Fantastic food. Would suggest getting it to go then eat at your favorite shady picnic spot. Had fried chicken which was among the top 3 I've ever had, but at a quarter of the price. Ok, so collards are the Rodney Dangerfield of sides, usually watery over or under cooked nastiness with a back taste of dishrag. These were sublime. Perfectly cooked, touch of pork, touch of pepper, that sweet combination slow cooked to perfection. Get in the car NOW...
Amber F.
See below horrible experience I will never return just didn't feel like re-typing the review
Jennifer Schwarzkopf
The very BEST fried chicken on the planet!! So sad to hear they’re closed. Thank you for the amazing memories and the good times had
richardcD7892KV
Read the reviews and found hard to believe BUT truth is that this place is the Mecca for fried chicken!!! Martha Lou is hands down awesome!!! Chicken cooked to perfection. Mixed with Mac n cheese was spot on !
Fox E.
I like my girls a little LOOSEI like homegoods straight from LOWE'SMy kitten has a f***ing LOUSEBut I like food from MARTHA LOU'S!My ego took a massive BRUISEWhen my gf just could not CHOOSEBetween me and steroid DUDESSo I just came to MARTHA LOU'SLike the best drugs you'll ever USELike Sherlock Holmes when finding CLUESLike Starlight (my cat) when she POOSNothing beats some MARTHA LOU'SLike Barbie when she squeals and SCREWSLike Muslims hug-and-kissing JEWSLike a big brown cow when she MOOSThere's so much yum at MARTHA LOU'SUnlike Corona on a CRUISEJust like a woman's right to CHOOSEWhat goes in/comes out of the COOZENothing's more right than MARTHA LOU'SWHOSE!I mean What.WHATIf you want to negotiate your dinner price, go instead to Barter Lou's.If you only eat at one place in Charleston South Carolina, then this is the place to eat. It's absolutely delicious and iconic as well. Like Barbie iconic, but perhaps more iconic somehow.If you're peaceful and one of the best Presidents ever, go instead to Carter Lou's.It's a little shack with a lovely older lady named Martha Lou, who decorates the side of the shack with a mural of her lovely face, and her along with family and friends making probably the best soul food I've ever had - or definitely right up there. Before Peaches closed down in Jackson MS it was on this level, and I've had some good ones in Buffalo and Jacksonville, but I might just put Martha Lou's as my #1, all things considered.If you're Greek, go instead to Sparta Lou's.Every dish they come up with is amazing, and the prices are great. They've been doing this for a long time, and while there are a lot of soul food places that are amazing that don't get the credit they deserve, I'm very glad that this one (in recent years) after being lesser known for the 80s and 90s, started to get the credit that it deserves.If you're the best female soccer player ever, go instead to Marta Lou's.It's nothing short of breathtaking, and it's one of the best soul food places I've ever eaten at. Come here for smothered pork chops or fried chicken or mac and cheese - or really anything on the menu to be honest.If you're a troublemaker, go instead to Upset The Apple Carta Lou's.It's located in an unfashionable part of town by the water, NE of downtown, and it's a little bit out of the way from all the tourists spots, but that's probably a good thing, because they literally only had three or four tables in here. It's a very low-key operation, but making the best food you'll probably ever eat, in terms of southern food and soul food.But if you're cold, go instead to Parka Lou's.I can't wait to come back here again, and I hope it stays here forever.And if you go instead to watch King Arthur fight Lancelot over Guinavere... rather than Martha Lou's, you'll likely see Arthur Lose.Enough to lift the bluest BLUESLike hearing early Keane or MUSEOr buying Asics Running SHOESYou're gonna love some MARTHA LOU'SLike half-woke low-key hitting SNOOZELike sausages that spray and OOZELike rooms with lovely seaside VIEWSYou have to come to MARTHA LOU'SLike Fox's not-funny REVIEWSAt least in his mind they AMUSELike Starlight when she whines and MEWSCome get soul food at MARTHA LOU'SLike turning off the right-wing NEWSLike voting against racist CRUZAnd hoping he and Trump will LOSENow come and eat at MARTHA LOU'SLike Brazil's take on girlie BOOZELike church with the unhinged TOM CRUISELike Barbie covered in TATTOOSNothing's sexier than MARTHA LOU'sI'm not doing more INTERVIEWSUntil Strong Hearts in SYRACUSEBut now my friends, I must EXCUSEMyself from rapping, because WHO'SAsking for love in her fa
Elise D.
Best fried chicken I've had, hands down. I can't believe it's taken me this long to try Martha Lou's! We tried to call in our order but I saw from another Yelp review that they sometimes don't answer the phone, so we went to order in person. It's a small operation so you may have to wait a little bit for the food, but it's so worth it.I got the fried chicken meal with 3 sides. I went with mac and cheese, cornbread, and beans. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and crispy, it was honestly addictive. The cornbread was very sweet and light. The mac and cheese was creamy and salty, as it should be! The beans had a lot of flavor as well!My boyfriend got the ribs and the sauce on them was sweet and tangy and finger lickin' good. Our friend had the fried fish, which was equally as flavorful as the chicken. You can taste the love in all these dishes, it's no wonder Martha Lou's is such an institution here in Charleston! We will be back!
jason laing
Great place to get some home cook dishes. I advise everyone to check it out also great coustomer services and all is welcomed.
