A cut above the rest: This steak restaurant was voted the best around Charlotte

Well done, Charlotte. You’ve made your prime pick for the best steakhouse in the area.

After a sizzling showdown with thousands upon thousands of votes in our latest Readers’ Choice contest, a winner has been crowned as the ultimate steak spot around the Queen City.

Out of 31 fan-favorite spots, here’s what makes Chophouse 101 and Epic Chophouse so special.

Best steak around Charlotte: Chophouse 101

Location: 101 West Ave, Kannapolis, NC 28081

“We started from the bottom. Now we’re here.” That’s how Carlos Hernandez describes the journey of owning what’s been voted the best steak spot in the Charlotte area.

After working in different restaurants and running a food truck in the Queen City, he brought his culinary skills to the heart of Kannapolis with Chophouse 101.

“We did our searches and there was not a steakhouse in Kannapolis. So I was like, ‘Let’s do it,’” he told CharlotteFive. “My mom told me, ‘You want to try it, go all the way.’”

Located about 30 miles outside of Charlotte, the restaurant is located in the West Avenue district downtown in the space formerly home to Restaurant 46, the Salisbury Post previously reported.

Catering to multiple cravings, there are eight steak options on the menu, including T-Bone, New York strip and ribeye — all local farm-raised, grain-fed meats that are aged for 35 days or more, according to the restaurant’s website, before being “generously seasoned and chargrilled to perfection.”

“We prepare steaks in the morning. We make our cuts and just grill it, flip it and put it on a plate. Our seasoning makes it special. And the sauce — our Chophouse 101 sauce — that’s our secret recipe,” Hernandez explained.

All steak options are cooked to order and include a choice of two sides, along with freshly baked sweet rolls and cinnamon butter.

Along with its savory steaks, the restaurant also offers a taste of seafood, burgers, pasta, cocktails and more.

Finalist for best steak around Charlotte: Epic Chophouse

Location: 104 S Main St, Mooresville, NC 28115

Location: 1365 Broadcloth St #101, Fort Mill, SC 29715

Epic Chophouse has multiple locations across North Carolina but got its start 15 years ago in the Lake Norman area.

The local restaurant made its debut in downtown Mooresville in 2010, in the historical building once home to the famous Rankin Store.

“From men’s pants at the bar to a multi-location sensation, we’re keeping the spirit of the past alive while serving up a dining experience like no other,” its website says.

The team says it’s a great honor to be named one of the best steak restaurants in the Charlotte area.

“The quality of the steaks that we get are specifically cut to our company’s standards. They are aged for a minimum of 35 days with corn-fed cattle. It really lends to the flavor of marbling and overall taste of the steak,” Ken Higgins, director of operations, told CharlotteFive.

Then, “once we take that perfect piece of cut of steak and put it on our Southbend broilers … it gets the perfect sear, perfect char. It’s hard to duplicate,” operating partner Kurt Swearingen explained.

There are 11 steak options on Epic Chophouse’s menu, all cooked to your preference and served with a choice of a baked potato, fried potato wedges, potato cakes and other options.

Best of Charlotte: Coffee Shop | Chicken Wings | Doughnuts | Burgers | Ice Cream | Brewery | Pizza | Sushi | Tacos | Food truck | Bar | Ramen | Brunch | Patio | Barbecue | Pie | Fried Chicken | Fries | Cookies

Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.

This story was originally published July 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription