I've lived in Charlotte for 20 years and it's rare I'm blown away by a restaurant. The best way I can describe it is a flavor explosion, new and exciting dishes I've never seen other restaurants do before, and excellent vibes. So happy to have them in the neighborhood and hope they get the business they deserve and are around for a long time! read more

I absolutely loved my dinner here with friends! My bestie brought me and a friend here for a birthday dinner and it was truly a 5 star experience!! From walking in and being greeted by the sweetest hostess, I don't remember her name but she mentioned her hubby was the Chef and I thought that was soooo cool. She seated me and was super nice and helpful. This was my first time here since this spot was Vana, I believe. It looks amazing inside. The decor is fun and sexy. Their bar game is fierce with so many different selections. Our server was THE BEST!!! So funny and real. EVERY SINGLE thing I had was AMAZING!!!! The corn dip app, the other app too I just can't recall the name but check out the photos lol. For my entree I got the lamb ribs. O! M! G! SOOOOOOO so so good and flavorful. My gosh. I had a couple cocktails that were also very very good! Literally everything was amazing! I especially loved that everything they brought out to dip in our apps was fresh made in house. I mean you could tell by the smell of it and texture and warmth. This place is wonderful. I cannot wait to go back soon!!! read more

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No free parking, would have to pay for it yourself. They have limited seating, so reservations can be hard to come around. The drinks were good. Food was more on the pricer side. I think the tacos were way too small for the price of it. I don't think it was really worth the cost. I feel like I could probably get some good tasting tacos from a hole in the wall place or a food truck. Cute inside. Staff was nice and informative. read more

Mi Cariño - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Yummy drink...MÁS PASIÓN, MÁS ENERGÍA. For appetizers we had the guacamole, the truffle corn dip, and the salsa robusta...all sooo good. For an entree I when, when with the waitress's recommendation of aguachile printout. It was awesome. read more

Highly recommend! Immediately when you walk in, Mi Cariño is an absolute vibe. Fantastic service and attention from our server. Don't sleep on the tacos. And the drinks!! Wow. We truly loved it all. Can't comment on parking as we ubered but it's in south end so typical parking options :) read more

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The ceviche I ordered was top tier with flavors. Every bite was bursting with so many flavor profiles. The corn dip was equally as good. The chips that accompanied the dip and ceviche were very fresh. The tacos were lacking which was surprising . The hibiscus drinks were absolutely delicious! Next time I would definitely ask for light ice to be able to enjoy more of the drink. read more

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OMG I absolutely love this place! I will say the menu is very niche and tapas style as well slightly pricey but the drinks are delicious! It's the first place I tried a real carajillo & I can't return to just an espresso martini. The food was fresh and all the options for chips and salsa were enough for me. They aren't complementary but I did order them because that's the point. The servers are very knowledgeable to any question you may have and you can do a whole tequila tasting. The place is also thoughtfully set up and ambiance carries all the way to the restrooms, the bar is my favorite as it's long and wraps around that side of the room. I'll be back to try more menu items for sure read more

Just wow.... The flavors, the menu, the ambiance... just so unexpected and delicious. There was not one thing we did not like. I didn't fully understand the menu but the menu was just so amazing it didn't matter read more

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Amazing all around We loved all of the drinks, the ceviche and the birria the most. Service was great. Excellent vibe too- they had a DJ playing upbeat Latin music. Great girls night or date night. read more

Mi Cariño - Birria, enchiladas, pork tacos - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

A great dining experience! It was not crowded at 6:15 pm. We (party of three) got a booth without reservation. The appetizer (Raja Con Crema) with roasted onions & poblanos was flavor ale immersed in queso oxaca. The sourdough tortillas was a great and unique option to wrap it up. My slow cooked lamb ribs was easy to pull from the bone. Accompnied with charred squash and fresh herb make it so delicious! My friends shared the Carnitos (4 pcs) were tasty with great plate presentation. read more

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Where do I start? We stumbled upon Mi Cariño trying to find food and drinks last night and holy hell did we strike gold. Reservation only, but once we were added to the bar waitlist it only took about 15 minutes. Eclectic mix of rare Mezcal's and cocktails and a Latino/Mexican inspired cuisine. Our bartenders, Morgan and Everett, gave us thoughtful walkthroughs of the menu and detailed explanations of the cocktails. We ordered 2 appetizers: Truffle Corn Dip and Laminas de Beef. Beautifully constructed and bursting with unreal flavors. Followed by a round of the "Madonna" Oysters that are topped with a white chocolate sauce and caviar. Wasn't sure what to expect, but probably the most unique and divine oyster topping I've ever had. We split our main course where we thankfully decided on the Camarones Kora: Jumbo shrimp in a spicy butter sauce infused with chiles, garlic, and hints of citrus. Surrounding a bed of white rice with toasted coconut. When I say this is easily one of the top 3 shrimp dishes I've had in my 36 years of life, I am not kidding you. Big shoutout to Yesenia and their team for the hospitality, menu knowledge, and professionalism. Hoping this place sees nothing but success!! read more