Lori Wise
Possibly the best fried chicken and mac-n-cheese I've ever had.
Bui Wands
Rated as best fried chicken... so i gave it a try. Generous portions, ok chicken, but not memorable. Place is a dive, for sure and can use some image improvements. It could really be something I'd only it had good marketing.
Natalia Zaikina
I'm sorry but I have to say my family had a bad experience. We expected to try some good "soul" food, great food, as saying in many reviews. First: there was no "service" at all. We were waiting for our order under rain. There was no menu - only paper sheet with written dishes on the wall. No description, no prices. Meat (chicken) was not bad, may be too salty, juicy, crispy but overall nothing to "rolling your eyes". The same about my wife's fried fish excluding that fact that she got a piece of fish and small piece of chicken)) I understand that cook may have not enough fish but my wife didnt order chicken. That's unrespectful. Sides: backed macaroni - overcooked, white and red rice - just rice, bread pudding - nothing special, lima beans - so salty I couldn't eat it. Sweet tea and lemonade actually were not tea and lemonade but syrups. Tooons of sugar. Couldn't drink it. Our food was packed in a used plastic bag , we found someone's receipt inside)) that's inappropriate.We got a receipt for $30. Can't say thats cheap for food we couldn't eat. And definitely this is not cheap for the simple street food to take-out. I respect kitchen workers, I know that's a hard job, and I hate to leave a bad review but we are very disappointed. If you know WHAT is good food or if you love too cook home - I don't recommend this place.
Amazing food! Best bread pudding I've ever had! Fried chicken delicious! Everything is fabulous including the lady herself!
wolf pack
I heard the food was good. But I didnt try it. To be honest I did not feel safe using my debit card at this location. No a/c inside.
Joyce McClurkin
Babyyyyyy when I tell you this food just blessed our ENTIRE SOUL
Valerie K.
Great food if you want southern soul foodThe collard greens and cornbread was unforgettable. Too bad this pandemic was going on while we were vacationing in Charleston, but doing take out gave me sense of what it would be like if we were able to dine in. A great hole in the wall. The gal who did it all of cooking and taking our order was sweet. It was one of Martha Lou's daughter. You won't go wrong eating here.
Fantastic food. Would suggest getting it to go then eat at your favorite shady picnic spot. Had fried chicken which was among the top 3 I've ever had, but at a quarter of the price. Ok, so collards are the Rodney Dangerfield of sides, usually watery over or under cooked nastiness with a back taste of dishrag. These were sublime. Perfectly cooked, touch of pork, touch of pepper, that sweet combination slow cooked to perfection. Get in the car NOW...
See below horrible experience I will never return just didn't feel like re-typing the review
The very BEST fried chicken on the planet!! So sad to hear they’re closed. Thank you for the amazing memories and the good times had
Read the reviews and found hard to believe BUT truth is that this place is the Mecca for fried chicken!!! Martha Lou is hands down awesome!!! Chicken cooked to perfection. Mixed with Mac n cheese was spot on !
I like my girls a little LOOSEI like homegoods straight from LOWE'SMy kitten has a f***ing LOUSEBut I like food from MARTHA LOU'S!My ego took a massive BRUISEWhen my gf just could not CHOOSEBetween me and steroid DUDESSo I just came to MARTHA LOU'SLike the best drugs you'll ever USELike Sherlock Holmes when finding CLUESLike Starlight (my cat) when she POOSNothing beats some MARTHA LOU'SLike Barbie when she squeals and SCREWSLike Muslims hug-and-kissing JEWSLike a big brown cow when she MOOSThere's so much yum at MARTHA LOU'SUnlike Corona on a CRUISEJust like a woman's right to CHOOSEWhat goes in/comes out of the COOZENothing's more right than MARTHA LOU'SWHOSE!I mean What.WHATIf you want to negotiate your dinner price, go instead to Barter Lou's.If you only eat at one place in Charleston South Carolina, then this is the place to eat. It's absolutely delicious and iconic as well. Like Barbie iconic, but perhaps more iconic somehow.If you're peaceful and one of the best Presidents ever, go instead to Carter Lou's.It's a little shack with a lovely older lady named Martha Lou, who decorates the side of the shack with a mural of her lovely face, and her along with family and friends making probably the best soul food I've ever had - or definitely right up there. Before Peaches closed down in Jackson MS it was on this level, and I've had some good ones in Buffalo and Jacksonville, but I might just put Martha Lou's as my #1, all things considered.If you're Greek, go instead to Sparta Lou's.Every dish they come up with is amazing, and the prices are great. They've been doing this for a long time, and while there are a lot of soul food places that are amazing that don't get the credit they deserve, I'm very glad that this one (in recent years) after being lesser known for the 80s and 90s, started to get the credit that it deserves.If you're the best female soccer player ever, go instead to