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A Look Inside: XO Brasserie

May 22, 2024

XO Brasserie is Charleston’s newest Chinese restaurant and a must-visit hotspot. It opened in March 2024 in North Morrison within The Morris office building and retail space. The owner, Herman Ng, is a long-time restaurateur who grew up in the restaurant world. He watched and helped his family run Chinese restaurants in Columbia, SC. And after years of being in the industry and managing Oak Steakhouse and working at Royal Tern, Ng wanted to draw from his roots and experience to create an elevated Chinese cuisine concept in Charleston, SC. Ng’s clear attention to detail, true hospitality, and high-quality family-style cuisine are evident throughout every aspect of XO Brasserie.

Take a look inside XO Brasserie.

The Interior

The interior of XO Brasserie is filled with rich jade tones, gold and wood accents, lush plants, and a bright neon sign that says “Kindness, Joy, and Gratitude,” promoting the restaurant’s values. The beautiful design of the space is warm, moody, and inviting. XO Brasserie would be a great spot to grab a late-night drink and bite or celebrate with a large group. Various dining options are available, including bar-top dining, booths, and large round tables that can accommodate up to eight guests, making them ideal for family-style dining.

The beautiful space was designed by owner Herman Ng, local interior designers Lennon & Flohr, and architect Justin Feit.

The Exterior

The Menu

The food menu at XO Brasserie features traditional Chinese cuisine with a modern twist, incorporating unique ingredients such as lobster, Chilean sea bass, burrata, and ribeye. Some of the menu items we tried and highly recommend are the Steak Chow Fun (a dish crafted with wide rice noodles, ribeye, and house-savory soy sauce), the XO Wontons (served with chili soy sauce), and The Local Catch. Executive Chef Michael Chanthavong and Ng recommend ordering items family-style so everyone can try them.

The restaurant’s impressive drink menu was created by Beverage Manager Nicole Lewarchick. Some of the favorite cocktails are the Paper Lantern, The Guav Zilla (crafted with guava and mezcal), and the refreshing Chinese Awaking (made with oolong-infused vodka, Canton, Jinro, and Lychee).