13 North Carolina Soul Food Spots That Bring Sunday Dinner To Every Day
Growing up, Sunday dinners meant one thing: a table groaning under the weight of fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread so good it could make you cry.
North Carolina knows how to keep that tradition alive every single day of the week.
From the mountains to the coast, these 15 soul food spots serve up the kind of comfort that feels like a warm hug from grandma.
1. Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, Raleigh
Chef Ashley Christensen took Southern comfort food and gave it a downtown Raleigh glow-up that would make any grandmother proud.
Fried chicken here gets a sweet drizzle of local honey that transforms each bite into pure magic. The buttermilk biscuits are flaky enough to cause a scene, and the pimento cheese could start its own fan club.
Locals line up for Sunday brunch, but honestly, any day here feels like a celebration worth attending with your stretchy pants on.
2. Dame’s Chicken & Waffles, Durham/Greensboro
Forget choosing between savory and sweet because Dame’s said why not both? Their signature dish pairs perfectly seasoned fried chicken with waffles so fluffy they practically float off the plate.
The menu reads like a love letter to Southern cooking, with creative twists that keep regulars coming back weekly.
Sweet potato pancakes and candied bacon make appearances that’ll have you planning your next visit before you finish your first. This place turns breakfast into an all-day affair.
3. Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish, Charlotte
Walking into Mr. Charles feels like stepping into your favorite uncle’s kitchen where the grease is hot and the welcome is warm.
They’ve been frying up chicken and fish in Charlotte for years, perfecting that crispy golden crust that shatters with every bite.
The coleslaw has just the right amount of tang to cut through the richness. Hushpuppies come out piping hot and disappear faster than you can say seconds, please.
4. Cuzzo’s Cuisine, Charlotte
Cuzzo’s brings that authentic family recipe energy where every dish tastes like it was made with a whole lot of love and a secret ingredient list.
Their oxtails are fall-off-the-bone tender and swimming in gravy so rich it deserves its own zip code.
Collard greens get cooked low and slow until they reach that perfect tender bite. The candied yams are sweet enough to qualify as dessert but somehow still belong on your dinner plate.
5. Soul Central, Charlotte
Right in the heart of Charlotte, Soul Central serves up plates that could feed a small army while making your taste buds do a happy dance.
Their mac and cheese gets baked until the top forms that crispy golden layer everyone fights over. Fried chicken arrives perfectly seasoned with a crunch that echoes across the dining room.
Green beans cooked with smoked turkey give vegetables the respect they deserve, and the cornbread is moist enough to skip the butter.
6. JJ’s Mama’s Soulfood & More, Lexington
JJ’s Mama clearly knew what she was doing when she passed down these recipes because this Lexington spot serves food that tastes like a Sunday afternoon at grandma’s house.
Pork chops come out fried to perfection with a seasoning blend that’ll make you want to know what’s in it. Mashed potatoes are whipped smooth and drowning in gravy that could solve world problems.
The atmosphere feels like home, probably because it basically is someone’s treasured family kitchen gone public.
7. Becky’s & Mary’s, High Point
Two names in the title means double the expertise, and Becky and Mary clearly pooled their talents to create High Point’s coziest soul food destination.
Their fried chicken recipe probably has angels singing backup, with skin so crispy it crackles and meat so juicy it needs extra napkins.
Potato salad strikes that perfect balance between creamy and tangy. Baked beans bring a touch of sweetness that rounds out every plate beautifully and keeps folks driving from neighboring towns.
8. Haberdish, Charlotte
Charlotte’s Haberdish takes soul food uptown without losing any of the downtown flavor that makes it special.
Their approach blends traditional techniques with modern twists that surprise and delight in equal measure. Fried chicken gets brined for hours before hitting the fryer, resulting in meat so tender it practically melts.
Pimento cheese arrives whipped to perfection with house-made pickles that add the perfect tangy crunch. The vibe screams date night, but the food whispers Sunday supper in all the best ways.
9. Early Girl Eatery, Asheville
Nestled in the mountains, Early Girl Eatery proves that soul food and farm-to-table cooking are basically cousins who should hang out more often.
They source ingredients locally and cook them with the kind of care that would make any Southern grandmother nod approvingly.
Biscuits arrive hot and flaky, ready to soak up sausage gravy that’s thick enough to stand a spoon in. Country ham and stone-ground grits complete the mountain breakfast experience perfectly.
10. Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen, Cary/Greensboro
Lucky 32 brings refined Southern cooking to both Cary and Greensboro without sacrificing the soul that makes comfort food so comforting.
Fried green tomatoes arrive golden and crispy with a remoulade that adds just the right kick. Their shrimp and grits elevate the classic dish with perfectly seasoned seafood nestled in creamy stone-ground goodness.
Collard greens get treated with respect, cooked until tender but never mushy. The atmosphere feels fancy enough for celebrations but welcoming enough for Tuesday dinner.
11. Iyla’s Southern Kitchen, Raleigh
Iyla’s proves that Raleigh takes its soul food seriously by offering another stellar option for folks craving authentic Southern cooking done right.
Fried catfish arrives with a cornmeal crust that’s seasoned to perfection and stays crispy from first bite to last. Black-eyed peas simmer with just enough smokiness to make them addictive.
Sweet potato casserole walks that fine line between side dish and dessert, topped with pecans that add the perfect crunch to every spoonful.
12. Nippy’s Soul Food, Wilmington
Down by the coast, Nippy’s brings soul food to Wilmington with recipes that have been perfected over generations of family cooking.
Fried chicken stays juicy inside that perfectly crispy coating, proving that good technique never goes out of style.
Red rice adds a coastal Carolina twist to the menu, cooked with tomatoes and spices that make it irresistible.
Lima beans might sound boring, but Nippy’s version will change your mind about this underrated legume completely.
13. George’s Soul Food, Wilmington
George knows that Wilmington deserves multiple soul food options, so his restaurant steps up with plates that honor tradition while satisfying modern appetites.
Barbecue ribs come fall-off-the-bone tender with a sauce that balances sweet and tangy notes perfectly. Collard greens simmer all day until they reach that ideal texture that only patience can achieve.
Mac and cheese gets baked until bubbly with a cheese blend that stretches with every forkful, making it absolutely impossible to resist seconds.