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Each time I visit Raleigh, I try to go to a Char-Grill. The last two visits have been to the Hillsborough Street location. So glad this place is still here in my hometown. Each taste of the steak burger, fries, or shake are just heaven to me. I really enjoy my meal every time. There are a couple of tables to sit at, but we just ate in our car this time. The staff are always nice, and quick to get orders out. Chatting with others while waiting for the food is a great way to pass time, and learn of other places nearby to visit. We were told there's a bar across the street where you can take your food in, and that sounds like a good night! Definitely go try their food, and have the Char-Grill experience.
There is no indoor seating, so make sure you go when it is warm or plan to eat in your car. The food was alright. The burger reminded me a lot of a fast food burger, similar to Cook Out. The white slaw was kind of blah and made my burger soggy even though we sat down and ate right away. One thing I did think was cute was the ordering process. You write your order on a small paper tablet and hand it to the people at the register, which adds a little charm to the place. We were brought here by friends for a quick bite before a hockey game, so it served its purpose. That said, the bathroom was absolutely disgusting, which really took away from the experience. Probably fine for a quick stop, but not somewhere I would go out of my way to return to.
Maybe you can't go back home, but you can still go back to the original Char-Grill, which feels pretty good. Well, at least for now you can go back, but the future of this specific spot is more than a bit up in the air since the property has been sold to a developer who's plan are more than a bit murky. This place first opened in 1959, and has seen several changes in ownership, and a few menu adjustments, but this spot has remained pretty much unchanged, even the need to hand write each order is still in force. We tried three items here - a cheeseburger, a chili dog, and my favorite, the 1/2 lb Hamburger Steak Sandwich. Everything was pretty darn good, though the chili dog was crudely assembled, messy but still tasty. This was a nostalgic visit to say the least!
A classic Raleigh burger joint since 1959! It doesn't seem like much has changed based upon the menu options, location and signage. My two highlights were the semi-cryptic ordering form and the super thick vanilla shake. It was kinda fun and sort of confusing filling out the order form with a mini pencil, slipping it into the window slot and watching it 'slide' down the metal chute. The Hamburger Steak Jr (1/4 lb) patty was thin and oval-shaped, like the sesame seed-covered hoagie roll it was served on. I think a larger patty would be better, so next time I'll try the 1/2 lb version. Overall, i enjoyed the flavors of my Steak Jr. Also got a Char-Burger with chili, onions and "catsup," and man was it small (just 3 oz aka .18 lbs). It was a snack that wasn't all that good. The fries were thicker than shoestring, but not as thick as wedges. It was a small bag, but good and straight from the flyer. And again, the vanilla shake was excellent. Drive-in, park, order, take to-go or eat at the few tables the have outside the restaurant.
One hundred percent best burger for me in NC period . Solid 5 stars for all categories . 5 stars-Food always hot and fresh. Never once have I ever had an issue with missing items or special requests. 5 stars- employees duper nice and extreme attention to detail with orders . Great team work. 5 stars- environment clean watch good bring prepared in front of you. Napkins condiments and straws always included . Amazing consistency. If you haven't been here you're missing out . Worth the trip prices are good too.
Your classic burger joint that's been around since 1960. You grab a slip of paper with menu options, fill out your order with a nub of a pencil, and slide it through a slot in the plate glass window, through which you can see 2-foot- high flames rising above a weathered flat top that emanates a delicious beefy aroma. The burgers are no frills, backyard barbecue vibes, really well seasoned and topped with the best burger cheese there is--melty yellow American. The fries are thick and starchy but cooked well so the vast majority are crisp and a little crunchy on the ends. They salt them really well, which goes a long way with thick cut fries. I heard the milkshakes are a great choice, but I wasn't nearly hungry enough, so I went with a soda fountain Dr. Pepper instead. Nice crunchy ice and a well stocked syrup supply gave it that classic drive-in soda quality. Super friendly staff rounded out that experience as well. It's not the best burger I've ever had by any means, but it really does give a warm sense of nostalgia, even for a place I'd never been to before.
