Image by Ken Hawkins/TheDigitelImage by 20090425-noodles.jpg Big, fresh, and gently seasoned: My bowl of lemongrass beef noodles was delicious and garnished with noodles, bean sprouts, and lettuce with egg rolls on the side.
Party Kingdom started out -- as the name suggests -- mainly for kids, but now that's changed a bit as they've added steaming bowls of pho, lemongrass beef noodles, and spring rolls to their old menu of pizza, sodas, and hot dogs.
The Vietnamese food is excellent, well flavored, and priced modestly (you can score a giant bowl of tasty pho for $9).
The Charleston City Paper has already talked at length about the good food, and you can see their full menu online.
But to talk just about the food would describe less than half of the journey you'll embark on in this magical kingdom (be sure to check out the slideshow above). -- See, as soon as you walk through the doors you're greeted with a vibrant color pallet and bins of loose candy, even before you see the booth-oriented seating area.
You can stop there long enough to place your order, but no visit would be complete without journeying down the long hallway beyond the food area where a room filled with stuffed animals of all types awaits. Further back still you'll find arcade games, ski ball, and a "tree" fort for children to play in.
This party room lies waiting to thrill your inner six-year-old. -- Check out all of our pictures from the visit.And then, tucked in a room to the side, lies the princess party room.
In all, I found the environment to be an interesting complement to the whole experience. Though the atmosphere could distract from an "Asian immersion," there's something far more real and authentic about this decoration.
And while the ambience out speaks the food, this one is a very worthy visit.
Expect to spend $6-10 on your plate of Vietnamese food. And there's no alcohol to be had at this family-friendly environment.
It's a particularly great spot for parents, who can dine up front while their children play in the back under adult supervision.
You can get lunch and dinner seven days a week. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Firday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. They're on James Island at 1739 Maybank Highway (next to the Piggly Wiggly).
