Fried chicken$west-charlotteSun-Thu 11:00-20:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-21:00
Bossy Beulah's flagship on Freedom Drive is the Charlotte chicken-sandwich counter that has built four city locations since opening in 2019, with simple.
Signature: Chicken sandwich, Tenders, Wings
Order: The classic Bossy chicken sandwich and a side of fries.
Tip: The Freedom Drive flagship is the original. The Ballantyne and Brandywine spinoffs serve the same menu.
Soul food$$$west-charlotteTue-Thu 17:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-15:00, 17:00-21:00; closed Mon
Greg and Subrina Collier's Leah and Louise is the Memphis juke-joint Southern kitchen that left Camp North End in 2024 for a new home in Charlotte's west end.
Signature: Hot tamale, Catfish, Mississippi Delta plates
Order: The hot tamale and the catfish plate; the Mississippi River Valley dishes that built the menu.
Tip: The west-end relocation opened in 2025. Check the operator's social channels for the current address before booking.
Japanese-Peruvian$$$south-endMon-Thu 17:00-22:00; Fri 12:00-23:00; Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-22:00
Yunta Nikkei in South End is Bruno Macchiavello and Randy Garcia's Peruvian-Japanese kitchen, with pisco cocktails by Bob Peters on South Boulevard.
Signature: Tiradito, Lomo saltado, Causa
Order: The tiradito and a pisco sour from the Bob Peters list.
Tip: Walk-up bar takes seats; the dining room is on OpenTable.
Small plates and sushi$$nodaTue-Thu 17:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-15:00, 17:00-22:00; closed Mon
Soul Gastrolounge on Raleigh Street is Andy Kastanas's NoDa tapas-and-cocktails room, reopened in 2025 after three years away from the original Plaza Midwood.
Signature: Pork-belly tacos, Sushi tapas
Order: The pork-belly tacos and a sushi-tapas plate.
Tip: DJ sets most nights. Walk-ins only, with a queue from 17:30.
Israeli$$plaza-midwoodDaily 11:00-21:00
Yafo Kitchen on Central Avenue is Charlotte's Israeli-Mediterranean counter, with house-made falafel, shawarma and laffa bread baked in Plaza Midwood.
Signature: Falafel, Lamb shawarma, Hummus
Order: A falafel pita with all the toppings and a side of hummus with warm laffa.
Tip: Counter-order, sit anywhere. Two more Yafo locations on Gov Morrison and East Boulevard.
American$$dilworthMon-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri 11:00-22:00; Sat 10:00-22:00; Sun 10:00-21:00
300 East on East Boulevard is the family-run Dilworth American institution serving comfort plates and weekend brunch to the neighbourhood since 1986.
Signature: House burger, Crab cake sandwich, Sunday brunch
Order: The crab-cake sandwich at lunch and the house burger at dinner.
Tip: Sunday brunch is the seat to land. Book on OpenTable for weekend morning slots.