Black-Owned Restaurants in Charlotte
Charlotte’s Black-owned restaurants are serving up delicious cuisine with a side of culture.
by Arielle Patterson
The Queen City’s culinary scene offers a diverse range of flavors, particularly from the city’s Black chefs, restaurateurs, mixologists and more. Indulge in soul food staples, vegan dishes, homemade desserts, handcrafted beverages and more from these Black-owned food and drink businesses in Charlotte. While this isn’t a comprehensive list, this curated selection features several businesses worth exploring.
Abugida Ethiopian Cafe & Restaurant
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Discover authentic Ethiopian cuisine, prepared with fresh vegetables, top cuts of meat and exotic spices, at Abugida. This restaurant is an excellent option for vegetarians, with choices like the filling Vegetarian Sampler. If Ethiopian is new to your palate, the helpful staff can walk you through the menu.
Archive CLT
Area: West Charlotte
Come for the coffee, stay for the culture. Archive CLT is a coffee shop filled with throwback items from Black culture, such as HBCU yearbooks, posters and first-edition books. This café offers the unique experience of enjoying an iced latte and pastry as you flip through a vintage JET magazine.
Bird Pizzeria
Neighborhood: Optimist Park
Bird Pizzeria owner Kerrel Thompson spent his time learning how to craft his own pizzas in 2020. Two years later, alongside his wife Nkem, the couple opened Bird Pizzeria, specializing in gourmet East Coast-style whole pies. Enjoy your pizza in the intimate dining room or get a pie to go from the pick-up window.
Cuzzo’s Cuisine
Neighborhood: University City
Cuzzo's Cuisine is best known for Southern fare with bold flavors. Cuzzo’s delicious menu ranges from wings, fried shrimp and filling plates to red velvet and peach cobbler waffles, but the restaurant’s claim to fame is lobster mac and cheese.
Enat Ethiopian
Neighborhood: Optimist Park, Plaza Midwood
Translating to “mother” in Amharic, one of the many languages spoken in Ethiopia, Enat pays homage to many of chef and owner Tina Tedla's mother's recipes. Sample staples like injera (spongy bread,) tibs (stir-fried meat and vegetables) and tikel gomen (cabbage and carrots).
Freshwaters
Neighborhood: Uptown
Inspired by Cajun and Creole cuisines, Clifton and Sharon Freshwater opened their namesake restaurant in 2015. Freshwaters is the place to be if you’re looking for a menu that consists of boldly flavored appetizers; satiating entrees like crab cakes, fried catfish and grilled prawns; and homemade desserts.
Hip Hop Smoothies
Neighborhood: Uptown, Camp North End
You’ll have “Nuttin’ But Love” for Hip Hop Smoothies, a delicious, made-to-order smoothie shop with locations at The Market at 7th Street and Camp North End. The funky-fresh offerings include the coconut milk-based C.R.E.A.M., Red Bull-based Turn Down for What and juice-focused Gin and Juice smoothies.
Indigo Tea & Coffee
Neighborhood: Uptown
Settle in with a handcrafted latte at Indigo Tea & Coffee. Add a house-made syrup to your latte, and pair your beverage with a pastry. This two-story coffee shop in Fourth Ward offers plenty of seating, perfect for meeting up with friends or getting some work done.
JINYA Ramen Bar
Neighborhood: Uptown, SouthPark
JINYA Ramen Bar is best known for its slow-cooked broths, simmered for 20 hours in-house. Both the Uptown and SouthPark locations offer a sleek, modern setting to enjoy contemporary Japanese cuisine like mini salmon or tuna tacos, small plates and bowls to complement your ramen.
Lorem Ipsum
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Fascinate your senses at Lorem Ipsum, a listening bar from award-winning mixologist Justin Hazelton located at Hotel Refuge. Sip a handcrafted cocktail or nonalcoholic beverage as you listen to a curated selection of music and watch the visuals projected onto the wall.
Lulu’s Express
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Formerly known as Lulu’s Maryland Style Chicken and Seafood, Lulu’s Express is the rebranded concept of a local favorite. Lulu’s is known for serving Maryland flair with a Southern twist. The menu consists of house specials like Lulu’s Shrimp & Grits, crab cakes and honey Old Bay wings.
