How a red pot became the symbol of a new Southern-inspired uptown restaurant
A red pot on the stove once meant chef Erick Crawford’s family was about to eat well. Now, it’s the inspiration behind one of Charlotte’s newest Southern dining concepts.
Chop Chop Red Pot, the award-winning food truck turned full-service restaurant inside The Market at 7th Street, opened last month, CharlotteFive reported, and is serving up comfort food rooted in family tradition.
I recently attended a tasting at the restaurant, where Crawford showcased dishes inspired by the Southern meals he grew up eating in the Tar Heel State.
From the first few bites, it was clear the restaurant is aiming to deliver more than just a meal – it wants diners to feel like they’ve been invited to the family table.
The story behind Chop Chop Red Pot
Chef Erick Crawford founded Chop Chop Red Pot as an extension of the family traditions he grew up with in North Carolina, where his grandmother, Mary, used to wake him at 5 a.m. some mornings to make fresh buttermilk biscuits.
The restaurant’s name comes from the red pot his father used while cooking for family gatherings – a dish that signaled to relatives and friends that a memorable meal was on the way.
After his father’s death, Crawford carried that tradition into what would eventually become Chop Chop Red Pot.
The concept blends Southern comfort food with a chef-driven approach focused on local ingredients, bold flavors and warm hospitality. According to Crawford, every dish is designed to feel both elevated and approachable.
Chop Chop Red Pot menu
The menu at Chop Chop Red Pot features dishes that blend barbecue flavors, rich sauces and homestyle staples.
Entrées include options like a short rib grilled cheese with pimento cheese and barbecue sauce, shrimp and grits served over fried polenta cakes with Cajun cream sauce, and smoked pork belly paired with collard greens. Sandwiches, burgers and rotating Southern-inspired specials round out the menu.
Sides continue the comfort-food theme, with mac and cheese bites, fried Brussels sprouts, collard greens and seasoned potato wedges all making appearances.
How’s the food?
I sampled a few of the restaurant’s signature dishes during a tasting on Tuesday evening. It was media night, so the dishes were complimentary.
Even in smaller portions, the dishes were filling.
The potato wedges were simple but addictive. They were crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and came drenched in both barbecue aioli and hot sauce aioli. The sauces gave them just enough heat and sweetness without overpowering the potatoes themselves.
The pork was crispy on the outside while still tender inside, and the barbecue sauce it was coated in paired perfectly with the whiskey-braised collards underneath, which added a slightly toasty flavor.
But the brisket was the standout dish. It was tender and slow-cooked, with a smoky flavor that soaked into every bite. The meat had just the right amount of seasoning, giving it a deep, savory taste that made it the most memorable part of the meal.
Chop Chop Red Pot
Location: Inside The Market at 7th Street, 224 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Cuisine: Southern
Instagram: @chopchopredpot
