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As rising food and labor costs are making affordable lunches tougher to find, here are 33 places to eat for $10 or less
Rusty’s Deli off Park Road in south Charlotte has $8.49 lunch specials, one of a declining number of restaurants where you can have lunch for under $10. (Photo: Tony Mecia/The Charlotte Ledger)
by Tony Mecia
Charlotte, we need to talk about rising lunch prices.
You know what I’m talking about: the $15 sandwiches. The $12 combo meals. The bill at a sit-down place that somehow is pushing $20.
Is it even possible to find a decent $10 lunch in Charlotte anymore without hitting a fast-food chain?
“It’s getting harder to find,” agrees economist Mark Vitner, who says rising labor costs and volatile food prices are contributing to lofty lunch prices. “You really do have to search.”
This week, The Ledger accepted that challenge. We talked to frugal lunch-eaters, scoured menus and ate our way around Mecklenburg County to unearth under-the-radar spots that the influencers and foodie publications typically miss.
Some of our contacts believed that discovering a $10 lunch in Charlotte is impossible: “My folks laughed when I asked them,” one business owner told me. Another said: “Under $10 and not fast food is not a thing in this economy.”
Restaurant prices nationally have risen more than 30% since 2020, faster than the overall rate of inflation, according to federal figures. That means that a lunch priced at $7.75 in 2020 is now likely over $10.
Examining our list of $10-or-less lunch spots, a few economical trends emerge, like slices of pizza, Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and tacos.
While some spots around Mecklenburg County are notoriously tough on the wallet (I’m looking at you, South End), other places offer abundant options.
In east Charlotte, asking for a great and cheap lunch recommendation is “like you’re asking a fish where he finds water,” says Greg Asciutto, executive director of CharlotteEAST, which advocates for the eastside. The area is filled with affordable international restaurants.
Here’s our list of 33 restaurants throughout Mecklenburg County. To qualify, the restaurants had to be recommended to us and offer a legitimate meal (not just a side) on weekdays for $10 or less, not including tax or drinks. (You should probably go with water anyway.)
If you have recommendations that aren’t on our list, drop us a line, and if we can verify the price, we’ll add your favorite to the article on our website.
Behold, here’s where to find a $10 lunch:
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This week in Charlotte: Hill returns as CMS superintendent, BofA tightens hybrid work rules, new principal for Ardrey Kell, Council questions anti-crime grant
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
Hill returns as CMS superintendent: (Ledger) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will reinstate Crystal Hill after a nearly two-month review into administrative and operational concerns. Board leaders said the investigation identified issues that still need attention but concluded her return offers the best path for stability as the new school year begins.
Ardrey Kell faces another leadership change: (WSOC) Principal Susan Willis will retire Nov. 1, leaving the South Charlotte high school searching for its third principal in three years. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools plans to meet with families as it begins the search for her replacement.
Politics
Balkcom tapped for congressional race: (News Channel 9) Republicans in North Carolina’s 11th District unanimously selected state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace Chuck Edwards on the November ballot. Balkcom, a Henderson County lawmaker and small business owner, will now campaign for the western North Carolina seat after Edwards ended his reelection bid.
Council questions federal anti-crime grant: (Axios) City Council members pushed back over concerns about federal oversight, expanded surveillance and strings attached to applying for a federal grant advocated by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson.
Local news
Charlotte transit ridership continues to lag: (Charlotte in Motion) CATS ridership fell 6% from March through June compared with a year earlier, even as higher gas prices helped boost public transit use in several other cities.
Red Line plan approves Camp North End stop: (Observer, subscriber-only) The Metropolitan Public Transit Authority approved a Camp North End station for the proposed Red Line and also voted to study a possible West Craighead stop separately. The latter had faced concerns from transit staff, but community pressure kept it in the conversation.
Business
BofA tightens hybrid work rules: (Ledger 🔒) Bank of America is placing new limits on when employees can work remotely and clarifying what counts as an in-office day. The changes are aimed in part at reducing Friday-to-Monday work-from-home stretches and were sent in a memo to employees last week.
New owner for former EpiCentre? (Ledger Real Estate Whispers 🔒) A prominent real estate firm is said to be buying the Queen City Quarter, fueling speculation that a major overhaul of the former EpiCentre could be in the works.
Lowes Foods eyes South Boulevard: (Observer, subscriber-only) The grocery chain is considering converting the Burlington space at Woodlawn Marketplace into another Charlotte-area grocery store as it continues expanding across the region. Plans submitted to the city include a drive-thru and parking lot improvements, though the grocer says the deal is not yet finalized.
Sports
New media partnership: (WSOC) WSOC and TV64 will air every non-nationally televised Charlotte Hornets game during the 2026-2027 season under an expanded broadcast partnership. The deal will make regular-season games available free over the air across the Charlotte market, with additional coverage and streaming details to come.
Luke Kuechly inducted into Hall of Fame: (NBC Sports) Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, at 35, last weekend became the second-youngest Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. He played eight seasons with the Panthers and gave a 14-minute speech about the life lessons football gave to him.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
Charlotte retailers ride the squishy craze. Plus: Duplex building boom?; Atrium-WakeMed deal continues to draw backlash; Unkempt area at exit of future Wegmans; Morrison YMCA documentary; Dilworth attack shakes community; Good Food on Montford to close
Wednesday (🔒)
A curveball for Madison Central Park. Plus: BofA tightens work-from-home policy; Charlotte car crashes fall, fatalities rise; The Ledger goes to federal court; CMPD proposes ‘Make America Safe Again’ grant; Balkcom tapped for congressional race
Friday (🔒)
A church’s unconventional bet pays off. Plus: CMPD pushes for teen curfew; Neighborhood Theatre unveils renovations; Toppman reviews 'Million Dollar Quartet'; Mecklenburg sues Brooklyn Village developer; Nearly $6.5B spent by tourists; Airport proposes people mover; DaBaby sells crib
Transit bump bypasses Charlotte amid safety concerns: Crime perceptions and other challenges continue to weigh on the city's transit recovery
Q&A: Maxi’s moment finally here. Plus: Charlotte FC resumes MLS schedule vs. Columbus
Trades to come on Trade Street? Plus: ‘Boutique’ office sale; More details about planned South End hotel; CRE leaders on career lessons; Lower South End condos; Uptown office building sale; New Lowes Foods store for Charlotte?