Ruby Thai Kitchen in Charleston: What to Expect and How to Order

A neighborhood Thai spot with strong curries and fresh noodles

Ruby Thai Kitchen sits on King Street in Charleston's downtown corridor, serving the kind of Thai food that tastes like someone who knows the cuisine is cooking. The menu leans on curries—red, green, yellow, and panang—along with stir-fried noodles, pad thai, and tom yum soup. Dishes arrive hot and properly seasoned, with heat levels you can dial up or down when you order. The space is casual and tight, the kind of place where you'll hear other tables' conversations, and service moves quickly even when the restaurant is full.

The restaurant does both dine-in and takeout, and the kitchen handles lunch and dinner rushes without much lag. Prices run moderate for Charleston—most entrees land between $12 and $16—and portions are generous enough that many people take leftovers home. If you're new to Thai food or prefer milder flavors, the staff will steer you toward dishes that won't overwhelm, and they're straightforward about which items pack real heat.

Key Takeaways

• Ruby Thai Kitchen specializes in curries and noodle dishes, with heat levels you can control when ordering.
• The restaurant is located on King Street in downtown Charleston and takes both dine-in and takeout orders.
• Most entrees cost between $12 and $16, with portions large enough that leftovers are common.
• The space is small and casual, so expect a lively atmosphere during lunch and dinner service.
• Staff can recommend milder options if you're unfamiliar with Thai flavors or prefer less spice.

What to order and how the menu is organized

The menu divides into sections: appetizers, soups, salads, curries, noodle dishes, and rice plates. Appetizers include spring rolls, satay, and fried wontons—solid starters if you're sharing. The tom yum soup comes in shrimp or chicken, and it's the real thing: sour, spicy, and aromatic from lemongrass and galangal. Pad thai and pad see ew (wide noodles in soy sauce) are reliable choices if you want something familiar.

The curry section is where Ruby Thai Kitchen shows its strength. Red curry with bamboo shoots and basil, green curry with eggplant, and panang curry with peanut sauce all come with your choice of protein—chicken, shrimp, pork, or tofu. The kitchen cooks them to order, so they're never sitting under heat. If you're uncertain about spice tolerance, order a curry at "medium" first; you can always ask for hotter next time. Yellow curry tends to be the mildest of the four, and panang the richest.

Rice plates let you pick a protein and sauce—garlic, ginger, cashew, or basil—served over jasmine rice. These are straightforward and filling, good if you want something less complex than a curry. Vegetarian and vegan options exist throughout the menu, not just in a separate section, so you're not limited to one or two choices.

Dine-in versus takeout and timing

If you eat at the restaurant, expect to be seated quickly even during peak hours, though you may share close quarters with other diners. The dining room has maybe a dozen tables, so it fills fast at lunch (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) and dinner (5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.). Service is efficient—your food arrives within 15 to 20 minutes of ordering—so turnover is steady.

Takeout orders are ready in roughly the same timeframe. You can call ahead to place an order, which cuts your wait time if you're picking up during a rush. The restaurant also works with third-party delivery apps, though ordering directly by phone or in person usually means fresher food and no delivery markup on your bill.

Parking and location details

Ruby Thai Kitchen is on King Street between Calhoun and Broad, in the heart of downtown Charleston. Street parking is available but competitive during business hours, especially at lunch. A paid parking garage sits one block east on Meeting Street if street spots are full. If you're coming from the Historic District or nearby neighborhoods, walking is often faster than driving.

The restaurant is a short walk from the Charleston City Market and within a few blocks of other downtown restaurants and shops, so it's easy to combine a meal here with other activities in the area.

Pricing and what to budget

Appetizers range from $5 to $8. Soups and salads run $8 to $12. Curries, noodle dishes, and rice plates—the main entrees—cost $12 to $16 depending on protein choice (chicken and pork are cheaper than shrimp; tofu is usually the least expensive). A typical meal for one person, with an appetizer and an entree, lands around $20 to $25 before tax and tip.

The restaurant does not appear to have a separate lunch menu with lower prices, so costs are consistent throughout the day. Beverages include Thai iced tea, Thai iced coffee, soft drinks, and beer and wine. Thai iced tea is worth ordering—it's sweet, creamy, and pairs well with spicy food.

What makes Ruby Thai Kitchen different from other Thai restaurants in Charleston

Charleston has several Thai restaurants, but Ruby Thai Kitchen stands out for consistency and straightforward execution. The kitchen doesn't try to Americanize the food or water down the flavors; a green curry tastes like green curry, not a mild approximation. At the same time, the staff respects that not every customer wants maximum heat, and they'll adjust without making you feel like you're asking for something wrong.

The casual, no-frills atmosphere also sets it apart from fancier Thai spots in the city. You're not paying for ambiance or table service; you're paying for good food cooked right. That trade-off appeals to people who want authentic flavors and don't need cloth napkins to enjoy their meal.

Hours, contact, and how to order

Ruby Thai Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Exact hours vary by day, so calling ahead or checking their social media is wise before making a trip, especially if you're planning to visit early or late. You can order by phone for takeout, dine in without a reservation (seating is first-come, first-served), or order through delivery apps.

The restaurant's phone number and current hours are listed on Google Maps and their social media pages. During holidays or special events, hours may shift, so a quick call confirms they're open before you head over.

Frequently Asked Questions

How spicy is the food if I don't like heat?

Ruby Thai Kitchen lets you set the spice level when you order. Ask for "mild" or "no spice," and the kitchen will adjust. Dishes like panang curry and pad thai are naturally less fiery than green curry or tom yum soup. The staff can recommend which items work best if you prefer gentler flavors.

Do they have vegetarian or vegan options?

Yes. Vegetarian and vegan dishes are scattered throughout the menu rather than grouped in one section. Curries, noodle dishes, and rice plates all offer tofu as a protein. Soups and salads can be made vegetarian. Ask your server or when ordering takeout to confirm which items are vegan versus vegetarian.

Can I order ahead for pickup?

Yes. Calling ahead is the fastest way to order for takeout. The kitchen will have your food ready when you arrive, which saves time during lunch and dinner rushes. You can also order through delivery apps, though direct phone orders avoid delivery fees.

Is there parking nearby?

Street parking is available on King Street but fills quickly during peak hours. A paid parking garage is one block east on Meeting Street. Walking from nearby neighborhoods or the Historic District is often faster than searching for a spot.

What's the best dish to start with if I've never had Thai food?

Pad thai is a safe introduction—it's familiar to most people and not aggressively spicy. Panang curry is another good entry point; it's rich and creamy rather than fiery. Ask your server for their recommendation based on your spice tolerance, and don't hesitate to order mild on your first visit.