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When one of the servers is absolutely giddy about the food they are serving, you know you're about to eat GOOD! Tuesday night and this small but mighty restaurant was packed. Not a seat in the house; and now we know why. Service was excellent, drinks were flowing, and the food was amazing. We wanted to order the entire menu and had to restrain ourselves. That is the reason why we need to come back and sample the everything the chef is throwing down. Everything was cooked to perfection. Hot, seasoned well, with quality ingredients. The Kan Kan was the favorite even for those that don't eat pork. The shrimp was also another favorite. No complaints at the table and we finished everything down to the last lick. Get in line, get a reservation and enjoy. read more

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I'm obsessed with Mi Cariño. I should probably get it tattooed on my forehead. From the service to the cocktails to the food, I am always happy, full and content. This is the first time I've been excited about a new restaurant opening in the city (at this level) in a long time. I booked my next visit immediately after my initial visit. The restaurant itself is cayuuuuute! It's a little romantic, low-light, moody vibe that makes you want to fall in love beyond the food. So be careful, ok?! The price point, to me, is on par with most dining establishments in the city -- especially for a place that feels like fine dining without all the fuss and pretense. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed the food, ambiance and service. Please don't shut down! The food was actually seasoned and tasty which is soooo hard to find in Charlotte! I had the chicken tacos as well as the Birria. The Birria is fried a bit too hard in my opinion...but despite the overly hard exterior the inside is juicy and flavorful. The chicken tacos and accompanying sauces are perfection. The drinks were made perfectly as well. I highly recommend. read more

Mi Cariño - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The hottest reservation in town at the moment The story of Mi Cariño is a very trendy and of the moment spot, a gastro-cantina serving Mexican and Latin inspired dishes and a Mezcaleria with a nice list of hand crafted cocktails. The place has an intimate setting as it's not huge inside, booths, tables and high top seating and at the bar . The staff are super nice and very personable . Very passionate about what they serve and definitely can guide you through the menu. The decor is very cool and goes with the vibe. Nothing outlandish but nice tables and I loved the bar set up and the big postcard type picture above the kitchen window. I felt like that was the atmosphere they were trying to create here. Chill and laid back with good food and drinks but with a nice edge. We tried a couple of drinks each and they were all unique and good. I had the carrajillo carousel which was a lighter than normal carrajillo with mezcal. I liked the big ice cube. A good sipper. My friends had the Shaman showdown which was a nice lighter drink but not sweet. The yellow bandana was a very lethal spirit forward drink but very good. We also tried a couple of the shooters . The leche de Tigre, so good ! Served with a little crunchy tortilla with ceviche on it on top the drink was awesome, Chile and cinnamon infused tequila with salted coconut and and citrus. Eat the tortilla ceviche and shoot the drink. Great combo. The other was the poblano papi, mezcal and anchos Reyes verde. A good strong one ! All the drinks were great quality drinks. Then the food ! First up was the truffle corn dip. Was good and rich and runny like I thought it would be. Served with stacked basket of freshly made tortilla chips and crackers. Good app but not as truffle forward as I thought given our server description. Then the bloody oysters ! Yum ! Spicy tomato sauce infused with mezcal , light with a bite. Fresh and smooth oysters. Next up was the taco royale. More for your meat eaters . I was ok with this would I get again no because I'd rather have seafood. Liked the crunchy potato crunchies on top though ! Seared ribeye, onions and and cheese. Loaded on a tortilla. Hearty taco. Then by far my favorite dish of the night was the Aguachile Prieto, Argentinian shrimp, charred aqua chile, ponzu, Onion, avocado and cucumbe, aioli and habanero this was outstanding. Light, bright and refreshing. The shrimp itself was the star. With the ponzu it was the simplistic dish that delivered the best . A must get if you come. Prices are good for this part of town, which was nice to see. No crazy high prices like some places do these days. This will be a happening place for awhile. So get in when you can! read more

