Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano

It was the perfect day to sit outside and Santi’s has this amazing jungle feel to their outdoor patio with the sun peeking through the trees and the nice breeze was so nice. They had a pretty extensive menu and a lot of options so I was feeling torn. They offered authentic Mexican tacos which I love (American style was an option too) Our servers were two very nice ladies and were very attentive despite how busy they were. I was happy to find out they had Caipirinha’s! 😃 My friend nachos were a huge, I got the enchiladas verde which was good and the star dish was the camarones a la diablo. If you love shrimp, garlic and spice. You HAVE to get this dish. It was seriously addicting and you got this delicious homemade guacamole that they put back inside a half shell which I thought was so cool. I am literally only eating that from now on when I come here. It was a great time with friends and food!

I had high hopes for this Mexican restaurant, but it turned out to be a major disappointment. The ambiance was great at first glance, but that’s where the positives ended. The service was incredibly slow, and we didn’t receive menus until we specifically asked for them. The food was the biggest letdown—completely tasteless, with undercooked and lifeless chicken in the Chicken Ranchero and Steak Ranchero dishes. Both meals were severely lacking in flavor. I would not recommend this place at all. They seriously need to improve their service and food quality.

Love! Love! LOVE!! So glad my daughter suggested Santi’s…it is funky, the food is delicious, and the servers are friendly and attentive. The salsa has just a hint of heat and the chips were tasty. And my veggie burrito was yummy!! I will definitely be eating here again!

One of the best Mexican restaurants in downtown Charleston! The food is incredible, the service is always friendly, and their margaritas? Easily the best in town. They even offer sealed drinks to go, so you can grab one of their famous margaritas on the way out—perfect for a night in or a poolside hangout. Whether you’re looking for a fun spot to enjoy with friends or a quick and delicious takeout option, this place delivers. I love picking up dinner and enjoying it with friends by the pool. The portions are generous, and I always leave full and happy. Highly recommend!

The service and atmosphere is great and no complaints there. Wish they had more vegetarian options though and found the menu options a bit disappointing. Asked for guacamole but was told it came with it and then it turns out it was only about a teaspoon portion on some lettuce.

Born and raised in Charleston. This place still has the best Mexican food around. (I like the new one in west Ashley but the downtown one is soooo much better). Great people, great food. What else do you need?

We needed a place to play kings in the corner while getting a bite to eat. What a Great Place we stumbled on!!! The place was packed but, service was quick while the food hot and tasty. Great atmosphere out on the patio. We had to use the bathroom that is inside. Going through the inside part of the restaurant I had the opportunity to watch the chefs work their magic. Poetry in Motion! The food was delish. A Great Experience.

Since moving back to Charleston, Santi's is the closest thing I have found compared to my favorite Texas Jaliscos. We love the mexican style tacos, my new favorite is the steak chimichanga. Don't forget the drinks, must have a few margaritas to wash down those tacos and chips and salsa.

The chips here are so good!! We polished off probably 3 baskets of them. The inside is really cute, lots of seating, but mostly for smaller groups, I wouldn't recommend a party larger than 6 for this location. All of the food is pretty cheap and comes out fast, I did struggle to get my water refilled by the waiter, but wasn't really busy to warrant that.

I wasn't very impressed with Santi's. The service was rushed even though the restaurant was empty and the food was just not good. The beans and rice were not flavorful and that disappointed me, because that's what I look forward to when I go to a Mexican restaurant. The burrito was ok and the flautas were also just ok. The steak was good.

Love the whimsical interior! Good spot to catch up with friends. Portions are generous. The dinner combo was a bit salty for me but I enjoyed the rice and beans. Complimentary chips and salsa were yummy where the salsa had a nice kick to it!

My first time at this place. I've been wanting to go based on how packed the parking lot is and it looks like a party. I went on a Friday afternoon at 3pm. One hour before happy hour (story of my life). There were very few people there. You seat yourself outside. The patio has been decorated like a tropical rainforest. It's unlike anything I've been to so far in Charleston. I was served chips and salsa immediately and asked what I wanted to drink. I ordered a mango margarita. I'm always on a quest for carne asada fries. They almost have them. They have skirt steak w fries. I had them put the steak on the fries and cover w cheese. Delish!! The meal came w beans and rice and 2 flour and 2 corn tortillas. Everything from the food to the service to the ambiance was on point. Highly recommend. Especially since I am posting on Cinco de Mayo. It's going to be an epic party there today.

