A New Chinatown Restaurant Opens in Charleston

What opened and where

Jade Garden opened in late 2024 at 224 King Street in Charleston's historic Chinatown district, occupying the corner space that previously held a closed dim sum parlor. The restaurant is run by chef David Chen, who spent twelve years at Golden Dragon in Myrtle Beach before returning to the Lowcountry to open his own place.

The dining room seats about sixty people across two levels, with a bar along the front window and a kitchen visible through an open pass. The space keeps the original tin ceiling and exposed brick from the building's 1920s construction, but the owners refinished the floors and added new lighting.

Key Takeaways

• Jade Garden serves Cantonese-style cooking with dim sum available daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., not just on weekends.
• The menu includes hand-pulled noodles made fresh each morning, whole roasted duck, and seafood dishes that change based on what arrives at the dock.
• Reservations are not taken for dim sum service, but the restaurant takes them for dinner after 5 p.m.
• The restaurant is open seven days a week, with lunch starting at 10 a.m. and dinner service beginning at 5 p.m.

What the menu focuses on

The kitchen emphasizes Cantonese techniques rather than Americanized Chinese food. Dim sum carts roll through the dining room during lunch hours, offering har gow (shrimp dumplings), siu mai (pork dumplings), char siu bao (barbecue pork buns), and seasonal items that rotate weekly. The dim sum menu is printed daily and posted at the host stand so you can see what is available before you sit.

Dinner service brings a longer menu with whole roasted duck, live seafood tanks with crab and lobster, and noodle dishes made to order. The hand-pulled noodles—thick wheat strands stretched and folded by hand—come in broths with chicken, pork, or seafood, or stir-fried with vegetables and protein. Chen sources most produce and proteins from suppliers in Charleston and the surrounding region, though some specialty items come from distributors in New York and San Francisco.

Hours, reservations, and parking

Jade Garden opens at 10 a.m. daily for dim sum and lunch. Dinner service runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday dinner closes at 10 p.m. The restaurant is closed only on major holidays.

Walk-ins are welcome for dim sum and lunch, though waits can run thirty minutes to an hour on weekends. Dinner reservations can be made through the restaurant's website or by calling 843-555-0147. Street parking is available along King Street, and there is a municipal lot one block away on Hasell Street.

Price range and payment

Dim sum runs between $3 and $6 per plate, with most diners ordering four to six plates plus rice and tea. Lunch entrees range from $10 to $16. Dinner entrees are priced between $14 and $28, with whole roasted duck at $32 for a half bird or $58 for a whole bird, which serves two to three people.

The restaurant accepts cash, all major credit cards, and digital payment through Venmo and Apple Pay. There is no service charge for takeout orders, which can be placed by phone or through their website.

What makes it different from other Chinese restaurants nearby

Charleston has several Chinese restaurants, but most focus on Szechuan or Hunan cooking, or serve a broad menu mixing multiple regional styles. Jade Garden commits to Cantonese food specifically—the cooking style of southern China that emphasizes fresh ingredients, quick cooking, and subtle seasoning rather than heavy sauces. The daily dim sum service is also unusual for Charleston; most restaurants in the area offer dim sum only on weekends or not at all.

The restaurant's location in Chinatown also connects it to the neighborhood's history. King Street between Calhoun and Hasell has housed Chinese businesses since the 1920s, and the current block still includes a Chinese herbalist, a grocery store, and several family-run restaurants that have operated for decades. Jade Garden's owners consulted with longtime residents before opening and hired staff from the neighborhood.

Getting there and what to expect on your first visit

Jade Garden sits on King Street between Calhoun and Hasell, about a ten-minute walk from the Market Hall area and a fifteen-minute walk from the waterfront. If you are driving, the municipal lot on Hasell Street has metered parking and is usually less crowded than street spots. The restaurant is accessible by wheelchair, with a ramp at the entrance and a restroom on the ground floor.

On a first visit during dim sum hours, arrive before 11:30 a.m. or after 2 p.m. to avoid the peak rush. A server will seat you and bring a pot of tea—you can request a specific type or let them choose. Carts will come by your table; point to what you want, and the server marks your check. If you do not see something you want, ask—the kitchen can make items not currently on the carts. Dinner is quieter and a better time to sit and talk, though the dim sum experience is worth trying if you have time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak Cantonese or know what dim sum items are called?

No. The dim sum carts come to your table, and you point to what looks good. Each plate is labeled in English and Chinese. If you are unsure what something is, ask your server—they can describe the filling and cooking method. Most servers speak English fluently and are used to explaining items to new diners.

Can I order from the dinner menu during lunch hours?

Yes. The full dinner menu is available anytime the restaurant is open. Many people order noodle dishes or roasted duck during lunch if they do not want dim sum. There is no time restriction on what you can order.

What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?

Tell your server when you sit down. The kitchen can accommodate vegetarian requests, and most dishes can be made without soy sauce or with reduced sodium. Shellfish and peanut allergies are taken seriously—let staff know immediately so they can alert the kitchen and prevent cross-contact.

Is there a kids menu?

There is no separate kids menu, but the kitchen will make smaller portions of noodle dishes, rice, or steamed dumplings for children. Many dim sum items are also mild and popular with younger diners. Ask your server what the kitchen recommends.

Can I order takeout, and how long does it take?

Yes. Takeout orders for dim sum or lunch items are ready in fifteen to twenty minutes. Dinner orders take thirty to forty minutes. Call ahead to place your order, or order through the website. Dim sum does not travel as well as other dishes, so it is best eaten fresh, but the restaurant packages it carefully for the drive home.