Worth the Hype? I tried Uncle’s new spot and yes, I licked the container.
I’ve said this before: I am not a fan of lines. I’m not standing in a line that feels like forever for anything.
I’m lying. I will — but I don’t like it.
So when I found out Hello Uncle had opened its first brick-and-mortar as Uncle’s at Burial Beer Co. in Plaza Midwood, I was excited. Not only for them, but for myself, because it meant I could go anytime.
I’m no stranger to Uncle’s. I’ve been to the pop-ups at Not Just Coffee for Wine Nite and Bar à Vins, and I always made sure to get there early. There’s nothing worse than showing up to a pop-up just to hear they’re sold out.
That being said, I had to check out its new home.
Where to find Uncle’s
Uncle’s operates separately from Hello Uncle, which will still be hosting pop-ups around the city.
Owner Michael Le has built a strong following in Charlotte, and that support is what pushed the concept into a permanent space.
“Between NoDa and Plaza pop-ups, I really wanted a space where I could be,” Le said.
That opportunity came through Alissa Gavin, general manager of Burial Beer Co., who connected with Le on bringing Uncle’s into the space.
What to eat at Uncle’s
I tried the charred cabbage with fish sauce, Taiwanese cabbage and chili, along with the khao man gai — a Thai-style chicken and rice dish served with cucumber, cilantro and Uncle’ssignature sauce.
The charred cabbage is one of those dishes that sounds simple but isn’t. It comes out tender with just enough bite, coated in a savory, slightly funky fish sauce that makes you wish you had more with every bite. My first reaction? An immediate, audible “mmm.”
Then there’s the khao man gai — comforting in the way a good chicken and rice dish should be. The chicken is tender, the rice is rich and flavorful on its own, and once you add the sauce, everything just clicks.
All together, I spent $29 — not bad considering the portion sizes. It’s easily enough to share or save for later. I had leftovers the next day and, spoiler: It’s just as good on day two.
After my visit, I asked Le what he recommends for first-time visitors.
His answer: the khao man gai tod (Thai fried chicken).
“It’s one of those simple dishes that catches people off guard. It’s this fried chicken that is super crunchy on the outside and still juicy on the inside,” he said. “What really sells it is the sauce. Got to get one of these every time you stop by.”
He’s not lying about the sauce. Ask for extra — it’s that good. Tangy, fermented and savory, it cuts through the richness of the chicken and rice perfectly. I found myself scraping the sides of the container trying to get every last bit.
A culture of Southeast Asian food
Le, who grew up in Philadelphia, said he was inspired by the variety of Southeast Asian comfort food he experienced there — something he felt was missing in Charlotte.
“I wanted to create this space of comfort food classics that I really enjoyed in my time traveling and childhood dishes,” he said. “Charlotte definitely needed more diversity outside of pho and pad Thai. I really wanted to showcase these amazing dishes and a variety in the food not commonly known.”
And he’s right. Charlotte’s food scene is growing, but there’s still room for more — more stories, more flavors, more spots like this.
As for what’s next, Le said he’s planning a few upgrades to the space. But one thing he’s especially excited about is introducing Sunday pop-up rotations.
“It’s nice being able to provide a space for other pop-ups to operate, just like how I started off. It’s that full circle moment and really trying to build community, not just for me, but the homies,” Le said.
Consider this homie full, happy and glad this is one line I won’t have to wait in anymore.
So yeah, absolutely worth the hype. No doubt about it.
Uncle’s
Location: 1214 Thomas Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 5-9 p.m.
Instagram: @uncles_clt
