10 North Carolina Soul Food Spots Locals Hold Onto No Matter The Reviews

When it comes to soul food in North Carolina, locals know where the real flavor lives – regardless of what online reviews might say.

These beloved spots serve up the kind of comfort food that reminds you of grandma’s kitchen: crispy fried chicken, creamy mac and cheese, and collard greens that simmer all day.

1. Mert’s Heart & Soul: Charlotte’s Downtown Treasure

Walking into Mert’s feels like entering a family reunion where everyone’s invited. The cornbread alone has saved many a rough day in uptown Charlotte.

Regulars swear by the salmon cakes and shrimp with grits that somehow taste better than what grandma made (though we’d never tell her that).

Since 1998, this spot has been where locals celebrate everything from promotions to first dates.

2. Nana Morrison’s Soul Food: Hidden Charlotte Gem

Blink and you might miss this unassuming storefront, but locals know better than to judge this book by its cover. The sweet potato pie here has sparked family feuds over who gets the last slice.

Nana’s chicken and waffles come with a maple hot sauce that should be illegal it’s so good.

The tiny dining room fills up fast, especially after church on Sundays when folks line up for a taste of authentic Southern hospitality.

3. Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish: No-Frills Flavor Factory

Paper plates never held anything so glorious as Mr. Charles’ crispy fried whiting. This cash-only joint makes zero apologies for its stripped-down appearance.

The chicken wings come out so hot they steam when you bite in. Regulars know to order extra hush puppies – those golden nuggets disappear faster than you can say “pass the hot sauce.”

4. JJ’s Mama’s Soulfood & More: Lexington’s Comfort Zone

Mama JJ doesn’t play when it comes to her oxtails. Fall-off-the-bone tender, they’ve converted even the most skeptical first-timers into regulars.

The butter beans and rice could make a grown person cry with happiness. JJ’s modest location in Lexington belies the richness inside – both in flavor and community spirit.

Folks drive from three counties away just for a Wednesday lunch special that sells out by 1 PM.

5. The Prime Smokehouse: Rocky Mount’s Soulful BBQ Haven

Barbecue purists might debate sauce styles forever, but nobody argues about Prime’s smoked turkey wings. These massive beauties come slathered in a sauce that would make cardboard taste good.

Owner Ed Wiley III plays jazz while serving up ribs that practically melt before your fork touches them.

The collard greens have just enough pot liquor to warrant asking for extra cornbread to soak it all up. Southern hospitality flows as freely as sweet tea here.

6. Let’s Eat Soul Food: Durham’s Homestyle Happiness

Nobody makes mac and cheese like Mama Vee at Let’s Eat. The secret? “Love and butter,” she’ll tell you with a wink, never revealing the actual recipe that keeps Durham residents coming back.

Their candied yams taste like Thanksgiving all year round. The tiny takeout spot doesn’t look like much from outside, but the line forming around lunchtime tells the real story.

7. Ken Cooks SoulFood Restaurant: Charlotte’s Flavor Laboratory

Ken doesn’t just cook soul food – he experiments with it. His oxtail spring rolls have caused more than one customer to propose marriage on the spot.

Tucked into an old strip mall, Ken’s place feels like your cool uncle’s kitchen – the one who traveled the world but still makes the best black-eyed peas you’ve ever tasted.

8. Simmons Restaurant: Charlotte’s Time Machine of Taste

Stepping into Simmons is like traveling back 50 years, in the best possible way. The same family has been frying chicken in cast iron skillets since before Charlotte had skyscrapers.

Their banana pudding comes warm with those perfect vanilla wafers – somehow both crisp and soft. Regulars know to ask for the hot water cornbread that isn’t even on the menu.

9. Price’s Chicken Coop: Charlotte’s Fried Chicken Institution

Before Price’s closed in 2021, it was the gold standard for fried chicken in Charlotte for 59 years. Locals still talk about it like a departed family member.

The chicken came wrapped in wax paper that would quickly become translucent from the perfect greasiness.

Its legacy lives on in the hearts (and expanded waistlines) of faithful customers.

10. Floyd’s Restaurant: Charlotte’s Soul Food Time Capsule

Floyd’s gravy should be classified as a controlled substance – it’s that addictive. Poured over country-fried steak, it has sustained Charlotte workers for generations.

The biscuits come out steaming hot, practically begging for a dollop of homemade apple butter. Opened in the 1950s, Floyd’s hasn’t changed its recipes or its wood-paneled walls in decades.