Drive-In Restaurants In and Near Charlotte
And what to order at each
IF WHAT’S old is new again, these drive-in restaurants across Charlotte are as shiny as a 2020 penny. In the middle of the 20th century, after Americans became increasingly connected – and tied to their cars – with the creation of the Interstate Highway System, a new culture of roadside eateries thrived. Suddenly, drivers could eat dinner without leaving their vehicles.
While the drive-through is omnipresent in our Fast Food World, the drive-in restaurant has faded away, a vestigial icon of our former selves.
Luckily, not all of them have disappeared. Here’s a look at some of our favorite Charlotte drive-in restaurants.
South 21 Drive In
3101 E Independence Blvd.
Celebrating its 65th year in business this year, this Independence Boulevard drive-in has clearly been doing something right. The spot is closed on Sunday and Monday because perfection needs a break.
Must order: When Guy Fieri stopped here on one of his many Charlotte visits with Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, he ordered the Super Boy. If it’s good enough for Fieri, who are we to argue?
BAR-B-Q King Drive-In
2900 Wilkinson Blvd.
Four years later, this spot on Wilkinson Boulevard opened, and it’s still serving chicken and fish like it has been for the past 61 years.
Must order: Can you stop in here and really not order the namesake barbecue plate? Just don’t forget its coveted sides and dessert.
Blackwood’s Drive-In
201 York Rd., Kings Mountain
You’ll have to drive a bit for this King’s Mountain spot, but this is a drive-in after all, so that shouldn’t be a problem. Maybe hit the hiking trail afterward to lessen the guilt here.
Must order: The homemade cherry lemon Sundrop
Misner is a writer for this magazine. His work has also appeared in Our State, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Logo, and The Knot.
