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.

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Three Amigos

• Category: Mexican
• Location: Plaza Midwood
• Newbie dish to try: Enchiladas Centroamericanas
• Agenda story: The Agenda Guide to Plaza Midwood

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

The Diamond

• Category: Diner
• Location: Plaza Midwood
• Newbie dish to try: Golden Fried Chicken

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