Some of Charlotte’s newest restaurants have a common thread — tacos and tequila
As a girl who likes to eat, I’m constantly on the lookout for restaurants to check out. I’ve recently noticed that Charlotte has seen an increase in taco and tequila-based concepts. So, propelled by my journalistic curiosity (and love for margaritas), I felt that it was my duty to try as many tacos as humanly possible. For science, or whatever.
Many of the new Mexican restaurants have somewhat similar names, (i.e. a few of them have “taco” in the title) and have opened within a relatively short span of one another. Each restaurant is uniquely its own, with one big commonality: tacos.
From Tijuana to Michoacan, Mexico, all the way to Southern California, there’s no doubt Charlotte has seen an influx of several Latin cuisine styles. I thought it would be helpful to create a guide differentiating between all of the new spots.
Check out these 10 Mexican restaurants that have opened relatively recently in Charlotte:
Azul Tacos & Beer
Location: 2122 Thrift Rd A, Charlotte, NC 28208
Instagram: @azultacosandbeer
Azul Tacos & Beer is among the newest kids on the block in Charlotte’s rapidly growing Wesley Heights neighborhood. The counter-service restaurant serves authentic Mexican street food with additions Queen City locals may not be accustomed to, such as duck fat refried mayocoba beans, a creamier alternative to traditional pork fat pinto beans. You’ll see them served alongside nopales (cactus fruit) salad, lengua (beef tongue) and beef cheek tacos.
However, Azul’s specialty lies in its namesake handmade tortillas made with blue heirloom corn from Mexico. The blue tortillas have a nuttier, earthier flavor and tend to be slightly denser, which enables them to hold up to the endless dipping enjoyment that comes with birria tacos.
Azul has 12 Mexican beers and a full-sized tequila bar with a portion of the menu dedicated solely to micheladas — heaven on earth, if you ask me. If you don’t drink, don’t worry. Azul also offers Mexican sodas and thirst-quenching aguas frescas.
Condado Tacos
Location: 10706 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 1536 Camden Rd #107, Charlotte, NC 28203
Instagram: @condadotacos
Condado Tacos is a build-your-own taco restaurant franchise that opened its second Charlotte location at the Promenade at Providence in 2023. Its original location debuted in South End the previous year. It’s known for its vibrant interiors, customizable bowls, burritos and chips that come with a variety of dipping sauces. The menu features vegan and vegetarian options, as well as gluten-free substitutions.
As far as margs go, you’ll find them there, too. Condado Tacos serves refreshing tequila-based cocktails and frozen drinks.
El Malo Tacos
Location: 1705 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Instagram: @elmalogram @barhermanita
Inspired by the taquerias of Tijuana, Mexico, as well as the surfside taco shops found in San Diego, California, El Malo Tacos brings street-style tacos to Plaza Midwood.
Owned by the restaurant group behind Mal Pan, a full-service dine-in taqueria in South Park, El Malo Tacos is Central Avenue’s casual alternative. The counter-service restaurant serves authentic Mexican comfort food with a Californian twist.
You can order from a variety of street-style tacos or opt for a West-coast offering like a California-style burrito, filled with a hearty serving of french fries, cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo, chipotle crema and your choice of protein.
While El Malo Tacos does not serve alcohol, its soon-to-open sister-concept, Hermanita, will. The Mexican tavern-inspired bar will be located within El Malo Tacos, though the two will operate as separate businesses. Hermanita will serve mostly agave-based spirits, with drinks like cantaritos, micheladas and, of course, margaritas.
Frida’s Mexican Cantina
Location: 8740 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226
Instagram: @fridasmexicancantina
Located in a renovated Pizza Hut building in South Charlotte, you’ll find Frida’s Mexican Cantina, a women-run restaurant that serves classic family recipes. Named after the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, the restaurant features her image throughout the space, a subtle homage to feminine strength.
Many dishes at Frida’s are inspired by owner Roble Zarate’s mother’s traditional recipes, including her Pozole — a savory soup made with pork, hominy and a variety of dried peppers, topped with lettuce and radish.
While Frida’s does offer cocktails — including a very Instagram-able rum drink called the Bubble Bath, served in a miniature bathtub — it also has wine by the glass and craft beer.
Maiz, Agua, Sal
Location: 1018 Jay St. Suite 110 Charlotte, NC 28208
Instagram: @mas_tortilleria
Maiz, Agua, Sal, or MAS for short, is an modern, made-from-scratch tortilleria and agave bar located in the Lower Tuck mixed-use development area of west Charlotte.
Chef Jonathan Olvera, a first-generation Mexican-American, leads the kitchen. The menu takes inspiration from the cuisine of Michoacan, Mexico, the region where Olvera’s family originates.
