Yahoo Movies Dive into Hispanic culture at these Latin-owned Charlotte restaurants
With a growing population of Hispanic and Latino Charlotteans throughout the Queen City, it only makes sense that businesses owned by members of this vibrant and burgeoning community continue to grow, too.
For years, some neighborhoods around Charlotte have maintained a culturally rich and diverse offering of establishments and services to residents. But as Charlotte develops at a rapid pace, those businesses are beginning to spread beyond the confines of quiet corners around the Queen City and into more bustling neighborhoods, like South End and NoDa.
Check out some of these Hispanic and Latin-owned restaurants based in and around Charlotte (as well as our guide to Latin-owned small businesses):
AmiMaya Latin Cuisine
Location: 1610 Oakhurst Commons Dr, Unit 401, Charlotte, NC
Neighborhood: Oakhurst/MoRA
Cuisine: Mexican
What to know: At AmiMaya, you can choose your dish (bowl, burrito, salad, taco or quesadilla) and the protein of your choice or veggies before loading on the toppings. Empenadas are available, too.
Artisen Gelato
Location: 301 W. John St. Matthews, North Carolina 28105
Neighborhood: Matthews
What to know: Artisen Gelato, winner of CharlotteFive’s Readers Choice contest for best ice cream, offers a variety of allergy friendly gelato made without dairy, gluten, eggs or nuts. Classic flavors include Brownie and Rum and Raisin, while seasonal flavors such as Passion Cheesecake and Peppermint Bark rotate throughout the year.
[THE VOTES ARE IN: Here is who you chose for the best ice cream in the Charlotte area.]
Bajo Cero San Marcos
Location: 2401 Cherry Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732
Neighborhood: Rock Hill
Cuisine: Mexican desserts, ice cream, paletas, snacks
What to know: Bajo Cero San Marcos is a local family-owned paleteria and ice cream shop offering a variety of classic menu items and flavors inspired by Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Capicúa
Location: 140 Regency Center Dr, Mooresville, NC 28117
Neighborhood: Mooresville/Lake Norman area
Cuisine: Latin American
What to know: Capicúa’s menu includes Dominican, Ecuadorian, Venezuelan, Puerto Rican and Spanish influences. Expect Latin food “with a new twist” when you visit, according to co-owner Jennifer Alcantara.
[OLD SAGEBRUSH, NEW EATS: Restaurant serves Latin food “with a new twist” in Mooresville.]
The Batchmaker Bake House
Location: 901 Berryhill Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: Station West/FreeMoreWest
Cuisine: Bakery, dessert
What to know: The Batchmaker, whom you may have seen on “Good Morning America,” bakes up cakes and cheesecakes, as well as cookies, bars and brownies that are sold by the batch. Don’t miss trying the Dulce de Leche brownies, blondies and stuffed snickerdoodles.
[VISIT THE BATCH HOUSE: 5 things to know about the Batchmaker’s Batch House.]
Dulce Dreams Cafe
Location: Pop-up
Cuisine: Mexican bakery, dessert
What to know: Dulce Dreams Cafe offers traditional Mexican sweet bread rolls called conchas, some of which are stuffed with whipped cream, Nutella and other flavors. You can often catch its pop-ups at farmers markets and other vendor events.
[SWEET DREAMS COME TRUE: How to try Dulce Dreams Cafe’s popups.]
El Puro Cuban Restaurant
Location: 5033 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: Madison Park
Cuisine: Cuban
What to know: Family-owned El Puro Cuban Restaurant aims to transport guests to pre-revolutionary Cuba, where they can enjoy live music while eating popular dishes such as masitas de la loma, ropa vieja and tamal en cazuela.
El Toro Bruto
Location: Inside Resident Culture, 332 W Bland St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Cuisine: Mexican
What to know: El Toro Bruto — a taqueria that started out as a pop-up venture — offer breakfast tacos, along with “anytime” tacos, tacos as big as a burrito called Tacos Brutos and more.
Havana Carolina
Location: 11 Union St S Suite, 108, Concord, NC 28025
Neighborhood: Downtown Concord
Cuisine: Cuban
What to know: Owned by the same family as El Puro Cuban Restaurant, Havana Carolina brings the Cuban culture to Concord. You’ll find Cuban music on Friday and Saturday nights, along with a menu that includes classic Cubano sandwiches, along with Churrasco a la Cubana, which is a 10 ounce skirt steak grilled with homemade chimichurri and topped with onions.
La Caseta
Location: Camp North End, 1801 N Graham St #203, Charlotte, NC 28206
Neighborhood: Lockwood
Cuisine: Latin street food
What to know: La Caseta, part of the Raydal Hospitality Group that also owns Sabor and Three Amigos, focuses on traditional handmade items passed down from generation to generation in the owners’ native El Salvador and Dominican Republic, plus other Latin countries. Expect arepas, pupusas and empanadas, as well as tacos.
La Dolcezza Bakery Cafe
Location: 1607 Montford Dr, Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: Madison Park
Cuisine: Sandwiches, pastry, coffee
What to know: La Dolcezza is an international pastry shop featuring a wide array of offerings from savory sandwiches to satisfying desserts, such as pumpkin spice bread pudding and apple spice cupcakes.
