Where to find a $10 lunch in Charlotte

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It’s tough these days to find spots for lunch that will set you back less than $10.

But here’s our list. To qualify, restaurants had to offer a legitimate meal (not just a side) on weekdays for $10 or less, not including tax or drinks. We excluded national fast-food chains. Prices and locations are current as of August 2026. Smaller local chains are listed by location, while larger local chains appear at the end

➡️ Have any suggestions of ones we missed? Drop us a line with your favorites.

EAST CHARLOTTE

Crispy Banh Mi: This small Vietnamese sandwich shop chain has banh mi between $7 and $9. Also on South Boulevard and in Ballantyne.

House of Pizza: You can get a spaghetti dish with marinara or meat sauce, with a salad and your choice of plain or garlic bread, for $10. Or ravioli or baked ziti for $10 (with bread, but no salad).

Tacos el Nevado: It’s known for its Mexican street food, especially the homemade tortillas on tacos that are mostly $3.50 to $4.50 each. Or get the “gordita” ($4.99) – a stuffed corn tortilla – plus a drink for under $10. Also a South Boulevard location.

MATTHEWS

East 74 Restaurant: For Southern homestyle fare, you can get under-$10 lunches including sandwiches and even spaghetti, plus sides. Slight discount for paying cash.

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant: You’ve got 22 lunch specials to choose from Monday through Saturday that are combos of tacos, enchiladas, burritos and such, typically with rice and beans. Also in Pineville and University City.

Picadeli’s Pub-In-Deli: Picadeli’s has a wide range of $9 sandwiches (corned beef, pastrami, turkey, ham), which come with a side.

South 21 Matthews: This drive-in has been serving favorites like burgers ($5.40) and BBQ sandwiches ($5.70) since 1955. Or get two pieces of fried chicken with a side (fries or onion rings seem appropriate) for $8.49.

NEAR UPTOWN

Brooks Sandwich House: This well-known spot in NoDa with a walk-up window has been serving burgers for more than 40 years. Cheeseburgers are $8.50 and sandwiches such as livermush and fried bologna are under $8.

Sweet Lew’s Barbecue: Known for its barbecue ($9 chopped pork with slaw and pickles), but don’t sleep on the fish sandwich, either ($8, with side of slaw).

Innovation Barn: You might know the Innovation Barn as a recycling lab and environmental education center, but it’s also a community gathering spot that offers a $9 “Barn Bites” lunch each weekday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a rotating main dish and sides.

Zambies Pizza: Zambies Pizza in NoDa offers “massive slices,” a reader tells us, that are “more than enough for lunch.” They’re in the $7-9 range.

NORTH MECKLENBURG

Davidson Soda Shop: This spot in downtown Davidson has several menu items flirting with the $10 mark and some under, including chicken quesadillas and grilled cheese and a side.

Mac's Speed Shop: Mac’s in Cornelius offers a weekday $10 “Speed Lunch” with a choice of entrees such as a smoked quarter chicken or burger, plus a side. Also in Steele Creek and South End.

Maola’s Pizzeria and Restaurant: You’ve got plenty of under-$10 choices at Maola’s, on Main Street in Cornelius, including rotating $10 specials each weekday, with pasta and a drink or wrap/hero sub, fries and a drink. Or get two specialty slices and a drink for $8.99. Two cheese slices and a drink are a mere $5.

Pinky’s Westside Grill: Under-$10 options at Pinky’s in Huntersville include a vegetarian Greek pita with hummus for $9.95, a pimento cheese sandwich for $8.25, a bologna sandwich for $8.50 or a basic burger for $9.75. Also in west Charlotte.

PINEVILLE

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant: You’ve got 22 lunch specials to choose from Monday through Saturday that are combos of tacos, enchiladas, burritos and such, typically with rice and beans. Also in Matthews and University City.

SOUTH CHARLOTTE

Azucar: Who’s up for generous portions of Cuban food? Azucar in Ballantyne has 10 weekday $10 lunch specials including grilled chicken thighs and white fish in chimichurri. One standout is the vaca frita (grilled shredded beef with onions).

Calle Sol: The SouthPark location of Calle Sol has a handful of $10 lunch specials such as a Cuban sandwich, stir fried rice and roasted pork, an unusually good value for a sit-down restaurant. (The Plaza Midwood location has a good deal, too: a cafeteria-style lunch for $11, but that’s not under $10.)

Crispy Banh Mi: This small Vietnamese sandwich shop chain in Ballantyne has banh mi between $7 and $9. Also on South Boulevard and east Charlotte.

Lula Banh Mi & Pho: Lula, at the Arboretum, offers value Vietnamese food, including eight varieties of banh mi sandwiches for $8 to $9.

