These are the 10 hottest restaurants in Charlotte to check out right now

Charlotte’s food scene feels unstoppable these days, right?

Whether the cafe is small or the announcement is huge (looking at you, James Beard nominees!), we are feverishly keeping up with the food scene over here at CharlotteFive. More than 70 local restaurants have opened in 2023 or will open soon — and it’s not even spring yet.

In December, we detailed the 23 food spots to put on your list for ‘23. Plans have changed for some of them, while others are forging ahead.

But, what does that mean for your Friday night this week? Your Sunday brunch? Here’s a list of the hottest restaurants in Charlotte right now:

The ones nominated by James Beard:

Counter-

Location: 2001 W Morehead St D, Charlotte, NC 28208

We’ve enjoyed following chef Sam Hart’s career since his days of popup dinners, before he had a brick-and-mortar space to host storybook evenings surrounded by food. The restaurant, along with Hart’s new concept Biblio, recently opened in a bigger location. Counter- will remain intimate, however — with seating only for 16. So make sure to plan ahead so you don’t miss the current theme.

Leah & Louise

Location: 301 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206

Leah & Louise has been named both the No. 2 spot in the country and one of the 50 best restaurants in America. Its owners, Subrina and Greg Collier, have been featured on Good Morning America and in CharlotteFive’s The Skillet. It’s no surprise to us that it’s on everyone’s list to try next. Pro tip: Order the River Chips if you want to eat like a New York Times food writer or the Mud Island if you want to eat like a CharlotteFive one (Ebony L. Morman).

Salud Cerveceria

Location: 3306 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205

If Salud Cerveceria and Salud Beer Shop are not at the top of your list of places to take out-of-town guests, move it up there immediately. It’s for beer lovers, sure — and wine lovers, pizza lovers, breakfast lovers, coffee lovers. ... See what we mean? You can cozy up in a corner with a laptop for hours while sipping on a lavender oat latte. Or you can catch the next CharlotteFC match while making your way through the beer list at the shop named the best beer bar in the country (more than once) by USA Today. And don’t forget to order the pizza — it’s among the best in the city.

Standbys with a new twist:

Curry Gate 2

Location: 5516 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217

The original Curry Gate has been an underground cult favorite since it opened on Graham Street — CharlotteFive’s Emiene Wright once famously told readers to order a spice level 8. (This advice was for entertainment purposes only.) When the restaurant announced its expansion to South Boulevard, we all felt the scene heating up. Whether you’re enjoying takeout on your couch or dining in at the former Pizza Hut (no stuffed crust here!), you’ll be in good company — seemingly the rest of Charlotte.

Hellenic Greek Kitchen & Bar

Location: 1436 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203

We’ve all loved The Mad Greek for years. So when Amelia and Peyton Limberakis, the children of The Mad Greek owner Chris Limberakis, announced the opening of Hellenic, we knew it would be an instant favorite. And where The Mad Greek is cozy and familiar, Hellenic is modern. But don’t worry: “We’re taking The Mad Greek’s tzatziki sauce recipe with us, because it’s just so good,” Amelia told C5’s Shannon Greene last month before the restaurant opened.

[READ NEXT: A new Greek restaurant is now open in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood.]

Restaurant Constance

Location: 2200 Thrift Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208

Even before Restaurant Constance opened its doors, we knew it was going to be a win — we all know and love chef Sam Diminich already. His chef CV is impressive: He’s the creator Your Farms Your Table. He’s Order/Fire and Food Network famous (Yeah, he beat Bobby Flay). Diminich named Constance after his daughter, Constance. The menu changes regularly and is designed to support the farming community, using all locally grown, seasonal food. You can expect surprise and delight with every return visit.

[READ NEXT: Restaurant Constance will open Friday in Charlotte’s Wesley Heights neighborhood.]

Good luck getting a seat (get there early):

Forty8Hundred Caribbean Restaurant & Lounge

Location: 4800 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205

Looking for a daytime, family-friendly eatery? Or would you rather a nighttime experience with VIP tables and bottle service? At Forty8Hundred, you can have your brunch and nightclub, too — this year-old hot spot is already known as the place to be. Fill your belly with oxtail, jerk salmon egg rolls and peaches and cream cocktails. Then take Emiene’s advice — go home, take a nap, then come back for more.

Supperland Speakeasy

Location: 1212 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205

In the South, we love our churches and our restaurants — and especially, our restaurants in former churches. Supperland alone is one of the hottest dinner spots in the area, with its elevated potluck-style menu and Southern steakhouse charm. But if you head down a narrow stairwell from the restaurant’s main bar, you’ll find an even more exclusive club: A 10-seat speakeasy dedicated to a “spirit experience”. Here, mixologist Colleen Hughes has created a bourbon cocktails, which are then paired with small bites. A revelation!

Yunta

Location: 2201 South Blvd Ste 130, Charlotte, NC 28203

South End’s hottest dinner location is also the city’s first restaurant featuring a Peruvian Nikkei menu, which CharlotteFive’s Kristen Kornbluth once described as “a style based on Peruvian ingredients and kissed by the influence of Japanese cuisine.” You’re here for the food, yet you can’t help but notice the bar’s sleek decor, including its flowery wall perfect for Instagram. Order C5’s DeAnna Taylor’s favorite: Chicharron (crispy pork belly w/ sweet potato), shrimp croquettes, hotate nigiri, Pulpo Anticuchero (grilled octopus) and pisco punch (cocktail).

[READ MORE: Yunta offers Peruvian Nikkei cuisine and a sleek interior.]

And one for the road:

Uptown Yolk

Location: 1120 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28203

Uptown Yolk’s South End location is not even open yet, but that day is coming very soon. Since the restaurant recently hosted breakfast popups, we wanted to put it as a bonus for our hot list. Stay tuned for all the breakfast comfort you’ve been dreaming of since the restaurant left uptown.

[READ MORE: Uptown Yolk returns in Charlotte — but this time, it will be in South End.]