charlotte’s best bites: yvonne and jason’s picks
I know I promised I would share where we ate and drank in Key West this week, but my weekend was swept away with fun an exciting things like cleaning the house and scheduling old content on Facebook and Pinterest while watching the Crossfit games that we DVR’ed. I know you guys are getting really jealous of my life right about now. I also did have some fun this weekend at the LoSo Block Party Saturday night and at Goat Yoga with friends in Steele Creek Sunday (you know I’ll be sharing about that soon but for now if you want to know more, check out Instagram) plus our regular weekend routine things of the farmers market and a nice, long walk with Bodie on the greenway. All of this means that Key West may have to wait until next week or the week after, but lucky for you, Yvonne and Jason are here to take us on a Queen City foodie tour with their edition of Charlotte’s Best Bites!
Hello, Off the Eaten Path Readers! It’s Yvonne & Jason from Scallionpancake! We are two very hungry Charlotte eaters who like to dine and then wax poetic about each and every part of our dining experience. On our blog, we review restaurants all over the world (from Greece to Ft. Mill), but we make sure to include plenty of restaurant reviews from our beloved Charlotte. We met Chrissie through the Charlotte Food Bloggers, and we are so grateful for her guru guidance in the rapidly expanding Charlotte food scene. Here are some of the Queen City spots we consider worthy of a visit from locals and visitors alike. Enjoy!
“On the Promise That Freshness”: Super G Mart
If you haven’t been to Super G Mart yet, you are missing a full on amusement park for hungry adults. Off of Independence Boulevard you will find a veritable wonderland of durian fruit, mochi, fish sauce, and grammatically incorrect signage. At Super G, it’s business in the front, party in the back. You can do some very practical budget-friendly shopping (fresh fruit, condiments, and dried goods are all great buys) in the grocery store, and then you can reward yourself for your highly responsible adult behavior by indulging in one of the eateries located in the back of the store. Pho? Bahn mi? Dumplings? EGG CUSTARD TARTS?! Yup, they have it. Once you have a bubble tea and a taro bun in hand, go back and explore the hidden wonders of the fish market (brace yourself for some very exotic offerings) or the Asian candy aisle. Super G Mart makes for a super fun mid-week date or place to show off to out-of-town guests. 7323 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28227 (Independence)
Meat Shakes: Seoul Food Meat Co.
Sometimes, you just want a big, meaty dinner and nothing else will do. That’s where Seoul Food Meat Co. comes in. Here’s how to plan your meat excursion perfectly. Step 1: you get the coconut soju (Korean rice liquor) and don’t worry about the other flavors–we tried them all for you and coconut is the best.
When the soju is gone, eat all of the meat out of the coconut. What, you don’t like coconut? I suggest therapy and a long, hard look in the mirror. Next, you’re gonna get the sriracha cracklins because you love yourself, and pork skin loves you right back. Now, you’re gonna MEAT OUT. Our favorites include the beef ribs, fire chicken, and the spicy wings. In in unusual twist–we are actually gonna go ahead and suggest the spicy tofu wings as well, as they stand their ground next to the meaty options beautifully.
