I hope you’re hungry for this guide to everything I ate in Charlotte, NC! I recently visited for a solo afternoon adventure and embarked on a mouthwatering self-led Charlotte food tour. The city is full of incredible eateries, breweries, and coffee shops. While I only sampled a fraction of Charlotte’s delicious food offerings during my short afternoon trip, I definitely plan to return and taste even more!

Lunch: Oh My Soul

I don’t eat dairy, so it’s usually easiest for me to stick with vegan restaurants when I travel so I have plenty of options. After a quick search of the best vegan spots in Charlotte, Oh My Soul emerged as the top contender. The 100% plant-based restaurant is highly rated and the menu looked absolutely divine.

Located in Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood, Oh My Soul has a cozy and welcoming vibe. My favorite area was the massive outdoor patio with a 100-year-old oak tree, full bar, and a stage. It was the perfect place to enjoy lunch in the beautiful spring weather, and I can imagine it’s a fun hangout spot in the evenings when there’s live music.

The founders of Oh My Soul are originally from South Africa, so the menu has many “Rainbow Nation” influences. I settled on The Crunchy Mom, a vegan twist on Taco Bell’s Crunchwrap Supreme, with a side of the Kickin’ Kale Salad. I also picked up a “Snickers” Bar to bring home and enjoy later.

This was undoubtedly one of the best vegan lunches I’ve ever had! The Crunchy Mom had a fabulous blend of tastes and textures, with black beans, salsa, homemade “queso,” and more stuffed into a crispy tortilla. I also loved the kale salad, which was light, fresh, and flavorful.

Honestly, dessert was the only aspect of Oh My Soul that I wasn’t crazy about—and don’t get me wrong, the “Snickers” Bar was still delicious. My only critique is it had a strong almond butter flavor that I wasn’t expecting. I would like to try some of their other dessert options, like their dairy-free ice cream, next time.

Coffee: Caffeto Specialty Coffee

I needed a caffeine boost after lunch, so I walked down the street to Caffeto Specialty Coffee. I discovered this charming Colombian coffee trailer on TikTok—it was definitely a popular pick! There was a live DJ playing music when I went, so a lot of people were hanging out and enjoying the tunes.

I ordered an iced dirty chai latte with oat milk, and it was really tasty. While the chai could have been spicier in my opinion, I appreciated that it wasn’t too sweet. The espresso was smooth, and all of the flavors were nicely balanced. I’ve also heard good things about Caffeto’s ceremonial matcha—I’ll have to try it next time I’m in town.

Snack: Salted Melon Market & Eatery

On my way out of town, I decided to grab a snack for the drive home. A smoothie sounded refreshing, so I headed over to Salted Melon Market & Eatery. The Matcha Magic drink ended up being the perfect pick-me-up. With yummy ingredients like vegan protein, spinach, and banana, it was equally beautiful and delicious! I’d like to return and try a full meal at Salted Melon because the food menu sounds amazing, and it had a fun, laid-back atmosphere.

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Charlotte, your food scene left me thoroughly impressed! I will definitely be back to explore the city and sample more local spots—especially since I didn’t have time for a brewery during this visit. What are your favorite Charlotte food places? Drop a comment with your recommendations!