This place is super fun and old school. The aroma reminded me of the burger joint down the way from my middle school lol. I will say.. there aren't proper directions on what to do unless you're with someone who knows or someone next to you is kind enough to walk you through it. Make sure you read the paper clearly and select the things you want because it's coming without ketchup if you don't put it lol. When I checked out no one waits in line properly and if you don't force your way to the window to pay people will just keep cutting you, butttt I was just trying to be polite and fair. I guess that doesn't work here. My only thing that is super negative is my hot dog was squished and I ate it at the tables sooooo they were probably in a hurry. He looked like he got stepped on lol. But this place was very good! Glad I got to check it out!
Char-Grill is always a good option if you are looking for a quick meal. I ordered a cheeseburger topped with ketchup, mustard, chili, onion and slaw and a side of fries. This spot is fun to order at since you walk up and fill out your order on one of the prepared slips then send it down to be prepared.
I stopped by here at 7:25pm on a Thursday evening. I found this by looking for fast food and wanted to try something different from the chain restaurants. On arrival, I looked at the menu which consists of burgers, grilled cheese, hot dogs, and bbq. They also have shakes. It reminds me of the Cookout chain, honesty. As I'm writing this review, I'm wishing they sold hushpuppies, lol. You must order via a piece of paper where you notate your choices, something I was completely unaware at first until I saw someone else grab the sheet. I got a double char burger with bacon, fries, and a brownie w/ no nuts. I placed my order at 7:30. Placing your order means putting it into this little slot where a staff member grabs it. You can put your name at the top or simply remember the number at the top. When ready, they will call your name or number via speakers that are a decent volume. They do have two picnic tables outside on the left side of the building. There is no indoor seating. There is a decent amount of parking available around the restaurant. Upon arrival and waiting, I saw they have a 100% sanitation score. My food was ready at 7:40pm. I was told they were out of brownies but I got a cookie instead. My total was $13.13. My fries were fresh and nicely salted. I realized I mean to get a cheese burger vs chat burger when there was no cheese on my burger lol. For some reason, I thought they were different. However, the burger was delicious. It tasted just like a freshly grilled burger, which is my burger weakness!!! The cookie was so soft and delicious! Additionally, it was warm too, which made it a nice snack after I finished my meal. (I will admit that I asked the employee if the cookie was worth the price before I got it.) My only complaint was that I wasn't greeted upon arrival or told what I do. I was standing around for a while looking and no one asked if I needed help or to give me instructions on what I needed to do to order. Overall, I would highly recommend and I would definitely return! The staff i encountered when picking up and paying for my order was friendly.
I've been coming to this Char-Grill for years. Not much has changed but the prices of the food. I love the quick service and the pleasantness of the staff. I ate my food so quickly I didn't get a picture. The Apple turnovers are my absolute favorites.
