This guide shares the best restaurants for takeout in Columbia, SC. It includes places with easy online ordering, food that travels well and comforting to-go food that you can enjoy at home.
From Korean fried chicken and fancy pizza to pad Thai and Carolina BBQ, we share the best takeout food options in Columbia, South Carolina.
Where To Get Takeout In Columbia
A Guide to the Best Takeout in Columbia
There are so many great eateries in the area worth trying, so be sure to check out our list of Columbia’s best restaurants for our top picks. If you’re specifically looking for takeout in Columbia, though, read on!
Korean fried chicken takeout
929 Kitchen in the Vista is a go-to restaurant for Korean fried chicken, bibimbap and stir-fry. They have some of the best food in Columbia and make it super easy to enjoy it at home with their takeout service.
Their Korean Fried Chicken is definitely worth a try. You can get it as chicken fingers or wings.
929 Kitchen also offers delivery through Bite Squad. You can get free delivery on orders $20+ through Bite Squad when using “929KITCHEN” at checkout.
1615 North Beltline Boulevard | Forest Acres
Takeout only pizzeria in Forest Acres
Il Bucato is tucked away in Forest Acres near the intersection of Trenholm Rd. and N. Beltline. And yes, it really is to-go only!
They have a wide selection of pizza, including the classics as well as some unique specialty pizzas like meatball ricotta and balsamic bacon & pear.
Definitely try their cherry pie pizza with red wine-soaked cherries, goat cheese crumbles & arugula.
BBQ takeout in Five Points
You can’t beat barbeque for takeout, and Home Team knows what it’s doing when it comes to BBQ. Their pulled pork is outstanding and travels well, making it perfect for takeout.
If you are feeding the entire family, check out ‘The Board’ for a family-style order of various types of meat and 3 sides. They also have BBQ available by the pound, but those are not available for online ordering, so you’d need to call in for that.
Home Team is also one of favorite family-friendly restaurants in Columbia. The casual and happy atmosphere is perfect for even the noisiest of diners.
904 Knox Abbott Drive | Cayce
Thai food to-go in Cayce, SC
Not only does Duke’s Pad Thai have some of the best Thai food in Columbia, but they also have awesome takeout service. Like many of the others on this list, you can order online through ChowNow for pickup either ASAP or for a certain time.
The real star of the show, though, is their amazing food! We love their drunken noodles, pad Thai and green curry. Their pho is also the perfect meal on a cold winter night.
2150 Sumter Street | the North Main area
Local eatery with elevated pizza
Il Focolare is one of our favorite places to get pizza in Columbia. Their wood-fired pizzas have a perfectly baked crust and the toppings just melt in your mouth.
Located in Cottontown just off North Main, they are easy to get to and have their own parking lot for easy pickup. Even if it’s not right around the corner from you, Il Focolare’s pizza is worth the drive!
Tacos, quesadillas and poke to-go in Five Points
This Latin and Asian-inspired restaurant is the perfect place when on the hunt for takeout. Their quesadillas, tacos, and poke are all at the top of our list of go-to takeout options.
Publico also has a ton of small plates if you want to try several dishes.
Online ordering is easy through ChowNow and you can opt for pickup inside, curbside pickup or even delivery. You can also order in advance and specify a pickup time.
4840 Forest Drive | Forest Acres
Fancy night-in takeout in Forest Acres
Tazza’s wood-fired cooking makes for delectable takeout meals. We love ordering entrees like pork bolognese, baja bowl, wood oven pork chop or one of their wood-fired pizzas.
They also have to-go wine on their takeout menu, so it can be a one-stop shop for a fancy night in.
Their online ordering is through Toast and is super simple to use. You can even place an order when they are closed and specify a preferred pickup time. And you can order multiple days in advance.
2421 Bush River Road | Irmo
Mexican restaurant with box meals
Real Mexico is the great option for takeout Mexican fare in Columbia. They have excellent queso, guacamole, fajitas, burritos and all of the classics you’d expect.
If you are feeding a group, check out the box meals on the menu. It’s like a pizza box but with Mexican food. Choose from a box with 10 mini street tacos, a quesadilla box, a burrito + taco box or their pizzadilla box. It’s a fun offering and perfect for a crowd!
Italian takeout on Devine Street (perfect for a date night in!)
Il Giorgione is a local go-to for Italian food. They have excellent pastas, pizzas and salads, and the atmosphere is perfectly charming.
While we enjoy dining in at Il Giorgione, it’s also an excellent destination for Italian takeout. We recommend any of the pizzas and the tortelloni. Make sure to add a cannoli or two before you checkut!
Takeout is not available at Il Giorgione on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30 – 8:30PM.
You can order wine to-go from Il Giorgione.
Pho takeout in downtown Columbia
Boku is an upscale casual pan-Asian restaurant and bar located in the Vista. It’s a great option for takeout when you are in the mood for Asian comfort food.
Whether you go with several of their small plates or an entree like their steak and broccoli or pho noodles, you are in for a treat!
Boku uses ChowNow for online orders, so it’s super easy to schedule in advance for the day of or even for a few days out. They also offer delivery if you live within a certain distance of the restaurant.
702 Cross Hill Road | Cross Hill Market
Greek food on-the-go near Devine Street
Taziki’s is a great spot for quick and delicious Mediterranean food in Columbia. They have several salads, gyros and pitas, as well as family feast meals.
Their family feast meals are for 4 or 6 and include choice of side, salad, pita and protein. The chicken kebobs is always a crowd-pleaser!
Another great option is the Mediterranean salad with beef. It includes garbanzo beans, candied pecans and feta.
715 Crowson Road | near Cross Hill Market
Chinese takeout near Fort Jackson
A Columbia institution! Egg Roll Chen has been around forever, though it was originally Egg Roll Station.
They have all of your favorite Chinese restaurant dishes, like lo mein, beef and broccoli, moo goo gai pan, egg drop soup, egg rolls and fried wontons. You can check out the full menu here.
Though they don’t take orders online, we still wanted to include them in our best takeout in Columbia list because it’s just such a classic spot. You can either call ahead or order at the counter.
They have a dedicated drive-through window for call-in orders which we can highly recommend.
We debated putting Cantina on this list of takeout options in Columbia because, like Egg Roll Chen, they do not have online ordering. Despite that, they are still a go-to spot for us.
We typically skip tacos when ordering takeout at Cantina. Instead, try their quesadilla and the fried chicken salad. Both travel great and are always delicious.
Their dips are also great to-go– we especially love their queso and bean dip!
You’ll need to give Cantina 76 a call to place a to-go order. They’ll provide an estimated pickup time and have it ready at the hostess stand.
