Food and Drink

New Charlotte-area restaurant blends Latin American cuisines. What to know

A new Charlotte-area eatery blends Mexican, Honduran and Columbian cuisines.

El Tres Platos Restaurant and Grill opened Thursday, April 9, at 1700 S. York Road in Gastonia. The fusion concept brings together three Latin American cultures “to share authentic food, tradition and community,” its website says.

The restaurant already had a 4.6-star rating on Google with 47 customer reviews and counting as of Tuesday, April 14.

According to a recent Instagram post, the vision for Tres Platos was inspired by the owners’ grandmother.

A long, black oval dish of crispy pork belly chunks topped with thin slices of red onion, cilantro, and cucumber sits on a wooden table. In the background, a small black bowl holds fried yuca fries, accompanied by a small white ramekin of green salsa or guacamole. The image is a social media post from El Tres Platos, presented with a bright, clean aesthetic.
At El Tres Platos Restaurant in Gastonia, you’ll find a blend of Mexican, Colombian and Honduran cuisines. Screengrab from El Tres Platos’s Facebook page
Read Next

“Abuela taught us to welcome everyone and serve people from the heart,” the caption on a video showing a colorful mural honoring the family matriarch said. “That’s exactly what you’ll experience here.”

Expect classics like arroz con pollo, enchiladas and assorted tacos alongside premium cuts of steak and seafood-forward dishes.

Soups and appetizers are also on the menu, as are shareables like the Bandeja Familiar Tres Platos — a family-style meal featuring a mix of grilled beef, chicken, chorizo and shrimp. The platter comes with sides of arepas, sweet plantains, Colombian potatoes and casamiento.

Breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily. Customers can pick from options like arepa con huevos (arepas with eggs), Mexican Toast Ranchero and pancakes topped with fresh mango, butter and whipped cream.

CharlotteFive reached out to El Tres Platos for more information Tuesday, April 14, and was awaiting a response.

A low-angle, outdoor shot shows a white stone monument sign for “El Tres Platos Restaurant & Grill” situated on a grassy roadside. The sign features red lettering and a local phone number below a colorful logo. In the background, a parking lot and several commercial buildings are visible under a clear sky.
El Tres Platos, a Latin fusion restaurant, is now open in Gastonia, NC. Google Street View image from March 2026 ©2026 Google

El Tres Platos Restaurant & Grill

Location: 1700 S York Rd, Gastonia, NC 28052

Menu

Cuisine: Latin fusion

Hours: Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Instagram: @eltresplatosrestaurant

Read Next
Read Next

This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 12:14 PM.

Related Stories from Charlotte Observer
Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER