Fried chicken$west-charlotteMon-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 12:00-20:00
LuLu's Maryland Style Chicken on Tuckaseegee Road brings Mid-Atlantic fried chicken and crab cakes to a quick-service counter in west Charlotte.
Signature: Maryland-style chicken, Crab cakes
Order: A Maryland-style chicken plate and a side of crab cake.
Tip: Counter-order and quick takeout. The Tuckaseegee flagship has the longest hours.
Latin American$east-charlotteMon-Sat 07:00-20:00; Sun 07:00-19:00
Manolo's Latin Bakery on Central Avenue is the long-standing east Charlotte Latin bakery and counter, with empanadas, pastries and Cuban sandwiches in 2026.
Signature: Empanadas, Latin pastries, Cuban sandwiches
Order: An empanada, a Cuban sandwich and one of the pastries from the case.
Tip: Counter-order. Cash-easy. The case turnover means morning is the strongest time.
Vietnamese$$east-charlotteTue-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-22:00; closed Mon
Lang Van on Shamrock Drive is the family-run east Charlotte Vietnamese institution that landed Charlotte's only Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2025 for pho.
Signature: Pho, Banh xeo, Bun bo Hue
Order: The pho and the banh xeo crispy crepe; both earned the Michelin nod.
Tip: The room is small. Weekday lunches are the easiest window; weekend evenings run a 30-minute wait.
Southern$$nodaTue-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri 11:00-23:00; Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-22:00; closed Mon
Haberdish on N Davidson is Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown's mill-town Southern kitchen and craft-cocktail bar in NoDa, with brunch Tuesday to Sunday.
Signature: Fried chicken, Buttermilk biscuits, Pimento cheese
Order: The fried-chicken plate with biscuits and pimento cheese.
Tip: Brunch runs Tuesday-Friday 9 to 2 and weekends late-morning. Walk-up bar seats are easiest.
Southern$$$nodaMon-Wed 16:00-22:00; Thu-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 10:00-21:00
The Goodyear House on N Davidson is a Chris Coleman Southern dining room set inside a historic 1900s mill home, with a wood-fired hearth in NoDa.
Signature: Hush puppies, Hot honey chicken
Order: The hush puppies to start and the hot-honey chicken for a main.
Tip: The patio is the seat to land on a warm evening. Reserve through OpenTable.
Italian$$$nodaTue-Thu 17:00-22:00; Fri 17:00-23:00; Sat 10:30-14:30, 17:00-23:00; Sun 10:30-14:30, 17:00-22:00; closed Mon
Ever Andalo on N Davidson is Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown's Michelin-recommended NoDa Italian room, built in four weeks and open since 2022.
Signature: Handmade pasta, Wood-fired pizza
Order: Whatever fresh pasta is on the menu and a wood-fired pizza for the table.
Tip: The bar takes walk-ins. Book on Tock for the dining room.