Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish Named Top NC Fried Chicken
Tasting Table has named the Charlotte restaurant the best fried chicken spot in North Carolina, two decades after it opened on Statesville Avenue.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Comfort Food
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Tasting Table has named Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish the best fried chicken restaurant in North Carolina. The honor arrives two decades after the restaurant opened on Statesville Avenue.
Why it matters
The ranking highlights a long-running Charlotte soul food restaurant and gives diners a recognized reference point when choosing where to eat fried chicken in the area. It also reflects Tasting Table's review of online discussions and award or press attention.
Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish is located at 413 Dalton Ave. and serves fried chicken, catfish bites, chicken and waffles, and sides such as mac & cheese, collard greens, fried okra and hush puppies. The restaurant has two other Charlotte locations besides the Uptown site.
The players
Tasting Table
Tasting Table is a food and dining publication known for its restaurant rankings and roundups across the United States.
Michael Rhynes Sr.
Michael Rhynes Sr. is a co-founder of Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish who has spoken publicly about the restaurant and its customers.
The details
Tasting Table's rating methodology included online reviews and discussions, including on Reddit, and it checked which restaurants had won awards or drawn press attention. Michael Rhynes Sr. helped start the restaurant, and the menu spans fried chicken dinners, wings, fish and shrimp entrees and pork chop entrees.
Timeline
Two decades ago: Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish opened on Statesville Avenue in Charlotte.
2025: CharlotteFive readers chose Original Chicken 'n Ribs as Charlotte's best fried chicken.
Oct. 30: Tasting Table published its roundup naming Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish the best in North Carolina.
Culture Shift
The Tasting Table ranking follows CharlotteFive readers' 2025 pick of Original Chicken 'n Ribs as Charlotte's best fried chicken, adding a national-level review to a city where local readers already name their own favorites. Charlotte's fried chicken scene now has several competing endorsements from both local and national sources.
Diners in Charlotte now have a national ranking to weigh alongside local picks when choosing fried chicken. Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish's three locations make it accessible from multiple parts of the city.
The takeaway
Try a combination plate at a neighborhood spot that has earned both reader and critic attention, comparing it with one of Charlotte's other top-rated fried chicken restaurants. Visiting in person lets you judge the fried chicken and sides firsthand.
Further reading
For more Charlotte picks, browse Comfort Food coverage across the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by K 104.7.
Live Poll
Would you try a new soul food restaurant after seeing it named a top spot?
