The 10 best Latin American restaurants in Charlotte
Charlotte’s Latin American restaurants run from $3.95 pupusas at a Camp North End food stall to a Brazilian rodizio steakhouse Uptown, with Peruvian Nikkei, Colombian, Cuban, Venezuelan and Argentine kitchens in between. This list covers 10 restaurants in Charlotte and Pineville, from South End sharing plates to a South Boulevard spot that serves Colombian breakfast from 8 a.m. Seven of them are named in Axios Charlotte’s roundup of Hispanic- and Latino-owned restaurants, last updated in June 2025. The list is for diners planning a group dinner, a cheap lunch or a first try at a new cuisine. Entries are listed alphabetically, not ranked.
How we chose
Each restaurant passed a Mecklenburg County health inspection in 2026 with an A grade and all but one posted current menus, hours or online ordering on the restaurant’s own website; the exception, which has no official site, had three 2026 inspections. Picks are based on cooking style and country of origin, the people behind each kitchen, posted menu prices and coverage from Axios Charlotte, WFAE and the City of Charlotte. The list spreads across Peru, Colombia, Cuba, Venezuela, El Salvador, Brazil and Argentina, with no more than three picks for any one country. One entry belongs to a four-restaurant chain. Restaurants without a 2026 inspection were left out. Prices come from the restaurants’ own menus in November 2026 and change often. No restaurant paid to be included.
Brasas Arepas & Grill
Colombian native Rafael Bravo bought this arepa restaurant from the original Venezuelan owner, Axios Charlotte reported, and the City of Charlotte has called the kitchen part Venezuelan, part Colombian, with a full page of the menu given to arepas. Axios praised the arepas and the traditional Venezuelan and Colombian dishes alongside them. Mecklenburg County inspected the kitchen three times in 2026, most recently in October.
Why we chose them
- The churrasco steak was the dish Axios Charlotte suggested.
- The October 2026 county inspection scored the kitchen a 99, an A grade.
- The restaurant has no official website posting hours or prices, so call ahead.
Address: Charlotte (LoSo) — 4740 Old Pineville Road
Cali Colombian Restaurant
Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. every day at this Colombian restaurant, which Axios Charlotte describes as having an in-house bakery, and the owners also run a Raleigh location. Axios told readers to try the bandeja paisa, now $22.99 for grilled steak, chicharrón, sausage, rice, beans, arepa, sweet plantains, egg and avocado. Whole fried mojarra and arroz con mariscos are on the menu too.
Why we chose them
- Desayuno Bogotano pairs two pan de bono with eggs and coffee or Milo hot chocolate for $11.99.
- Desayuno Montañero, a calentado plate, is $14.99.
- The Picada platter is $28.99 for one or $43.99 family size.
- Sancocho de gallina, a chicken soup with potato, corn, yuca and plantain, is $18.99.
- Hours are 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
Address: Charlotte (south Charlotte) — 5920 South Blvd.
Calle Sol
Frank Scibelli’s FS Food Group, the Charlotte company behind Mama Ricotta’s, Little Mama’s, YAFO and Midwood Smokehouse, runs this Latin kitchen and rum bar. The menu goes from Cuba to Peru and takes cues from neighborhood spots in Tampa and Miami, with pressed sandwiches, ceviches and a Chino-Latino section of chaufa and saltado. Cuban fried rice comes with roast lechón, bacon, caramelized pineapple and plantains.
Why we chose them
- The weekday lunch Cafetería plate is one entrée and two sides from the hot bar for $11.
- Wednesday’s Cafetería entrée is ropa vieja, and Friday’s is fish.
- Miami and Tampa Cubanos are both on the menu; the whole Tampa Cubano is $14 at dinner.
- At dinner, ceviche with leche de tigre is $19 and a whole fried Havana Snapper is $37.
- Hours run 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and until 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Address: Charlotte (Plaza Midwood) — 1205 Thomas Ave., with a second location in SouthPark
See the full directory listing
Chima Steakhouse
Gauchos carve more than 15 cuts tableside at this Brazilian rodizio steakhouse, led by the signature top sirloin, picanha, and diners flip a token to yes to start the meat coming. The Uptown restaurant is one of four Chima locations, with the others in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Tysons Corner, and an upstairs lounge overlooks the skyline. Chima has served rodizio since 2003, according to the company.
Why we chose them
- Dinner’s Complete Rodizio is $70, the Select Rodizio $52 and the Gourmet Salad Bar $36.
- Lunch runs daily, with the salad bar at $20 and the Special Rodizio at $46.
- Children 7 to 11 eat for half price, and children 6 and under eat free.
- On Thanksgiving Day, the Complete Rodizio with the holiday menu is $82, and booking requires a card.
- Valet parking is $18, and bar appetizer specials run weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
Address: Charlotte (Uptown) — 139 S. Tryon St.
El Puro Cuban Restaurant
In Cuban culture, el puro means cigar but can also be an affectionate word for a father, and the family named this restaurant for their late patriarch. Axios Charlotte named Manny Pérez Ochoa as a co-owner and described a 1950s, pre-revolution Cuba feel. Live music runs Wednesday through Sunday with a different band each day, and ropa vieja, with shredded flank steak, creole sauce, congrí and maduros, is $30.
