Texas-style brisket specialist 50 miles east of Charlotte in Peachland — widely considered among the best barbecue in North Carolina. Saturday-only service until sold out.
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Lang Van
Vietnamese · East Charlotte · Charlotte institution since 1992
A Charlotte institution — Bich Lang Nguyen's unassuming strip-mall Vietnamese restaurant in East Charlotte, open since 1992 and widely considered the best Vietnamese in the metro. Huge menu, fiercely ...
90
3
Eso Artisanal Pasta
Italian / Pasta · Optimist Hall
AJ and Kristina Sankofa's Optimist Hall pasta counter — handmade pasta with a perfect soft-chewy-al-dente balance. Sells out limited-time specials like a $30 tajarin al tartufo during white-truffle se...
89
4
Noble Smoke
BBQ · West Charlotte
Jim Noble's wood-smoked BBQ restaurant on Freedom Drive — brisket, pulled pork, and ribs in a huge industrial-chic space with plenty of patio seating.
88
5
United House of Prayer for All People Cafeteria
Soul Food / Southern · South End · James Beard America's Classics-recognized
A church cafeteria in a brick basement near Uptown — Sunday-best soul food (oxtails, fried chicken, mac & cheese, banana pudding) at impossibly low prices. A Charlotte secret kept by people in the...
88
6
Brooks' Sandwich House
Burgers · NoDa · James Beard America's Classics-recognized; family-run since 1973
A walk-up window on North Brevard run by the Brooks brothers since 1973 — the double cheeseburger with chili and slaw is the order, and one of the most quietly important sandwiches in the South.
88
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Midwood Smokehouse
Texas-style BBQ · Plaza Midwood
FS Food Group's wood-smoked BBQ joint — the original Plaza Midwood location started it, now with multiple city locations. Brisket smoked over hickory and oak, pulled pork, ribs, and scratch-made sides...
87
8
Sweet Lew's BBQ
BBQ · Belmont · James Beard Best Chef: Southeast (Lewis Donald, semifinalist)
Pitmaster Lewis Donald's wood-smoked BBQ joint in the Belmont neighborhood east of Uptown. Chopped brisket sandwich, pulled pork, and stocks of whatever Lewis has worked on the smoker that morning — o...
87
9
The Dumpling Lady
Szechuan / Dumplings · Optimist Hall
A fast-casual Szechuan dumpling counter at Optimist Hall — silky dumplings wrapped to order, plus dan dan noodles and a short rotation of chef-led specials. A standing line most days.
87
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Bird Pizzeria
Pizza · Optimist Park
A soft-crust neighborhood pizzeria in Optimist Park — a viral kale Caesar salad, square pies, and a tight wine list. The kind of pizzeria Charlotte had been missing.