Now that we know aliens are real, where should we take them to eat when they visit Charlotte?
As more UFO evidence emerges alluding to the existence of aliens, I can’t help but imagine where I’d take these visitors if they were to make a stop in Charlotte. And as we know, aliens seem to have a particular fascination with the Queen City.
Aliens, if you’re reading this, I would love to take you out to some of Charlotte’s most stellar spots like Midnight Diner for a classic American breakfast. We could pop into Phat Burrito to indulge in a phunky, phresh quesadilla for lunch, maybe Rally Pickleball for a Rally Old Fashioned cocktail after work or Comet Grill for a Comet Classic Burger and live music on a Friday night.
These cosmic locations, which were all suggested by CharlotteFive readers and Threads users, are sure to embody the Queen City’s universal taste. So let’s embark on a journey through Charlotte spots that I think will do just the trick in satisfying the aliens’ extraterrestrial taste buds.
You can pitch in your ideas, too. Share them in the poll below, and we’ll add your favorite alien-friendly spot to the list beneath it.
Antico Italian Restaurant
Location: 9719 Sam Furr Rd C, Huntersville, NC 28078
Extraterrestrial menu choice: Because it’s my personal favorite, I think an alien might be fascinated by the idea of grubbing on something from the sea like Antico’s $21 Linguine e Vongle, which are neck clams sauteed in either garlic white wine sauce or filetto sauce served over linguine.
Beyond Amazing Donuts
Location: 1730 Abbey Pl, Charlotte, NC 28209
Extraterrestrial menu choice: The aliens will feel right at home at this doughnut shop with a martian in its logo — owner Jasmine Macon even goes by @confectionsofamartian on Instagram. I think these unearthly visitors would go for the doughnut topped with black garlic cream cheese, furikake seasoning, sesame seeds, dried collard greens and nori seaweed — it’s exactly what I imagine a space doughnut to taste like.
Comet Grill
Location: 2224 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Extraterrestrial menu choice: In order to make themselves at home, I think an alien will obviously need to order Comet’s $15 Comet Classic Burgers served with pimento cheese, bacon, grilled onions, tomato, lettuce and ketchup.
Crispy Banh Mi
Location: 2775, 5100 South Blvd suite c, Charlotte, NC 28217
Location: 2934 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 2130 Ayrsley Town Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28273
Location: 14825 Ballantyne Village Way Suite 175, Charlotte, NC 28277
“Crispy Vermicelli Bowl,” Crispy Banh Mi wrote via Threads.
Extraterrestrial menu choice: Per Crispy Banh Mi’s suggestion, I think a Vermicelli bowl with vegetarian protein and tofu, topped with lettuce, cucumber mint, cilantro, carrots and daikon and served with Lime-Chili Fish sauce for $9.95 should hold the aliens over.
Flour Shop
Location: 530 A Brandywine Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
Extraterrestrial menu choice: The $28 Squid Ink Linguini, made with chorizo, Stone Carolina shrimp, tomato and jalapeno might be just the perfect launch time food.
Halal Food Cart
Location: 101 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Location: 9430 University City Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28213
Extraterrestrial menu choice: Since aliens give me a falafel vibe, I think Halal’s vegetarian falafel over rice made with brown rice, salad and tzatziki sauce for $8.99 will fit the bill.
Midnight Diner
Location: 420 E Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202
“Midnight Diner. They’ll feel right at home at 3 in the morning,” @thebombchard wrote via Threads.
Extraterrestrial menu choice: The Midnight special served with eggs, hash browns, grits, sausage and waffles with some freshly brewed gravi-tea is the perfect way to begin an alien’s stay in the Queen City.
PARA
Location: 235 W Tremont Ave Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28203
“PARA IS TOP TIER,” @cltdesserts wrote via Threads.
Extraterrestrial menu choice: What alien could resist Para’s $14 Halo Halo, covered in pistachio praline crumbles and made with mango, pandan leches, shaved ice, ube ice cream and ube straw?
Pinky’s
Location: 1600 W Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28208
Location: 9818 Gilead Rd STE 101B, Huntersville, NC 28078
Extraterrestrial menu choice: If I were an alien, I’d opt for Pinky’s $10.95 ginger tuna salad. Pinky’s mixes this dish with greens, tomato, red onion, celery and carrots, along with a scoop of albacore tuna and blended ginger and wasabi mayo.
Phat Burrito
Location: 3543 Dewitt Ln, Charlotte, NC 28217
Extraterrestrial menu choice: Aliens, does Phat Burrito’s Spinach & Mushroom quesadilla sound good? It comes with sour cream and lettuce, and it’s only $10.
Que Onda
Location: 333 W Trade St #101, Charlotte, NC 28202
Location: 3022 Weddington Rd #100, Matthews, NC 28105
Location: 9601 N Tryon St K, Charlotte, NC 28262
Location: 1518 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Location: 13016 Eastfield Rd b300, Huntersville, NC 28078.
Extraterrestrial menu choice: Que Onda, quickly becoming a Charlotte food staple, is an alien must-try. While you can’t go wrong with one of its tacos or enchiladas, I think Que Onda’s taco salad, served with protein, lettuce, black beans, pico de gallo and cilantro ranch dressing inside of a flour shell, might be worth a try.
Rally PickleBall
Location: 101 Southside Dr, Charlotte, NC 28217
“Weirdly feel like aliens would be into pickleball (and cocktails),” Rally Pickleball wrote via Threads.
Extraterrestrial menu choice: I could see an alien thoroughly enjoying one of Rally Pickleball’s Neapolitan Style Pizzas like “the dink,” which comes with hazelnut-pesto sauce, smoked mozzarella, aged provolone, parmesan and roasted hazelnuts for $20.
South 21 Drive In
Location: 3101 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205
Extraterrestrial menu choice: While in Charlotte, aliens should prioritize trying South 21’s barbecue plate served with french fries, coleslaw, bread, pickles and South 21’s famous sauce for $8.95.
Yunta
Location: 2201 South Blvd Ste 130, Charlotte, NC 28203
“Hoppin in their foreign and going to Yunta.” @cyber_sneakerhead wrote via Threads.
Extraterrestrial menu choice: I think aliens should go for Yunta’s out of this world Yuca Balls, stuffed with Andean Farm Cheese and Aji Carretillero sauce for $11.
This story was originally published August 23, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
