Familial Flavors: Family-run Businesses Spicing Up the Kitchen in Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, a picturesque town nestled in the Lowcountry region of Charleston, South Carolina, is capturing the essence of international cuisines within the realm of family-run businesses where the passion for culture and warmth of familial bonds coalesce in exquisite culinary experience. Engaging the Mount Pleasant community and stirring the local restaurant scene, these businesses are adding rich, aromatic flavors that transport patrons to diverse corners of the world.
Malika Canteen: A Pakistani Culinary Wonder
Malika Canteen came to life when Maryam Ghaznavi and her husband Raheel Gauba moved from Pakistan to Charleston. Having grown up relishing the fragrant biryanis, saags, and karahis of her family’s kitchen, Maryam, with her husband, launched their fast-casual Pakistani street food venture through a meal delivery service. Their venture bloomed into a popular pop-up at the Warehouse in 2020 before they opened Malika Canteen in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre in 2021. The restaurant’s success catalyzed the opening of their second restaurant, Ma’am Saab, on Meeting Street in 2023.
Pattaya Thai: Culinary Journey from Cambodia to Mount Pleasant
For Bunpo Lor and his family, moving from Phnom Penh, Cambodia to Charleston in 2006 was a leap of faith. Despite facing a language barrier, the family embarked on their dream of providing a better life bursting with flavorful Thai dishes. Seizing an opportunity to become cooks at their aunt’s Pattaya Thai restaurant, Bunpo and his wife soon took over the establishment in 2015, offering mouthwatering Pad Thai, Korean curry, Tom Yum, and a host of other delicacies to their community.
Nick’s German Kitchen: European Glamour in Charleston
Nick and Kelly Ruhotina, founders of an upscale boutique restaurant called Mezzo in Darmstadt, Germany, saw an opportunity to bring European specialties to Mount Pleasant. After fifteen years in Germany, they launched Nick’s German Kitchen in 2021, where their son Devin now serves authentic German and Italian dishes like schnitzel and spaetzle, bread dumplings, and Berlin-style veal liver.
LoLA: A Whiff of Louisiana Air
The Filosa family drew inspiration from the rich, swampy culture of Louisiana and launched Louisiana Seafood Kitchen, a food truck catering service, in 2011. The unprecedented growth of the venture led to the establishment of a brick-and-mortar space, LoLA, in Park Circle in 2016. By the end of 2023, the brand had expanded into Mount Pleasant, with siblings Nick and Matt Filosa nurturing both locations. The extensive Cajun menu, concocted from years of learning and passion, encapsulates the essence of Creole culture, making guests feel at home.
These family-run businesses amply demonstrate the powerful fusion of familial affection with a shared passion for food. They successfully enhance Mount Pleasant’s culinary landscape, one plate at a time, transforming kitchens into cultural gateways that flavor life in this Lowcountry region.
