Ma'am Saab - Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
Restaurant · Charleston ·
Pakistani comfort food, creative cocktails, hip vibe
Pakistani comfort food, creative cocktails, hip vibe
"This Pakistani restaurant started out as a pop-up on Upper King Street in 2020, and finally got their own space in 2023. With its deep purple lighting and projection screen showing footage from street life in Pakistan, Ma'am Saab has a vibe that feels like nothing else in Charleston. When it comes to food, go for the butter chicken with a silky golden curry and perfectly cooked tandoori thigh, and the qeema samosas filled with freshly ground lamb. If it’s on the menu, end your meal with the cardamom and rice kheer—it’s the perfect dessert to split with a couple of friends, and the sweet yet savory pudding is one of the best treats you can find on the peninsula. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - jai jones, emily yates
"This Pakistani restaurant started out as a pop-up on Upper King Street in 2020, and finally got their own space in 2023. With its deep purple lighting and projection screen showing footage from street life in Pakistan, Ma'am Saab has a vibe that feels like nothing else in Charleston. When it comes to food, go for the butter chicken with a silky golden curry and perfectly cooked tandoori thigh, and the qeema samosas filled with freshly ground lamb. If it’s on the menu, end your meal with the cardamom and rice kheer—it’s the perfect dessert to split with a couple of friends, and the sweet yet savory pudding is one of the best treats you can find on the peninsula." - Jai Jones
"Chef Maryam Ghaznavi, who was born in Pakistan, raised in Saudi Arabia, and has lived in North America for 20 years, opened on Meeting Street in 2023 to spotlight Pakistani cuisine. She says, “Historically, Pakistani cuisine has not received the recognition it deserves, yet it offers a unique blend of Indian and Middle Eastern flavors.” Some dishes are familiar — butter chicken in a fragrant sauce of garam masala, cumin, and chili powder — while others, like the Taj-e-Sabzi (seasonal vegetables with aloo methi, rice, and paratha), serve as a delicious education for diners. The ambience matches the food’s allure: a festive color scheme of purple and pink adorns the dining room, and a sizzle reel of vintage Pakistani street scenes is projected behind the bar." - Lauren Mowery
"Ma’am Saab co-owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba want customers to experience the same Pakistani flavors they offer guests at their house. The hip and vibrant dining room, tucked away on Meeting Street, offers butter chicken, lamb samosas, biryani, lamb kebab, and more. At times, the space can feel like a club with thumping music and video projections, so bring friends for a fun evening out. And don’t miss the creative cocktails(each drink can be made without alcohol or with the addition of Delta-9 THC)." - Erin Perkins
"Fans of Pakistani restaurant Ma’am Saab have waited for co-owners Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba to open their downtown spot for a few years now, and the time is finally here. The Meeting Street establishment offers butter chicken, lamb samosas, biryani, and nalli nihari in a hip and vibrant dining room. The music is loud and the cocktails are unique (each drink can be made without alcohol or with the addition of delta-9 THC). It’s an experience like none other in Charleston right now." - Erin Perkins
