Marco Polo in Charleston: What to Expect at This All-You-Can-Eat Spot
What Marco Polo offers and where to find it
Marco Polo is an all-you-can-eat Asian buffet located in Charleston at 1129 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in Rittenberg. The restaurant serves Chinese, Japanese, and Thai dishes from a hot buffet line, plus sushi and sashimi made to order at a separate counter. You pay one price at the door and eat as much as you want during your visit.
The buffet runs daily for lunch and dinner, with slightly different menus and pricing for each service. Lunch is typically the less expensive option and draws a steady crowd of regulars and office workers from nearby businesses. Dinner brings a fuller menu and busier dining room, especially on weekends.
The dining room itself is straightforward—booths and tables arranged around the buffet line, with a casual atmosphere. Parking is available in the lot outside. The restaurant does not take reservations, so you arrive, order at the counter, and find your own table.
Key Takeaways
- Marco Polo charges one flat price for unlimited food from the buffet, with separate pricing for lunch and dinner service.
- The buffet includes Chinese, Japanese, and Thai dishes, plus a sushi counter where items are made fresh to order.
- Lunch is less crowded and less expensive than dinner, making it a good option if you want to move through the line quickly.
- The restaurant is cash-friendly but also takes cards; call ahead if you want to confirm current pricing or daily specials.
What's on the buffet line
The hot buffet typically includes fried rice, lo mein, chow mein, and egg rolls. Protein options rotate but usually feature chicken, beef, shrimp, and pork prepared in soy-based, sweet-and-sour, and spiced sauces. Vegetable dishes—broccoli, snap peas, mushrooms, mixed vegetables—sit alongside the proteins so you can build your own plates.
Spring rolls, crab rangoon, and fried wontons appear in the appetizer section. Soups, usually egg drop and hot-and-sour, stay warm in their own stations. The buffet layout is designed so you move in one direction, loading your plate as you go, then return to your table to eat and come back for seconds.
The sushi counter operates separately. You order directly from the sushi chef, who makes rolls and nigiri to order rather than pulling pre-made pieces from a case. This means a short wait—usually five to ten minutes—but fresher fish than you would get from a pre-assembled buffet line. Popular rolls include California, spicy tuna, and Philadelphia.
Pricing and what affects the cost
Marco Polo charges by the person, not by the plate. Lunch is cheaper than dinner, and children under a certain age (typically around five or six) eat free or at a reduced rate. Some locations offer slightly lower pricing for seniors. The exact prices change periodically, so calling ahead at 843-556-7500 will give you the current rates for the day and time you plan to visit.
Beverages—soft drinks, tea, coffee—are usually included in the buffet price, though alcohol is not. You order drinks at the counter or ask your server. Takeout is available but typically charged by the pound rather than per person, since you are not eating in the restaurant.
Best times to visit
Lunch hours, roughly 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., are the quietest and fastest. You move through the buffet line without waiting, and tables turn over quickly if you are in a hurry. Weekday lunches are even less crowded than weekend lunches.
Dinner, especially Friday and Saturday evenings, brings longer waits at both the buffet line and the sushi counter. If you go during peak dinner hours (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.), expect to wait for a table and for the sushi chef to fill your order. Weeknight dinners after 7:30 p.m. tend to thin out as the evening progresses.
If you are sensitive to noise or crowds, lunch is your better bet. If you want the fullest menu and do not mind waiting, dinner is when Marco Polo is busiest and the kitchen is running at full capacity.
How to make the most of your visit
Start with smaller portions on your first trip through the buffet. The line moves faster if you do not load your plate so heavily that you cannot finish, and you leave room to go back for seconds of your favorites. Many people make the mistake of piling everything on one plate and then feeling too full to explore the full menu.
Order sushi early in your meal if you want it. The sushi counter has a queue during busy times, and if you order toward the end of your visit, you may wait longer. Alternatively, order sushi last if you want to save room and eat it as dessert.
Bring cash if you can. While Marco Polo takes cards, cash transactions sometimes move faster at the register, especially during lunch rush. If you are paying with a card, have it ready when you reach the counter.
Dietary considerations and restrictions
Marco Polo serves peanuts and tree nuts in many dishes, and cross-contamination is possible in a buffet setting. If you have a severe nut allergy, speak to a manager before eating. Shellfish is present in many sauces and in the sushi offerings.
Vegetarian options exist on the buffet—vegetable fried rice, vegetable lo mein, steamed broccoli, mixed vegetables—but they are prepared in the same kitchen as meat dishes and may contain fish sauce or other animal products. Vegans should ask staff about specific dishes before loading your plate.
Gluten is present in soy sauce, many marinades, and fried items. If you need a gluten-free meal, speak to the manager about which dishes are safe. Some items like steamed vegetables may be prepared without gluten, but you will need to confirm.
Parking and location details
Marco Polo sits on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard near the intersection with Folly Road, in a shopping center with other businesses. Parking is free and plentiful in the lot outside. The restaurant is about fifteen minutes from downtown Charleston and twenty minutes from the beaches, making it a convenient stop if you are traveling through the Rittenberg area.
The address is 1129 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29407. If you are using GPS, enter that address directly. The restaurant is easy to spot from the road and has signage visible from the parking lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to make a reservation?
No. Marco Polo operates on a first-come, first-served basis. You walk in, pay at the counter, and find a table. During very busy times, you may wait a few minutes for a table to open, but the turnover is usually quick.
Can I take food home if I do not finish it?
Buffet-style restaurants typically do not allow you to take leftover food home for health and safety reasons. Eat what you want while you are there, but plan accordingly so you do not waste money on more than you can consume.
Is the sushi fresh?
The sushi is made to order by the sushi chef, so it is fresher than pre-made sushi sitting in a case. The fish quality is standard for an all-you-can-eat buffet—good enough for casual dining, but not the same grade as a high-end sushi restaurant. If you are a sushi purist, this may not meet your expectations.
What is the phone number?
You can reach Marco Polo at 843-556-7500. Call to confirm current pricing, hours, or to ask about specific dishes before you visit.
Are there other Marco Polo locations in South Carolina?
Marco Polo has one main location in Charleston on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard. If you are looking for similar all-you-can-eat Asian buffets in the area, there are other options, but this is the Marco Polo location.