I ate my way through Rhino Market’s menu this summer, and it changed my life
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Rhino Market & Deli offers diverse sandwich options across six Charlotte locations.
- Affordable pricing and variety make Rhino a favored lunch spot among newsroom staff.
- Creative chip pairings and standout sides like pasta salad enhance the dining experience.
I grew up in a New Jersey household where my father could tell the difference between homemade and canned red sauce with just one spoonful.
As a teenager, I spent my summers working at a local deli and bagel shop, perfecting sandwich combinations that only some were lucky enough to try. It’s safe to say I learned to appreciate food beyond taste alone.
When I arrived in Charlotte to start my collegiate journey in 2022, I worried the city was lacking a reliable deli. (I was sorely mistaken.)
And after a three-year hunt for a trustworthy sandwich shop, I discovered Rhino Market & Deli during my second week as an intern with Rock Hill’s The Herald, a sister paper to The Charlotte Observer and CharlotteFive.
During my first week on the job, I was dedicated to packing my lunch every day. As I sat in the kitchen with my lackluster lunch, I noticed full-time staff reporters and editors walking by with brown bags from Rhino Market & Deli.
Naturally, I asked whether it was any good. I already had a feeling that I was going to be pleasantly surprised just based on the aromas that sifted through the newsroom during lunchtime.
Seven weeks and $204.04 in sandwiches later, I’ve earned the nickname “Rhino Deli Intern.” I’ve turned the drab lunch process into show and tell over my latest approvals.
New to Charlotte? Visit Rhino Market & Deli
With six locations, the one closest to our Charlotte newsroom sits a convenient six minutes away on Morehead Street. Don’t let the radio, stickers and posters all over the wall and the purple-glittered rhino above the check-out counter overwhelm you.
With a full vegetarian, “’meatatarian,” breakfast and specials menu, there is not much you can’t get at Rhino. If a sandwich doesn’t hit the spot at the moment, it also has a handful of salads and soups of the day. The spinach bacon salad and Greek-style pasta salad are two absolute musts in my book. In fact, the pasta salad from Rhino inspired me to make my own at home.
It’s called Rhino Market and Deli for a reason, not just for fun. Fresh bakery items, quick on-the-go snacks, self-serve coffee and sweet tea, and even a bottle of wine to take home to celebrate the start of the weekend with your roommates are all available at your fingertips. Even on my very first visit — before I had any clue how important this deli would become — I took a quick video on my phone to show my mom in shock of how I’ve never seen something quite like it.
I’d also argue that Rhino is quite affordable compared to a lot of other places in the area, which is why I strongly recommend stopping by if you’re new to Charlotte.
Must-have sandwiches
The toastiness of the bread, quality of sliced turkey or ham and ratio of yellow mustard or mayonnaise to all other ingredients are all critical aspects to having a sandwich for lunch that will fuel you to withstand the next several hours of work.
Despite the hunger pangs you may feel when walking into Rhino, choosing from the menu is tough. Mouths have watered in the newsroom when we’ve scoped it out online before going.
After successfully trying over half of the entire menu, I can provide future customers with one parting gift in my summer bylines, and that is my top five Rhino Market & Deli sandwiches.
1) Rhino Club
2) Chad Legumes, add grilled chicken
3) Sicillian (Hot)
4) Classic Ham
5) Chicken Torta
A sandwich can never be enjoyed without its trusty side, a quality bag of chips. I could’ve chosen to be boring all summer and paired my sandwiches with just classic plain Lays chips and called it a day. But I dared to be different and perfected various chip-to-sandwich pairings. Through trial and error, I’ve perfected my pairings: spicy pimento cheese chips with the Rhino Club, salt & vinegar with the Classic Ham, and jalapeño with the Chicken Torta. You will not be disappointed with these combinations, and after a handful of trips there I noticed I wasn’t the only one grabbing them off the aisle.
In one of the most surprising twists of the summer, Rhino also ended my 21-year aversion to roast beef. The hot roast beef sandwich, melty sharp cheddar and all, left me speechless. Even colleagues paused to celebrate the milestone.
While I took on the roast beef sandwich, I brought a newsroom friend to try the egg salad sandwich to give a proper review. I haven’t mustered the courage to try it yet. Senior audience growth producer and one of my favorite lunchtime guests, Emily Broyles, gave the egg salad at Rhino her stamp of approval. So, I’ve conquered the entire meatatarian list and half of the vegetarian sandwich list.
Not everything is flawless. The Chicken Caesar Wrap could use a bit more crunch, and the Chicken Torta, while popular, was messier than expected and a little overhyped. Quite frankly, there are very few qualms with Rhino Market & Deli. Outside of the minor tweaks I would make to certain sandwiches, the only issue I’ve run into is that the packaging process could be improved to be less messy.
Call it obsession or devotion, but Rhino Market & Deli turned a homesick sandwich snob into a loyal local. Know of a good spot to try next? Email us at charlottefive@charlottefive.com to tell us where to go!
Rhino Market & Deli
Location: Multiple: CLT Airport, South End, SouthPark, NoDa, Uptown, Wesley Heights
Cuisine: American, sandwiches, market, deli
Instagram: @rhinomarketclt, @rhinomarketwest, @rhinomarketsouthpark
Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.
This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
