Charlotte, North Carolina, offers a diverse and growing culinary scene, with an increasing emphasis on healthy dining options. Whether you're a long-time resident or a visitor, you'll find a variety of restaurants catering to different dietary needs and preferences. From vegan eateries to Mediterranean grills and farm-to-table establishments, Charlotte's healthy food scene has something for everyone. This article explores some of the best healthy food restaurants in Charlotte, highlighting their cuisines, neighborhoods, and special features.
SouthPark's Healthy Dining Scene
SouthPark, known for its upscale ambiance and diverse culinary scene, features a delightful array of healthy dining options. These restaurants emphasize fresh, nutritious ingredients, catering to health-conscious diners looking for both flavor and wellness. The vibrant dining scene caters to a variety of dietary preferences, making it a perfect spot for anyone looking to maintain a healthy diet without compromising on taste or quality. These restaurants pride themselves on sourcing locally-grown produce and using high-quality ingredients, which reflects in the freshness and flavor of their meals.
Featured Healthy Restaurants
Yafo Kitchen
Yafo Kitchen, with locations in South Park, Dilworth, and Plaza Midwood, is a casual Mediterranean street food concept. They offer mouth-wateringly delicious food with tons of vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based options, and all the meat is antibiotic-free.
What to try: Build your own bowl with greens, rice, veggies, chicken, hummus, and sauce.
Chopt
With several locations around South Charlotte, Chopt is a salad bar where you can make your own salad or order signature salads or warm bowls. The menu includes warm Chopt Harvest Bowls or seasonal Cran-apple Harvest Bowls, full of veggies, warm grains, lean protein, and fruit. Protein options include grilled chicken, panko-fried chicken, falafel, bacon, shrimp, and tofu, and the rest of the menu is plant-based.
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What to try: Warm Chopt Harvest Bowl or the seasonal Cran-apple Harvest Bowl.
Cava
With several locations in South Charlotte, Cava offers salads, pitas, and warm bowls. Customers can order from the menu or make their own bowl.
What to try: Customize your bowl with arugula, basmati rice, hummus, chicken, sweet potato, cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled onions, beets, and sauce.
Mahana Fresh
Located closest to many South Charlotte residents, Mahana Fresh offers bowls with a fresh island-inspired flair. Everything is gluten-free, with protein options including steak, tuna, tofu, shrimp, and chicken.
What to try: The Mahana Bowl with sesame noodles, brown rice, Key West chicken, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and coconut sweet potato sauce.
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The Lights Restaurant
The Lights Restaurant sources everything locally and emphasizes healthy options. They offer flavored oat milk lattes and grain bowls.
What to try: Flavored oat milk latte and a grain bowl.
First Watch
First Watch is a daytime chain with amazing breakfast, brunch, and lunch food.
What to try: Crab and avocado toast.
Flower Child
Located in Uptown and Ballantyne, Flower Child is a spot for delicious and healthy meals. They cater to vegetarians, vegans, paleo proponents, and gluten-free eaters. The restaurant’s organic produce is also guided by the Dirty Dozen list.
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What to try: Avocado Hummus, Mother Earth Bowl, or Ginger Miso Crunch Salad.
Kid Cashew
Kid Cashew prides itself on clean eating, offering healthier to-go options with Mediterranean choices.
What to try: Sauteed Shrimp & Polenta, Super Grains Salad, or Quinoa Stuffed Avocado.
Roots Cafe
Roots Cafe focuses on breakfast, brunch, and lunch with locally sourced ingredients.
What to try: Fresh Start Wrap, Roasted Carrot Bowl, or Roasted Turkey on Focaccia.
Clean Eatz
Clean Eatz offers dine-in service along with weekly meal plan pickups and deliveries for health-conscious eaters. Options are available for specific diets including high protein and low carb selections.
What to try: Build your own bowl with a base such as kale and quinoa or brown rice, your choice of protein, up to three veggies and a sauce.
Burton’s Grill
Burton’s Grill, known for its dedication to serving those with allergies and dietary restrictions, offers a variety of dishes that can serve your needs. The menu includes soups, salads and bowls, plus fresh seafood and more.
