Food and Drink

Top 14 food stories you missed this week in Charlotte: Catch up here

Stories by Charlotte Observer journalists, with AI summarization

This week's top food stories in Charlotte cover a range of culinary experiences. They reveal the rich diversity and growth of the city's dining scene, highlighting affordable local eats, grand culinary announcements, and nostalgia for past dining trends.

Charlotte offers delicious meals under $10 with affordable options like Brooks' Sandwich House and Harriet’s Hamburgers.

Meanwhile, the 2016 food trend touches on which iconic Charlotte spots have remained resilient over time.

The James Beard Awards continue to spotlight Charlotte with Robin Anthony from Omakase Experience by Prime Fish as a standout semifinalist.

Michelin also recognizes North Carolina, calling attention to Asheville's evolving food scene as a top destination for food lovers.

New restaurants like Honey-Pies BBQ will soon bring Texas-style smoked meats to the region, while Dōzo Japanese-American Kitchen prepares to open its doors in a new Dilworth location.

These stories paint a vivid picture of Charlotte's dynamic and ever-evolving culinary landscape.

Masala Bitez Indian Kitchen officially opened in Mooresville, offering a daily lunch buffet of Indian favorites, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. By Joe Marusak

NO. 1: NEW LAKE NORMAN RESTAURANT OFFERS MODERN INDIAN CUISINE, ‘STREET-STYLE BITES’

A new Indian restaurant has joined the metro Charlotte food scene. | Published January 16, 2026 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney, Joe Marusak

A classic bánh mì (#1 Thịt Nguội) at Le’s Sandwiches & Cafe. By JP Grice

NO. 2: 10 RELIABLY DELICIOUS MEALS IN CHARLOTTE THAT ONLY COST $10 OR LESS

Eating out is often the first thing to go when budget-cutting, but it isn’t always such a splurge in Charlotte. | Published January 20, 2026 | Read Full Story by Sunny Hubler

The orange chicken at Flame was very orange-forward. By Evan Moore

NO. 3: I TRIED A NEW RESTAURANT ALONG THE MONKS’ PATH. HERE’S WHAT I GOT FOR $25

Flame: | Published January 20, 2026 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore

Bubba’s Barbecue has closed and sold. Now, a new Texas-style barbecue restaurant is on the way. By Google Street View image/October 2022

NO. 4: HAVEN FOR EASTERN NC BARBECUE IN CHARLOTTE WILL NOW SEE TEXAS-STYLE SMOKED MEATS

Bubba’s Barbecue — a longtime fixture in North Charlotte — has closed, and the property has been sold. | Published January 20, 2026 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Luminosa is located at The Flat Iron Hotel in Asheville, NC.

NO. 5: THIS NC VACATION SPOT MADE MICHELIN’S LIST OF WHERE FOOD LOVERS SHOULD GO IN ‘26

This year, America’s 250th birthday, World Cup matches, Route 66 celebrations and high-altitude locations are high on the list of attractions for avid travelers — and a North Carolina tourism hotspot ranks right up there with them. | Published January 22, 2026 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

The Steakburger at Reid’s Fine Foods is made with house-ground filet, sirloin and ribeye. By JULEEHO Media/Courtesy of Reid's Fine Foods

NO. 6: HERE’S WHERE YOU GET YOUR FAVORITE BURGERS (BOTH BOUGIE AND BUDGET ORDERS).

Where are the Queen City’s most beloved fancy and no-frills hamburger joints? | Published January 21, 2026 | Read Full Story by Shindy Chen

Plot Twist, a woman-owned coffee and cocktail bar, is opening soon in Plaza Midwood.

NO. 7: AN ALL-DAY COFFEE + COCKTAIL BAR IS COMING SOON TO PLAZA MIDWOOD. WHAT TO KNOW

Grab your morning coffee or enjoy a drink with friends at a new bar concept coming soon to Charlotte. | Published January 22, 2026 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney

Snow in uptown Charlotte on Jan. 21, 2025. By Alex Cason

NO. 8: CHARLOTTE WINTER WEATHER: RESTAURANT AND BUSINESS CLOSINGS + EVENT UPDATES

This story is developing and will be updated. | Published January 22, 2026 | Read Full Story by Catherine Muccigrosso, Heidi Finley, Melissa Oyler

Chef Robin Anthony of Omakase: An Experience by Prime Fish has been named a James Beard Award semifinalist as one of the best chefs in the Southeast. By Alex Cason

NO. 9: YET AGAIN, THE JAMES BEARD AWARDS HAVE A CHARLOTTE CHEF IN ITS SIGHTS

A Charlotte chef has been named a James Beard Award semifinalist as one of the best chefs in the Southeast. | Published January 21, 2026 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Saif Rahman is the chef at Peregrine in Raleigh, which is a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant. By Forrest Mason

NO. 10: ALL THE CHEFS AND RESTAURANTS IN THE CAROLINAS UP FOR A 2026 JAMES BEARD AWARD

Chefs and restaurants across the Carolinas have been honored as 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalists, with strong showings in the Asheville area and Charleston, along with nods for chefs in Charlotte, Cary and Raleigh. | Published January 21, 2026 | Read Full Story by Heidi Finley

Common Market’s original South End location, shown above, was open from 2009-2016. It closed to make room for development and reopened in South End on Tremont Avenue in 2018. By CharlotteFive archives

NO. 11: THE 2016 TREND, BUT FOR CHARLOTTE RESTAURANTS: WHICH ICONIC SPOTS ARE STILL STANDING?

While the entirety of the internet is currently deep in a “2026 is the new 2016” nostalgia spiral, I’m over here wondering how in the heck a whole decade has passed since then. | Published January 22, 2026 | Read Full Story by Melissa Oyler

A neighborhood dive bar will join more than a dozen retailers at the Joinery in Charlotte’s Optimist Park neighborhood. By Kelsey Mard Photography

NO. 12: NEIGHBORHOOD DIVE BAR TO OPEN THIRD LOCATION IN OPTIMIST PARK. WHAT TO KNOW

Charlotte’s favorite dive bar is expanding — again. | Published January 22, 2026 | Read Full Story by Tanasia Kenney

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is shown here at its recent opening in Columbus, Georgia. A new Rock Hill restaurant will open in February. By Mike Haskey

NO. 13: FREE CHICKEN FOR A YEAR? RAISING CANE’S PREPS FOR ITS NEW ROCK HILL RESTAURANT

Raising Cane’s will open next month in Rock Hill, marking the chicken finger company’s first location in the Charlotte region. | Published January 22, 2026 | Read Full Story by John Marks

Dozo is a Japanese-American counter-style eatery in Charlotte. By Danny Charland

NO. 14: DōZO JAPANESE-AMERICAN KITCHEN OPENS SOON IN A NEW DILWORTH LOCATION. HERE’S WHEN

Dōzo Japanese-American Kitchen, the ultra-popular modern take on a Japanese izakaya that once occupied a small counter at City Kitch in Wesley Heights, will return on Jan. | Published January 22, 2026 | Read Full Story by Timothy DePeugh

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.