Rudy Royale

Hands down the best Nashville hot chicken I’ve ever had. I might have shed a few tears at the table. The short rib ragù was equally flavorful and memorable. Our server was fantastic, keeping my water filled as I powered through the heat and making sure our little one had everything they needed. The atmosphere was modern and inviting, making the whole experience even better.

Sat outside and it was a great spot for people watching! We ordered the fried chicken (the half chicken and split it-- it was plenty of food for 2!). The eggs rolls were delicious and the deviled eggs were good as well. Our server was attentive and friendly. Great drink menu. Good spot if you're craving fried food.

Had a really great dinner at Rudy on a hot night. We made a reservation which was a good choice since we got a seat as soon as we walked in. We each got fried chicken and found the cucumbers to be a great side dish along with the fluffy cheddar cheese biscuits. The fried chicken was crunchy and delicious. The chicken was buttermilk marinated and full of flavor. Next time I will try the Nashville hot sauce.

Just Okay – Some Hits, Some Misses Rudy’s Royale has a nice vibe — trendy interior, solid cocktail game, and friendly service. It feels like the kind of place that should be better than it actually is. The food? Mixed bag. Some dishes were genuinely tasty, but others felt under-seasoned or just kind of… forgettable. You get the sense that there’s potential, but the execution doesn’t always match the menu’s ambition. Service was polite, though a bit slow, even when it wasn’t packed. Nothing awful — just enough little hiccups to leave you with that “meh” feeling when the check comes. If you’re in the area and want a casual night out, it’s not a bad option — but don’t expect to be wowed. It’s one of those places you might try once, enjoy a few things, and then move on to see what else Charleston has cooking. But outdoor seating is cool tho!!

This was our first visit to rudy royale. Restaurant was spacious and clean, our waitress Annie was very pleasant and helpful. We were there on a Tuesday night and there was no wait. We got some friend pickles to start and then had the general royale chicken bowl, Cesar salad, chicken sandwich and short rib Alfredo. It was all hot and delicious! We will be back.

Amazing food and amazing service! - Crab Dip (starter): You can really taste the crab—it’s rich, cheesy, creamy, with a touch of acidity. All the flavors hit at once. Pair it with the crispy baguette for a perfect texture contrast. - General Rudy’s Chicken (main): Similar to General Tso’s but with a creative twist. The rice has a subtle cheesy aroma (even though you don’t see any), and the chicken is perfectly crispy with a sweet and sour sauce. Just thinking about it makes me hungry again. - Chicken Pot Pie (main): My husband loved it. To me, it tasted like a chicken version of clam chowder—super fresh and hearty. Service was excellent: We wanted an extra plate to share the crab dip, but didn’t explain ourselves well and the server split the chicken dish instead. When we looked confused, the lead hostess noticed right away and came to check in. I loved how attentive and professional they were!

They serve a good drink, but then it goes downhill a bit. Service was ok. The mac and cheese is a bit soupy, but nonetheless very flavorable. The Nashville fried chicken- our waitress described the heat as 7 out of 10; I put it at 4 at best. I felt like I was eating more breading than chicken, which is never good. The sauce was oily, and they somehow made the chicken dry, perhaps overdone. The biscuit was dense and bland. Mashed potatoes were seasoned well.

We walked in with no wait that was the only plus to our meal and experience. Nothing we ordered had any flavor at all! The chicken tenders were over cooked and it was $22 for 3 small tenders! The $29’salmon was awful and had no seasoning. Our waitress had zero personality and was not very helpful. Sorry but we will not go back. Feel like we wasted a chance for a nice dinner night in downtown Charleston!!