Panaderia La Espiga
Location: 6445 Albemarle Rd #3815, Charlotte, NC 28212
Neighborhood: Idlewild Farms
Cuisine: Bakery
What to know: Visit Panaderia La Espiga, a bakery tucked in a strip mall with a butcher shop, beauty salon and pizzeria for cookies, palmiers, bread pudding and more.
Los Paisas
Location: 8318 Pineville-Matthews Rd #702, Charlotte, NC 28226
Neighborhood: Pineville
Cuisine: Colombian
What to know: Los Paisas has long been a staple in the Charlotte Hispanic and Latino community. The traditional restaurant serves up large, flavorful plates of authentic Colombian food without breaking the bank. Its Bandeja tipica Colombiana (typical Colombian platter) is a fan favorite.
Mal Pan
Location: 4625 Piedmont Row Dr 115 D, Charlotte, NC 28210
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Cuisine: Mexican
What to know: Mal Pan features a menu of “big and carefully curated flavors” inspired by comfort foods from Mexico. Brunch is available every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dinner is a “sit-down” service, offered from 5 to 9 p.m.
Manolo’s Bakery
Location: 4405 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Windsor Park
Cuisine: Bakery
What to know: Only a small slice of Manolo’s Bakery offerings are available online. Colombian-born owner Manolo Betancur — who was Overall Winner in the US Bread Hero category of the Tiptree World Bread Awards and also owns Artisen Gelato — bakes up all kinds of bread, pastries, doughnuts, cakes and more.
Odalys Panaderia y Pasteleria
Location: 6301 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: Hidden Valley
Location: 4404 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Oakhurst
Location: 6407 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: Starmount
Cuisine: Bakery
What to know: This regional Latin bakery chain that also has locations in Concord, Gastonia, Monroe and Salisbury, offers cakes, pastries and bread.
Panadaria el Quetzal
Location: 925 Eastway Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: East Charlotte
Cuisine: Bakery
What to know: This Guatemalan-owned bakery features breads, tarts, milhojas, tamales and more.
A Piece of Havana
Location: 11126 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28273
Neighborhood: Steele Creek
Cuisine: Cuban
What to know: The food at A Piece of Havana is widely celebrated for being packed with color and flavor. The authentic Cuban eatery features a dynamic menu and live music on Fridays and Saturdays.
Que Fresa Taqueria + Bar
Location: 1500-A W. Morehead St.
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights
Cuisine: Mexican
What to know: Que Fresa is a new taqueria with soft-serve margaritas, house-made Puffy Chips and at least 14 varieties of tacos.
Que Onda Tacos + Tequila
Location: 9601 N Tryon St Suite K, Charlotte, NC 28262
Neighborhood: University City North
Location: 333 W Trade St #101, Charlotte, NC 28202
Neighborhood: Uptown
Location: 3022 Weddington Rd Suite 100, Matthews, NC 28105
Neighborhood: Matthews
Location: 13016 Eastfield Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Neighborhood: Highland Creek
Location: 1518 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 (coming soon)
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Menu: Matthews, University City North, Uptown
Cuisine: Mexican
What to know: Offering more than just tacos and tequila, Que Onda’s menu is a comprehensive tour of all things that make Mexican food fun and delicious. You’re sure to find something you’ll love on this menu, from mouth-watering appetizers and savory sandwiches to sizzling skillet fajitas and rich desserts, such as flan, churros and tres leches. Its fifth area location was announced this week — it will open in Plaza Midwood in the former Coaltrane’s location.
Sabor Latin Grill
Location: Multiple locations
Neighborhood: Ballantyne, Cornelius, Elizabeth, Fort Mill, Huntersville, NoDa, Pineville, South End, SouthPark, University City South, Uptown, Yorkshire
Cuisine: Latin street food
What to know: Sabor Latin Grill gives customers the opportunity to experience a variety of Latin comfort dishes inspired by Mexican, Dominican, Cuban, Salvadoran, Colombian and Venezuela cuisine.
Salud Cerveceria
Location: 3306-C N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
Cuisine: Craft beer, pizza, bar food
What to know: Salud Cerveceria, recognized by USA Today’s beer experts as the best beer bar in the country, serves up Neapolitan style wood-fired pizza, salads, empanadas and more, along with craft beer.
[BEST BEER BAR: Charlotte has the best beer bar in the country.]
Tacos Rick-O
Location: Inside Hoppin’, 1402 Winnifred St., Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Cuisine: Mexican
What to know: At this food truck stationed at Hoppin’, you can mix and match tacos filled with campe (carne asada), tinga (chipotle chicken) and veggie, dip a few birria tacos or choose a bowl instead.
Three Amigos Grill & Cantina
Location: 2917 Central Ave A, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Country Club Heights
Cuisine: Mexican
What to know: Three Amigos is known for its authentic enchiladas, using fresh Mexican spices. Choose among six options (verde, roja, poblanas, al horno, calabaza or jalisciences), or get the Enchilada Mixtas plate that combines four of those options.
