22 best mac and cheese dishes in Charlotte

Haberdish

Southern kitchen and craft cocktail bar serving up stylish comfort food.

About the mac: It’s rich, just the right amount of creamy ($6/$12). You can even top it with spicy crispy chicken skins for $2 extra.

Legion Brewing SouthPark

This is Legion Brewing’s second location. A third location is slated to open at W. Morehead Street in the spring of 2021. Serving up all your favorite Legion brews, plus a full food menu.

About the mac: It’s called “Benton’s Ham Mac and Cheese,” and it’s made with corkscrew pasta, creamy cheddar sauce, and Benton’s ham ($8). It pairs great with a Juicy Jay.

Rooster’s Kitchen

Cozy wood-fired kitchen offering classic Southern American and European staples.

About the mac: Rooster’s mac and cheese is all about that melty-middle and baked-top crust.

Yafo Kitchen

Casual Mediterranean eatery slinging shawarma bowls, hummus, and house-baked laffah.

About the mac: Made perfectly creamy by using Greek yogurt.

Leroy Fox

Elevated Southern kitchen with craft cocktails.

About the mac: It’s spiral-y, cheesy, and topped with fresh herbs ($4). Enjoy it by itself or order it with their fried chicken.

Cuzzo’s Cuisine

No frills, casual spot on Tuckaseegee Road.

About the mac: They call it “Chef Andarrio’s Famous Lobster Mac & Cheese” for a reason. A half order of the lobster mac as a side will run you $7, but they also offer four different lobster mac and cheese combos (shrimp, chicken tenders, fish, and wings).

Midwood Smokehouse

A casual barbecue joint with multiple locations in Charlotte.

About the mac: Their classic mac has that thick homemade-like consistency ($3.50). Just what you want with pulled pork and coleslaw.

Mac’s Speed Shop

Barbecue, wings, and beer served in a biker-bar setting.

About the mac: The classic elbow noodles remind us of being a kid and we live for the random bits of melty shredded cheddar ($3).

The Asbury

Modern Southern fare served in the historic Dunhill Hotel.

About the mac: It’s served in a cast-iron skillet and made with cheddar, piquillo peppers, crispy ham, and goat cheese ($8).

The Loyalist Market

Cut-to-order cheese and charcuterie spot in Mathews

About the mac: It’s a five cheese blend of Cave Aged Karst, Ashe County Cheddar, Tallegio, Piave Vecchio, and UAV ricotta. “It’s totally different from BBQ-style mac & cheese,” owner Christopher Sottile told the Agenda. It’s $8 for a small (which is easily a meal) and $14 for a large (enough to split amongst 3-4 friends). You can add Benton’s Bacon for $3.

Jack Beagle’s

Laidback tavern in NoDa serving up American favorites.

About the mac: They have not one but six types of mac and cheese. Jack-Mac is their signature style. It’s a little spicy and a little garlicky ($6).

Flower Child

Healthy fast-casual spot with a trendy vibe in South End.

About the mac: Spiral noodles, cheesy, and you won’t even notice that it’s gluten-free ($4).

Kid Cashew

Rustic Mediterranean eatery in Dilworth with small plates and a large patio.

About the mac: It’s cooked in a cast-iron skillet and made with homemade mornay sauce, leeks, shallots, and five kinds of cheese ($6.95).

Papi Queso

An insanely popular food truck-turned-tenant at Optimist Hall serving up nothing but grilled cheese.

About the mac: Their Pig Mac consists of heritage pulled pork, mac and cheese, bourbon onions, and cheddar cheese ($9.50). You can also do a more simple version named the Mac Melt — a creamy mac and cheese grilled cheese ($7).

Gastropub at Wooden Robot

Eclectic pub food menu that pairs perfectly with a Good Morning Vietnam.

About the mac: It’s called the ‘Bosshog Mac & Cheese Eggroll’ and it’s filled with beer boiled macaroni, gruyere, smoked bacon jam, stilton, and parmesan cream, liquid cilantro drizzle ($12).

The Dunavant

Think of it as ‘Del Frisco’s for millennials.

About the mac: Made with four-cheese mornay, Benton’s smoked bacon, and topped with a parmesan crust ($12).

The Goodyear House

Elevated comfort food spot in NoDa.

About the mac: Spiral noodles with smoked cashew cheese and chili breadcrumbs — oh, and it’s vegan ($10).

Maria’s

A new food truck serving up family-style portions of mac & cheese and fried chicken.

About the mac: It comes in four different styles: OG mac ($25), bacon mac ($30), buffalo chicken mac ($40), and crab mac ($50).

Bistro La Bon

European fare with a modern twist.

About the mac: Their popular seafood mac & cheese is creamy and delicious and is packed with plenty of blue crab and shrimp ($16).

The Cellar at Duckworth’s

Moody prohibition-era setting with an upstairs dining room, temporarily closed due to Covid-19, and lower level bar area.

About the mac: Their truffle mac & cheese is creamy and decadent. It’s made with Grafton cheddar, gouda, and toasted pancetta ($14).

Soul Central

Grab and go Southern comfort food.

About the mac: Just like grandma used to make. If you’re looking for classic mac & cheese, look no further.

Another!? Food Truck

Contrary to the name, this is not just another food truck. The menu experiments with staple dishes from the Northeast as well as the Deep South.

About the mac: Choose from the Hot Mac ($10) which has grilled chicken, a house herb ranch sauce, and crispy onions, or their Dirty Mac ($12) which has braised beef, collard greens, “Average sauce”, and cornbread crumble.

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Looking for more food and drink guides? Here’s a full list of Agenda guides ranging from best restaurants to best burgers.