Mac and cheese favorites, Latin food deals and a new steakhouse in Charlotte
Short on time but hungry for the latest in Charlotte?
If you missed today’s CharlotteFive newsletter, here are three stories worth knowing about, from a cheesy Readers’ Choice showdown to a Latin restaurant celebration and yet another Texas Roadhouse rolling into town. 🍽️
Read more Not ‘a dig at all.’ Carolina Panthers coach on viral exchange with Caleb Williams
The latest CharlotteFive Readers’ Choice poll is officially open, and this time it’s all about the mac and cheese you can’t stop thinking about. You know the one — the bubbling, golden pan you order every single time it’s on the menu, no matter what else looks good.
This is a reader-driven poll, so the winner will come down to which spot rallies the most Charlotte-area fans. In past Readers’ Choice polls, we’ve already crowned favorites for best nachos, best bakery and best Italian food, so the mac and cheese title is joining a growing list of local bragging rights. 🏆
Got a go-to spot in mind? Head to the poll and cast your vote — and rope in a few friends while you’re at it.
👉 Check out Heidi’s story and voting details.
If your lunch break needs an upgrade, Charlotte’s Latin restaurants have a deal for you. Taste the Heritage CLT starts Tuesday, with $10 meal deals and special offers popping up across the city as part of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. 🎉
The best part? No reservations are required. You just pull up, eat and enjoy — perfect if your calendar looks like a wall of back-to-back meetings and you need a low-lift plan.
A few of the standouts joining in:
🫓 Azul Tacos & Beer — best known for handmade tortillas crafted with blue heirloom corn from Mexico. If you’ve been curious about the taco spot everyone keeps mentioning, this is your excuse.
🥐 Dulce Dreams Cafe — a stop for Mexican-inspired baked goods, including conchas, the pillowy sweet breads with that iconic shell-patterned top.
Read more Fact Check: Where Michael Whatley and Roy Cooper stand on data centers
☕️ Roasted Tinto — a Colombian coffee shop with bakery treats, sandwiches and signature drinks.
Whether you’re deep in Hispanic Heritage Month mode or just want a genuinely good meal for a reasonable price, this is a smart way to explore restaurants you may have been meaning to try. 😋
👉 Check out Heidi’s full guide.
The hand-cut steaks and warm-from-the-oven rolls are heading south. Texas Roadhouse — the chain known for scratch-made yeast rolls baked every five minutes and served with honey cinnamon butter 🧈 — is slated to open a new restaurant in Steele Creek. It’ll mark the chain’s sixth Charlotte-area location.
For anyone who’s been driving across town to get their fix, this is going to shorten the trip considerably. Steele Creek keeps racking up dining options as the area grows, and a Texas Roadhouse landing there fits neatly into that pattern.
. 👉 Check out Tanasia’s story for more details.
The CharlotteFive newsletter lands in your inbox every day with the best food, things to do and lifestyle news across the Queen City — no endless scrolling required. Sign up here for free. ✉️
Keep up with what’s new, what’s opening and what to eat: @cltfive on Instagram, @cltfive on Threads, @cltfive on TikTok and @charlottefive.com on Bluesky. 💙
This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists. To learn more about how The Charlotte Observer is using AI in our newsroom, see our policy here.
Read more Handmade Chinese dumplings are the star at this new University City restaurant
