This article was originally published January 31, 2017.
Hello Charlotte newbie. Or is it noob? Doesn’t matter. You’re new and you want to start eating like a local, fast. I get it. That way you can actually know what people are talking about and they don’t tell you, “Wait, you’ve never been there?!”
Here’s a list of the 10 inexpensive Charlotte restaurants institutions that you need to experience.
Three Amigos
- Category: Mexican
- Location: Plaza Midwood
- Newbie dish to try: Enchiladas Centroamericanas
- Agenda story: The Agenda Guide to Plaza Midwood
via Facebook
Bill Spoon’s Barbecue
- Category: Eastern NC Style BBQ
- Location: South Boulevard
- Newbie dish to try: BBQ Plate (comes with coleslaw and hushpuppies) with a side of Mac & Cheese.
- Agenda story: 19 of the absolute best BBQ sides in Charlotte
via Facebook
The Diamond
- Category: Diner
- Location: Plaza Midwood
- Newbie dish to try: Golden Fried Chicken
via Facebook
Viva Chicken
- Category: Peruvian
- Locations: Elizabeth, Ballantyne, Montford and Huntersville
- Newbie dish to try: 1/4 chicken, cilantro rice, canary beans – green and yellow sauce (red is too hot)
- Agenda story: Charlotte’s best house cocktail mixer comes from a chicken place
Thai Taste
- Category: Thai
- Location: Dilworth
- Newbie dish to try: Pad Thai
- Agenda story: It’s the little things that make lunch at Thai Taste addictive
Portofino’s
- Category: Italian
- Location: Park Road, Arboretum, Eastway
- Newbie dish to try: Spaghetti Bolognese
- Agenda story: This Italian restaurant has the best takeout pasta in Charlotte
Brooks’ Sandwich House
- Category: Burger and breakfast sandwich spot
- Location: NoDa
- Newbie dish to try: Burger “All the way” and fries.
- Agenda story: Trust me, go order the $3.50 burger from this seat-less restaurant in NoDa. And get it “All the way”
Price’s Chicken Coop
- Category: Fried Chicken
- Location: South End
- Newbie dish to try: 1/4 chicken with slaw and fries.
- Agenda story: Top 5 places to get fried chicken in Charlotte, ranked
Ru San’s Sushi
- Category: Sushi
- Location: Dilworth
- Newbie dish to try: All you can eat sushi lunch buffet
- Agenda story: Ru San’s all-you-can-eat sushi lunch buffet is the IKEA of sushi and you’ll love it
Alexander Michael’s
- Category: American Tavern
- Location: Fourth Ward
- Newbie dish to try: “What It Is” – blackened chicken over roti in a Cajun cream sauce
- Agenda story: 10 most romantic restaurants in Charlotte, ranked
Sabor Latin Street Grill
- Category: Latin street food
- Neighborhood: Elizabeth, NoDa, Steele Creek, Indian Trail and Matthews
- Newbie dish to try: Arepa — Venezuelan style ground maize cake filled with shredded chicken, diced tomato, onion, cheese & rosada sauce
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