The take
Why locals love it
The okonomiyaki with farm egg is the order. Cheap, loud, fast.
Word on the street
What locals are saying
Xiao Bao Biscuit (known locally as XBB) is a decade-plus Charleston institution and a genuine local favorite — the kind of place regulars bring out-of-town guests first. Housed in a converted 1940s gas station in Cannonborough, it earns consistent praise for bold, heat-forward pan-Asian cooking with a rotating daily menu, anchored by the cult-status okonomiyaki. Criticisms are minor — a limited menu size, occasional outdoor flies, and the fact that heavy spice isn't for everyone — but the broader consensus is that it's one of the most distinctive and reliable spots in the city.
cult-status okonomiyakirotating daily menubold heat-forward flavorslocals' go-to for out-of-town guestsquirky converted gas station vibeMichelin-recognized