The food is absolutely delicious. The guacamole and burrito that I ordered blew me away. I have never had such great beef in my burrito in ages and the guacamole was creamy and smooth. If I could rate this place out of 10, I'd rate it a 100/10. The host set us down promptly and the wait wasn't long at all. Both inside and outside seating looks phenomenal. I would recommend this place to anyone interested in enjoying Mexican cuisine.

I'm not usually that guy who leaves bad reviews, because 1) what's the point? and 2) maybe I just had a bad experience but others really enjoy it. Outside of the service and outdoors area, I can't really think of anything I liked about Santis. The margs were syrupy sweet with the frozen ones seeming to be void of alcohol. The food was...well, not great. It's not good, I'm sorry. Everything had this taste as if it had been sitting under a heat lamp for an hour. I may be wrong, but it just wasn't for me. If you enjoy it, great! It just wasn't for me, what can I say. I still encourage people to try this place out for themselves, like I always do. I'm just one idiot, so don't take my word for it, but I probably won't go back.

I love a good authentic Mexican restaurant. The food here was so good. I love the decorations and all the lights around. My only issue was an adjacent table had a cat on the table. To each his own but I'd hate to be the party to sit at that table after them.

The atmosphere outside is great! Decorations and the covered pergola. Very cute and perfect for October! Loved the fun-nature everyone had with skeletons literally crawling up the walls... The food was decent but we didn't get what we ordered and they weren't very attentive to our requests; including not refilling water glasses. A good rule of thumb for attentive and good service is how long your water glass sits untouched/refilled. The chips, salsa and queso were great, so if you're there for drinks and a snack, this is perfect! The mojito was quite refreshing to boot. However, the fact that several in our party had dietary restrictions and this was told, noted and not adhered to was a little unsettling. I had tried the one down the street from where I grew up and that was about a 4 star, so I figured the OF that everyone raves about would have been at least that or better. I'm willing to give them another try on the atmosphere and location alone when meeting up with friends from different parts of town.

This was absolutely the worst meal we have ever eaten. Seriously. My daughter tasted mine and started gagging and almost threw up. I tasted her "steak" and couldn't swallow it. Had to spit it out in a napkin. It was so gross that it was laughable. Beans were watery and rice was dry and some pieces were hard. We didn't complain, because we didn't want the negativity (we were in vacation and just trying to stay positive and have fun). We laughed for days about the "spirit of Santi" and how he was haunting us (my daughter had a big lump in her stomach after and I told her it was the spirit of Santi, waiting till she went to sleep to crawl out of her butt and gift her with piñatas and tequila shots). Food was atrocious. Service was ok, but 3 or 4 different people were at our table, so not sure which one was our server. One thing I'll say is the atmosphere was awesome. It's a beautiful place, especially the outdoor areas. Might be the perfect spot for drinks, but I don't recommend eating a meal.

Terrible service, steak tacos were fatty, the chicken tacos were not good, tasted like chicken broth and were bland. Don't recommend.

Shocked we were able to get a table on a Friday night! This place is SO CUTE. I love the decor and lights all over both the indoors and outdoors! It's a very laidback spot, the customer service was great, and my food was great too. It's hard to find Mexican spots that are more on the authentic side than Americanized side here in Charleston, so I'm excited to have found another spot!

I wasn't expecting Michelin star service here, but I also wasn't expecting to be completely ignored by our waiter, to the point of getting up to leave. We got up to leave after sitting and waiting 10+ minutes for our waiter to come take our order, while watching him servicing, and checking on all the tables surrounding us. Then, said waiter, who hadn't even acknowledged our presence since bringing our drinks, ran out into the parking lot after us, demanding we pay him $10 for the drinks we had taken all of two sips of. We should've just gotten up, and left when we saw him bringing canned sodas over to the table. Don't waste your time coming here.

Santi's is a Charleston staple and I couldn't believe I hadn't been yet!! Okay first of all, now I know why all the College of Charleston kids pregame here! One margarita and I was SET! Great margarita and it lasted me a long dinner. I got 3 steak Mexican tacos and was FULL! To be fair I ate my weight in chips and queso, but the tacos were still the perfect amount. I left full, fat and happy!! Overall staff was super cute and friendly! Loved their energy. I did feel like it was a bit more expensive than a typical Mexican restaurant, but I have to say the quality is better than most! Will definitely be back!!

