4 Charlotte-area meals I got for $25 or less — including a viral one-pound mozzarella stick

Look, I get it. You want to eat well, but you also want to pay rent. You want the spot that’s blowing up on TikTok, but you don’t want to drop $60 on a single dinner for one. Same.

That’s why I’ve been on a mission: find the best meals around Charlotte for about $25 — before tax and tip — and tell you exactly what showed up on my plate, how it tasted, and whether it’s worth your hard-earned money. I’m talking Concord, Pineville, NoDa, and Plaza Midwood-area spots, all serving food that punches way above its price point.

So here’s the full rundown — four of the restaurants I visited, four $25-ish meals, including one extremely large mozzarella stick that broke me a little.

The viral one: Basilico Italiano’s Mega Mozzarella

Of all the meals in this lineup, this is the one that probably brought you here. And honestly? Fair. Because the Mega Mozzarella at Basilico Italiano is the kind of dish that was basically designed to take over your feed.

At Basilico Italiano, a neighborhood Italian spot just outside Charlotte in Concord, the dish drawing the most attention lately isn’t pasta or pizza. It’s an appetizer that has taken on a life of its own online: the Mega Mozzarella, a one-pound mozzarella stick served with marinara sauce.

Let that sink in. One pound. Of mozzarella stick. Singular.

Here’s everything I got for $25:

For $25, you’re walking away with:

• The Mega Mozzarella (one full pound of mozzarella stick with marinara)
• A salad
• Free garlic knots

That’s a lot of food. Too much food, actually. Here’s how it all went down.

Location: 10020 Edison Square Dr NW, Concord, NC 28027 Cuisine: Italian Instagram: @basilicoitaliano

The New York classic: Clark’s Snack Bar’s chopped cheese

If the Mega Mozzarella is for the person who wants content and a stomachache, the chopped cheese at Clark’s Snack Bar is for the person who just wants a legitimately perfect sandwich for cheap.

I’ve always had a soft spot for restaurants that don’t take themselves too seriously, and Clark’s Snack Bar makes it clear right away that it’s one of those places.

Before I stepped inside, I noticed the sign near the entrance: “grab a wiener and shake.” It was a tidy summary of the menu — hot dogs and milkshakes — with a wink that suggested the place knew exactly what it was doing.

Here’s everything I got for $25:

I tried the chopped cheese first. As someone from the South, I’ve grown up on chili dogs and fried bologna sandwiches, so I wasn’t sure how this New York staple would stack up.

One bite in, I got it. The ground beef was chopped fine on the grill and folded together with sweet, softened onions and perfectly melted American cheese, all tucked into a soft roll with crisp lettuce and tomato for balance. It was rich, savory and a little messy in the best way — the kind of sandwich that demands both hands and a stack of napkins.

And the fries were more than just a sidekick. Golden and crisp on the outside with fluffy, steaming centers, they had the kind of hearty bite that holds up to a sandwich like that. Each fry had a satisfying crunch that gave way to soft potato, lightly salted and sturdy enough for ketchup — or to scoop up whatever chopped beef and melted cheese might have slipped away. On their own, they’d be solid. Paired with the sandwich, they felt essential.

Check out my full experience here, and shoutout to Bridget and DJ from TikTok for the suggestion!

Location: 3001 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 Cuisine: American Instagram: @clarkssnackbar_clt

The comfort food play: Flame: Asian Bistro & Bar

Sometimes you don’t need the viral moment. Sometimes you just want orange chicken that actually tastes like oranges. Flame: Asian Bistro & Bar in Pineville, which opened in June, is that spot.

Flame sits just a short drive from the North Carolina–South Carolina state line, the same road the Buddhist monks walking for peace passed through a couple of months ago on their way to Washington, D.C.

They’ve been on my mind more than I expected.

There’s something about the patience of it all — step after step, mile after mile — that stuck with me as I pulled into the parking lot.

I found myself wondering if they would ever stop somewhere like this — if they’d enjoy a space like Flame, with soft lighting, clean lines and a bright white bar that feels both cozy and modern.