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The attention to detail is incredible, starting from the minute you walk through the door. The service was amazing, our server was able to explain all the flavor profiles of the different dishes which helped us pick a great progression of spice! There were so many layers of flavor, that were so distinctly different in each dish. Food portions are generous. My favorite was the Laminas de Beef, but not to say the other dishes weren't outstanding! Desserts looked amazing too, will have to try those next time! read more

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What an amazing new addition to the Charlotte food scene. So glad we booked early and were able to keep our reservation for this spot! I saw it was already fully booked when I tried to reschedule, so we were determined to make it...and it was SO WORTH IT! Service was outstanding! Ambiance was wonderful. And the food??? Wow!!! Executive Chef Héctor González-Mora and his menu...one a kind! The tacos, apps, & mains were all soooo good. Get that Picanha Steak taco, so delicious we had to order a second one to share. The truffle corn dip was a great starter, and the Camarones Kora is for anyone who loves SPICY. The cocktails were equally amazing as well. LOVED our dinner date there and we will be recommending this as a must spot to try in the Queen City. read more

Mi Cariño - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

AMAZING! Food was amazing, service was amazing, drinks were amazing, vibes were amazing. I have no bad words to say about mi cariño. The food was extremely tasty, and the drinks were a great balance of strong but still yummy. Make sure to make a reservation or sitting at the bar is also a great option. Only thing I would say is playing a little bit more Spanish music would fit the vibe but overall would come again and again!! read more

Mi Cariño - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I will say the decor is really cool and it's a small area but they make it look bigger than what it really is. The food is delicious and unique. The staff was really nice and they all knew so much about the menu and the bar. Definitely going back to try some more food. read more

Mi Cariño - Steak Carnitos - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food was delish! Parking is a little tough but the atmosphere was fun and our service was fantastic

Wonderful experience! Great service, specialty ice in the cocktails, and wonderful food. Something for everyone on the menu- from simple but tasty chicken tacos to a variety of uniquely prepared seafood and meat dishes. The Kan-kan Carnitas was is the most delicious sweet and spicy sauce and served with super flavorful greens! Can't wait to go back and try the other dishes. The space is cool/hip yet fun and cozy. read more

Mi Cariño - Chicken tacos in the front and the kan-kan carnitas in the back. - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

It's not easy to describe the cuisine at Mi Cariño, Charlotte's hot new South End gastropub. Like so many great restaurants, it succeeds masterfully at creating a fusion of flavors, reinventing traditional dishes to produce a unique culinary experience that will both surprise and excite you. Here, the chef has taken a Cal-Mex menu of tacos, carnitas and salsas, and livened it up with ingredients like carmel, coconut and banana peppers. The result is one of the best new restaurants the Queen City has seen in years, and a meal you won't soon forget. On our recent visit, my wife and I started with a Truffle Corn Dip appetizer -- a fun twist on chips and queso. We paired it with two delicious specialty cocktails -- a Carajillo Carousel with Mezcal, bitters and cold brew concentrate, and the frighteningly delightful Satanico Pandemonium. For our entrees, my wife ordered the flavorful Skirt Steak Carnitos, while I took our server's recommendation and tried the Angus Costa, a delicious dish of slow-cooked lamb ribs that were falling off the bone and dripping with juices. Everything about the experience was amazing -- from the attentive service and understated setting, to the cocktails and the food. And while the small restaurant is crowded with tables, the ambiance was still intimate enough for a date night. Yes, reservations can be tough to come by, but on the Thursday night we visited, there were also a handful of seats available for walk-ins at the impressive bar. We absolutely LOVED Mi Cariño, and plan on coming back soon to try some of the other dishes on the menu. If you're looking for a different take on Mexican cuisine and a selection of fabulous cocktails, all at an extremely reasonable price, give this fabulous new South End spot a try -- I can't recommend it highly enough! read more

I came here after work with some coworkers and the food & drinks were great! We ordered: corn dip, guac, salsa and the tacos. The dips came with fried saltines, corn chips and flour chips which is very unique! The staff were very welcoming but I will say the food was on the pricer side especially for Mexican. I do wish the guac was mixed up! I recommend making a reservation far in advance as this is a small restaurant and books up quickly! read more

Mi Cariño - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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My new favorite spot in Charlotte. Food was outstanding: shared three things with a friend 1) truffle corn salsa, 2) camarones Kora and 3) hatori hanzo (which was basically a mouth watering beef birria quesadilla). Spendy, but truly outstanding. Totally understand why tables are booked out for quite a while. Fun ambience and very engaging service (well done Delphine!). As always in this part of town, come prepared to hunt for parking. read more