The beer was great at happy hour between 3-6 pm, they had negra modelo which is the one I like at $2.50 each, however it was not as cold as I expected to be. And the enchiladas poblanas that I ordered, the beef enchiladas were not with shredded beef but with ground meat which it's not the way they are supposed to be. Price for the food was ok

Stopped in for bite after the show. We shared the tostado dinner and each of us had a taco. My first time here. Food, service and staff were pretty decent. Now that I've had their food I will visit the one just down the street. It was very crowded and loud. It was raining and at night so I couldn't see what the parking situation was like. The do have handicapped parking up front. Sorry no pictures no camera !

Excellent food! Friendly bartender who was able to explain drink & give cultural history of Guatemala. Cool vibe & nice back patio area.

First time dining here and I instantly felt like I was sitting in an enchanted garden. Santi's green decor was very appealing to me. We sat inside since the patio was packed, but it was such a beautiful space. The place was packed and the workers were moving non-stop. They had a certain rhythm and flow about them that just worked. Our waiter was nice and greeted us with a smile. He made recommendations to us since it was our first visit. The drinks were oh so GOOD! I had the frozen strawberry margarita and my friend had the lime on the rocks. I was a little disappointed that they didn't serve black beans, but settled for refried. I had the deep Fried Chimichanga and my guest had the Steak Ranchero. It took no time to prepare our order and everything was delicious. I will say that the beans did not look appealing but they were good. Cool vibe, great drinks, and good eats is a win in my book. Would dine here again.

Great traditional Mexican! Friendly and helpful! Super for the whole family or a quick night out!

Still a no from me. I tried it again and of course the staff are all very friendly and extremely hard working. But my burrito came out with no green sauce (which was supposed to be included) and no sour cream on the side. The inside was a bit dry overall, more cheese could have been helpful. Overall, I still stick with Mex1 on Sullivan's.

Firstly, the energy and ambiance here was outstanding! The outside patio had a ton of fun things to look at and was nice and shaded. The decor itself set the mood for a fun experience! The service was also incredible, both servers who helped us were so kind and attentive. Also, the water glasses were so fun and original! The food was wonderful. Fresh made chips and delicious chicken, rice, and queso as well as veggies. We will definitely come back next time we are in Charleston and recommend it to anyone!!

Absolutely love the atmosphere. Plenty of outdoor seating with lots of shade from all of the plants. You are sitting next Meeting St. but you wouldn't even know. They're also pet friendly! We both had steak mexican tacos and they were great! Service was fast. We plant to return soon for happy hour.

First impression loved the atmosphere! The chips and salsa were great, Horchata was good maybe slightly sweet but I still thought it was good. Steak tacos were great, and garlic shrimp was also amazing! Highly recommended!

It had been years since I had been to Santi's so I thought I would go since I work so close to them. I must say I was disappointed, the beans are watered down, the rice had hard spots on them. The queso fundido was not liquidity, so it was hard to scoop with your tortilla chips. I did mention this to the waiter but he was not concerned that my party all felt the same and did not eat the beans and rice. The food, in all, was mediocre at best. The prices are too high for food that is okay at best. I would not go back since I can get authentic Mexican food at Tiki Taco. Wish you the best Santi but my entire company feels the same.

I have always loved both Santis locations. Still do. Go visit the Morrison 'downtown' location. Theses days the original Santis is still busy and great even surrounded by new tall condos. Therefore I worry about their longevity at this location. I'll have to go to Sullivans island (almost) for my Guisado de Puerco that I always get. Finally, their chips and salsa are the best and consistently freshest. Do not miss this special place. May be a haven for those new to our country. Somehow also lgbt staffed lightly as well. A promising sign. Gracias amigos!

One of our top favs in the city!!! The food is exquisite and the service is fabulous!! And we love Pablo! A kind gentle fun lovely server!!!

I don't understand how this place is always packed. I get the ambiance is cool and they have a nice sized porch but the food...oh man. The food is some of the worst Mexican food you can get in the city. Tasteless meat..and I mean not a hint of salt or pepper. Dry crunchy rice and soup water refried beans. Truly has to be the worst I've had and unfortunately I've been here more than once as I've met friends and such. It's literally always bad and the service is too. You usually have to hunt down the server to get the check. I'd recommend anywhere else

The food was delicious! I did not have to wait long at all to be helped and my food came to the table super quick, considering how busy they were. 10/10!!

