Little Thai Too in Charleston: Casual Thai Cooking in a Neighborhood Setting
What Little Thai Too offers
Little Thai Too is a casual neighborhood Thai restaurant in Charleston that serves familiar Thai dishes in a relaxed, unpretentious setting. The menu centers on curries, stir-fries, noodle dishes, and rice plates—the kind of food you order when you want something straightforward and satisfying rather than adventurous. The restaurant does not aim for fine dining; it aims for the kind of meal you can eat comfortably on a weeknight, with flavors you recognize and portions that fill you up.
The space itself is modest and informal. Tables are close together, the noise level rises when the restaurant fills up, and the decor is functional rather than elaborate. This is the kind of place where you sit down, order quickly, and eat without ceremony. Service is efficient and friendly, oriented toward getting food out rather than guiding you through a tasting experience.
Key Takeaways
- Little Thai Too serves standard Thai curries, stir-fries, noodles, and rice dishes in a casual neighborhood setting without pretense or high prices.
- The menu includes familiar proteins and vegetables with heat levels you can adjust, making it accessible whether you want mild or spicy food.
- The restaurant is small and informal, with close seating and a quick-service pace suited to weeknight dining rather than lingering.
- Parking is street parking in the neighborhood, so arriving during off-peak hours makes seating easier.
Menu highlights and ordering
The curries—red, green, yellow, and panang—are the backbone of the menu. You choose your protein (chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, or tofu) and the restaurant cooks it in coconut curry sauce with vegetables. The heat level is adjustable; tell them how spicy you want it, and they will dial it in. The curries come over rice and are filling enough for a single meal.
Pad Thai and other noodle dishes are also reliable choices. These are the versions most American diners expect: slightly sweet, with peanuts and lime, cooked to order. Stir-fries like pad krapow (basil stir-fry) and pad broccoli follow the same pattern—protein, vegetables, sauce, rice on the side. Nothing here surprises; everything tastes like Thai food should taste if you learned Thai food from restaurants rather than from traveling in Thailand.
Appetizers include spring rolls, satay, and fried wontons. These are not the focus of the restaurant, but they are solid choices if you want something to start with. The restaurant does not have a full bar, so bring your own beer or wine if you want to drink with your meal, or order Thai iced tea and soft drinks.
Pricing and what to expect to spend
Entrees run in the moderate range for Charleston—curry and noodle dishes typically cost between $12 and $18 depending on protein choice. Appetizers are in the $5 to $8 range. A meal for one person, with an appetizer and a drink, usually comes to $20 to $30 before tax and tip. This is casual restaurant pricing, not fine dining, and the portions match the price.
The restaurant does not take reservations, so you walk in and wait if there is a line. During peak dinner hours (6 to 8 p.m. on weeknights, later on weekends), there often is a wait. Lunch is usually quieter. If you are planning to go, arriving before 6 p.m. or after 8 p.m. typically means shorter waits.
Location and parking
Little Thai Too sits in a neighborhood location in Charleston, not in a shopping center or downtown tourist district. The address is on a street with other local businesses and residences. Parking is street parking only—there is no dedicated lot. On busy evenings, finding a spot nearby can take a few minutes, so plan accordingly or come during slower hours.
The neighborhood is walkable if you live or work nearby, but it is not a destination you would drive across town for unless you are already in the area or have a strong craving for Thai food. It functions as a neighborhood restaurant for people who live or work close by, not as a special-occasion destination.
When to go and what the experience is like
Lunch is quieter and faster. You can usually sit down within a few minutes, order, and eat within 30 to 45 minutes total. The restaurant is good for a quick meal during a workday or a casual lunch with a friend. Dinner is busier, especially Friday and Saturday nights. If you go during peak hours, expect to wait 15 to 30 minutes for a table, and the dining room will be loud and crowded.
This is not a restaurant where you linger over a long meal. The pace is brisk, tables turn over quickly, and the restaurant does not encourage you to stay for hours. If you want a relaxed, unhurried evening, come early or come on a weeknight. If you want to eat quickly and move on, any time works.
Dietary considerations
The menu includes vegetarian options—curries and stir-fries with tofu or vegetables only. You can ask the kitchen to hold meat or substitute it with tofu. Peanut allergies are a concern because peanuts appear in satay, some curries, and pad Thai; tell your server about allergies before ordering, and they can guide you to dishes without peanuts or prepare them separately.
The restaurant uses fish sauce in many dishes, which contains fish and is not vegetarian. If you need to avoid it, ask before ordering. The kitchen is small and open, so special requests are possible but not always seamless—the simpler your request, the more reliably it will be executed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation?
No. Little Thai Too does not take reservations; you walk in and wait if necessary. During lunch and early evening, waits are usually short. During peak dinner hours (6 to 8 p.m.), expect a 15- to 30-minute wait on weekends and busy weeknights.
Can I customize the spice level?
Yes. Tell your server how spicy you want your dish—mild, medium, hot, or very hot—and the kitchen will adjust. If you are unsure, ask the server what level most people order and start there.
Does the restaurant have vegetarian options?
Yes. Most curries and stir-fries can be made with tofu or vegetables only. Ask your server which dishes are vegetarian or can be made that way. Fish sauce is used in many dishes, so mention if you need to avoid it.
Is there parking?
Only street parking. The restaurant has no dedicated lot. During busy times, finding a nearby spot may take a few minutes. Arriving during off-peak hours (before 6 p.m. or after 8 p.m.) usually makes parking easier.
Can I bring my own beer or wine?
The restaurant does not have a full bar. Many casual Thai restaurants allow you to bring your own beer or wine; call ahead to confirm the policy before you go.