Marta Lou's.It's nothing short of breathtaking, and it's one of the best soul food places I've ever eaten at. Come here for smothered pork chops or fried chicken or mac and cheese - or really anything on the menu to be honest.If you're a troublemaker, go instead to Upset The Apple Carta Lou's.It's located in an unfashionable part of town by the water, NE of downtown, and it's a little bit out of the way from all the tourists spots, but that's probably a good thing, because they literally only had three or four tables in here. It's a very low-key operation, but making the best food you'll probably ever eat, in terms of southern food and soul food.But if you're cold, go instead to Parka Lou's.I can't wait to come back here again, and I hope it stays here forever.And if you go instead to watch King Arthur fight Lancelot over Guinavere... rather than Martha Lou's, you'll likely see Arthur Lose.Enough to lift the bluest BLUESLike hearing early Keane or MUSEOr buying Asics Running SHOESYou're gonna love some MARTHA LOU'SLike half-woke low-key hitting SNOOZELike sausages that spray and OOZELike rooms with lovely seaside VIEWSYou have to come to MARTHA LOU'SLike Fox's not-funny REVIEWSAt least in his mind they AMUSELike Starlight when she whines and MEWSCome get soul food at MARTHA LOU'SLike turning off the right-wing NEWSLike voting against racist CRUZAnd hoping he and Trump will LOSENow come and eat at MARTHA LOU'SLike Brazil's take on girlie BOOZELike church with the unhinged TOM CRUISELike Barbie covered in TATTOOSNothing's sexier than MARTHA LOU'sI'm not doing more INTERVIEWSUntil Strong Hearts in SYRACUSEBut now my friends, I must EXCUSEMyself from rapping, because WHO'SAsking for love in her fa
Best fried chicken I've had, hands down. I can't believe it's taken me this long to try Martha Lou's! We tried to call in our order but I saw from another Yelp review that they sometimes don't answer the phone, so we went to order in person. It's a small operation so you may have to wait a little bit for the food, but it's so worth it.I got the fried chicken meal with 3 sides. I went with mac and cheese, cornbread, and beans. The chicken was perfectly seasoned and crispy, it was honestly addictive. The cornbread was very sweet and light. The mac and cheese was creamy and salty, as it should be! The beans had a lot of flavor as well!My boyfriend got the ribs and the sauce on them was sweet and tangy and finger lickin' good. Our friend had the fried fish, which was equally as flavorful as the chicken. You can taste the love in all these dishes, it's no wonder Martha Lou's is such an institution here in Charleston! We will be back!
Great place to get some home cook dishes. I advise everyone to check it out also great coustomer services and all is welcomed.
Possibly the best fried chicken and mac-n-cheese I've ever had.
Rated as best fried chicken... so i gave it a try. Generous portions, ok chicken, but not memorable. Place is a dive, for sure and can use some image improvements. It could really be something I'd only it had good marketing.
I'm sorry but I have to say my family had a bad experience. We expected to try some good "soul" food, great food, as saying in many reviews. First: there was no "service" at all. We were waiting for our order under rain. There was no menu - only paper sheet with written dishes on the wall. No description, no prices. Meat (chicken) was not bad, may be too salty, juicy, crispy but overall nothing to "rolling your eyes". The same about my wife's fried fish excluding that fact that she got a piece of fish and small piece of chicken)) I understand that cook may have not enough fish but my wife didnt order chicken. That's unrespectful. Sides: backed macaroni - overcooked, white and red rice - just rice, bread pudding - nothing special, lima beans - so salty I couldn't eat it. Sweet tea and lemonade actually were not tea and lemonade but syrups. Tooons of sugar. Couldn't drink it. Our food was packed in a used plastic bag , we found someone's receipt inside)) that's inappropriate.We got a receipt for $30. Can't say thats cheap for food we couldn't eat. And definitely this is not cheap for the simple street food to take-out. I respect kitchen workers, I know that's a hard job, and I hate to leave a bad review but we are very disappointed. If you know WHAT is good food or if you love too cook home - I don't recommend this place.
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing food! Best bread pudding I've ever had! Fried chicken delicious! Everything is fabulous including the lady herself!
I heard the food was good. But I didnt try it. To be honest I did not feel safe using my debit card at this location. No a/c inside.
Babyyyyyy when I tell you this food just blessed our ENTIRE SOUL
Great food if you want southern soul foodThe collard greens and cornbread was unforgettable. Too bad this pandemic was going on while we were vacationing in Charleston, but doing take out gave me sense of what it would be like if we were able to dine in. A great hole in the wall. The gal who did it all of cooking and taking our order was sweet. It was one of Martha Lou's daughter. You won't go wrong eating here.
Food was very good... a must try spot..