What to try: Roasted Beet Tower, Harvest Bowl or Salmon Romesco.
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen
Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen prepares fresh Family Table Meals for pickup or delivery, with gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan selections to choose from.
What to try: Stuffed Eggplant Moussaka Meal, Adobo Spiced Tofu or grilled chicken.
The Roasting Company
The Roasting Company has been perfecting its rotisserie chicken for more than 30 years. The restaurant has two Charlotte-area locations for pickup and delivery service, or casual dining in with a variety of keto-friendly, gluten-free and vegetarian options.
What to try: Rotisserie Chicken Plate, the Kale Keto Bowl or Black Bean Taco Platter.
Oh My Soul
Oh My Soul cooks up vegan fare with big flavors, offering a South African-inspired menu.
What to try: Toona Tramezzini, Sarie Marias or Waka Waka Vurger.
Sea Level NC
Sea Level NC offers fresh fish and bivalves, with selections from the raw bar that can keep calories and carbs within desired limits.
What to try: Oysters on the half shell, steamed mussels or tuna poke.
Supperland
Supperland has special allergy-friendly menus for both dinner and brunch, listing dishes that are gluten-sensitive, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian or nut free.
What to try: Vegetables cooked over fire with just olive oil and salt.
Other Notable Restaurants
Beyond the featured restaurants, Charlotte offers a range of other establishments that cater to health-conscious diners:
- Reid's Fine Foods: Founded in 1928, Reid's is a neighborhood specialty food store offering superior meats, wines, locally grown produce, and seasonal fresh meals.
- Rooster’s Wood Fired Kitchen: A Jim Noble Restaurant, Rooster’s offers comfortable Spanish, French, and Italian-influenced selections prepared on a wood-fired grill and rotisserie.
- Limani: A Mediterranean seafood restaurant focusing on traditional Greek specialties with premium olive oil, fresh seafood, and local organic vegetables.
- Taqueria Mal Pan: A modern Mexican experience with a homestyle chef-driven menu inspired by Baja to Yucatan, featuring artisan spirits.
- Culinary Dropout: Serving classic meals with crowd favorites, craft beer, and house-made cocktails in a laid-back vibe.
- Dogwood: Southern Table and Bar: A re-imagined version of a beloved Charlotte restaurant.
- The Fig Tree Restaurant: Located in a restored 1913 Bungalow, offering Seasonal Cuisine with influences from Italy and France.
- Napa on Providence: Bringing the heart of California to Charlotte with fresh, flavorful dishes and bold wines.
- Dressler's: An upscale contemporary restaurant with steaks, fresh seafood, and signature appetizers.
- Trio: Providing a blend of traditional and contemporary foods with salads, sandwiches, pizzas, steak, seafood, and pasta.
- Plant Joy: A Camp North End food stall with approachable plant-forward options.
- Living Kitchen: A vegan/vegetarian restaurant that prides itself on being “100 percent organic, plant-based, and locally sourced.”
- 300 East: Serving the people of Charlotte since 1986 with a reputation for its unique setting.
- Mariposa: A multicultural “world to table” restaurant that prioritizes a communal dining experience.
- Ever Andalo: Delivering on the promise of true Italian cooking with fresh ingredients cooked simply.
- Haymaker: Serving seasonal fare with heirloom ingredients indigenous to the Carolinas.
Plant-Based Dining in Charlotte
For those prioritizing plant-based dishes, Charlotte offers several excellent options. Plant-based dining is generally healthier, better for the planet, and more accessible than ever.
- Plant Joy: Known for its Falafel Tower, served nacho style.
- Living Kitchen: Offers a fully vegan/vegetarian menu with salads, nachos, burritos, and veggie-based sushi.
- Oh My Soul: A vegan restaurant with a South African-inspired menu, including the Waka Waka burger.
Staying on Track with Healthy Eating
To eat better in the new year, prioritize healthy restaurants in Charlotte, especially those that offer plant-based dishes. With a little planning, it’s not too hard to find plenty of options that can fit your healthy food needs, no matter what kind of dietary changes you’re making. Whether you’re looking for more veggies and seafood or less meat or saturated fat in your meals, Charlotte-area restaurants and meal services can help you stay on track and meet your goals.
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