Zia Taqueria

Food is really good. If you get enchiladas get the green sauce. The red sauce is sort of bitter. Love the environment.

I was in the most for a decent Mexican joint and was not disappointed with Zia.
I went with the carnitas plate with beans and slaw and it hit the spot! The meat was juicy and went very well with the flower tortillas.
The staff are extremely friendly and ready and willing to help you with anything you need!
The architecture is really cool modern Art Deco style that you might see in Miami or the southwest.
A lot of people were meeting up with large groups so if you’re in town like for a couple of nights or a local, this is a great spot to meet up with friends!

Their margaritas used to be amazing… now, not so good. Not strong enough, and they put too much juice. Change of ownership I’m guessing?

I love Latin/​South American food and Zia was my go to place for years! I’m not sure if the original owners or chefs are no longer there, but it is not the same. Food quality has gone down hill, no more light airy chips, fresh mix green salads, and so forth. If you want good food, go elsewhere.

The BEST shrimp tacos, roasted corn, guacamole and enchilada! Really, I love all the food here! Very fresh ingredients and tasty!

How do I start, let’s see, ok some of the best cole slaw I’ve ever had!
As most of you know I’m a cole slaw snob and this place really knows how to make it! Tangy a little sweet but not gooey. Just right! My wife and I went here about 5:30 pm and it was starting to get a bit crowded but not to bad. We realized you have to place your order in before getting a seat. Note couldn’t find that info on their website. That’s why I only gave this place 4 stars. How do I tip for service I didn’t get yet when I’m placing my own order? Anyway I ordered the Barbacoa, mexican braised beef, with the borracho beans and mexi slaw, my wife ordered the same execept she got as a side the roasted corn, covered in red chili butter and queso fresco. We sat down, free chips and salsa arrived. Salsa was really good, spicy but didn’t burn. It wasn’t very long until our order arrived. Massive plate of food! We both dug in, i must say the corn tortillas were so good perfect compliment to the meal. We ate like teenagers until we couldn’t eat anymore and there was still beef left over! Our server was really nice and asked us alot if we were ok. She also brought us containers so we could take home our leftovers and the chips! As a side note the restrooms are nice smelling and clean. We will be back, it does get crowed quickly so plan accordingly. Well worth it folks!

Excellent food and service. Beef Barbacoa plate, tacos, enchiladas, and quesadilla were all great.

Zia is spot-​on. Want the benefits of a nice Mexican restaurant without all of the fanfare? Zia is your place! Go up to the counter and get yourself some authentic Mexican «street» fare with high quality ingredients — I partook in the chicken and fish tacos and was incredibly impressed by the flavors and seasoning of each. I also ordered chips with their homemade (spicy!) salsa: YUM! Their margaritas are also ridiculous. I kept ordering the one with Grand Marnier — knocks your socks off. And the service could not have been more friendly or accommodating!
I love the atmosphere (cheerful, friendly, loud, social, trendy), the food (high quality at reasonable prices), the drinks, and the people. What more could you ask for?
If I’m back on James Island, I promise you, I’ll be coming back here!

I’ll start by saying their prices are great for the food you get, the quality of the food was excellent, I had the Chicken Torta. The bread was light and it tasted very fresh. Thei Salas is homemade, and is also very fresh tasting. The service however, seemed a bit standoffish. You order from the counter first and then you are given a number and sit where you like, or you can sit in the bat area, and have table service. We opted for the table service, and felt a bit unwelcome. I say that meaning the server didn’t smile, or suggest anything, just took our order and left. On the way put we held the door for a server bringing food outside to the patio, and didn’t even get a «Thank You», or even eye contact and a smile.
Foods great, but the servers could improve on their manners a bit.

Finally found what I love here! The grilled fish tacos on a flour tortilla! I’m pregnant now but man do I miss those margaritas on the rocks! Some people are fans of the corn tortillas but once I found I can substitute any of the tacos to a flour tortilla, I’m sold! Don’t plan on coming here with a big group. Limited seating. But great night out for 2 – 4 people!

My daughter and I stopped by Zia last night with friends. It was surprisingly busy for a late Thursday dinner (after 8 pm) but we quickly found two tables for our party of six. After stuffing our faces with the FREE chips and salsa, we shared the Chicken Yucatan Nachos which is eight large chips with tons of chicken and cheese on them (guacamole and sour cream on the side). We ended up having three chips left as they were surprisingly filling. I thought the service was fast and we didn’t have to wait long in the line to order. We will definitely be back again to try the margaritas which I hear are ahhhmazing!

Zia Taqueria is a very nice restaurant with very good food. It is a little unusual in that you can either choose self-​service or full-​service. The full-​service area is relatively small and is located directly across from the bar. You order see-​service by going to the end of the bar closest to the front door. There is a pleasant outdoor seating area that is dog friendly. This restaurant is good for families and singles.
The food is definitely a cut above normal and is well prepared. The menu offers a good selection at reasonable prices. Dos Eques amber is the only draft beer available. However, there good selection of bottled beers and a full bar. The service is outstanding and the staff members are very friendly.
I am confident you will enjoy dinning at Zia Taqueria.

