Chicken Box Café In Charlotte, North Carolina: A Restaurant Review

When a friend suggested that we have lunch together at the Chicken Box Café, I had no idea that I would encounter one of the best soul food restaurants in America. Extraordinary taste and flavor is how I would describe the food at the Chicken Box Café in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is really that good!

When we arrived that afternoon, the relatively small parking lot was full. Cars were jammed together everywhere around the building. I thought to myself that the Chicken Box Café seemed to be a popular place. The food must be pretty good. My prediction was more than correct.

Though extremely busy and crowded that day, the Chicken Box Café had an orderly and efficient way of serving customers. We stepped up to the counter to place our order. The cashier was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. He was also patient as I took a while to order. Everything looked so good, it was hard to decide. Should I order the fried chicken, voted at one time as best chicken in Charlotte? Or should I go for meatloaf or the smothered chicken dinner? I was sure their fish-whiting, perch, tilapia, croaker and flounder were great too, but I am allergic to fish. I settled on the smothered pork chops. My friend had the turkey wing dinner. All of their dinners come with two sides and a roll or muffin. I had the broccoli casserole, cabbage, roll and sweet tea. She had the cabbage, dressing, muffin and lemonade.

We found a table and waited for our number to be called. The dining area was clean and comfortable. It didn't take long to get our order considering the number of people they had to serve. We went to the counter to get our food. The pork chop was tender and the gravy was just right. The cabbage had a wonderful flavor. My friend enjoyed her meal as well.

I have returned often to the Chicken Box Café since my initially wonderful experience. Each time I have been impressed as I try different items on their menu. Based on conjecture only and not personal experience, the chittlin, pig feet, and oxtail dinners are probably great too.

Below is some additional information about the Chicken Box Café.

Chicken Box Café Charlotte North Carolina: Location and Hours

The Chicken Box Café is located at 3726 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28206. The phone number is 704-566-6000. They are open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. They welcome phone in orders which can be picked up at their drive through window.

Chicken Box Café Charlotte North Carolina: Menus and Price

The 1 piece breast dinner is $6.55. They have a chicken and fish dinner at $11.50. For a smaller appetite, they have the "Chicken Snacks" menu. These come with a roll only. The 2 piece dark is $2.92; the liver snack is $4.80 and the gizzard snack is also $4.80. There are also chicken or fish sandwiches from $2.10 to $3.75. They have seafood dinners from $7.35 for the popcorn shrimp dinner to $13.99 for the seafood platter. The "Southern Cooking" menu has the neck bones with rice at $7.49 to the chittlin dinner with rice at $15.99.

There is a kids menu at $5.25 with enough food for an adult really. The Chicken Box Café has a daily special at $5.99 with no substitutions. It is served with cole slaw, French fries and a roll.

Their homemade vegetables are not seasoned with pork. There is a vegetable plate which comes with three vegetables, a muffin or roll and a medium tea for $5.99. In addition to the vegetables we ordered, they also have black-eyed peas (also with rice), candied yams, cole slaw, corn, collard greens, green beans, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, fried okra, pinto beans (also with rice), potato salad and turnip greens.

The Chicken Box Café also has chicken wingettes at 10 for $7.50. They have buffalo, fried, barbeque or lemon pepper wings. All are served with ranch dressing.

Their dessert menu includes banana pudding, peach cobbler, sweet potato pie, pound cake, red velvet cake, chocolate gold cake, lemon cream cake and carrot cake. Their sweet potato pie is the best I have ever tasted. Ever!

Chicken Box Café Charlotte North Carolina: Family Meals and Price

I have ordered the 8 piece chicken family meal and the salisbury steak family meal for a friend who was ill. The family meals come with large portions, 3 large sides and 4 rolls. The Salisbury steak, meatloaf, and pork chop meals are $19.99 each. The 10 piece whiting and 10 piece chicken meals are $24.99.

The Chicken Box Café also has chicken meals that feed 25 people at $175.00; 50 at $350.00; 75 at $525.00 or 100 people at $700.00. The meal that serves 50 people comes with 100 pieces of chicken, 4- ½ pans of side orders, 50 dinner rolls and 4 gallons of ice tea.

I have been quite satisfied on the several occasions that I have visited the Chicken Box Café in Charlotte. When looking for just good old down-home cooking, the Chicken Box Café in Charlotte, North Carolina is sure to satisfy your appetite as it has mine.