All of the Charlotte-Area Restaurants You Can Visit From ‘Top Chef’

As a 6-year Charlotte resident, I can attest that the city does a lot of things well, but doesn’t necessarily stand out for tourists. There are a few notable attractions, museums, and trendy neighborhoods akin to most mid-range cities, but as its transplant population expands, so does the culture. As the growing Queen City strives to find its identity, food has been one reason that’s starting to put it on the map. 

Thanks to Michelin nods in the Southeast guide, food critics and tourists are starting to take notice. So much so that the city hosts the latest season of Top Chef, one of the most well-known food competition shows on television. I’ve been watching every episode and have compiled the featured restaurants, the locations of guest judges, and some of the spots the judges were seen at during filming. Warning: Spoilers ahead!

Staginoni and Sala

As the only local chef contestant, Brittany Cochran faced a lot of pressure to represent the Queen City. She’s the executive chef at Staginoni and its trendy cocktail bar, Sala, next door. While the chefs don’t visit or compete at the Eastover restaurant, it’s a popular spot with locals and worth a visit to say you’ve eaten a meal from a Top Chef contestant.

Supperland 

In episode three, the contestants cooked at Plaza Midwood’s Supperland, a restored church turned restaurant overseen by Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel. The husband-wife duo also owns nearby Haberdish and Ever Andalo—other Charlotte staples. They recently opened Leluia Hall, another church conversion project that has earned them notoriety among the local (and national) community for preserving Charlotte culture.

La Belle Helene 

In the season premiere, the chefs cook their elimination challenge at Jamie Lynch’s (a Top Chef alumnus) Uptown restaurant, La Belle Helene. Known for its French cuisine and brasserie vibe, the restaurant’s setting was a nice complement to the sweet potato challenge, which highlighted the top sweet potato-producing state in the U.S.

Fine and Fettle 

Episode four highlights Black food culture in the South with James Beard nominee Greg Collier and his wife, Subrina, hosting the elimination challenge at their restaurant, Fine and Fettle. The Southpark restaurant focuses on Collier’s specialty: soul food made with local, seasonal ingredients. 

Clark’s Snack Bar 

Judges Kristen Kish and Gail Simmons posted on social media at the divey Plaza Midwood joint when they returned to Charlotte for the premiere party. Known for its bratwurst, hot dogs, and sandwiches, I think it serves one of the best breakfast sandwiches in town. The walk-up counter is ideal for a quick snack (don’t skip the milkshakes) that you can take with you as you enjoy the surrounding neighborhood.

Lang Van 

The judges were also spotted at this iconic Charlotte location multiple times, which comes with Michelin recognition. Open for more than 30 years (a rarity in Charlotte), the Vietnamese restaurant serves authentic pho and other classic dishes in the Plaza Shamrock neighborhood.

Kindred 

Joe and Katy Kindred, owners of the Davidson staple Kindred, were guest judges in episode three. Known for its insanely delicious milk bread, the husband-and-wife team opened an all-day eatery (aptly named Milkbread), that has a few locations in the Charlotte area. They also own a fine-dining restaurant in Uptown called Albertine and a vibey fish camp concept on Lake Norman.

Sweet Lew’s BBQ

No food show set in the Carolinas is complete without mentioning barbecue, and the chefs visit Sweet Lew’s, located in the Belmont neighborhood of Charlotte, in episode six. Here, they learn how to smoke a whole hog, and then travel out to Mooresville for an overnight cook and elimination challenge. 

The legendary Lexington Barbeque, located about an hour away from Charlotte, is also featured in this episode, where the chefs learn about the difference between Eastern and Western Carolina BBQ. The episode is judged by a group of local pitmasters, plus Eastern-style BBQ legend Sam Jones of Skylight Inn BBQ.

Notable Mentions

One of the best parts of Top Chef is how it highlights the local food culture. The judges and contestants visited dozens of locations throughout the Carolinas to highlight the state’s history and its influence on food. 

Notable attractions such as NASCAR, headquartered in Charlotte, and the White Water Center, the largest man-made rapids in the U.S., are featured throughout the season. The show also highlights local farms like PuckerButt (known for the Carolina Reaper and Pepper X a.k.a. the world’s hottest chili pepper), and Deep Roots CPS Farm, a regenerative urban farm.

Goodyear House, Customshop, Substrate, and Botiwalla (located in Optimist Hall) round out other local establishments the judges were spotted at during their time in the Queen City. So if you're convinced to make Charlotte your next culinary destination, make sure to add it to your dining bucket list.

What’s next? Around mid-season, the remaining contestants pack up their knives and head to nearby Greenville, South Carolina, which is home to its own rising culinary scene.