The Dumpling Lady at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's Sichuan dumpling and noodle counter with authentic handmade dumplings from a family recipe.
Must order: An order of pork dumplings with chili oil and a noodle bowl.
Tip: Grew from a food truck. The dumpling line moves quickly; place orders at the counter directly.
Address: 1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Ava at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's wood-fired Neapolitan pizza counter, with traditionally prepared Italian pies and a short antipasti list in the food hall.
Try: Neapolitan pizza
Order: A Margherita off the wood oven and a glass of house red.
Tip: The wood oven runs hot; pizzas come out in under three minutes.
Enat Ethiopian at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's Ethiopian counter, with wat stews, kitfo and a variety platter served over injera bread in the South End food.
Try: Ethiopian wat plates with injera
Order: The vegetarian sampler over a sheet of injera.
Tip: Order to share; injera plates are designed for groups.
Zukku Sushi at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's quick-service sushi-burrito and poke-bowl counter, with build-your-own and signature options inside the South End.
Try: Sushi burritos and bowls
Order: A signature sushi burrito or a salmon poke bowl.
Tip: Fast counter service. Watch the rice line at lunchtime.
Bao and Broth at Optimist Hall is the Charlotte ramen and bao counter from the Moffett Restaurant Group, with rotating ramen bowls and Taiwanese-style bao.
Try: Bao buns and ramen
Order: A signature ramen and a pair of pork-belly bao to start.
Tip: Counter-order at the food hall. Bring your bowls to the second-floor cocktail bar Light Rail.
Meherwan Irani's Botiwalla at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's Indian street-food counter, with masala potatoes, lamb burgers, paneer wraps and grilled skewers.
Try: Indian street-food wraps and skewers
Order: The chicken wrap in laffa bread and a side of masala smashed potatoes.
Tip: Irani's Asheville flagship Chai Pani won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant. Same kitchen ethos here.
Noble Smoke at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's hickory-smoked-BBQ counter, with pulled pork, brisket and Southern sides served quick-service at the food hall.
Try: Wood-smoked BBQ
Order: A two-meat plate of pulled pork and brisket with one side.
Tip: Get there before noon on weekends; the BBQ sells through.
Ava at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's wood-fired Neapolitan pizza counter, with traditionally prepared Italian pies and a short antipasti list in the food hall.
Try: Neapolitan pizza
Order: A Margherita off the wood oven and a glass of house red.
Tip: The wood oven runs hot; pizzas come out in under three minutes.
Enat Ethiopian at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's Ethiopian counter, with wat stews, kitfo and a variety platter served over injera bread in the South End food.
Try: Ethiopian wat plates with injera
Order: The vegetarian sampler over a sheet of injera.
Tip: Order to share; injera plates are designed for groups.
Zukku Sushi at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's quick-service sushi-burrito and poke-bowl counter, with build-your-own and signature options inside the South End.
Try: Sushi burritos and bowls
Order: A signature sushi burrito or a salmon poke bowl.
Tip: Fast counter service. Watch the rice line at lunchtime.
Bao and Broth at Optimist Hall is the Charlotte ramen and bao counter from the Moffett Restaurant Group, with rotating ramen bowls and Taiwanese-style bao.
Try: Bao buns and ramen
Order: A signature ramen and a pair of pork-belly bao to start.
Tip: Counter-order at the food hall. Bring your bowls to the second-floor cocktail bar Light Rail.
Meherwan Irani's Botiwalla at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's Indian street-food counter, with masala potatoes, lamb burgers, paneer wraps and grilled skewers.
Try: Indian street-food wraps and skewers
Order: The chicken wrap in laffa bread and a side of masala smashed potatoes.
Tip: Irani's Asheville flagship Chai Pani won the 2022 James Beard Outstanding Restaurant. Same kitchen ethos here.
Noble Smoke at Optimist Hall is Charlotte's hickory-smoked-BBQ counter, with pulled pork, brisket and Southern sides served quick-service at the food hall.
Try: Wood-smoked BBQ
Order: A two-meat plate of pulled pork and brisket with one side.
Tip: Get there before noon on weekends; the BBQ sells through.
