Food and Drink

What to know this month: 12 culinary experiences + food trends shaping Charlotte in May

Stories by Charlotte Observer journalists, with AI summarization

Charlotte's food scene was buzzing with fresh flavors, new spaces, and creative concepts during the month of May.

International markets like Bosna Market and Super G Mart are drawing local cooks with their global ingredients and food courts, while Turkish coffee shops such as Anatolia Cafe & Cuisine introduce ancient brewing traditions and pastries.

Restaurants like Fontana di Vino are breathing new life into popular spaces with their blend of Italian tradition and innovation, and the beloved Eggroll Company is expanding at Camp North End to meet growing demand for its unique rolls.

Meanwhile, the anticipation for chains like Whataburger and Fat Patty’s shows that Charlotte's appetite for variety and new experiences continues to grow.

Open Kitchen near Wesley Heights is a family restaurant that still feels like the 1950s. By Timothy DePeugh

NO. 1: NEW TO CHARLOTTE? EAT AT THESE 15 RESTAURANTS, THEN YOU CAN CALL YOURSELF A LOCAL

It’s hard deciding what to eat in your new city when also nursing gastronomic whiplash. Here, 15 restaurants that are uniquely 704 or that have stood the test of time. | Published May 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Timothy DePeugh

Food-ordering service Grubhub is entering the Columbus market, with its service available via smartphones and computers. --

NO. 2: CHEAPEST FOOD DELIVERY APP? WE TESTED 5 CHARLOTTE RESTAURANTS. WHAT WE FOUND

Food prices were mostly the same across each of the apps, for nearly every order, one app had the lowest prices. | Published May 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore

King of Fire food truck owner Siler Chapman is opening two brick-and-mortar locations — one in uptown Charlotte and one in Clover, SC.

NO. 3: PORTNOY, WHO? ALL WE CARE ABOUT IS GETTING A PIZZA FOR $4.90 IN CHARLOTTE

King of Fire’s Charlotte 49er owner is flipping the tables on a 4.9 rating by offering us a deal on pizza. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Customers shop and chat inside Agora Greek Market. By Alex Cason

NO. 4: CHARLOTTE’S 20 TOP INTERNATIONAL MARKETS, INCLUDING SOME WITH CAFES AND FOOD COURTS

At Charlotte’s international markets, you can find flavors from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, right in your own backyard. | Published May 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Liz Rothaus Bertrand

Eggroll Company is opening a permanent location this fall at Camp North End.

NO. 5: GROWING FOODIE SPOT JUMPING INTO FORMER BABE & BUTCHER SPACE AT CAMP NORTH END

Long lines for its lineup of sweet-and-savory creations have put this restaurant on the move yet again. | Published May 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Traditional Turkish coffee is bitter, earthy, slightly sweet and sure to wake you up. By Anatolia Cafe and Cuisine

NO. 6: TREND ALERT: TURKISH COFFEE CHARMS CHARLOTTE WITH ANCIENT FLAVORS, RICH CULTURE

The ancient traditions of Turkish coffee culture are brewing up community connections in Charlotte. | Published May 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Samantha Husted

Late night eats will be available at The Pub at Uptown, which will serve food until its 2 a.m. closing time.

NO. 7: A NEW PUB FOR CHARLOTTE SPORTS FANS IS OPENING UPTOWN — AND IT FEELS FAMILIAR

This weekend, you could be eating gouda mac ‘n cheese bites and burgers with bourbon while you catch a game. | Published May 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Whataburger is in the planning and construction phase of several restaurants across North Carolina.

NO. 8: OUR WAIT IS OVER: WE HAVE AN OPENING DATE FOR THE FIRST WHATABURGER NEAR CHARLOTTE

Scoop: Who’s lining up with us in Gastonia for Breakfast Taquitos, Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits and Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burgers? | Published May 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Andres Kaifer and Alex Bridges have partnered with Southwick Architecture and Interiors to create a cozy ambiance and design at Emmy Lou’s that’s shown in this rendering. By Courtesy of Emmy Lou’s

NO. 9: THE SWEET STORY BEHIND THE NAME OF CHARLOTTE’S NEWEST WINE BAR, EMMY LOU’S

This new Dilworth wine bar’s “dip-y” menu will surely have Charlotte talking when it opens later this year. | Published May 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kayleigh Ruller

A TikTok screen grab shows food influencer Keith Lee visiting Crav’n Caribbean in Charlotte, NC.

NO. 10: KEITH LEE MAKES FOOD TOUR STOP IN CHARLOTTE. WHICH LOCAL SPOT DID HE GO TO?

One of the internet’s favorite “food critics” made his way to Charlotte. Here’s which local spot he went to and what he ordered. | Published May 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chyna Blackmon

The “Bite This! Patty” comes with two half-pound patties, four slices of American cheese and four pieces of bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion.

NO. 11: A POPULAR BURGER CHAIN LOOKS TO EXPAND TO CHARLOTTE. HERE’S THE MENU

Shake Shack entered the market. Whataburger is entering the market. Now another out-of-towner is coming in. | Published May 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

Fontana di Vino is now open near DTR SouthPark.

NO. 12: NEW ITALIAN RESTAURANT TAKES OVER WELL-KNOWN RESTAURANT SPACE IN SOUTHPARK

Look for a blend of traditional flavors and modern creativity with pasta, prime steaks, seafood and more. | Published May 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.