To finish? There’s only one dessert, but it’s all you need: green tea sugar biscuits. There you have it: a dinner guaranteed to leave you satisfied, body and soul. (PSA–you might need a morning run/yoga session after this dinner so you can sweat out the meats). 1400 S Church St, Charlotte, NC 28203 (South End)
When Buffaloes Fly: Lebowski’s
Chicken wing photo courtesy of Thrillist: https://www.thrillist.com/eat/charlotte/best-chicken-wings-in-charlotte
Scallionpancake fun fact: we love trivia and make a concerted effort to play weekly. Our trivia team name is NSFW, but just know that our crew kills it all around town. One of our favorite places to stretch our random knowledge muscle is at Lebowski’s Neighborhood Grill in Dilworth. Here, we can hang with our favorite trivia emcee, Johnny, and eat all the fried things at the same time. Lebwoski’s is a tribute to The Big Lebowski (well, that’s just like, your opinion, man), and to all things Buffalo, from the food to the Bills’ memorabilia scattered about. If you are a true chicken wing aficionado, you know that Buffalo is the home of the original (and best) chicken wings in the world at The Anchor Bar. Opinions on who has the best chicken wings in Charlotte are widely varied, but, in the opinion of two humble bloggers, you need to look no further than Lebobo’s (don’t tell the powers that be that we call it that–that’s just between us, k?). Want to do it up right? Get the Combi-Nation: six wings with your choice of sauce, a slider (go for the roast beef on weck, another Buffalo staple), and a side. Don’t be afraid of the calories–you need to keep your strength up to win trivia! 1524 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203 (Dilworth)
Hot Southern Nights: Haberdish
Did you know that southern food is blowing up all over America? We were in Portland last summer, and so many of the top restaurants were serving southern comfort food. I heard an NPR story the other day about a fried chicken restaurant in LA that has a month-long wait list for large carry-out orders. And here we find ourselves: living in the south (right? Charlotte is the south? Hit me up with your opinions. Still sorting through the geographical and cultural details). Either way, we are smack dab in the epicenter of comfort food and it would be a shame to not take advantage of that fact. You want fried chicken, but you want to keep it classy and have like seven sides and a fancy cocktail? Haberdish will be your new best friend. Our favorite dishes, other than the fried (and roasted) chicken, include the sweet potato dumplings, the bacon jam biscuits, and the mac and cheese topped with crispy chicken skin. Not to mention the aesthetics–the lighting is soft and the bar is styled right down to the tiny details, like adorable little bottles filled with magical cocktail accoutrements. 3106 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205 (NoDa)
I’m in love with the: Coco and the Director
How many coffee shops have stadium style seating, movie nights, and sandwiches made with house-roasted meat that is carved to order? Oh, and don’t get us started on the homemade banana bread. Coco and the Director is an amazing addition to the Uptown dining scene, and it’s a favorite spot of ours to get some work done when your internet is acting up at home (love you, Spectrum & AT&T!) and you are craving a dirty chai to go with that free wi-fi. Coco is located in the recently renovated Marriott hotel, which is simply stunning. Enter through the lobby and get a peek at the fabulous restaurant Stoke, and then make your way into Coco’s loving arms. In addition to their baked goods and seriously upscale sandwich selection, they offer another local favorite, Green Brothers Juice Co smoothies. In a rush? Pick from their wide array of prepared items in their deli case. If you can stay a while, we love lounging on the stadium seats, but if you need more structure in your life, there are plenty of tables and you get to choose your vantage point (street level or bird’s eye view). 100 W Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28202 (Uptown)
Cheers Moment: Lang Van
At Lang Van, regular customers are greeted with enthusiastic smiles and a staff that remembers your order. Haven’t been in a month? No worries–the Lang Van crew still remembers that you like your summer rolls with tofu and your iced tea unsweetened. Lang Van does Vietnamese food to perfection. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the (truly massive) menu, but we recommend the #26 (beef pho) and #130 (house fried rice). For an appetizer, the yellow pancake is a crowd pleaser. Wash all of that down with a Vietnamese coffee or an avocado shake. Don’t be afraid of the avocado shake–it’s just the right amount of sweet and so rich and creamy, and it really offsets the spice of the food perfectly. The best part, though? Every table gets a complimentary dessert plate with peanut cookies, tamarind hard candies, and, of course, a fortune cookie. The truly hashtag blessed will get a warm mochi cake. If you get this dessert, you know you’ve made it to the big time at this Charlotte institution. If you’re in the mood to eat dinner while watching Netflix on your couch, Lang Van is also a great spot for take out! 3019 Shamrock Dr, Charlotte, NC 28215 (Eastland)
Yvonne & Jason have been blogging since August 2015 and eating since 1986. When they are not eating or writing about food, they are teaching high school English (Yvonne) and running a CPA firm (Jason). They spend a lot of time running, eating desserts, making up songs about their two pug children, and are always planning their next travel adventure. They hate the word “foodie” and love a good bread basket. Follow their shenanigans over on their blog, Instagram, Facebook, and Localeur!
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