Yafo Kitchen is an israeli restaurant in Plaza Midwood, Charlotte.
Yafo Kitchen on Central Avenue is Charlotte's Israeli-Mediterranean counter, with house-made falafel, shawarma and laffa bread baked in Plaza Midwood.
Signature dishes: Falafel, Lamb shawarma, Hummus
Must 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.
Address: 1331 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
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.
The Penguin Drive-In on East Boulevard in Dilworth is the relocated Charlotte burger institution, with a dog-friendly covered patio and a 1950s-style diner.
Signature: Burgers, Fried pickles, Onion rings
Order: A burger and a basket of fried pickles. The onion rings round the plate.
Tip: The Commonwealth Avenue location closed. East Boulevard is the active Charlotte room.
Selwyn Avenue Pub in Myers Park has poured pints and slung burgers across Selwyn Avenue for more than thirty years, with a beer list and a back patio.
Signature: Burgers, Bar food, Beer flight
Order: The pub burger and a cold local pint.
Tip: Patio is the seat in spring and autumn. Closed late afternoon Sunday.
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.
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.
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.
