Top 8 Most Famous Foods in Charlotte
The Queen City reigns supreme when it comes to dining delights, and we’ve created this Insider Guide to help foodies discover popular restaurants in Charlotte and their most famous offerings. From savory seafood to decadent desserts, this vibrant food scene boasts something mouthwatering for everyone.
Carolina Burger at Brooks’ Sandwich House
This bite-sized building has been serving up huge portions of this beloved Charlotte staple since 1973. Ask for the “Carolina Burger” — an all-beef patty grilled to perfection and topped with zesty chili, creamy coleslaw, tangy onions, and yellow mustard.
This NoDa institution offers no-frills, order-at-the-window deliciousness that Charlotteans have been hungry for for over 50 years. Bring your appetite — and your cash (they don’t accept credit cards or digital payment).
Pimento Cheese Sandwich at The Common Market
Charlotte is known for its affinity for pimento cheese, and all over the city, you’ll find variations on this theme — pimento cheese fries, pimento burgers, pimento shrimp & grits — and dozens of other variations a person could dream up.
Charlotte is undeniably loyal to this creamy cheese mixture, and this South End eatery dishes it up with love on one of their most enduring sandwiches — homemade pimento cheese, thick-sliced bacon, and ripe tomato all dressed up on thick local sourdough. One taste might just convert you to the Charlotte hometown favorite.
The Collard Greens at Diamond Restaurant
The sides steal the show at this iconic Charlotte diner, including the collard greens. This leafy green vegetable is not only a nutritional all-star and a regional must-have at any proper barbeque or picnic but is surprisingly tasty as a side or on its own.
Along with the fried okra and hushpuppies, you could make a whole meal just out of the accompaniments. With local brews on tap and an acre’s worth of history inside this 75-year-old restaurant, The Diamond brings new meaning to “eat your greens.”
Cheerwine Float at The Yard
Sample an instant Charlotte classic that satisfies your sweet tooth with a Cheerwine Float. Using the homegrown cherry soda as its inspiration, The Yard Milkshake Bar created an over-the-top cold treat only available in North Carolina.
Blended with homemade vanilla ice cream, this Cheerwine float is sprinkled with brown sugar and topped with whipped cream and a cherry.
Burgushi at The Cowfish
Can you even call yourself a Charlottean until you’ve tackled the Japanese/American fusion masterpiece of Burgushi?
This portmanteau is a mash-up of “burger” and “sushi” and is pretty descriptive of what you can expect from the creative minds at The Cowfish in South Park.
The creation is essentially a double cheeseburger in sushi form — a soy paper wrap filled with ground beef, bacon, and cheddar, fried tempura-style. It’s magnificent to behold — and to eat.
Shrimp and Grits at The Southern Pecan
Charlotte natives have a long-abiding love of shrimp and grits, and you’ll find this iconic regional dish appear on breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus alike in the Queen City.
The Southern Pecan’s version has earned rave reviews thanks to its interpretation — jumbo shrimp in a flavorful creole cream sauce served over stone ground grits, topped with fresh scallions.
Red Velvet Waffle at The Wafflery
Shhhhh — don’t tell Charlotte city-dwellers that red velvet was actually first served in NYC because this regional flavor has a decidedly Carolinian devotion, owing mostly to its iconic Southern ingredient of fresh buttermilk.
Charlotte’s breakfast joint, The Wafflery, has claimed the flavor as its own with its beloved creation of a red velvet waffle, which blends these two soul-food favorites — red velvet cake and homemade buttermilk waffles. The result is a deliciously decadent sweet treat you can top with strawberries, whipped cream, or even hot fried chicken.
Soul Rolls at Mert's Heart And Soul
It doesn’t get more classic than Mert’s Heart and Soul. This welcoming Uptown restaurant has rightly earned the title of Charlotte’s top soul food restaurant multiple times, and for good reason.
Sample a signature Soul Roll — egg roll wraps stuffed with black-eyed peas, seasoned rice, sauteed collard greens, and diced chicken breast. It’s like getting all of Charlotte’s famous foods wrapped up in one glorious bite.
Though there are endless ways to explore Charlotte’s food scene, starting with these tried-and-true foodie favorites will help you gain an understanding of the Queen City's rich culinary history while also getting a taste of what’s to come in this always-evolving city.
