Get a taste of world culture at nearly every turn

If you want proof that Charlotte is becoming an international city, visit east Charlotte.

But wait until you're hungry, because there's perhaps no better way to enjoy world culture than to taste it.

The city's international restaurant district - east Charlotte's unofficial but well-deserved alias - is the place to get fine ethnic meals served by merchants eager to share their native cuisine and customs.

There are more than enough choices to satisfy most diners.

"We've got such a variety," said Vickie Fewell, president of Charlotte East Community Partners, which represents more than 100 neighborhoods. "It's not just one neighborhood in east Charlotte. It's scattered throughout."

There are burgers at the Penguin Drive-In, Whiskey Warehouse and Kickstand. For a different type of sandwich, try light-and-crusty Vietnamese banh mi hoagies at Ben Thanh or Mexican tortas a few doors down at El Pulgarcito, where the menu also reaches firmly into El Salvador and Honduras.

Get ribs or brisket at Midwood Smokehouse, or try Korean pork brisket and beef short ribs at Kyoto, a mile or two beyond Central Avenue on Albemarle Road.

Also represented in the district's restaurant lineup are Greece (Landmark Diner), the Middle East (Cedarland Grocery and Restaurant, Aly Baba) and Somalia (Jamile's Cuisine International).

The geography is not so difficult to master. Central Avenue is considered the hub for international restaurants, many of which have given new life to older retail properties that are too small for corporate restaurant chains.

Central stretches from the center city and ends several miles east at Albemarle Road. The ethnic food tour continues there, with worthwhile detours all along the way at Thomas Street, Pecan Avenue, The Plaza and North Sharon Amity Road.

Newer additions close to the skyline include home-style American meals at the newly renovated Diamond Restaurant, artful small plates and entrees at Bistro La Bon, and food inspired by Mexico at Loco Lime.

Time-tested outlets include pizza and Serbian dishes at Intermezzo Pizzeria, bistro fare at Lulu, Southern comfort food at Dish and breakfast most of the day at eclectic Zada Jane's.

Mixed in alongside the restaurants are ethnic markets that local chefs and adventurous home cooks depend on for exotic or hard-to-find ingredients.

Larger stores with an international focus have cropped up a few miles away on Independence Boulevard, one of the city's major east-west thoroughfares.

Super G Mart (Asian), Compare Foods (Latin) and Spice Bazaar (Indian) are the biggest specialty food stores on Independence and add welcome options for fresh produce, inexpensive spices and even desserts.

There's so much to take in that some folks opt to have a guide to lead them to the area's treasures. Taste of the World, a popular annual bus tour of the restaurant district, rolls out each October for tastings at a list of mom-and-pop ethnic eateries.

Generally about 240 people are aboard the buses, said Louise Woods of Eastland Area Strategies Team. Last year every continent was represented on the tour except Australia and Antarctica.

"There is really a hunger in Charlotte for these restaurants," Woods said. "Most people don't realize what an international flavor we have, from the schools to the communities. What's so unique in our community is that we're all living together."