20 Awesome Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Charlotte NC
Guy Fieri’s ever-so-famous TV show, Diners Drive-ins and Dives, airing on Food Network, has over 400 episodes and has been playing for 13 years! Guy “AKA” the “Mayor of Flavortown,” takes viewers on a journey to hundreds of different restaurants across the country. We wanted to break down what aired for Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Charlotte NC.
Charlotte, a bit of a foodie town, has been featured on the show well over a dozen times. It seems he can’t stay away from the comforting Southern-style home cooking and the mouthwatering BBQ joints that pop up around every corner in the city.
Carefully selecting restaurants that have been a staple to Charlotte and are notorious for having some of the best dishes, Guy visits restaurants that you surely won’t want to miss.
Today, we are going to dive right into all the spots Guy Fieri Charlotte, NC, has visited to give you a little taste of what they’re cooking! Let’s dive into Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Charlotte NC.
Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Charlotte NC
Is Charlotte a Foodie Town?
What Food Is Charlotte Known For?
In Food & Wine (2022), Charlotte was in America’s top 7 most exciting up-and-coming food towns! People from all over the country have come to Charlotte for its rich diversity of foods from all over the world. Around every corner, you can find restaurants with anything from noodle bars to 5-star gourmet restaurants, exotic foods, and, of course, everyone’s favorite classic Southern home cooking.
Being a foodie town in the South, delicious Southern-style food is a staple around the city. However, Charlotte wouldn’t be anything without its large selection of BBQ restaurants! People native to North Carolina LOVE BBQ. The first BBQ recipe came from North Carolina, and Charlotte reflects that history greatly. You can also find a large variety of seafood joints, burger places, and some of the best peaches you’ll ever taste.
What Restaurants Have Been Featured on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives in Charlotte, NC?
Pinky’s Westside Grill (Season 1, Ep. 2, Season 22, Ep. 10 & Season 32, Ep. 6)
Not only did Pinky’s Westside Grill appear on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives in Charlotte NC, once, but they have appeared on it three times! Pinky’s has two locations, but the original is in Charlotte in a former VW repair shop.
When you drive by, you will see a VW Bug on the roof, painted like an American flag. The owners, Andy and Greg, were also associated with the Penguin Drive-in, which was also featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives but closed; you will read more about this below.
In 2010, Pinky’s Westside Grill was officially opened and also has a second location in Huntersville, NC, which was opened in December of 2013. While visiting Pinky’s, Guy ate the Triple “G” burger, Greg’s pickles, corn dog shrimp, and the Viking corn dog.
Location: 1600 West Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28208
Website
Bar-B-Q King Drive-In (Season 1, Episode 5)
Bar-B-Q King has been a Charlotte favorite since 1953. It’s a family-run drive-in serving some of the best BBQ, amazing fried chicken, and po-boys. Their most popular plates, Guy’s favorite, were the big plate of fried chicken dunked with their homemade BBQ sauce. They also have some of the best onion rings you might ever eat!
Location: 2900 Wilkinson Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Website
South 21 Drive-In (Season 8, Episode 6)
Another family favorite since 1955, serving over 20,000 meals a month, this drive-in has everyone’s hearts with its American-style comfort food. Naturally, because of how loved the restaurant is in the area, Guy Fieri just had to check it out.
He’ll never regret it after he tried their famous Super Boy burger and classic American shakes. But that isn’t all they have. South 21 has an extensive menu filled with all your favorite American classics.
Location: 3101 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205
Website
Dish (Season 8, Episode 8)
Featured on Guy’s “Comfort Food Classics” episode, Dish is located right in Plaza-Midwood in Charlotte. Dish aims to give you the best Southern comfort food with a Mexican & Cajun twist. They have served everything from breakfast to late-night meals since mid-2002.
No one does a fried green tomato better than Dish, and you have got to try their meatloaf or deviled eggs. When Guy visited in 2010, he couldn’t help but dive into their famous chicken & biscuits, which, without a doubt, was a huge hit.
Location: 1220 Thomas Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Website
Landmark Diner (Season 8, Episode 10)
The Landmark Diner is the perfect casual dinner option with Greek-style foods. They are known for having a great breakfast and amazing homemade desserts! For a good price, late-night meals, and friendly service, the Landmark Diner is the right place to go. Go experience it yourself and see why it was featured on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives in Charlotte NC.
Location: 4429 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Website
Cabo Fish Taco (Season 8, Episode 4)
You can find Cabo Fish Taco in multiple locations across Virginia and North Carolina. They serve some amazing freshly caught seafood with a Mexican twist.
The flagship location was opened in Charlotte in an up-and-coming ghetto arts district many years ago, referred to as NoDa, and the community helped them thrive and grow with love for their delicious food! Guy Fieri visited their second location to taste their famous BBQ Mahi.
