Love the creamy goodness of mac and cheese? Of course, you do. Here are the 22 best spots in Charlotte for mac and cheese, just in time for cool weather and comfort food.
Haberdish
Southern kitchen and craft cocktail bar serving up stylish comfort food.
About the mac: It’s rich, just the right amount of creamy ($6/$12). You can even top it with spicy crispy chicken skins for $2 extra.
Legion Brewing SouthPark
This is Legion Brewing’s second location. A third location is slated to open at W. Morehead Street in the spring of 2021. Serving up all your favorite Legion brews, plus a full food menu.
About the mac: It’s called “Benton’s Ham Mac and Cheese,” and it’s made with corkscrew pasta, creamy cheddar sauce, and Benton’s ham ($8). It pairs great with a Juicy Jay.
Agenda related guide: Complete list of all 25+ breweries in Charlotte and their flagship beers
Rooster’s Kitchen
Cozy wood-fired kitchen offering classic Southern American and European staples.
About the mac: Rooster’s mac and cheese is all about that melty-middle and baked-top crust.
Agenda related story: Power ranking of the top 50 restaurants in Charlotte
Yafo Kitchen
Casual Mediterranean eatery slinging shawarma bowls, hummus, and house-baked laffah.
About the mac: Made perfectly creamy by using Greek yogurt.
Agenda related guide: Best lunch spots in Charlotte
Leroy Fox
Elevated Southern kitchen with craft cocktails.
About the mac: It’s spiral-y, cheesy, and topped with fresh herbs ($4). Enjoy it by itself or order it with their fried chicken.
Cuzzo’s Cuisine
No frills, casual spot on Tuckaseegee Road.
About the mac: They call it “Chef Andarrio’s Famous Lobster Mac & Cheese” for a reason. A half order of the lobster mac as a side will run you $7, but they also offer four different lobster mac and cheese combos (shrimp, chicken tenders, fish, and wings).
Midwood Smokehouse
A casual barbecue joint with multiple locations in Charlotte.
About the mac: Their classic mac has that thick homemade-like consistency ($3.50). Just what you want with pulled pork and coleslaw.
Mac’s Speed Shop
Barbecue, wings, and beer served in a biker-bar setting.
About the mac: The classic elbow noodles remind us of being a kid and we live for the random bits of melty shredded cheddar ($3).
The Asbury
Modern Southern fare served in the historic Dunhill Hotel.
About the mac: It’s served in a cast-iron skillet and made with cheddar, piquillo peppers, crispy ham, and goat cheese ($8).
The Loyalist Market
Cut-to-order cheese and charcuterie spot in Mathews
About the mac: It’s a five cheese blend of Cave Aged Karst, Ashe County Cheddar, Tallegio, Piave Vecchio, and UAV ricotta. “It’s totally different from BBQ-style mac & cheese,” owner Christopher Sottile told the Agenda. It’s $8 for a small (which is easily a meal) and $14 for a large (enough to split amongst 3-4 friends). You can add Benton’s Bacon for $3.
Jack Beagle’s
Laidback tavern in NoDa serving up American favorites.
About the mac: They have not one but six types of mac and cheese. Jack-Mac is their signature style. It’s a little spicy and a little garlicky ($6).
Flower Child
Healthy fast-casual spot with a trendy vibe in South End.
About the mac: Spiral noodles, cheesy, and you won’t even notice that it’s gluten-free ($4).
Kid Cashew
Rustic Mediterranean eatery in Dilworth with small plates and a large patio.
About the mac: It’s cooked in a cast-iron skillet and made with homemade mornay sauce, leeks, shallots, and five kinds of cheese ($6.95).
Papi Queso
An insanely popular food truck-turned-tenant at Optimist Hall serving up nothing but grilled cheese.
About the mac: Their Pig Mac consists of heritage pulled pork, mac and cheese, bourbon onions, and cheddar cheese ($9.50). You can also do a more simple version named the Mac Melt — a creamy mac and cheese grilled cheese ($7).
Gastropub at Wooden Robot
Eclectic pub food menu that pairs perfectly with a Good Morning Vietnam.
About the mac: It’s called the ‘Bosshog Mac & Cheese Eggroll’ and it’s filled with beer boiled macaroni, gruyere, smoked bacon jam, stilton, and parmesan cream, liquid cilantro drizzle ($12).
The Dunavant
Think of it as ‘Del Frisco’s for millennials.
About the mac: Made with four-cheese mornay, Benton’s smoked bacon, and topped with a parmesan crust ($12).
Bacon mac and cheese – macaroni pasta, house-made four-cheese mornay sauce, and Benton’s smoked bacon topped with panko breadcrumbs.
The Goodyear House
Elevated comfort food spot in NoDa.
About the mac: Spiral noodles with smoked cashew cheese and chili breadcrumbs — oh, and it’s vegan ($10).
Maria’s
A new food truck serving up family-style portions of mac & cheese and fried chicken.
About the mac: It comes in four different styles: OG mac ($25), bacon mac ($30), buffalo chicken mac ($40), and crab mac ($50).
Bistro La Bon
European fare with a modern twist.
About the mac: Their popular seafood mac & cheese is creamy and delicious and is packed with plenty of blue crab and shrimp ($16).
The Cellar at Duckworth’s
Moody prohibition-era setting with an upstairs dining room, temporarily closed due to Covid-19, and lower level bar area.
About the mac: Their truffle mac & cheese is creamy and decadent. It’s made with Grafton cheddar, gouda, and toasted pancetta ($14).
Soul Central
Grab and go Southern comfort food.
About the mac: Just like grandma used to make. If you’re looking for classic mac & cheese, look no further.
Another!? Food Truck
Contrary to the name, this is not just another food truck. The menu experiments with staple dishes from the Northeast as well as the Deep South.
About the mac: Choose from the Hot Mac ($10) which has grilled chicken, a house herb ranch sauce, and crispy onions, or their Dirty Mac ($12) which has braised beef, collard greens, “Average sauce”, and cornbread crumble.
Dirty Mac – braised beef, collard greens, “Average sauce”, and cornbread crumble ($12).