Why we chose them
- Rabo encendido, a braised oxtail, is $40; four housemade ham croquetas are $12.
- Wednesday is Bohemian Nights, with every cocktail $10 all day.
- The last Wednesday of each month is The Havana Affair.
- Sunday’s Crossover brunch starts at noon with live music.
- Reserve through OpenTable; groups of 30 or more go through the private events page.
Address: Charlotte (Madison Park) — 5033 South Blvd., Suite H
See the full directory listing
Felix Empanadas
Founder Felix Godward, whose parents are from Argentina, grew up making empanadas with his family and launched the business from a small trailer after moving to Charlotte in 2017, WFAE reported. The Optimist Hall counter opened March 3, 2020, about two weeks before North Carolina shut indoor dining, and Godward now runs the business with his brother, Ivan. More than 21 flavors range from Argentinian Street Beef, with egg, raisins and olives, to lobster, corn and chive.
Why we chose them
- Empanadas are baked, not fried, and fries cook in beef tallow.
- Skirt steak over fries is a Charlotte-only plate.
- Axios Charlotte’s pick was the Carolina BBQ empanada.
- The Latta Arcade counter is open weekdays only, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Optimist Hall hours run daily, until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Address: Charlotte (Optimist Park) — 1115 N. Brevard St., inside Optimist Hall, with a counter in Uptown’s Latta Arcade
La Caseta
Owners Miriam and Dalton Espaillat grew up in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, and the restaurant calls the menu a celebration of handmade street food from those communities. Pupusas, arepas, empanadas and tacos come from a food stall at Camp North End. The Arepa Rumbera is a Caracas-style arepa with shredded pork and yellow Gouda, and the baked beef empanada follows a Mendoza style, with egg, olives and chimichurri.
Why we chose them
- Pupusas are $3.95 each, including the pork, cheese and bean Revueltas.
- Try The Entire Menu gets one of each of seven signature items for $36.
- Arepas are $6.95, and the baked beef empanada is $4.95.
- Axios Charlotte suggested the taco al pastor, $4.49 on a handmade corn tortilla.
- Hours run 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. most days and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Address: Charlotte (Camp North End) — 1801 N. Graham St.
Machu Picchu
Charcoal rotisserie chicken anchors a menu of more than 50 dishes at this Peruvian restaurant in Pineville, which also cooks Chifa, the Peruvian-Chinese style, and Mexican plates. A second location serves the Mountain Island area of west Charlotte. Aji de gallina, shredded chicken in yellow pepper sauce over potatoes and rice, is $20.99, and tacu tacu con lomo saltado pairs a canary-bean stir-fry with beef seared with pisco for $27.99.
Why we chose them
- A quarter chicken with two sides is $12.99, and a whole bird with three sides is $29.99.
- Lomo saltado is $24.99, and ceviche de pescado with rocoto chilies is $24.99.
- The Pineville dining room stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Saturday and Sunday open at 10 a.m. in Pineville.
- The two locations keep different hours, so call ahead before driving to either one.
Address: Pineville (downtown) — 123 Main St., with a second location at 10916 Black Dog Lane in west Charlotte
Muraya
Axios Charlotte named the owners as Manny Pérez Ochoa, co-owner of El Puro, and Carolina Maury, who was born in Barranquilla, and the restaurant says a couple founded the place and that every dish pays homage to Cartagena, Colombia. Carimañolas de carne, three yuca fritters with seasoned beef, hogao and suero costeño, are $20. Colombian-style sushi rolls include the Barranquillero, with chicharrón, sweet plantain and a gochujang-tamarind sauce, for $19.
Why we chose them
- Axios suggested the coctel de camarones with waffled tostones, now $22.
- Costilla de res, a short rib braised in black beer and panela, is $46.
- The Picada de la casa sampler is $80 for the table.
- Arepas de queso with Gruyère are $14, and pan de bonos with guava and cream cheese are $15.
- Mondays are closed, and Tuesday through Thursday service starts at 5 p.m.
Address: Charlotte (South End) — 200 E. Bland St.
See the full directory listing
Yunta
Hospitality veterans Randy Garcia and chef Bruno Macchiavello, who opened Viva Chicken in Charlotte in 2013, founded this Peruvian Nikkei restaurant, and the restaurant translates the Quechua name as friend. The menu is built for sharing, with ceviches, tiraditos, causas, maki rolls and nigiri, plus vegetarian and non-seafood options. Axios Charlotte suggested the Tiger’s Milk ceviche, with mahi, golden fried squid and leche de tigre, now $23.
Why we chose them
- Lomo saltado with filet mignon and Andean baby potatoes is $30.
- Pisco sours are $16, with traditional, passion fruit or chicha morada foam.
- Tables carry time limits, from 1.5 hours for two to 3 hours for eight or more.
- Weekend brunch runs 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with bento boxes from $42.
- Book through the reservation link on the restaurant’s website.
Address: Charlotte (South End) — 2201 South Blvd.
See the full directory listing
Prices, hours and opening status last checked November 13, 2026. Call ahead where an entry says to.
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