Maybe it was the weather, or maybe it was just one of those days when comfort food feels like a small reward, but I was in the mood for something familiar: a classic Chinese dish, the kind you grow up ordering on takeout nights. Sweet, savory, warm and dependable. Food that doesn’t try to impress you, just makes you feel good.

The monks don’t get that kind of choice. They take whatever the road gives them, carrying little more than their robes and their purpose. No menus. No cravings. No debating between orange chicken or lo mein. Just walking.

And yet, standing there with a menu in my hands, I felt a small connection — both of us, in our own ways, trying to stay present, whether that means crossing state lines on foot or sitting down with a fork, ready for something warm and familiar.

Here’s everything I got for $25:

The golden crab wontons came out hot and perfectly crisp, turning a familiar starter into something truly satisfying. Each bite had a creamy, savory center and a light crunch that never felt greasy. It was comfort food done right — the kind of dish that reminds you why it became a classic in the first place.

The orange chicken stood out because it actually tasted like oranges. The sauce was bright and citrusy, clinging to tender pieces of chicken with just the right balance of sweet and tangy. Instead of being overly sugary, the orange flavor really came through, making it feel like the best version of a dish everyone already loves.

It felt like the kind of simple, honest meal the monks might appreciate too: something warm and grounding after a long day of putting one foot in front of the other.

Read about my full experience here.

Location: 10223 Mcintyre Ridge Rd, Pineville, NC 28134 Cuisine: Asian Instagram: @flameclt

The best pizza in Charlotte: Salud Cerveceria (NoDa)

I saved this one for last because honestly, it might be the best $25 I’ve spent in this entire series. And I don’t say that lightly.

How do I know the pizza at Salud Cerveceria is the best in Charlotte? I’m about to order it for the second time in as many days.

If this piece feels rushed at the start, blame my editor: the restaurant’s atmosphere comes first.

Here’s everything I got for roughly $25:

Those cookies sounded promising, and they were. But I need you to forget them. Focus on the pizza.

“Sad” doesn’t come close to describing how I felt when it was gone. Perhaps “melancholy,” “despondent,” or even “woebegone” captures it better.

This will sound cliche and maybe a little dramatic, but have you ever had a dish so good it changed your perspective on life? I’m not just talking about something that’s “good” — I mean a dish that lingers in your mind long after the last bite, reshaping your sense of flavor, memory and maybe even happiness itself. I’m pretty sure I skipped back to my car after I finished that pizza.

The Latin Lingo pizza

The chefs at Salud somehow took the familiar flavors of a street taco, translated them to a pizza, and made them taste even better. The spicy crema base balanced the smoky chicken, roasted corn, and punchy jalapeños perfectly, while the lime added a sharp, welcome spark.

Find the full story here, and you can thank me later.

Location: 3306 N. Davidson St., Charlotte, NC 28205 Cuisine: Pizza, sandwiches, wings and desserts Instagram: @saludcerveceria

Final Thoughts

Four restaurants. Four neighborhoods. Four meals at $25 or under. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend that doesn’t involve spending half your paycheck, this is your list.

The Mega Mozzarella at Basilico is the one you go to for the content — bring your phone, bring your appetite, and maybe bring a friend because groups of people have tried and failed to finish it. The chopped cheese at Clark’s Snack Bar is the sleeper hit — a New York classic done right in Charlotte, with fries that hold their own and enough food that you’re walking out with leftovers. Flame in Pineville is for the nights when you just want something warm and familiar without overthinking it. And Salud in NoDa? That Latin Lingo pizza is the kind of thing you’ll be thinking about days later.

Every single one of these spots delivered well beyond what the price tag promised. The portions were generous, the quality was there, and the vibes at each place made the meals feel like more than just a transaction. A combo of cheap meals and generous portions are rare — but these four spots prove they exist across Charlotte, Concord, and Pineville.

Whether you’re planning a weekend food crawl, looking for your next Instagram spot, or just need a solid recommendation for tonight, save this list. Screenshot the addresses. Follow the Instagrams. And if you’ve got a suggestion for the next $25 meal worth trying, you can email emoore@charlotteobserver.com.

Now go eat something great without breaking the bank.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.