The place has a hip feel to it. I’ve been here about 10 – 12 times over the past 6 years, not sure why we don’t go more. I recall having a weird first impression as it was a bit confusing how to order. I recall being huddled up amongst 15 – 20 standing in line with those ordering, reordering, wanting refills and picking up to go orders.
I think after 5 years, I’ve got it down now. Upon arrival, decide inside or out. scope out the tables and send some of your party to immediately grab that table. the rest of you will order food and here’s a tip, leave your tab open and settle up at the end you’ll most likely want another drink or food. With the restaurant ¹⁄₃ full, the ordering at the bar seems to work, but anything more than that seems to stress the system, logistically it doesn’t work. I know for a fact revenue is being lost, I’ve been at a table were we wanted another beer or cocktail and decided against it just because we didn’t want to stand in the line of awkwardness. One plus side to being in line is you’ll always strike up a cool conversation with some total stranger. I think this place would make a great case study in process improvement, I can’t be the only person thinking this. That’s most likely the reason I don’t go as often.
Beware the spice. Depending on who’s in the kitchen it seems to fluctuate. I love heat, so it doesn’t bother me, but I’ve been here where my wife and friends could not eat the nachos. I do love their chicken tortilla soup — better than most. Overall all, the food is average to above and their ingredients seem fresh.
This place is similar to your taco boys, mex one and so on, just with a more neighborhood feel.
I like to rank the Tex mex places on their margaritas. Zia’s marg is pretty decent, better than taco boys, but not as good as mex one.
I bestow the rank of 3.5 stars. They’ll get a 4 once they send someone to me to ask if I want another drink.

This place is my favorite Mexican food in Charleston. It’s nothing fancy, but everything is fantastic quality and the staff is great. You order at the counter and they give you a number. They bring out chips and salsa (for free — always a bonus) and service is always very quick. I love their enchiladas, but quesadillas, nachos, and sides are also top notch. Definitely a great lunch or dinner spot.

Am a rather big fan of this place. Spartan, fast service. No pomp or circumstance here… just decent food at a decent price. Carnitas any way you like em. I opted for the Quesadillas version. Local crowd and a great escape from the rat race outside.
SaleebScore: Food: 8.5÷10; Service: ⁹⁄₁₀; Value: ¹⁰⁄₁₀. If there was a way to give this place a 4.5 star rating I would.

I’m sorry to be saying this but Zia has been slipping. Only reason I am at (3) stars is due to the strength of their quesadillas. Not much else worth getting here. Often, you’ll see a line nearly out the door. But for what? The last few experiences I have had were more on the (2) star level. Most recently I ordered one of their tortas and it was terrible. Their rendition of pastor, if that is even what I received, was a joke — especially at the $ 10 price tag. I couldn’t even tell if it was pork or something else. Plop that on a loaf of bead with bagged shredded iceberg and tomato and I call that a sorry excuse for a torta. They still put together a nice quesadilla as well as chips/​dips but I have to express my current disappointment.

I’m definitely a fan. I loved their spicy chicken tortilla soup, although I’d ad a bit of a kick next time b/​c it really wasn’t spicy, but it was VERY tasty. Margarita’s were very tasty, nice size, made of fresh ingredients and very reasonably priced. Between my husband and I we tried 5 different tacos and loved everyone of them. Grilled shrimp was my favorite. The tacos were very fresh and much more packed than any other taco I’ve had in the area.
Their free salsa and chips were also some of the best. Both very fresh and the salsa had a nice kick to it.
We were a little surprised by the set up. You go to the bar to order, no table service, and food will be delivered. It didn’t quite make sense b/​c there were so many people working, but no biggie.
We will definitely be going back on a regular basis!

Always Fresh! You can taste every handmade morsel from the salsa to the margarita salt. There is genuine art in this amazing tex Mex. I wake up crazing it some days.
Interesting concept unless you sit at or in the bar area. You place your order at the bar and they bring it to you. A little unique but it works. Probably keeps you from having to many yet margaritas. Try peach mango.
Shrimp nachos are my go to. Piled high with fresh sautéed shrimp retried beans pico and cream and Guacamole. Enough to share.

Zia Taqueria is a good standard place for a quick meal. Prices are standard. I’ve been here a couple times. This time I had the pastor nachos. The chips were individual piled with meat and cheese (instead of being in one big hill of stuff) with a cup of sour cream and scoop of guac to add yourself. Pretty good!

Came here with boyfriend and 3 kiddos after a water festival at the JICP.
That being said — I was a little leery when we walked up to the restaurant. The seating outside seems to be smacked jammed together. They even have a few tables on the SIDE of the building, between another building. There is NO view there. Just the parking lot. wish now I had taken a pic of it, cause it was weird. anyhoo…
inside, there are tables in one area, and then there is the bar area.
Its a little confusing as to how to get 1) service and 2) food at this place.
We sat at the hightops in the bar area (there are 2 – 3 tables in this area), one of the servers told us its the only place besides the actual bar seating that will come and take your order and serve you. ??? DO what now??? Yes the bartender is also the server (not unusual) but only for 3 tables and the bar. But if you sit anywhere else — you have to go to the bar and order your food. You are then given a number and they will wither call it out, or deliver it to your table. There doesnt seem to be a lot of consistency on how they want to do this… again a little confusing, but like always … lets get to the FOOD AND DRINKS !!!
Ok. hands down — the best screwdriver slushie I have ever had. That is the Sunday special. Wow. Bf and I loved it so much, we had 2! and wowzers are they a little teensy bit on the strong side — so beware!!!
The do have a kids menu — which was great — they have a really good mix of stuff to choose from on there as well. And the portions were generous for a kids plate. Definitely happiness and smiles there.
The rest of us ordered from the regular menu, which was a little overwhelming with all the awesome choices! We had the steak tacos and the enchiladas.
Its hard to please the picky eaters in the group — but even they were all over it, and loved every bite!!!