These are 5 must-visit restaurants in Charlotte, according to Travel + Leisure

Chyna Blackmon
·2 min read

As the biggest city in North Carolina, Charlotte is one of many popular destinations to visit in the South. With a bustling food scene filled with a long list of new and old restaurants, it’d be nearly impossible to eat your way through all of the city’s delicious food spots.

So which are the best of the best?

Travel + Leisure recently released a travel guide for a vacation in Charlotte, from the best times to visit to the best things to do, along with the top restaurants to check out.

Of all the iconic Charlotte eats, here’s which ones you may want to add to your itinerary for a stay in the Queen City:

Restaurant Constance

Location: 2200 Thrift Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208

Cuisine: American

Restaurant Constance is a farm-to-table restaurant located in the Wesley Heights neighborhood. Similar to its sister concept, Your Farms, Your Table, it offers locally grown, seasonal foods, along with beer, wine and a whole menu of non-alcoholic cocktails.

Bibb salad at Restaurant Constance.
Bibb salad at Restaurant Constance.

Jimmy Pearls

Location: Location varies; watch for pop-ups

Cuisine: Virginia-inspired seafood, soul food

Jimmy Pearls, known for its fish sandwiches and platters, has been a local favorite for seafood lovers for years. Though it recently closed at The Market at 7th Street, the James Beard-nominated duo behind the food spot — which originally opened as a food truck — is in the process of opening a new brick-and-mortar space. Until then, the team is working with its vendors to do pop-ups around the city.

Jimmy Pearls’ fried clam roll.
Jimmy Pearls’ fried clam roll.

[HUNGRY FOR MORE? Every Charlotte area chef, restaurant ever nominated for a James Beard Award]

Uptown Yolk

Location: 1220 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28203

Cuisine: Southern, Memphis-inspired

Uptown Yolk, led by James Beard-finalist chef Gregory Collier and his wife, Subrina, is located in Charlotte’s South End. The restaurant, which now serves brunch and dinner, is influenced by the culinary scene in Memphis, where Collier hails from.

Brunch options at Uptown Yolk
Brunch options at Uptown Yolk

Menya Daruma

Location: 1941 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Cuisine: Asian

Menya Daruma, also known as Menya Noodle Company, is one of Charlotte’s newer restaurants. The local restaurant, nestled in Elizabeth, is designed for guests to experience how noodles are served at menyas — noodle shops — in Japan with ramen, sandwiches and other small bites.

Customshop

Location: 1601 Elizabeth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204

Cuisine: European-inspired American

Customshop has been a staple in the Elizabeth neighborhood for over 15 years. The local restaurant has a rotating menu of Spanish, Italian and French-inspired dishes.

Customshop, a European-inspired restaurant in Charlotte, is located at 1601 Elizabeth Ave.
Customshop, a European-inspired restaurant in Charlotte, is located at 1601 Elizabeth Ave.

Want to know more about Travel + Leisure’s team recommendations for where to stay, shop and explore around Charlotte? You can find the full travel guide online at www.travelandleisure.com.