Crowd favorites include soy salmon and Tavaroo tuna, but there are plenty of other specialty tacos, burritos, and quesadillas that you will surely love. After we moved here, we went on a food tour in the Noda neighborhood, where the original Cabo Fish Tacos is located. I can tell you that the BBQ Mahi tacos are incredible, and I’m not even a huge fish fan.
Two Locations: 11611 N Community House Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277 & 3201 North Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Website
Jakes Good Eats (Season 9, Episode 6)
From pit-smoked BBQ to classic hot dogs and hamburgers to crawfish and fresh-caught shrimp, Jakes Good Eats has an exciting variety of American foods. Jakes Good Eats is a great dinner option for the family; it has great service and excellent food.
Run by two brothers in a formally used gas station, Jakes gives visitors a unique atmosphere with Western-themed decor; it makes for a memorable dining experience! Be sure to try their fried green tomatoes and the prime rib special.
Location: 12721 Albemarle Rd, Charlotte, NC 28227
Website
Pit Road Bar and Grill (Season 22, Episode 10)
Opened in 2000 as an indoor go-karting center, the owners decided three years later to complete the experience with a full restaurant! Go-karting and food?!? It doesn’t get any better!
Pit Road Bar and Grill has everything from burgers to wings, pizzas, BBQ sandwiches, and their famous Moonpie sliders. They also have 20 beers on a rotating tap and a wide selection of liquors and wines.
Pit’s a super fun place to bring the family, go for a race, and afterward sit down and have a delicious dinner.
Location: 2330 Tipton Dr, Charlotte, NC 28206
Website
The Tin Kitchen (Season 22, Episode 10)
Food trucks have begun blazing their way through the restaurant industry, and The Tin Kitchen grasped the opportunity in 2010. The Tin Kitchen is proudly one of Charlotte’s first original food trucks, which has won many culinary awards and was most recently voted Charlotte’s Best Caterer.
Their menu has a large variety of tacos, sliders, and quesadillas that are ever-changing and will always keep you coming back. I’ve had the pleasure of eating both at their food truck and the catering.
I can tell you that you cannot go wrong with your choices! Tin Kitchen is one of my favorite food trucks, and I’m glad they made the show for Diners Drive-Ins and Dives in Charlotte NC.
Location: Check online for their full weekly schedule, where they will be parked, and how to hire them for events!
Website
300 East Charlotte (Season 22, Episode 11)
For 35 years, 300 East Charlotte has been feeding the community Southern-style American foods. They are known for having a great rotating menu, an amazing brunch, and amazing homemade desserts.
Guy Fieri’s favorite is the staple piece, the butterscotch ice cream sandwich, saying, “It’s one of the best desserts I’ve ever had on Triple-D.”
Location: 300 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Website
Reservations can be made ahead of time (but are not required) online or on the phone. They can accommodate parties of up to 6.
Intermezzo Pizzeria and Cafe (Season 22, Episode 13)
Intermezzo is a family-run, relaxed European-style cafe and pizzeria. They serve delicious Serbian and Italian-style dishes, homemade dough and mozzarella, schnitzel, and their signature Sarma and Piroska (tried by Guy!)
If you are looking to try something a little different for dinner with the family, this is the most delicious place to dine.
Location: 1427 E 10th St, Charlotte, NC 28204
Website
Reservations are not required but can be made online. They also can host parties and cater events.
Mert’s Heart and Soul (Season 23, Episode 1)
Mert’s Heart and Soul is a family-run restaurant dishing out some of the best and most well-renowned low-country cooking. The restaurant is run by James Bazzelle, an Athens native, and his wife and has been a staple in the community since 1998.
They have all your favorite Southern soul food that will warm your heart and fill your tummy. Guy Fieri tried the famous Soul Roll, saying, “This is a soul-food missile pop!” Be sure to try their shrimp and grits, Carolina Chopped BBQ, and shrimp creole and catfish!
Location: 214 N College St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Website
JJ’s Red Hots (Season 26, Episode 4)
For some of the best classic hot dogs and sausages with a large array of toppings, you’ll want to visit JJ’s Red Hots. Giving off a retro-style 50s theme, the atmosphere is homey and relaxed.
The owners will tell you that they are not a restaurant but rather just a hot dog joint that they believe serves the best hot dogs on the planet. Making sure everyone served has the best quality food and is 100% happy with everything they eat is extremely important to old-school owners.
Location: 1415 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Website
Papi Queso Food Truck (Season 26, Episode 4)
Is there anything better than comfort food on the go? Well, Papi Queso’s Food Truck is here to serve your dreams! Shelley and Brian are the masterminds behind the perfect concept: grilled cheese and tomato soup to go.
They got the idea in 2010, then finalized and perfected the menu by 2012. And they aren’t just serving regular grilled cheeses; these are the most decadent, mouth-watering, and fully stuffed grilled cheeses you’ll ever eat.
