There's a taco spot in North Charleston that also does a five-course tasting menu. And somehow, that's not even the most interesting part.
Maya Del Sol Kitchen opened quietly at 3225 Rivers Ave. — tucked behind The Starlight Motor Inn, which, yes, is exactly as intriguing as it sounds. Chef Raul Sanchez has been cooking in Charleston for 15-plus years, most recently running a previous version of Maya Del Sol near the old Naval Base. He's relocated. He's upgraded. And he's not slowing down.
The new space feels like a refined echo of the original — a handful of tables, a long chef's counter overlooking an open kitchen, and an energy that says this guy knows what he's doing.
Lunch is approachable. Dinner is something else.
By day, Sanchez runs a tight lunch menu: carne asada tacos, barbacoa burritos, quesadillas, daily specials. The Post & Courier flagged the Mexican fried chicken — "wonderfully juicy," served with mashed potatoes and street corn — as a standout. The kind of thing you order once and immediately start planning your next visit around.
But the evening? That's where it gets serious.
The five-course tasting menu is the heart of what Sanchez is building here. It pulls from his time at R. Kitchen. It pulls from old family recipes. It pulls from places you wouldn't expect — India, China — woven into specialty nights that rotate through the calendar.
This isn't fusion for fusion's sake. It's one chef's creative range, finally given a room big enough to show it.
Why this matters
North Charleston's dining scene doesn't get nearly enough love. Too often it gets overlooked in favor of the peninsula or the Beaches — and that's a shame, because the value, the creativity, and the elbow room up there are real.
Maya Del Sol Kitchen is exactly the kind of place that changes someone's mental map of where to eat in this city. Not a trend. Not a chain. A chef-driven room that's been quietly earning its reputation for years — and just found a better address.
If you haven't been paying attention to Rivers Ave., now's a good time to start.
The details
Maya Del Sol Kitchen is open Wednesday through Sunday. Lunch runs Wednesday through Saturday. Dinner is Thursday through Saturday. Brunch on Sundays.
More info at raulsmayadelsol.com.
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