Affiliate Disclosure:As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
North Carolina’s soul food scene is a tapestry of family recipes, cultural heritage, and home cooking. From Charlotte to Winston-Salem, these beloved restaurants serve up plates that warm both the belly and the soul. The following places aren’t just restaurants: they’re community gathering places where traditional Southern cuisine shines through in every bite.
Nana Morrison’s Soul Food: Family Recipes Since the 1940s
Recipe cards yellowed with age guide the cooks at this Charlotte and Cary institution. The crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside fried chicken attracts devoted fans who will drive hours just to taste it. Every bite of their creamy mac and cheese offers comfort in the form of cheese.
The collard greens simmer low and slow, soaking up the flavors of smoked turkey wings rather than traditional ham hocks — a little touch that regulars appreciate. Three generations of the Morrison family oversee the kitchen, ensuring the consistency of each dish.
Weekend queues form early, especially after church on Sunday. The modest dining room buzzes with conversation as strangers become friends over shared plates of cobbler.
Mert’s Heart & Soul: Downtown Charlotte’s soul food haven
Nestled among Charlotte’s gleaming skyscrapers, Mert’s brick exterior and neon sign attract hungry visitors. The famous “soul roll” – essentially a Southern spring roll stuffed with rice, black-eyed peas and chicken – represents everything wonderful about this place: creative yet deeply traditional.
The salmon patties are crispy and tender, while the shrimp and grits are loaded with bacon and mushroom flavors. Cornbread arrives sizzling in cast iron skillets, begging to be slathered with honey butter.
Photos of Charlotte’s black history line the walls, connecting diners to the community that gave birth to these recipes. The waiters know the regulars by name and the newcomers by their wide eyes when they taste the food.
Soul Central: Bold Flavors in North Charlotte
Boneless oxtails steal the show at Soul Central, where tradition meets modern style. The meat arrives tender enough to eat with a spoon, swimming in a rich sauce that begs to be absorbed by a piece of cornbread.
Weekend specials attract locals who know how to arrive early: smothered pork chops usually sell out by mid-afternoon. The dining room feels like someone’s home, with mismatched chairs and family photos creating an atmosphere of authentic hospitality.
Don’t skip the sides here, especially the candied yams which strike a perfect balance of sweet and savory. Soul Central may be newer to the Charlotte scene, but its recipes taste like they’ve been perfected over generations.
JJ’s Mama’s Soulfood & More: Lexington’s Hidden Treasure
Blink and you might miss JJ’s Mama’s, located in an unassuming building off Lexington’s main drag. Inside, the magic happens in the form of smothered pork chops that cut through like butter. Each plate is filled with three sides: candied yams and macaroni and cheese inspire poetry in new visitors.
Here, banana pudding is not an afterthought, but a destination dessert, arranged in tall glasses with vanilla wafers that somehow retain their crunch. The restaurant’s walls highlight local sports teams and community events.
The service operates on small town time – relaxed and personal. Many dishes come from the owner’s grandmother’s recipes, slightly modified over the decades, while retaining their soulful essence.
Let’s Eat Soul Food: The Durham Community Favorite
The aroma hits you first at Let’s Eat: a symphony of spices, slow-cooked meats and buttery pastries. With two locations in Durham, this place has become a neighborhood staple where judges, construction workers and teachers all line up for melt-in-your-mouth oxtails.
Their yam soufflé elevates the humble sweet potato to an art form, while the meatloaf is draped in a mushroom sauce that’s worth dousing with all the carbs available. The dining room buzzes with conversations between strangers who become temporary friends over a shared appreciation of good food.
Daily specials change based on what’s fresh and in season, a commitment to quality that keeps locals coming back every week.
Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish: Charlotte’s no-frills classic
Since 1992, Mr. Charles has been frying fish to perfection without changing anything in the recipe. Catfish comes out of the fryer with a layer of cornmeal that shatters deliciously against the fork, revealing steaming white flesh underneath.
Chicken wings and thighs receive the same respectful treatment: crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and seasoned all the way. The Hushpuppies arrive hot enough to steam when opened, while the collard greens simmer with smoked turkey wings for depth.
The space itself doesn’t pretend to be a fancy restaurant: plastic forks, Styrofoam plates, and a constant stream of regulars who don’t care for the ambiance when the food is this good. Cash only, as the handwritten sign reminds us.
Everybody Eatz: NoDa’s soulful gathering space
Murals splash color on the walls of Everybody Eatz, where Charlotte’s NoDa arts district meets traditional soul food. Chunky turkey wings swim in a savory sauce that somehow manages to be both light and deeply flavorful—a culinary contradiction that fills tables.
Five Cheese Mac and Cheese deserves its legendary status, with a crust that forms on top while the interior remains creamy and indulgent. Weekend evenings feature local musicians who provide a soundtrack for dinner, creating an ambiance that is part restaurant, part community lounge.
Young chefs work alongside seasoned cooks in the open kitchen, visibly imparting techniques that cannot be learned from cookbooks. The name of the restaurant turns out to be correct: everyone really eats here.
Sweet potato restaurant: the artistic soul of Winston-Salem
“When was the last time you had chicken and waffles that made you close your eyes while eating?” asks a Sweet Potatoes regular. Located in Winston-Salem’s Arts District, this spot elevates soul food classics with careful technique rather than fancy ingredients.
The chicken arrives with a peppery crust that falls apart at the first bite, accompanied by waffles that are hearty enough to stand up to the maple syrup and hot sauce (yes, both, trust me). Made-from-scratch sides include black-eyed pea hummus, a creative twist that honors tradition while pushing it forward.
Local artwork adorns the brick walls, and the servers know the story behind each piece. Weekend brunch has a line around the block, filled with people ready to wait for food that tastes like someone’s grandmother made it — if their grandmother had gone to culinary school.
Prime Tyme Soul Cafe: Winston-Salem’s sports and soul spot
Basketball jerseys and sports memorabilia provide the backdrop for some of Winston-Salem’s best-known smothered pork chops. The meat falls apart under your fork, swimming in an onion sauce that customers often request in to-go cups for later enjoyment.
Here, the collard greens are chopped finely rather than in the typical large chunks — a regional difference the owner proudly maintains from his grandmother’s East Carolina style. The portions arrive so generous that takeaway boxes are part of the standard table.
The restaurant comes alive during big matches, with regulars sitting at their usual table under the screens broadcasting sports. Between rooms, conversation inevitably turns to food, particularly about which sides pair best with which main courses.