Classically, you can order tomato soup to go with the sandwich, but they also have amazing tots and fries. Guy himself raved about the Pig Man grilled cheese, a Carolina pulled pork with mac and cheese, and caramelized onions that are stuffed between perfectly melted cheddar cheese.
Location: 1115 N Brevard St., Suite #2, Charlotte, NC 28206
Website
Bang Bang Burgers (Season 26, Episode 5)
Bang Bang Burgers is much different from your average burger joint. Carefully selecting the finest meats and working with local farms and bakeries, everything you will taste is made from only the highest quality and best ingredients. Bang Bang Burgers has a mission to create the best burger in Charlotte in one of their two locations.
The next time you’re in town, definitely stop in to try their Sirachaha burger or a crowd favorite, the Pimento burger. I have tried the Hangover burger at Bang Bang Burgers and it was quite the experience! It has cheddar cheese, potato bacon hash, and fried egg, and is served with their Bang sauce! I highly recommend it!
Two Locations: 235 West Tremont Ave Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28203 & 2001 E 7th St D, Charlotte, NC 28204
Website
The Improper Pig (Season 26, Episode 5)
Looking for the best BBQ? You will find it at The Improper Pig! In 2014, two culinary lovers came together in the exploration of all the best BBQ flavors from all over the world. The Improper Pig became a showcase of all their favorite BBQ flavors.
From your classic Southern-style BBQ to BBQs with an Asian twist, you can find it all at The Improper Pig! Diving into the Chow Bao sliders, Guy Fieri declares, “There is nothing I do not love about this!”. Be sure to grab some Southern hush puppies, St. Louis-style ribs, and an Improper charcuterie board the next time you’re around.
Location: 9855 Sandy Rock Pl, Charlotte, NC 28211
Website
Heist Brewery (Season 26, Episode 8)
Heist Brewery opened in Charlotte in 2013 as Charlottes’ first and only craft brewhouse at that time. They started off small, but now they are now a 30-barrel production facility!
From sours to stouts to hazy’s and more, this is a brew lover’s dream! However, beer isn’t the only thing they’re serving. Wood-fired flatbreads, dips, wraps, and sandwiches have become a staple in their menu.
The pub/restaurant has become a very popular and hip spot to drink and dine over the years, and for good reason! “That’s legit,” Guy said as he dove into a duck confit flatbread. They often host private events, and they also host their popular Night and Day Festival, showcasing beers from around the community.
Heist Brewery was one of our first experiences in Charlotte after we moved here; we went on a local food tour with a stop here. The flatbread was my favorite and I would definitely add it to your list of places to stop on our list for Diners Drive-Ins and Dives in Charlotte NC.
Location: 2909 N Davidson St, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28205
Website
Salud Beer Shop (Season 27, Episode 7)
Starting out as a simple local bottle shop, Salud’s Beer Shop has grown into a whole taphouse with 16 beers on tap and a delicious variety of food.
At Salud’s, you can get wood-fired pizzas, wings, sandwiches, and their specialty, house-made pastries. Guy Fieri visited in 2017 to test out the craft beers and their “wild waffle sandwiches,” a particular stand out on the menu.
He couldn’t leave without trying their dessert. In the episode, he got two Belgian-style waffles that are sandwiched together with graham cracker crumbs, chocolate sauce, and a massive homemade marshmallow that is carmelized and torched for serving. There has never been a better twist on a s’more before!
Location: 3306 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Website
Krazy Fish (Season 22, Episode 11)
Krazy Fish was featured on the show in 2015. Since this time, the restaurant has been closed and completely remodeled into a whole new restaurant. Karzy Fish was an Asian fusion-style Tiki bar and seafood restaurant.
Just this year, in 2022, the owner closed Krazy Fish to create a new restaurant called Morningside Pub. We still wanted to include it on our list for Diners Drive-Ins and Dives for Charlotte NC, even though it’s not the same.
Location: 2501 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Website
The Penguin (Season 1, Episode 3)
The Penguin has been a well-loved restaurant in Charlotte since the mid-1950s. Guy Fieri visited the restaurant early on in the show; it is one of the first restaurants he toured.
Originally, The Penguin was run solely by one man, Jim Ballentine, until a battle with Alzheimer’s led his family to start running the business.
The restaurant has been through a lot over the years, and although the original owners are no longer with us, the restaurant continues to flourish with brunch, lunch, and dinner meals.
It has always been a regular old burger joint, and now it’s just bigger and better. With a great dog-friendly outside patio, $5 craft beers, and their famous fried pickles, The Penguin is still going strong!
Location: 1531 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Website
Final Thoughts
Over many, many years, Guy Fieri keeps finding himself in the beloved North Carolina town of Charlotte. With new restaurants popping up every day and some classic restaurants that will never get old, Charlotte will always be a trustworthy place to get some amazing and delicious meals!
Next time you’re hungry in the Charlotte area, try any one of these restaurants out! You won’t be disappointed by all the options for Diners Drive-Ins and Dives Charlotte NC.