My friends and I grabbed food here while we were attending the Canes Stanley Cup Parade. The employees were absolutely swamped but did a great job keeping spirits up and working efficiently. My burger was delicious and cooked perfectly (add the chili -trust me). The fries were also crisp and tasty! I've always loved Char Grill so I was excited to see them open up early for everyone. I'll be back again of course. read more
29 days ago
Great spot to grab and go! I got a grilled chicken sandwich with all the toppings. I also purchased a side of honey mustard for $.25. Filling out the order form was a little confusing but once I submitted the form through the slot in the window my food came fast and fresh. I definitely would recommend read more
Each time I visit Raleigh, I try to go to a Char-Grill. The last two visits have been to the Hillsborough Street location. So glad this place is still here in my hometown. Each taste of the steak burger, fries, or shake are just heaven to me. I really enjoy my meal every time. There are a couple of tables to sit at, but we just ate in our car this time. The staff are always nice, and quick to get orders out. Chatting with others while waiting for the food is a great way to pass time, and learn of other places nearby to visit. We were told there's a bar across the street where you can take your food in, and that sounds like a good night! Definitely go try their food, and have the Char-Grill experience. read more
There is no indoor seating, so make sure you go when it is warm or plan to eat in your car. The food was alright. The burger reminded me a lot of a fast food burger, similar to Cook Out. The white slaw was kind of blah and made my burger soggy even though we sat down and ate right away. One thing I did think was cute was the ordering process. You write your order on a small paper tablet and hand it to the people at the register, which adds a little charm to the place. We were brought here by friends for a quick bite before a hockey game, so it served its purpose. That said, the bathroom was absolutely disgusting, which really took away from the experience. Probably fine for a quick stop, but not somewhere I would go out of my way to return to. read more
Maybe you can't go back home, but you can still go back to the original Char-Grill, which feels pretty good. Well, at least for now you can go back, but the future of this specific spot is more than a bit up in the air since the property has been sold to a developer who's plan are more than a bit murky. This place first opened in 1959, and has seen several changes in ownership, and a few menu adjustments, but this spot has remained pretty much unchanged, even the need to hand write each order is still in force. We tried three items here - a cheeseburger, a chili dog, and my favorite, the 1/2 lb Hamburger Steak Sandwich. Everything was pretty darn good, though the chili dog was crudely assembled, messy but still tasty. This was a nostalgic visit to say the least! read more
A classic Raleigh burger joint since 1959! It doesn't seem like much has changed based upon the menu options, location and signage. My two highlights were the semi-cryptic ordering form and the super thick vanilla shake. It was kinda fun and sort of confusing filling out the order form with a mini pencil, slipping it into the window slot and watching it 'slide' down the metal chute. The Hamburger Steak Jr (1/4 lb) patty was thin and oval-shaped, like the sesame seed-covered hoagie roll it was served on. I think a larger patty would be better, so next time I'll try the 1/2 lb version. Overall, i enjoyed the flavors of my Steak Jr. Also got a Char-Burger with chili, onions and "catsup," and man was it small (just 3 oz aka .18 lbs). It was a snack that wasn't all that good. The fries were thicker than shoestring, but not as thick as wedges. It was a small bag, but good and straight from the flyer. And again, the vanilla shake was excellent. Drive-in, park, order, take to-go or eat at the few tables the have outside the restaurant. read more
One hundred percent best burger for me in NC period . Solid 5 stars for all categories . 5 stars-Food always hot and fresh. Never once have I ever had an issue with missing items or special requests. 5 stars- employees duper nice and extreme attention to detail with orders . Great team work. 5 stars- environment clean watch good bring prepared in front of you. Napkins condiments and straws always included . Amazing consistency. If you haven't been here you're missing out . Worth the trip prices are good too. read more
6 months ago
Your classic burger joint that's been around since 1960. You grab a slip of paper with menu options, fill out your order with a nub of a pencil, and slide it through a slot in the plate glass window, through which you can see 2-foot- high flames rising above a weathered flat top that emanates a delicious beefy aroma. The burgers are no frills, backyard barbecue vibes, really well seasoned and topped with the best burger cheese there is--melty yellow American. The fries are thick and starchy but cooked well so the vast majority are crisp and a little crunchy on the ends. They salt them really well, which goes a long way with thick cut fries. I heard the milkshakes are a great choice, but I wasn't nearly hungry enough, so I went with a soda fountain Dr. Pepper instead. Nice crunchy ice and a well stocked syrup supply gave it that classic drive-in soda quality. Super friendly staff rounded out that experience as well. It's not the best burger I've ever had by any means, but it really does give a warm sense of nostalgia, even for a place I'd never been to before. read more
10 months ago
3 years ago