Rusty’s Deli: Rusty’s, at the Quail Corners Shopping Center, can be packed at prime lunchtime. There are still good values, like chicken salad or tuna sandwiches for $9.82.

SOUTH END/SOUTH BOULEVARD

Crispy Banh Mi: This small Vietnamese sandwich shop chain has banh mi between $7 and $9. Also east Charlotte and in Ballantyne.

Mac's Speed Shop: Mac’s offers a weekday $10 “Speed Lunch” with a choice of entrees such as a smoked quarter chicken or burger, plus a side. Also in Cornelius and Steele Creek.

Tacos el Nevado: It’s known for its Mexican street food, especially the homemade tortillas on tacos that are mostly $3.50 to $4.50 each. Or get the “gordita” ($4.99) – a stuffed corn tortilla – plus a drink for under $10. Also an east Charlotte location.

STEELE CREEK

Mac's Speed Shop: Mac’s offers a weekday $10 “Speed Lunch” with a choice of entrees such as a smoked quarter chicken or burger, plus a side. Also in Cornelius and South End.

Steele Creek Cafe: This old-school Southern diner with generous portions offers affordable lunches, including sandwiches just under $10.

UNIVERSITY CITY

Banh Mi Brothers: You can score Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches: $7.95 for traditional meat or $8.75 for vegan.

Halal Cart University: How about a gyro? Or chicken or lamb over rice? They’re between $8 and $9 at Halal Cart University. Also at Trade and Tryon uptown.

La Unica Mexican Restaurant: You’ve got choices: 14 lunch specials under $10, typically with burritos or enchiladas plus rice and beans. Also in Harrisburg, Indian Trail and Huntersville.

Monterrey Mexican Restaurant: You’ve got 22 lunch specials to choose from Monday through Saturday that are combos of tacos, enchiladas, burritos and such, typically with rice and beans. Also in Matthews and Pineville.

UPTOWN

Felix Empanadas: You can get a chicken, beef, spinach or cheese empanada in Latta Arcade for $5. So that’s two for $10, or get one and a side. They’re filling. (Also at Optimist Hall.)

Halal Food Cart: How about a gyro? Or chicken or lamb over rice? They’re between $8 and $9 at Halal Food Cart at Trade and Tryon. Also in University City.

K.O. Sushi: This sushi spot on South Tryon Street has several 12-piece rolls for under $10, including California rolls, salmon rolls and shrimp rolls.

Pie in the Sky: Slices are $4 in this pizzeria in Latta Arcade, so get two for $8.

Pizzeria Sapienza CLT: This by-the-slice pizza spot on North Church and 9th streets has several under-$10 lunch specials that will get you two slices, enough to power you through the afternoon.

Sandwich Club: This old standby off The Green has several hearty $10 sandwiches, including the Parkside (breaded chicken, bacon and cheese) and the Carolina Crunch Wrap (grilled chicken with cheese, tortilla strips and BBQ ranch).

STK Steakhouse: You might be surprised to see an uptown steakhouse on this list, but STK on North College offers a $9.99 cheeseburger and fries lunch special. It’s unusual to find a steakhouse burger for under $10.  

WEST CHARLOTTE 

Pinky’s Westside Grill: Under-$10 options include a vegetarian Greek pita with hummus for $9.95, a pimento cheese sandwich for $8.25, a bologna sandwich for $8.50 or a basic burger for $9.75. Also in Huntersville.

The Stockyard: This one flies under the radar, but regulars say it’s an affordable secret, in an industrial area on Rozzelles Ferry Road. The fried flounder gets high marks (as do its inexpensive breakfasts, but that’s another article).

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Common Market: Common Market, which has three locations in Charlotte, lists several sandwiches on its menu that fit the under-$10 description, including the turkey, bacon and cheese; spicy turkey, a Reuben and a club sandwich. It’s in Plaza Midwood, South End and Monroe Road.

Sabor Latin Street Grill: Locally based chain Sabor has 14 locations in the Charlotte region and came up frequently in conversations about inexpensive lunches. In addition to regular tacos for $3-4 and an empanada value meal for $8.99 (empanada, side, chips and drink), it offers a $7 burrito on Mondays and half off tacos on Tuesdays — so that’s as little as $1.50 a taco.

Viva Chicken: A hack one reader uses for an inexpensive and satisfying lunch is to order the 1/4 chicken kids meal at Viva Chicken ($8.25), a locally based chain with eight Charlotte-area locations. The meal comes with a side and drink. “I’ve never been questioned about it, and I don’t look like I’m 10 or 12 or whatever,” she said.