As it was looking like it was about to rain one of the five of us checked inside and they said just have a seat outside and we will get someone to you. There is a slanted roof set of rafters with clear plastic or fiberglass overhead through which you can see the leaves which have been sitting there for probably a couple of years from the last time I was there. There are a number of eclectic pieces of art and decorations that give you a good feeling. The wooden picnic type table which can seat six quite comfortably was so dirty on top that I stood up and finally had to wave down a waiter to please get it cleaned off. All of this took about 3 or 4 minutes but I was ready to sit down grab a cold one and order some good Mexican food. Without finally having been done they brought us the free salsa and tortilla chips. I've been here a number of times over the years at this particular location but that is the worst salsa that I've ever had in my entire life. The consistency was more like tomato juice than anything else. Try putting that on your tortilla chip. Further they previously had the tortilla chips that had been heated, at least warm. But these were cold and right out of the bag is my best guess. Once we got the food it was pretty good. I had two Mexican steak tacos with the steak meat fairly decent although there was one tiny little chewy piece. My wife and one friend had the heavily cheesed nachos with steak, halapeno (sp) peppers, and cilantro, etc. It was quite enjoyable for the two of them but too much to finish so that would be a good recommendation. The wait staff came and went, apparently changing our servers and at the end leaving us to ask for the check. Having to ask for my check is one of my pet peeves!

I went for lunch and absolutely loved the ambiance of the outdoor patio! Service was good, even though they were busy, and we loved our food so much that we went back the next day for dinner. Sitting inside was not as fun, but it was okay. I ordered the same meal: queso fundido. What was delicious the first time was still tasty the second time, but totally covered in the chorizo grease, like someone had forgotten to drain it. I had to sop it up with napkins and it was still really greasy. (otherwise I would have given 5 stars) The strawberry margarita was very fresh and tasty. I would go again!

I absolutely loved this restaurant. Stopped for lunch on a Saturday and was able to get a table no problem. Plenty of parking available and service was nice and quick. Food was super delicious a d lunch portion was perfect. The mole sauce was the perfect balance between spicy and sweet. Would definitely try again when in Charleston.

The food here was okay. The chips and salsa weren't appealing at all and the food wasn't so cheap that it was worth the taste. The ambiance outside was nice but inside wasn't great. If I were you I'd go to rio Chico or senor tequila. Wayyy better food quality for the price. Also better alcohol for cheaper as well. I left disappointed

Just not the same Santi's as the other location. We were a part of 3 and none of us thought the food was good enough to come back for a second visit. the service was very slow and the waiter only brought our drinks after we asked twice. I would not go back.

Moved here in August from Colorado, so we've been looking for somthing to satisfy that Mexican hankering we've been so easily able to satisfy before. Santi's definitely does it. Let's start with the Margaritas, since that is where mexican always does :) We both got the "skinny" margarita and it was yummy, not too sweet not too sour and they blend it somehow even though there is no mix in there. Definitely a good start. I had the chimichanga and my husband had the enchiladas verde, both very very good. I thought the chimichanga was dry-could have used some more green chili on it, I think that is much more prevalent in CO, though. No fajitas on the menu, which I found interesting and I don't think they offered shredded beef "picadillo" as the protein option, but all in all, a good substitute for the Mexican need.

Food and service very good, The outside seating is atreat on a nice day. Will be eating there again

We came here with a group of friends for a small party. The food was excellent! It was a Friday so we had a little bit of a wait to get seated, even though we had made a reservation, and service was a little slow. We ordered food and drinks and everything tasted great. I asked the waiter what he recommended and he suggested pork and cactus. It was amazing! It was a fun atmosphere with cool decorations all around. The whole place felt homey and welcoming. I'd definitely go again - but I'd probably pick a quieter day/time.

My older sister turned me on to this spot and I am so glad she did! The parking lot was full and since I was getting takeout she waited in the car for us. We were promptly greeted and we took our seats at the bar. To keep it simple, we ordered 3 orders of tacos and a quesadilla for the son. I ordered ground beef, chicken, and pork tacos. All three were good as well as the queso and guacamole. My only criticism is they should have a grilled chicken option ( if they do, I overlooked it) for tacos and quesadillas. I know this will be one of the spots we return to when we're in town!