This place is super fun and old school. The aroma reminded me of the burger joint down the way from my middle school lol. I will say.. there aren't proper directions on what to do unless you're with someone who knows or someone next to you is kind enough to walk you through it. Make sure you read the paper clearly and select the things you want because it's coming without ketchup if you don't put it lol. When I checked out no one waits in line properly and if you don't force your way to the window to pay people will just keep cutting you, butttt I was just trying to be polite and fair. I guess that doesn't work here. My only thing that is super negative is my hot dog was squished and I ate it at the tables sooooo they were probably in a hurry. He looked like he got stepped on lol. But this place was very good! Glad I got to check it out! read more
2 years ago
Char-Grill is always a good option if you are looking for a quick meal. I ordered a cheeseburger topped with ketchup, mustard, chili, onion and slaw and a side of fries. This spot is fun to order at since you walk up and fill out your order on one of the prepared slips then send it down to be prepared. read more
I stopped by here at 7:25pm on a Thursday evening. I found this by looking for fast food and wanted to try something different from the chain restaurants. On arrival, I looked at the menu which consists of burgers, grilled cheese, hot dogs, and bbq. They also have shakes. It reminds me of the Cookout chain, honesty. As I'm writing this review, I'm wishing they sold hushpuppies, lol. You must order via a piece of paper where you notate your choices, something I was completely unaware at first until I saw someone else grab the sheet. I got a double char burger with bacon, fries, and a brownie w/ no nuts. I placed my order at 7:30. Placing your order means putting it into this little slot where a staff member grabs it. You can put your name at the top or simply remember the number at the top. When ready, they will call your name or number via speakers that are a decent volume. They do have two picnic tables outside on the left side of the building. There is no indoor seating. There is a decent amount of parking available around the restaurant. Upon arrival and waiting, I saw they have a 100% sanitation score. My food was ready at 7:40pm. I was told they were out of brownies but I got a cookie instead. My total was $13.13. My fries were fresh and nicely salted. I realized I mean to get a cheese burger vs chat burger when there was no cheese on my burger lol. For some reason, I thought they were different. However, the burger was delicious. It tasted just like a freshly grilled burger, which is my burger weakness!!! The cookie was so soft and delicious! Additionally, it was warm too, which made it a nice snack after I finished my meal. (I will admit that I asked the employee if the cookie was worth the price before I got it.) My only complaint was that I wasn't greeted upon arrival or told what I do. I was standing around for a while looking and no one asked if I needed help or to give me instructions on what I needed to do to order. Overall, I would highly recommend and I would definitely return! The staff i encountered when picking up and paying for my order was friendly. read more
2 years ago
I've been coming to this Char-Grill for years. Not much has changed but the prices of the food. I love the quick service and the pleasantness of the staff. I ate my food so quickly I didn't get a picture. The Apple turnovers are my absolute favorites. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
Pretty good chili, slaw dog with mustard and onions. Had a bit too much cole slaw on it. Would order next time without. Fries were ok. Service was great, quick and perfect. Will definitely return but not our top dog in Raleigh. read more
1 year ago
9 months ago
11 months ago
2 years ago
Good char burgers and fries at a cheap price, what is not to like. There was limited seating so if you are thinking about coming here and eating here, look to be sitting in your car. You can also do what we did which is go across the street and sit at the 321 Coffee place which has a lot of outdoor seating. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Had to stop at the Char-Grill passing through Raleigh today. This was my go-to hangover cure when I was at NC State. Good as I remember, even without the hangover read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
Char-Grill is a poor value for your money. It is overiced for what you receive. A family of four cannot get a filling meal for $40. That will not include cheese on your burgers either. The fries come in very small quantities as well. Take a look at this piece of lettuce (that I didn't actually order.) I went to NC State in the late 80's and enjoyed Char-Grill on occasion. Even then I thought it was a little overpriced, but now it is extremely overpriced. I am very disappointed. read more
7 years ago
I had to work on Hillsborough St., so I knew at least one visit to the original Char-Grill would happen! (I went twice). It is an interesting blend of people that come to the original Char-Grill. There's white collar and blue collar workers, former college students that have to eat there again when in the area, young urbanites, and I even spotted a WRAL reporter and photographer dining there. My favorite is the Char Grill Jr, ,with mustard, pickles and chili. It comes with fries. Certainly not the fastest of fast foods places, but waiting for your order name/number is a part of the experience. Delicious food and enjoyable part of being a Raleigh resident. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
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