{"id":823,"date":"2026-05-28T16:34:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T16:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=823"},"modified":"2026-05-28T16:34:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T16:34:59","slug":"a-family-owned-restaurant-has-been-named-the-best-soul-food-in-charlotte","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=823","title":{"rendered":"A family-owned restaurant has been named the best soul food in Charlotte"},"content":{"rendered":"

When cravings hit for fried chicken, fish or pork paired with collards and mac and cheese, there are plenty of places in Charlotte to seek out soul food that will comfort your spirit. But which one is the best?<\/p>\n

Read more Did all that rain help extreme drought in Charlotte region? Only a little<\/a><\/p>\n

We set out to find the answer, and now we\u2019ve got one.<\/p>\n

After seeking out your nominations for go-to soul food restaurants,<\/a> we started with 22 restaurants spread across the Charlotte area. Through four rounds of voting<\/a> \u2014 and thousands of reader votes \u2014 it\u2019s time to crown the winner and the finalist.<\/p>\n

Here are the two restaurants that came out on top in the CharlotteFive Readers\u2019 Choice Best Soul Food poll:<\/p>\n

Location: 2908 Oak Lake Blvd, #106, Charlotte, NC 28208<\/a><\/p>\n

Location: 3824 Corning Pl Unit A, Charlotte, NC 28216<\/a><\/p>\n

Location: 9725 Red Stone Dr, Indian Land, SC 29707<\/a><\/p>\n

Since opening in 2011, Nana Morrison\u2019s Soul Food<\/u><\/a> has become one of Charlotte\u2019s most recognizable soul food restaurants, built on family recipes, hard work and a deep connection to the community.<\/p>\n

Founded by Shawn and Kiana Morrison after moving to Charlotte from New York, CharlotteFive previously reported<\/u><\/a>, the restaurant was born out of a simple realization: Kiana couldn\u2019t find the kind of soul food she grew up eating. The family opened Nana Morrison\u2019s with recipes inspired by Kiana\u2019s family cooking and a belief that comforting, homemade meals would resonate with others, too.<\/p>\n

Today, the business remains deeply family-oriented, with the Morrison children helping run operations from a young age. That includes 21-year-old Hank Morrison, who said the restaurant\u2019s identity still revolves around the dishes customers have loved for years.<\/p>\n

After speaking with CharlotteFive, Morrison quickly stepped behind the counter to help staff and greet customers, a small moment that reflected how hands-on the family remains with the business.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you know we have the basics: fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, all a family recipe,\u201d Morrison said. \u201cNana, the company is named after all her recipes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The menu also includes other Southern comfort staples, including crispy fried chicken, smothered pork chops, smoked turkey wings, yams, cornbread and creamy mac and cheese.<\/p>\n

But Nana Morrison\u2019s has become especially known for serving generous portions \u2014 the kind that \u201cput you to sleep,\u201d an employee told CharlotteFive \u2014 that feel closer to a family reunion than a typical restaurant meal.<\/p>\n

That connection with customers helped Nana Morrison\u2019s earn recognition in CharlotteFive\u2019s Best Soul Food poll, Morrison said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to everyone that voted us for the best soul food restaurant in Charlotte,\u201d he said. \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t be able to do this without you, and want to continue to provide and continue to be number one.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Location: Inside XOXO Cocktail Lounge, 314 N College St Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28208<\/a><\/p>\n

Home Style Kitchn<\/a>, owned by Ralston McKenzie and Stacey Green, puts a Caribbean-style twist on soul food classics. The couple moved to Charlotte from Delaware and started the business in ghost kitchens before settling in three years ago at XOXO Cocktail Lounge<\/a>, where it\u2019s set up for takeout and delivery service.<\/p>\n

The pair serve up freshly fried empanadas stuffed with your choice of oxtail, Philly chicken or Philly cheesesteak, chicken wings, fried salmon and shrimp, and fried mac and cheese balls.<\/p>\n

McKenzie\u2019s culinary education at the Art Institute of Philadelphia contributed to elevated entree choices such as Mumbo-glazed grilled rack of lamb and blackened salmon stuffed with jumbo lump crab imperial, plus fried whiting, crab cakes and a whole lot more.<\/p>\n

Home Style Kitchn\u2019s comforting creations have become so popular that Kendrick Lamar, DJ Mustard and Sza ordered empanadas and offered back \u201crave reviews\u201d when they performed in Charlotte<\/a> last May. Other famous fans include Charlotte\u2019s professional athletes and rapper Boosie<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fans of its food can also order the restaurant\u2019s seafood seasoning<\/a>, hot honey, Mumbo sauce and Bangkok chili sauce online to take home.<\/p>\n

McKenzie and Green also have an eye on the future, hoping one day to open a sports bar or continue to expand another way and build jobs for members of the community at the family restaurant.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were voted to be a part of this, and it\u2019s an honor because it was a few Charlotte staples that we surpassed. So I just appreciate everybody who voted for us,\u201d McKenzie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, we needed this!\u201d Green added.<\/p>\n

Best of Charlotte:<\/b> Coffee Shop<\/a> | Chicken Wings<\/a> | Doughnuts<\/a> | Burgers<\/a> | Ice Cream<\/a> | Brewery<\/a> | Pizza<\/a> | Sushi<\/a> | Tacos<\/a> | Food truck<\/a> | Bar<\/a> | Ramen<\/a> | Brunch<\/a> | Patio<\/a> | Barbecue<\/a> | Pie<\/a> | Fried Chicken<\/a> | Fries<\/a> | Cookies<\/a> | Steak<\/a> | Bagels<\/a> | Sports Bar<\/a> | Indian<\/a> | Sandwiches<\/a> | Italian<\/a><\/p>\n

Uniquely Charlotte:<\/b> Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.<\/i><\/p>\n

Read more Panthers\u2019 Canales \u2018fired up\u2019 for 2025 draft pick\u2019s opportunity in trenches<\/a><\/p>\n

Sign up now<\/a> to get CharlotteFive in your inbox daily. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nana Morrison\u2019s in Charlotte wins CharlotteFive readers\u2019 choice best soul food, famous for fried fish, collards and generous portions. Home Style Kitchn is finalist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-823","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nA family-owned restaurant has been named the best soul food in Charlotte - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=823\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A family-owned restaurant has been named the best soul food in Charlotte - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nana Morrison\u2019s in Charlotte wins CharlotteFive readers\u2019 choice best soul food, famous for fried fish, collards and generous portions. 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