I think we can all agree that cheap Mexican food is the best Mexican food, even better when you can sit outside and not have to plan your visit around your hair wash days. All of the enchiladas are incredible and queso is an obvious must.

I really wanted to give this place high marks. It's very appealing outside. The decor is inviting and likable. But at the end of the night, the experience just leaves you feeling like it could be so much more. The food wasn't the worst Mexican I've ever had but definitely not the best. Though the fresh flour tortillas were a nice touch. The salsa was ok, the rice... ok, and the beans...very ok. But to top it all off, when we asked for Cokes to drink they brought us a canned drink and then proceeded to charge us $2.50 each for them.

It's a cute busy restaurant. Service was good and food came out fast. I had an horchata and the shrimp stuffed avocados and they were a little plain they didn't have much flavor. I might have not been as hungry maybe?

I've heard people call this place the best and most authentic Mexican spot in Charleston. I don't agree with that. It's saucey cheesy American Mexican food... which is awesome! If you want "authentic" go to Torres Superettes and get the street style tacos. So far that's the closest I've found. But it's got a great atmosphere and goood food and I love coming here! The ala carte quesadilla is an amazing deal too. Absolutely put this on your list!

First time here today for lunch with my boss. At first glance, I was so impressed with the patio: nice decor, covered patio, good spacing of tables, privacy available, and ample breeze. Our waitress was over very promptly with chips and salsa and menus. Once she got back with our drinks, we ordered. I got the two crunchy tacos with rice and beans. To say it came out fast is an understatement!!! And boy was it delicious!! I am super excited to have a new mexican place in the rotation! Only negative for me, not the best salsa. Kinda watery and chunky where I like it more smooth. I realize I am an adult child :)

Love Santis' .. the steak tacos and service is what keeps me coming back. The tortillas are always fresh. All the wait staff is so nice here, the free chips and salsa are a plus. Love sitting outside and dog friendly.

Really amazing place to eat Mexican in Charleston...great food and drinks. Always very attentive and polite staff. One of my favorite places to eat for a real low key night! Ask for Pablo..he's the best!

There is no better local establishment. We have been patrons for well over a decade and we have never had a single meal to disappoint. Service is always hospitable, timely, and welcoming, and the food never disappoints. What more could you ever want

Love this place! Super excited their patio service is open now. We had to get their takeout as well a couple weeks ago just to fix my craving. Love everything - enchiladas verdes are me go to but I also have enjoyed flautas, guacamole, burritos, tacos, and the bacon wrapped shrimp thing. I confess, during Covid times I had a bad day and we got some takeout and they let me order an "adult iced tea" that I drank while I waited on my order. It was amazing. Love the green sauce that came with my Mexican tacos Al Pastor last night. Liquid gold if you ask me! Queso was on point and love their thick crispy fresh chips. I'll be back, probably sometime next week. Service has been amazing for us every time.

Always good! They make a great skinny margarita and my go to Fro Burrito never disappoints!

If you have seen my reviews then you know I eat at a lot of Latino restaurants. This one is my treasure. I don't get to go often enough because of were I live in town but when I can I go. Their taste is a signature. It's fresh, doesn't fall apart on the corn tortillas. The spice hits just right in the salsa and on the food. I know some people worry about that. Price is fair for the taste as they don't try to be anything they are not. Food: authentic. Facility: feels authentic. Staff: passionate. Give them a try and you will open your heart to them as I have! Cheers!

Food and service were really good when I went for my birthday. Staff was friendly and there was plenty of seating for our party

Might be the best local Mexican place in Charleston. We seem to forget about Santi's for spans of time, then remember the place, visit, and BOOM we are fans again. Housed in an old Huddle House or Waffle House, the decor of the place is eclectic and entertaining - items, colors, and lights abound - super festive. There is a fairly large patio are that is ensconced with greenery that blocks a lot of the car noise from the busy road. The chips are delicious - just the right thickness and salt. Both the salsa (provide free to all patrons) and the queso (worth the appetizer price) are yummy. We share a margarita on the rocks and a frozen, strawberry margarita and would order them both again. Look for weekday happy hours from 4-6pm for 1/2 priced drinks - currently that is like a $3 marg! The margaritas are not super sweet or acidic, they must make them at least somewhat fresh on site. Everything we have here here (e.g., tacos, tostadas, etc.) has been terrific. See you at Santi's soon!