I tried the only hip-hop-themed biscuits in Charlotte. Here’s what I got for $25
It’s been two years since Jimmy Pearls closed its storefront, marking the end of a run that helped define a new wave of seafood-driven dining in Charlotte. But that wasn’t the end of the partnership behind it.
Chef Oscar Johnson said the decision to step away came down to shifting priorities, not conflict. He and his business partner, Daryl Cooper, who built the restaurant over more than a decade of friendship and were recognized as James Beard Award semifinalists for it, both found themselves balancing growing families with the demands of the industry.
“There’s always this idea that when something ends, it’s negative,” Johnson said. “But this was a peaceful transition.”
Even as Jimmy Pearls winds down the pop-ups it returned to after leaving the Market at 7th Street, Johnson isn’t slowing down. He’s turning his focus to Biscuit Jam, a breakfast-leaning pop-up centered on scratch-made biscuits — a concept he says predates Jimmy Pearls but was put on hold to focus on the restaurant.
Now, it’s become his main creative outlet.
Johnson described himself as an “ultra creator,” someone who’s always working on the next idea. With Biscuit Jam, that currently means early mornings, small-batch baking and a growing following for his biscuit sandwiches, alongside wholesale orders and pop-ups around the city.
“I just enjoy the process,” he said. “Waking up early, cooking, feeding people, that’s always going to be the thing.”
For him, Biscuit Jam is less about replacing what came before and more about evolving it — a continuation of the same goal that drove Jimmy Pearls: creating food people remember.
“I’d love for someone to remember me for one of my biscuits,” he said.
Here’s what you need to know about Biscuit Jam.
What’s on the menu at Biscuit Jam?
The menu leans into playful hip-hop and R&B references, with pun-filled names that nod to artists and songs from the ’90s and early 2000s, like the “Notorious B.E.C.” and “Cheazy-E.”
The menu ranges from simple builds to heartier options like fried chicken and classic breakfast combos, like sausage or bacon with egg and cheese, along with a customizable “jam of the day.” Dishes fall between $3 and $12.
Biscuit Jam operates as a pop-up, with locations and dates announced on social media. Customers can follow the project’s Instagram for updates on upcoming events and where to find it next.
Here’s everything I got for $25 (including tax and tip):
- Notorious B.E.C ($11): Goodnight’s dry cured bacon with egg and cheddar cheese
- Project Chick ($12): Fried berbere chicken thigh with sweet & hot sauce
Note: The shop had a buy-one-get-one half-off special, so I got the Notorious B.E.C. for $5.50.
I meant to eat one biscuit and save the other for later, but that plan fell apart almost immediately. Anyone who tries them will understand why.
The Project Chick came first. Inside the wrapper was a thick piece of fried chicken, hot and tender, tucked between two biscuits so buttery you could smell them before taking a bite.
At some point, without thinking much about it, I added the jam of the day — strawberry cardamom — and took another bite. It only made things better.
I sat on the patio at HopFly Brewing, where Biscuit Jam was set up, finishing what was left when a man walked by and asked, “Is the biscuit guy still in there?”
I told him yes, not realizing until later that I had crumbs caught in my mustache.
Then I moved on to the Notorious B.E.C. The bacon was smoky and rich, the egg soft, the cheese melted just enough. It was balanced and filling without being too much.
The biscuit itself felt familiar. Later, Johnson told me he modeled it after the ones he grew up eating at Hardee’s.
Sometimes the simplest things hit the hardest.
Biscuit Jam
Location: Varies
Cuisine: Breakfast biscuits
Instagram: @biscuit_jamclt
This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM.