MAS offers authentic dishes such as Huarache de Tinga, made with pressed blue corn masa, refried pinto beans, adobo chicken, nopales (cactus fruit), crema and cotija cheese. MAS’ tortillas are pressed in-house daily using heirloom masa produced by farmers throughout Mexico. The tortillas are available for purchase by the pound.
Master mixologist Amanda Britton is in charge of the beverage program, which features mostly agave-based spirits, Mexican beer and craft cocktails — perfect for sipping on MAS’ patio with a scenic view of uptown.
The Matador
Location: 1215 South Blvd Charlotte, NC, 28203
Instagram: @thematadorsouth
With over 150 tequilas and mezcals, there is no shortage of agave-based spirits to try at The Matador. Located in a historic Charlotte firehouse on South Boulevard, The Matador serves fresh Mexican cuisine designed to compliment the nuanced flavors of its extensive tequila selection. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic margarita, a tequila flight, or a straight shot of liquor, the mixologists will guide you in the right direction.
The Matador offers a happy hour special every day from 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close, perfect for night owls. Alongside your margs, you can order Matador Guacamole, Grande Nachos and Street Tacos. Never drink tequila on an empty stomach!
This is the first Matador location to open in North Carolina, however there are locations across the Pacific Northwest and one in Charleston.
Puerta
Location: 1961 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204
Instagram: @puerta.clt
From the restaurant group responsible for The Crunkleton and Rosemont, comes Puerta, a Mexican eatery with a delightfully complex beverage program. Located in the Elizabeth neighborhood, Puerta boasts over 100 bottles of mezcal, tequila and other Mexican-based spirits. If you enjoy a classic craft cocktail, or are curious about trying tequilas that aren’t necessarily easy to find in Charlotte, Puerta is definitely the place to go.
Puerta is all about elevating and honoring Mexican cuisine with dishes like Cochinita Pibil, a braised pork shank dish that’s literally “smashed ‘‘ table-side. In addition to dinner, Puerta is also open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Forget a Bloody Mary — at Puerta, you’re going to want a Bloody Maria.
Que Fresa Taqueria and Bar
Location: 1500-A W Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28208
Instagram: @eatquefresa
Voted best tacos in the Charlotte area by CharlotteFive readers in 2023, Que Fresa Taqueria and Bar is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant located in the Wesley Heights neighborhood. Que Fresa is the sister restaurant to Que Onda Tacos and Tequila, a Charlotte-based Mexican chain with five locations across the city. (Que Onda took home second place in CharlotteFive’s poll, by the way.)
Que Fresa has a bright pink interior and an unconventional approach to classic Mexican cuisine. Guests have the option to choose from two different taco lists (14 tacos in total): the Preppy Tacos and the Street Tacos. The Preppy Tacos feature Americanized options such as the La Toxica, a fried chicken taco tossed in mango Buffalo sauce, while the Street Tacos are more true to Mexican cuisine, with familiar options like al pastor and chicken tinga tacos.
When it comes to tequila, you can always opt for a traditional margarita, or take a walk on the wild side. The restaurant prides itself on its Soft Serve Margarita Flights — perfect to quench your thirst on a hot day. But be careful, despite its creamy soft serve appearance (and taste), these flights are boozy!
Taco Boy
Location: 3700 South Blvd unit 100, Charlotte, NC 28209
Instagram: @tacoboyeats
Founded in Folly Beach in 2006, Taco Boy has long been a Charleston-area favorite. Earlier this year, the popular Mexican restaurant made its way to The Station at LoSo in Lower South End.
Taco Boy serves Mexican-inspired cuisine with innovative ingredients like vegetarian jackfruit “carnitas’‘ and spicy Korean-style Kimchi beef tacos. Taco Boy also offers traditional Mexican fare, including carne asada tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas.
As far as tequila goes, the drinks are equally as inventive. If you’re looking for something refreshing and unique to the locale, try the Matcha Margarita.
Tacos 4 Life
Location: 120 Marketplace Ave, Unit D, Mooresville, NC 28117 (opening fall 2024)
Location: 1716 Kenilworth Ave #150, Charlotte, NC 28203 (opening soon)
Location: 3351 Pineville-Matthews Road, Suite 300, Charlotte, NC 28226
Location: 4923 Trojan Dr #110, Charlotte, NC 28278
Location: 2940 Derita Road, Suite 40, Concord, NC 28027
Instagram: @tacos4lifegrill, @t4l_mooresville
Tacos 4 Life is a fast-casual taco chain with a charitable mission: to end childhood hunger. With each taco purchased, a portion is donated to the nonprofit organization Feed My Starving Children. One meal purchased equals one meal packaged for a child.
The taco joint offers an array of tasty tacos with offerings like Hawaiian shrimp, Korean BBQ steak and spicy chorizo. Not in the mood for tacos? Try a quesadilla, nachos or a Mexican cobb salad.
Tacos 4 Life is set to open two new Charlotte-area locations, one in Mooresville and one on Kenilworth Avenue in Dilworth.
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
