Eat well in Charlotte for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.

Cheap eats worth seeking out

Bossy Beulah's ★ 4.4

west-charlotteSun-Thu 11:00-20:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-21:00

Bossy Beulah's Freedom Drive flagship runs a simple chicken-sandwich menu under $12 in west Charlotte, with four city branches and consistent counter-service.

Try: Fried chicken sandwich and tenders

Tip: Counter-order. The combo with fries lands under $15. The Brandywine, Ballantyne and Derita branches serve the same menu.

2200 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208

Lupie's Cafe ★ 4.1

plaza-midwoodMon-Fri 11:00-16:00; Sat 12:00-16:00; closed Sun

Lupie's Cafe on Monroe Road in Plaza Midwood is the Charlotte comfort-food institution since 1987, with chili plates, daily specials and a strict.

Try: Chili and daily specials

Tip: Cash and card. Open until 4 weekdays, noon to evening on Saturday. Daily specials are the best value.

2718 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205

LuLu's Maryland Style Chicken ★ 4.0

west-charlotteMon-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 12:00-20:00

LuLu's Maryland Style Chicken and Seafood on Tuckaseegee Road in Charlotte is the Mid-Atlantic fried-chicken counter, with plates and crab cakes under $15.

Try: Maryland-style chicken plate

Tip: Counter-order. Cash-easy. The chicken-and-side plate is the canonical order.

2400 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208

Manolo's Latin Bakery and Cafe ★ 4.1

east-charlotteMon-Sat 07:00-20:00; Sun 07:00-19:00

Manolo's Latin Bakery on Central Avenue is the Charlotte budget option for Latin American empanadas, Cuban sandwiches and pastries, with most plates landing.

Try: Empanadas and Cuban sandwiches

Tip: Counter-order. Spanish is the working language. Morning case is freshest.

4405 Central Ave Ste D, Charlotte, NC 28205

Mert's Heart and Soul ★ 4.3

uptownMon-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-21:00

Mert's Heart and Soul on N College Street is the uptown soul-food room with a fried-chicken-and-sides lunch plate around $14, the budget anchor of the uptown.

Try: Fried chicken plate with two sides

Tip: The two-side combo is the best value. Weekday lunch is the easiest seat.

214 N College St, Charlotte, NC 28202

The Dumpling Lady at Optimist Hall ★ 4.3

south-endSun-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00

The Dumpling Lady at Optimist Hall in Charlotte runs handmade Sichuan dumplings and noodle bowls under $15, a quick-service food-hall counter built around.

Try: Sichuan dumplings

Tip: Counter-order. The dumpling-and-noodle combo is the value play.

1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206

Yafo Kitchen ★ 4.2

plaza-midwoodDaily 11:00-21:00

Yafo Kitchen on Central Avenue is the Israeli-Mediterranean counter in Plaza Midwood, with falafel pitas and hummus plates under $13, all to-order.

Try: Falafel pita and hummus

Tip: Counter-order. The falafel pita with all the toppings under $12 is the best value.

1331 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

The Open Kitchen ★ 4.0

west-charlotteMon-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri 11:00-22:00; Sat 16:00-22:00; Sun 16:00-21:00

The Open Kitchen on West Morehead Street in Charlotte is the family-run Italian-American room since 1952, with lasagna, pizza and pasta plates landing.

Try: Lasagna and pasta plates

Tip: Cash and card. The lunch specials run under $12 weekdays.

1318 W Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28208
← Back to Charlotte food guide