Visit the tiny Taco Spot for dine in on their outdoor picnic tables out back, or grab some of their quick Mexican tacos and quesadillas to-go. There's plenty of variety on the Taco Spot menu, and they specialize in speedy take out tacos! Choose a soft corn, soft flour, or crunchy corn shell, and make it a taco, salad, quesadilla, or wrap with such fillings as blackened steak, ground beef, blackened chicken, and pan-seared or blackened fish or veggies. Self-dubbed "neighborhood taco dealers," the Taco Spot crew takes order by in-person, on the phone or online, with pick-up hours from 11am to 9pm 7 days a week.
Recommended for Take Out because: A take out order from Taco Spot makes for a quick and easy, filling, and delicious meal that's also affordable!
Clare's expert tip: The Taco Spot also serves breakfast tacos and burritos all day, every day!
This small Spring Street restaurant may even be better for take out than it is for dine in. Nothing on the menu here is over $10.75 (that's the price for three tacos), with most sandwiches and salads coming in at just $8.75. That's refreshing in a popular foodie town, as is the parking available behind the restaurant! When ordering from Bon Banh Mi, first pick from a banh mi, tacos, or a salad, and then choose a protein filling, including red curry beef, ginger lemongrass chicken, 5-spice pork, 5-spice tofu, country pate and Vietnamese ham, or egg and Canadian bacon. From there, the only thing left to do is pick up your order and head for the park or the beach!
Recommended for Take Out because: Bon Banh Mi is for banh mi lovers, it's true. Get your banh mi, or your taco or salad, on the cheap and quick!
Clare's expert tip: Don't underestimate the power of the Bon Banh Mi homebrew black jasmine tea on a hot summer day in Charleston!
This casual Asian restaurant serves everything from Thai noodle dishes and wok stir-fry to sushi and Chinese specialty. Spring Roll, a family-owned fixture on busy King Street downtown, is much better than your average Chinese take out restaurant, with many people opting to dine-in for their meal here. The menu, of course, is massive, with dozens of sushi roll options alongside noodle favorites like Pad Thai, Glass Noodles, and Pad See Ew, as red, yellow, and green curry dishes. Vegetarians will find plenty of satisfying options on the menu at Spring Roll, as tofu is available in nearly every dish. Spring Roll is best when you find yourself in need of a quick lunch or take out/delivery dinner.
Recommended for Take Out because: Expect--and count on--very quick delivery and take out service from Spring Roll, whether you're ordering sushi, noodles, or a wok stir fry.
Clare's expert tip: Ask to see the lunch and dinner special menus for a large meal for under $10, great deal for King Street.
This cozy corner pizza joint is a locals' favorite, located in the heart of the residential Elliotborough neighborhood. D'Als, as it is called by its regulars, is an excellent place to kick back and enjoy a beer and a couple of slices of thin, cheesy pizza. But, if you must take it to go, you can expect a pizza experience that's just as delicious as dine-in. Choose from one of their pre-set hand-tossed pizzas, or build your own, choosing from a long list of toppings that even includes vegan cheese and tempeh for its vegan and vegetarian customers. Thankfully for us, D'Allesandro's is open until 11pm Sunday through Wednesday and until midnight Thursday through Saturday.
Recommended for Take Out because: No local will argue the fact that D'Als is a Charleston classic when it comes to good pizza and great staff.
Clare's expert tip: While D'Als is best known for a fun dine-in experience, their pizza is available for both takeout and delivery via phone or online.
With locations downtown and on James Island, Black Bean Company brings healthy, vegan and vegetarian-friendly food to the masses. Their downtown King Street location is open from 7am - 10pm 7 days a week, and you can get your fix of the good stuff via dine-in, delivery, or take out. Vegans and vegetarians will love Black Bean Company, but so will their omnivore friends! The Black Bean Company menu features a wide variety of salads, wraps, and gyros stuffed with fresh, locally-sourced produce and proteins. Don't forget to add some baked goods or a side like the couscous, vanilla bean yogurt, or potato salad to your wrap order. This restaurant is known for its quick take out and delivery times; order Black Bean Company to-go on your way to the beach!
Recommended for Take Out because: Black Bean Company is known for their speedy take out and delivery service, as well a some of the tastiest vegetarian wraps in the city.
Clare's expert tip: Order your Black Bean Company delivery or take out by phone or quickly and easily online via their website.
