about everything in Charleston, SC.

The food here was delicious. I had the pulled pork Mexican salad and my husband had the chicken quesadilla. Service was prompt and helpful. Excellent choice of beer on tap. Food came out swiftly and as ordered. My salad was phenomenal and the salsa was excellent! My husband said it was one of the best quesadillas he has ever had. The one thing that kept it from getting 5 stars was the lack of a soft corn tortillas for tacos. They do have crunchy corn tortillas but I'm not a fan of those. If they had soft corn tortillas I would have definitely had tacos as the filling options sounded delicious! All In all a very pleasant dining experience.

Definitely a great place to have a great time and create some memories.... The energy was amazing because of the live band and the constant sing along. It was clear after I received my food that the packed house was due to the establishments esthetic, not the food. I ordered the shrimp taco bowl and although the food was pretty good, I've had better. If you're looking for a great night out with amazing vibes then this is definitely the place to check out.

It's ok place, they do not make their-own tortilla chips, they use Tostitos. The food is on the low scale for mexican restaurants if you are looking for authentic Mexican style food. Service is just ok!!!

5 star reviews? This is a nice place to have a beer on tap. Juanita Greenberg's Nacho Royale sounds like a Quentin Tarantino movie but its a simple bar serving food. Here's the issue, the food. It's all a dump and pour. Chips? From a large restaurant bag (I sat next to the kitchen) Taco shells? Straight from a bag, they weren't even warmed! The nacho cheese? From a can. I had a beer and belly full of canned yuckness. The only thing Mexican here might be from the wall of Mexican Hot Sauce choices. Nice bar staff serving cold beer. I'm in Charleston for a limited time, I hate to waste it eating yucky canned food.

We came here on a Saturday afternoon. We were told they were short staffed so to find a spot to sit. Service was spotty and we had to flag someone down to take our order. We knew they were short staffed so we were trying to be patient. The food was alright - the chips were just Tostitos in the nachos, and everything was super super salty but not necessarily that flavorful. I've had better food - so I'd give it a C+.

We live downtown and walked to pickup takeout, about twenty minutes away, in July (read: sweltering heat) -- unbeknownst to us they somehow handed us the wrong food. We were almost home when a girl called my cell to berate us for "taking someone else's food". When I told her we were handed our bagged to go order (pretty sure by the person who called) and had no idea it wasn't ours, she said "Well, do you just want to keep that food?" I said no and she said "Then you have to bring it back." We walked back and received what was then our soggy tacos and nachos order (we hoped as it was also boxed and bagged) while five or so employees watched from the nearby bar -- she had clearly told them we were coming back and they were waiting for our reaction I guess. We took our food politely and left. Not one apology nor care from anyone working there. She handed it to us saying "Here is your CORRECT food" pretty much scolding us as we stood there in full sweat from the additional 20 minute walk back. Totally bizarre and not fun experience ... won't go back. The reviews talking about their use of Tostitos cinched it. Yuck. We had a great experience at the Mt P location before this, btw ... great staff. Food was good. Still hate that it's Tostitos but in Mt P the atmosphere was fun and welcoming.

Best service!! Amanda and Mel are AMAZING!! They knew exactly what I needed! They were so personable and helpful and REAL I was so appreciative

Lazy AF. Chips come straight from a Tostitos bag. No kidding. The chips came from big white bags labeled "Tostitos" straight from the wholesaler. Everything came from a jar or can, was heated up, slopped together and served with bagged lettuce on top. The result? Not very satisfying. At least Applebee's doesn't try to hide what they do behind some faux hipster marketing concept. Avoid.

Wondering around on King Street for the morning and when I realized I was starving this place was exactly what I wanted. Huge nacho lover and the outdoor space was perfect for football Saturday. This is the half order of the chorizo corn nachos and it was more than enough for one person. Service was excellent. Great place to be in and out of or to sit and stay a while

Happy with my margarita and chorizo quesadilla! The outdoor patio in the back has some cool vibes- literally, they had fans to keep the breeze on a hot June day!

One of the worst experiences I have ever had. Carlos was the "bouncer" and took a real, 20 year-old ID, when we walked through the door. He was rude, but we thought maybe it was restaurant policy to take underage IDs until you leave. So, we went back up at the end of our meal and asked for it back. He refused to give it back and claimed it was fake. He was incredibly rude. He refused to give it back, even after we said we'd call the police. So, we had to call the police. On the phone with the dispatcher, she asked me if anyone involved had any weapons. I asked Carlos the bouncer if he did to make sure (since I knew my friend and I didn't). He was incredibly rude and told me that it was none of my business. Even after I informed him that the 911 dispatcher has asked if he had a weapon, he refused to answer until the 4th time I asked him. Finally, as soon as the police officer arrived, he grabbed the handful of IDs and took off down the street and didn't stop when asked to by the officer. He didn't return until another bouncer called him on the phone minutes later. When he finally came back, he shrugged and said "It was real, just double checking." He finally handed the ID over. We asked him to apologize, and he said "I don't owe you an apology." The police officer then talked to him. I don't know what he said because we were grateful to finally be able to leave. I have never been treated so disrespectfully at a restaurant. On top of that, they also got our order wrong and brought the receipt late. I will say our actual waiter was very nice at least, and the inside had a nice ambiance. Overall, very disappointed with the treatment at the door and the fact that no employees from the inside came to assist the situation. I'd go to any other Mexican restaurant over this one.

Great spot for tacos. We felt bad for our waitress since she was the only one waiting us and the bar. But if you get a chance definitely stop in

The corn nachos were huge! We got them with the smoked pork. Also ordered a steak quesadilla, but for just the two of us, it was way too much. I also had a Horni margarita a d a 100 proof margarita and both were super tasty with lots of salt on the rim. Would definitely recommend!

Damn good nachos! 3pm, no food in my belly once 7am, and f'en so hungry I could eat my own head. I need food and I need it now! NACHOS!!! Great pile of chips, steak, cheeze whiz, salsa, and sour cream. So good. I had a peach, because I'm down south, margarita. Delicious!

Place should be condemned. Dirty. Large roaches crawling across the floor, up peoples tables and on peoples feet. Walked out before eating...so did three other tables. Besides the bugs, staff doesn't care. No manager on site. Chips were Tostitos and $9. Worst looking enchilada I've ever seen.

Need an affordable spot on King to get your drink and your grub on before you go dancing? Juanita's is your spot! Keepin' it real with happy hour specials since....forever! Oh yeah, we can also bring our Frenchie and chill on the back patio. Try the Royales (Recommendation: steak). Royales are basically a Mexican pizza with all the good stuff from a taco staring up at you. They're lighter than you'd expect and easier to eat. Staff/service is always loose, friendly, and fast. We've been going to JG's for 12 years and yes, we'll be back.

My server was terrible, she came to the table once took the order and never came back. I asked for a hard shell taco and they brought out a small griddled soft shell taco. i went to the bartender to tell him the order was wrong (since we never saw our server again) and he argued with me and told me i should go to taco bell. The bartender was some bald guy about 5'9" or so, huge jerk

Service is slow and food tickets all over the floor. The pulled pork burrito is very disappointing bs the cook degrees have the ingredients and the TK was dry and burnt from the grill and the queso say was very e like milk was poured over it. Not worth going back too!!!