Mad Dash Kitchen
Neighborhood: Uptown
Chef Corey Jones has been dishing out fan-favorite chicken sandwiches including the Dasher Chicken Sandwich with buttermilk fried chicken, coleslaw, house-made pickles and dash sauce, at Mad Dash since opening in 2020. Find Mad Dash at the business’ new location at Truist Plaza.
Mert's Heart & Soul
Neighborhood: Uptown
Mert’s Heart & Soul, one of Charlotte’s most notable Black-owned restaurants, has hosted former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and was featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Treat yourself to one of the Gullah-inspired dishes, such as shrimp and grits, Charleston red rice and award-winning macaroni and cheese, and save room for a slice of cake.
Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish
Neighborhood: Uptown, North Charlotte, East Charlotte
You’ll feel right at home with the comforting cuisine at Mr. Charles Chicken and Fish. Of course, you can expect crispy fried chicken and fish, such as catfish, croaker, flounder and whiting, on the menu, as well as Southern sides with down-home flavor.
Nick & Mike Bar and Grill
Neighborhood: University City
Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, Nick & Mike Bar and Grill is the place to be. This local spot serves up delicious appetizers, wings and burgers, as well as a wide variety of specialty cocktails, in a warm atmosphere to relax.
Original Chicken 'n Ribs
Neighborhood: Washington Heights
Original Chicken ‘n Ribs has dished out fried chicken, pulled pork, fish and the favorite Fat Boy burger since the restaurant was listed in “The Negro Motorist Green Book.” Southern staples like mac and cheese, chicken livers and gizzards, and homemade cobbler have delighted diners for more than 70 years.
Romeo’s Vegan Burgers
Neighborhood: South Charlotte
Where’s the beef? Not at Romeo’s, but you’d never know it. Romeo’s Vegan Burgers is a 100% plant-based food truck and restaurant in Charlotte, dishing out vegan-friendly burgers, fries and shakes. Even non-vegans swear by the flavors and spices these dishes bring to the table.
Salata
Neighborhood: Uptown, Lower South End, SouthPark
Salata is a fast-casual eatery owned by two investors with former ties to the Charlotte Hornets and features more than 50 toppings, a dozen signature dressings and fan-favorite limeade. Not in the mood for a salad? Customize a wrap and warm up with a side of house-made soup.
Serengeti Kitchen
Neighborhood: Uptown
Rooted in her mother’s love for cooking, chef Ammalu crafts vibrant Tanzanian dishes that balance flavor and wellness. Visit this food stall at The Market at 7th Street to order authentic Tanzanian cuisine, such as chapati wraps with your choice of lamb or chicken, Swahili beef biryani and several vegan options.
Spice
Neighborhood: Uptown
Experience “vibe dining” at Spice, where you can enjoy a globally influenced menu, cocktails and upbeat music. Open until midnight on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends, order sharable small plates and sushi at the stylish bar or in the dining room.
Sub-One Hoagie House
Neighborhood: Uptown
Sub One Hoagie House is a quaint neighborhood staple offering subs, sandwiches and everything in between. The New Jersey Steak with chopped steak, cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato, special sauce, oil and vinegar is a fan favorite. However, the chicken hot hoagie and The Italian, served hot, are also winners.
Surefire Market
Neighborhood: Camp North End
Smash burgers are always on the menu at Surefire Market. This bodega-style eatery at Camp North End is the vision of brothers Magloire Lubika, Joel Lutuangu and Edric Lutuangu. In addition to the four types of smash burgers on the menu, Surefire also dishes out fried chicken sandwiches including one option topped with house-made honey butter.
Two Scoops Creamery
Neighborhood: NoDa, South End, Plaza Midwood, Lake Norman, Matthews
The only thing sweeter than the homemade ice cream and toppings is the story of how Two Scoops creamery came to be. A group of best friends came together to open an ice cream parlor that offers over 32 staple flavors, as well as rotating seasonal flavors.
Uptown Yolk
Neighborhood: South End
Uptown Yolk is a Southern-inspired brunch spot from restaurant power couple, Greg and Subrina Collier. The menu features creative entrees like the Mojo Hash with coffee-braised steak, diced sweet potatoes and an over-easy egg, along with a sweet potato waffle and Yolkwich served on a house-made cornmeal brioche roll.
