The 10 best Greek and Mediterranean restaurants in the Charlotte area

Greek and Mediterranean food around Charlotte runs from a lamb-and-beef gyro carved off the spit for the Uptown lunch crowd to lamb chops marinated for 72 hours on Providence Road, Turkish breakfast in University City and Lebanese mezze on Davidson’s Main Street. This list covers 10 restaurants in Charlotte, Matthews, Cornelius and Davidson, from counter-service grills to sit-down dinners with Greek wine. It is for weeknight takeout regulars, groups that want platters to share and diners hunting for one specific dish, from moussaka to Adana kabob. Each entry names dishes and prices from the restaurant’s menu where posted, plus a tip on hours, parking or specials. Entries are listed alphabetically, not ranked.

How we chose

Every restaurant here passed a 2026 Mecklenburg County health inspection and posts a current menu or hours. Picks are based on independent coverage, including Charlotte Agenda’s 2019 list of the city’s best Greek restaurants and 2016 hummus ranking, Axios Charlotte, the Charlotte Observer, WhatNow Charlotte, Charlotte Magazine, WSOC and the visitors bureau’s Charlotte’s Got A Lot, along with how long each restaurant has been open. The list mixes five Greek kitchens with three Lebanese ones, a Turkish cafe and an Israeli-led counter. National chains were left out, and so were restaurants that could not show 2026 evidence of being open or had too little published detail to write about. No restaurant paid to be included. Prices and hours were last checked on October 27, 2026.

Anatolia Cafe & Cuisine

Turkish breakfast is a reason to come early to this family-owned cafe, which soft-opened in April 2025 with owner Mehmet Tarhan and chef Omer Aydin, who had run two stores in Istanbul, Axios Charlotte reported. Later in the day the menu turns to lahmacun, pide and kebabs. The dining room seats about 55 to 60, Axios reported, and the cafe opens at 9 a.m.

Why we chose them

• The Turkish Breakfast Plate is $18.95, and menemen is $12.95.
• Lahmacun is $20.95, and pide runs from $17.95 for cheese to $19.95 for steak.
• Adana kabob starts at $18.95, and a mixed kebab plate is $34.95.
• Turkish coffee is $3.95, and baklava and kunefe are $9.95 each.
• The cafe is closed Tuesdays, and tables can be reserved online.

Address: Charlotte (University City) — 1520 Overland Park Ln., Suite 107

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Greco Fresh Grille

Vasili Pahountis founded this counter-service Greek grill in 2011 with recipes passed down from his mother, who emigrated from Greece after World War II, according to the restaurant. Gyros, Greek salads and hand-cut fries seasoned with lemon-oregano, cumin-garlic, spice or plain salt are the best sellers. The concept now lists 10 Charlotte-area locations, from Cornelius and NoDa to Matthews, Steele Creek and Waxhaw.

Why we chose them

• The Hercules Pita stacks lamb, chicken and fries with tzatziki.
• The Mezze Platter brings spinach pies, dolmades, tzatziki, feta, olives, hummus and pita.
• A 2019 Charlotte Agenda list of the city’s best Greek restaurants included Greco.
• The Cornelius location is open until 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Online orders are ready for pickup at every location.

Address: Cornelius — 8301 Magnolia Estates Dr., Suite 4, with nine more Charlotte-area locations

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Habibi Lebanon

Nazira Atmé bought Davidson’s Restaurant X in 2014, and in January 2024 WhatNow Charlotte reported that she planned to rename the restaurant Habibi Lebanon in early March to reflect her family’s Middle Eastern heritage. At the time, Atmé was the owner and executive chef, and her son, Perry Camacho, was general manager. The restaurant now operates under the new name.

Why we chose them

• The planned Lebanese menu included mezze, kibbeh nayeh, Lebanese stews and meat, cheese and za’atar pies, the Charlotte Observer reported.
• Sambousik and beef and chicken shawarma were also planned, with knafeh and katayef for dessert.
• The bar program planned Lebanese coffee, Lebanese wine and beer and arak cocktails.
• Lunch runs from 11 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and dinner starts at 4 p.m., so the kitchen closes mid-afternoon.
• The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Address: Davidson — 408 S. Main St.

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Hellenic Greek Kitchen

Siblings Amelia and Peyton Limberakis grew up in The Mad Greek of Charlotte, then their family’s restaurant, and opened this South End Greek kitchen on February 6, 2023, Axios Charlotte reported. At opening, Axios reported a full bar with Greek beer on tap and a long Greek wine list. Desserts include loukoumades with honey-cinnamon syrup and a baklava cheesecake.

Why we chose them

• The Flaming Saganaki, pan-fried halloumi with pita, is $11.
• The Gyro Platter, with shaved lamb and beef, fries, Greek salad, pita and tzatziki, is $19.
• Grass-fed lamb chops are $40, and a choice of three house dips with pita is $23.
• The Choose 2 lunch, Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is $20, and Mondays are dinner only.
• Park free behind the building in the restaurant and retail spaces, with a three-hour limit.

Address: Charlotte (South End) — 1436 South Blvd.

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Ilios Noche

Three friends opened this south Charlotte restaurant, bar and bakery in 2003, with bread, desserts and pastries made in house, according to the restaurant. Lamb chops marinate for 72 hours and come with tzatziki and Greek fries, and the meze list runs from grilled octopus to kefalograviera saganaki with ouzo and lemon. Pizzas and pastas share the menu with the Greek plates.