This corner restaurant is small, but colorful and lively inside and out. Expect quick, friendly service and plenty of "good vibes," a priority for the family-owned Dellz business. Dellz Uptown, located just past the Crosstown in the northern part of the downtown Charleston peninsula, is perhaps best known for their vegan and vegetarian-friendly over-stuffed wraps and the delicious Jazzy Pizza, a healthy pita pizza topped with fresh greens, avocado, tomato, and beans - even vegan cheese by request. Don't worry, there are plenty of options for your omnivore friends, too! There's no delivery from Dellz Uptown, so be sure to call ahead for take out.
Recommended for Take Out because: Dellz Uptown is perhaps the best takeout and to-go food destination for vegan and vegetarian foodies in South Carolina, let alone the city of Charleston.
Clare's expert tip: Trust us, you want (and need) the Jazzy Pizza, a pita pizza topped with fresh greens, cheese (vegan by request), beans, tomatoes, and more.
Prepare yourself: Mellow Mushroom pizza is unlike any other pizza you've had before. The distinctive Mellow Mushroom style is a unique (and perhaps perfect) blend of chewy dough baked in a stone hearth, with an impressive array of topping ingredients available. There's a dozen or so pre-imagined pizza offerings on the menu, including the Magical Mystery Tour, Kosmic Karma, and Mighty Meaty, alongside calzones, pretzel knots, salads, and hoagies. You can, of course, build your own pizza with the perfect combination os sauce bases, cheese, and toppings of your dreams. When you're in need of some take out or delivery pizza, consider that Mellow Mushroom on King Street does both, and their kitchen is open until 11pm Sunday through Thursday and 12am Friday and Saturday.
Recommended for Take Out because: Mellow Mushroom is known for hot, delicious pizza, hoagies, and calzones delivered quickly to anywhere downtown.
Clare's expert tip: There are plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu options at this local pizza place!
Take note of the separate take out and to-go entrance for the downtown location of Kickin' Chicken on King Street. These people mean business when it comes to chicken on the go! That's exactly what's on the menu at this popular sports bar and restaurant: chicken, in all its forms. Choose from chicken wings, tenders, nuggets, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and more, with all menu items available for both take out and delivery (on the peninsula). Take note: there can be a lengthy wait time for to-go orders during peak weekend dinner hours, especially during the school year, as the College of Charleston campus is located just one block away from Kickin' Chicken.
Recommended for Take Out because: The downtown location of the Kickin' Chicken franchise is somewhat of an institution among local residents who come for the variety and easy take out.
Clare's expert tip: Order Kickin' Chicken take out or delivery online for faster wait times!
Yes, Persimmon Cafe is located in a laundromat. Humbly sharing space with the washers and dryers, this neighborhood sandwich shop is serving up some simply delicious soups and sandwiches. The name of the game here is "grilled panini," and the Persimmon menu holds both consistent regular features as well as guest star specials on a daily basis. Count on regular menu sandwiches like the lump crab with carred onion mayo, the zucchini with fontina and pistachio pistou, the caprese, and the "Adult Grilled Cheese." Persimmon Cafe is also known for the occasional appearance of such specials as the buttnernut squash and curry cashew butter, and even a lobster roll. Pair that sandwich with an orzo salad or peanut butter slaw side and some seriously speedy service, and you've got a restaurant with a whole lot of regulars.
Recommended for Take Out because: Persimmon Cafe's pressed panini menu items are quickly and freshly made, not to mention they travel well on the go!
Clare's expert tip: During the summertime, Persimmon's housemade iced or chai teas are the perfect refreshment.
You may be craving a stuffed sandwich or wrap, while a friend is begging for a refreshing salad. One person wants iced coffee and a muffin, while another simply wants to pick up some pasta salad, Eggplant Parmesan, and a bottle of wine for tonight. Stop what you're doing and head to Caviar & Bananas immediately--they have everything you need! For picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions, head to the build-your-own salad and sandwich stations, with items made quickly and freshly in front of you. Grab a few soft drinks, teas, or juice and pack that breakfast, lunch, or dinner to-go. You've got the makings of a perfect park picnic!
Recommended for Take Out because: Available for both take out and delivery, Caviar & Bananas offers an amazing variety of sandwiches, salads, sushi, deli case items, pastries, and much more.
Clare's expert tip: Yes, Caviar & Bananas is known for a multitude of to-go options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Did you know they also deliver?