Mexican street food restaurant makes South Charlotte debut. Here’s what to expect

There’s a new restaurant in South Charlotte serving up classic Mexican street food.

Cantina Louie celebrated its grand opening on Monday, Sept. 14, welcoming customers into its new space at 7520 Pineville-Matthews Rd.

It marks the restaurant’s third North Carolina location and joins existing spots in Asheville and nearby Matthews. Cantina Louie also operates several restaurants in Florida.

“We’re excited to be part of the South Charlotte community and look forward to becoming a neighborhood favorite for years to come,” management said in a news release sent to CharlotteFive.

The menu is stacked with traditional Mexican favorites. Think: Burritos, quesadillas, fajitas and an assortment of street tacos. On Taco Tuesdays (a customer favorite), tacos are just $2.99 and specialty margaritas are $6.99 a pop.

Main plates include the carne asada served with sides of Spanish rice, esquite (street corn) and refried beans; the La Parilla featuring marinated steak, grilled chicken and carnitas; and the avocado enchiladas topped with tomatillo salsa and queso fresco.

On the drinks side, customers can pick from more than a dozen tequila-based cocktails and margaritas. There’s sangria too, plus local and Mexican beers.

The new South Charlotte restaurant features the bold, vibrant decor Cantina Louie is known for. Colorful hand-painted murals cover the walls in tribute to the city’s culture and pastimes, giving it “a distinctly local personality,” per the release.

Many of the decorations were also imported from Mexico.

Cantina Louie is open Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Location: 7520 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226 (now open)

Location: 2225 Matthews Township Pkwy C, Matthews, NC 28105

Cuisine: Mexican

Instagram: @cantinalouie_clt