Why we chose them

• In 2019, Charlotte Agenda put Ilios Noche on a list of the city’s best Greek restaurants.
• The lamb chops are $41.95, and Chicken Lemonata is $28.95.
• Grilled octopus is $19.95, saganaki is $10.50 and a sampler of all four spreads is $20.
• Tuesdays bring half-off select wine bottles, and Wednesdays bring half-off signature cocktails.
• Reserve a table through Resy or by phone.

Address: Charlotte — 11508 Providence Rd.

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Kabab-Je Rotisserie & Grille

Mediterranean food with a focus on Lebanon, from recipes passed down through generations, is how this Matthews restaurant describes the menu. The pita is baked in house in an oven that Charlotte Magazine reported weighs 2,200 pounds and came in through a broken-out wall. For a group, the Mixed Grill Family Platter brings four skewers each of lamb, chicken and kafta with rice, vegetables, hummus and fattoush for $109.99.

Why we chose them

• Charlotte Agenda ranked the hummus No. 1 in a 2016 ranking of the city’s best hummus.
• Char-grilled lamb kabab is $22.99, and shish tawouk is $21.99.
• Shawarma and falafel pitas are $11.99 on the posted menu.
• Hours run 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and the restaurant is closed Mondays.
• An extra pita is $1.25 apiece.

Address: Matthews — 2233 Matthews Township Pkwy., Unit E

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Little Village Grill

A lamb-and-beef gyro carved off the spit, with fries tucked inside the wrap, is the signature at this counter-service Greek grill. The grill has fed Uptown for 20 years and is now in a second family generation, according to the business. Greek fries come topped with feta and herbs, and Greek bowls pair yellow rice and tzatziki with lamb and beef, chicken, pork or falafel. Smash burgers, club sandwiches and chef salads are on the menu too.

Why we chose them

• The visitors bureau’s Charlotte’s Got A Lot called the grill one of the most affordable Greek options in Charlotte in 2020.
• Charlotte Agenda named Little Village to a 2019 list of the city’s best Greek restaurants.
• Hours are weekdays only, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., so plan on breakfast or lunch.
• Pickup orders can be placed online ahead of the lunch rush.

Address: Charlotte (Uptown) — 901 E. Fourth St., across from the Mecklenburg County Courthouse

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The Mad Greek of Charlotte

This Madison Park spot opened in 1991 as a diner and became The Mad Greek of Charlotte in 2008, Charlotte Agenda reported in 2016. In 2024, Kostas Pitsonis, who is from Athens, and his son Yianni, who was raised in Charlotte and played pro soccer in Greece, took over, according to the restaurant. Burgers and cheesesteaks cover anyone not in the mood for Greek.

Why we chose them

• The Gyro Pita is $13.50 with fries, and the moussaka platter is $21.95.
• The $17.95 Tour of Greece sampler brings a skewer, spanakopita, hummus, grape leaves, pita and tzatziki.
• Charlotte Magazine pointed to the lettuce-free Village Salad and the souvlaki.
• Tuesday pita sandwiches are $11.50 with $4.50 Greek beers, and house wine bottles are half off Wednesdays.
• The restaurant is closed Mondays and opens at 10 a.m. the rest of the week.

Address: Charlotte (Madison Park) — 5011 South Blvd.

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YAFO Kitchen

Restaurateur Frank Scibelli’s group opened the first YAFO in 2016, and Israeli-born chef Shai Fargian, who cooked in New York City and Tel Aviv, leads the kitchens, according to the restaurant. The fast-casual menu is built on hummus made from organic chickpeas, shawarma-spiced rotisserie chicken, house-pickled vegetables and hot mezze sides, with vegetarian and vegan options. Order at the counter or online for pickup or delivery.

Why we chose them

• Charlotte’s Got A Lot pointed to the Israeli Hot Chicken with Greek yogurt mac and cheese in 2020.
• The restaurant was on Charlotte Agenda’s 2019 list of the city’s best Greek restaurants.
• London’s Jewish Chronicle cited the organic hummus and pickled cauliflower in a 2018 story.
• All four locations are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Address: Charlotte (Plaza Midwood) — 1331 Central Ave., Suite 101, with locations in Dilworth, SouthPark and Ballantyne

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Zeitouni Mediterranean Grill

Greek and Lebanese food share the menu at this family-owned Ballantyne grill, as Charlotte Agenda described the spot in 2019 when naming Zeitouni to a list of the city’s best Greek restaurants. The menu lists shish tawooq, shish kefta, shawarma, falafel, tabbouleh and fattoush, along with platters over rice and a mixed grill. Lebanese beer and wine and Turkish coffee round out the drinks, Charlotte’s Got A Lot noted in 2020.

Why we chose them

• The visitors bureau’s Charlotte’s Got A Lot recommended the falafel in 2020.
• Mecklenburg County inspectors scored the kitchen a 98.5 on October 13, 2026.
• Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays.
• The grill is closed Sundays, and online orders are ready for pickup.

Address: Charlotte (Ballantyne) — 3419 Toringdon Way, Suite A124

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Prices, hours and opening status last checked October 27, 2026. Call ahead where an entry says to.