Visitor from California and frequent traveler to Mexico here. We're used to excellent Mexican food, but this restaurant absolutely shone! Great ambiance, friendly people, delicious cocktails and food. From start to finish - including dessert - we loved everything we tasted. Highly recommend! read more

Food, decent at best. Had better from a grandmother in a food truck. Service, only saving grace

14 oz wagyu ribeye was TO DIE FOR. Absolutely incredible food, the cocktails were great, and the vibe was great as well. Overall a very wonderful evening, but it is quite pricey! read more

Oh my goooooodness. So obsessed. Everything was amazing- I wanted to try it ALL! Dolphine was the BEST!!!! Request, request, request her!!! Food, service, everything- superb, outstanding!!! Will 100% be back. And recommend this spot to anyone! As a Charlotte native I'm so excited for a place to open that is actually GOOD and takes pride in their craft and ingredients. read more

Mi Cariño - Shaman showdown - Mexican Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Absolutely incredible meal here. Cocktails are phenomenal, service is great, food is fresh and innovative. The decor is beautiful too.

Food and service was good. The tacos were the standout. KAN-KAN CARNITAS were good but not worth the $$ and not better than the tacos.

I enjoyed every minute and bite I had here. The large windows and sidewalk level seating in a smaller space gave a big city feel that's hard to find in Charlotte. The variety of tortillas that were full of flavor was also something I haven't seen around here. Our table enjoyed the truffle corn dip, ribeye taco, ceviche, and the camerones the most out of what we ordered. It might take some effort due to the small size but definitely snag a reservation. read more

Chef. Hector created a signature spot. Amazing food, drinks (aquas frescas) and ambiance highly recommend

We really enjoyed Mi Cariño. The drinks, menu and service are very good and interesting. For drinks we had Picante Infante (great), Satanico Pandemonium, (great), Shaman Showdown (very good) and Ocupado (meh). I think Ocupado would be great on a beach in Mexico but just too summery to go with food. We started with Truffle Corn Dip which was fabulous. Then the Hamachi Tostadas which i thought was way too spicy. I like Spicy food but this was so spicy, it overpowered the dish. Also the hamachi and avocado looked identical so it was hard to even see what you were eating. A big pile of green stuff on a tostado. I think this dish needs to be adjusted. Then we had the chicken Carinitos which was tasty. Our last dish was Camarones Kora which was excellent. It is also spicy but in a good way. It was too much food for us. Servings are not small! Service was really good. My one suggestion is to bring a serving spoon for every dish. We can't wait to go again to try more dishes. But I'll always get the corn. read more

We had an absolutely amazing dinner at Mi Cariño in Charlotte! First things first: our server, Delphine, was incredible. She was so fun, energetic, and warm, with a fantastic vibe all around that really made our night special. She took amazing care of us. For drinks, I went straight for the Carajillo Carousel. It was my very first time trying a Carajillo, and let me tell you, it blows an espresso martini out of the water! My son stuck with a classic Mexican Coke in the glass bottle, which is always a hit. The food was outstanding: * Scallop Campechana: Incredibly fresh and delicious. I love a good picante, so I needed a little extra heat--Delphine brought out a really good salsa that took the dish to the next level. * Taco Royale: My son ordered this, and while I didn't think a single taco would fill him up, it was absolutely huge and very tasty. * Enchiladas Suizas: I still had a little room left, so I ordered these on a whim. They were fantastic, though I only made it through half of one before I finally tapped out! * Carajillo Helado: We finished the night sharing this dessert, and it was the perfect, amazing end to the meal. You can really tell how fresh everything is here. You taste the actual ingredients in every single bite, and the flavors are beautifully authentic. Between the spectacular food and Delphine's sweet hospitality, we will absolutely be back! read more

Mi Carino delivers time and time again! From the door, you are welcomed and made to feel like you are an old friend coming for a family dinner. The food is amazing and you leave wishing you tried one more thing. This is worth the hype. read more

It's awsesome and has content creators too. Tacos are awesome. Try the Hot Baby!! I was scared of it.

I had a wonderful experience at Mi Carino! I came here for my birthday and was so pleased...We got the ceviche, beef tenderloin appetizer, Madonna oysters, mussels, and shrimp entree and two scrumptious desserts. All were wonderful. The tortillas are amazing in and of themselves. The staff were so helpful and the ambience only adds to the experience. So happy to have treated myself there. read more