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The Guide · Colombian

Best Colombian Restaurants in Charlotte (2026)

Three restaurants across Charlotte. Compare neighborhoods, price tiers and what to order, then read the full reviews.

Dee Foster
By Dee Foster Guides Editor · Updated October 2026 · How the score is built
Best Colombian Restaurants in Charlotte (2026)
THE CHARLOTTE DINING GUIDES 3 restaurants
Compare all 3 restaurantsNeighborhood · price · score · first order
In the same order as the guide. Scores are out of 10; dollar symbols show the listed price tier.
RestaurantNeighborhoodPriceScoreWhat to order
01 Hello ChickenCharlotte$7.5Pollo Asado
02 Los PaisasCharlotte$$5.9Bandeja Paisa
03 Pio PioCharlotte$$4.5Pollo a la Brasa

3 restaurants · In guide order

1 Hello Chicken Yelp

Hello Chicken

Colombian · Charlotte · $
Insider Score7.5

The pollo asado is the reason to come, and it travels well: Hello Chicken has built a repeat catering following on the strength of it. The room has indoor seating and handles a crowd, which makes it functional for a family dinner, not just a grab-and-go. Stick to the grilled proteins and the Colombian rice and beans; the mashed potatoes have drawn complaints, so skip that side and order what the kitchen actually does well.

What to orderPollo AsadoColombian Rice and BeansGrilled Chicken Salad Call Directions
Full review & visiting detailsRead the full review & visiting details

Colombian chicken holds its own on a chain corridor

Pollo Asado

The anchor of the menu, Colombian-style rotisserie chicken seasoned and fire-roasted until the skin sets and the meat holds its own.

Colombian Rice and Beans

A foundational Colombian pairing served alongside the chicken, grounding the plate in weekday-meal tradition.

Grilled Chicken Salad

The lighter path through the menu, built on grilled chicken and worth the order when something less rich is the call.

Hello Chicken brings authentic Colombian flavors to the Pineville-Matthews corridor, offering a refreshing alternative to typical chain restaurants in the area. Located on busy Pineville-Matthews Road, this family-owned establishment has quickly become a neighborhood favorite, drawing diners with its commitment to traditional recipes and fresh ingredients. The restaurant delivers a genuine taste of Colombia in a welcoming, no-frills setting that feels both authentic and approachable.

The menu showcases Colombian comfort food at its finest, with expertly seasoned rotisserie chicken taking center stage. Visitors can expect tender, juicy pollo asado marinated in traditional Colombian spices, served alongside hearty portions of rice, beans, and crispy plantains. The restaurant also offers fresh salads that provide lighter options without sacrificing flavor, featuring ingredients like avocado, tomatoes, and house-made dressings that complement the main dishes perfectly.

The atmosphere at Hello Chicken is casual and family-oriented, with simple decor that keeps the focus on the food rather than fancy presentation. The dining room features comfortable seating arrangements suitable for both intimate meals and larger family gatherings, while the open kitchen concept allows diners to witness the care that goes into each plate. The space maintains a clean, bright environment that feels welcoming to newcomers and regulars alike.

This restaurant serves as an ideal destination for anyone seeking authentic Colombian cuisine without pretense or high prices. Whether diners are looking for a satisfying weeknight dinner, introducing friends to new flavors, or simply craving expertly prepared chicken, Hello Chicken delivers consistent quality that keeps the community coming back. The combination of generous portions, reasonable prices, and genuine hospitality makes it a valuable addition to Charlotte's diverse dining landscape.

Map showing Hello Chicken© OpenStreetMap
HoursMon - Sat: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PMSun: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Address8700 Pineville-Matthews Rd
Insider tip

Come during off-peak hours to ensure the freshest chicken straight from the rotisserie, and don't skip the plantains as a side.

2 Los Paisas Yelp

Los Paisas

Colombian · Charlotte · $$
Insider Score5.9

Bandeja paisa is the anchor here, and Los Paisas does the full plate right: rice, beans, yucca, and chimichurri on the side. The New York strip with shrimp is a reliable order too. Lunch specials run around a dollar, which makes this one of the better value plays on Pineville Matthews Road. The room sits in the back corner of a shopping center, so allow a minute to find it. Service earns consistent praise.

What to orderBandeja PaisaCarne AsadaBeef Empanadas Call Directions Scored from the full review record 8318 Pineville-Matthews Rd · (704) 542-5477
3 Pio Pio Tripadvisor

Pio Pio

Colombian · Charlotte · $$
Insider Score4.5

Pollo a la brasa is the signature, and regulars come back for it weekly without the kitchen losing a step. The bandeja paisa and arepas rellenas round out a focused Colombian menu that holds up over repeat visits. Walk-ins get seated without much wait. There's a language barrier at the table sometimes, but orders land. The room sits off East Boulevard in a shopping center anchored by Fresh Market; look for it.

What to orderPollo a la BrasaBandeja PaisaArepas Rellenas Call Directions Scored from the full review record 1408 East Blvd A-1 · (704) 379-1911
What to know before choosing a restaurant

Hello Chicken and Los Paisas showcase Charlotte's vibrant Colombian food culture. Authentic flavors you never knew existed here.

Charlotte's Colombian scene doesn't get the spotlight it deserves, but the QC has real options across the price range: counter-service pollo asado spots built for catering and weeknight families, and sit-down rooms running bandeja paisa and carne asada for a few bucks more. None of these are Uptown expense-account plays. They're neighborhood rooms, and that's the point.

Frequently asked

What are the best Colombian restaurants near me in Charlotte?
Hello Chicken, Los Paisas, and Pio Pio are the three strongest options in the Charlotte metro right now. Hello Chicken is a budget-friendly counter-service spot strong on catering and grilled chicken. Los Paisas on Pineville Matthews Road runs a full bandeja paisa plate and lunch specials that are hard to beat on price. Pio Pio off East Boulevard is the most consistent sit-down option with a solid pollo a la brasa. Each carries an Insider Score based on the full review record, and no restaurant pays to be listed.
What is bandeja paisa and where can I order it in Charlotte?
Bandeja paisa is a Colombian platter traditionally built around grilled or braised meat, rice, beans, a fried egg, chorizo, chicharrón, and plantain. It's a full meal on one plate. Both Los Paisas and Pio Pio run it in Charlotte; Los Paisas serves theirs with yucca and chimichurri on the side.
Are any of these Colombian restaurants good for a family dinner?
All three skew family-friendly and casual. Hello Chicken has plenty of indoor seating and handles groups well enough that it does repeat catering work. Los Paisas and Pio Pio are sit-down rooms with table service, both at a mid-range price point that keeps the bill reasonable for a family.
Do I need a reservation at Charlotte's Colombian restaurants?
For these three, walk-ins are generally fine. Pio Pio specifically seats walk-in parties quickly. Hello Chicken operates in a more counter-service style. Los Paisas is a neighborhood room where the lunch crowd is the busy window. None of these require advance booking under normal circumstances.
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The data first, then the verdict

We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →

About the writer
Dee Foster
Guides Editor

Dee builds Charlotte's best-of lists dish by dish, neighborhood by neighborhood, until each one points somewhere specific. Her rankings start with the review record and end with a recommendation you can act on tonight.

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