When I walked in, smelled the food & saw the lively dining room filled with diverse diners, I knew my friends & I were in the right spot for a late lunch. I've been chasing good, authentic (or nostalgic?) Chinese food, and I finally found some while visiting the area. The space is bright, open, and comfortable. The menu is wide-ranging with lots of Asian options. They have carts if you'd like to get items that way. We ordered off the menu. We took a ride share, so I'm not sure about the parking situation. The area is walkable. Love: General Tso's chicken (sauce as I remembered, crispy, fresh), fried rice (cooked just right), Boba tea (delicious) Like: service (kind, helpful, left without checking on us one last time with the check) read more

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Beef Chow Fun (4/5): The noodles were nice and thick and had a good, chewy texture. I liked the flavor of the beef, but the texture was softer than I prefer. Laksa Ramen (3/5): I wish this was sweeter. The noodles were also too brittle. Veggie Spring Rolls (3/5): These are FRIED spring rolls, not fresh spring rolls (probably my fault for not paying attention). For fried spring rolls, I need some meat. RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this) read more

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Sorry, no pics! Went here for a birthday lunch and had a really good experience. They open at 12, but it gets busy fast. I'd definitely recommend getting there around 11:30-11:45 to put your name on the list so you're one of the first tables seated. We were seated right when they opened, and it was neat seeing all the servers already lined up with their carts ready to go. The first couple of dishes we got were a little on the cold side, but after that everything came out nice and hot. The food was really good overall. There aren't many places around here for dim sum, so I'm glad this one is actually pretty solid. The service was good, everyone we interacted with was friendly, and the restaurant was clean and well kept. I'd definitely come back the next time I'm craving dim sum! read more

I will say I'm biased after growing up in a place with many dim sum restaurants. The food is alright compared to other dim sum spots but it is pretty good for Charlotte standards, since Charlotte isn't known for top tier Asian food. The restaurant itself is very clean and modern. I can see why they can host weddings here. Great music too! Servers do check back every now and then. Some foods like the soup dumplings are a great hit. We absolutely had to order more after trying some. Other dishes didn't have as much flavor, but still tasty. Portion sizes are generous for the price. read more

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I have always been a fan of the original Open Rice location and the Metropolitan one just kicked it up a notch. The ambiance is much more upscale and it's a significantly larger space. The open kitchen and bar make it feel welcoming and the staff are all super friendly. I most recently came for a birthday dinner and they were able to accommodate our large group without a problem. Everyone had something different but as always the food was top tier and we left full. This is one of those places that I will continue to visit whether with friends, family, or a date night. They never miss! read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Congee with beef - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Of course, going to a new area you have to find an Asian place with dim sum. Not only did we find a place for dim sum, they also have a good selection of gluten-free dishes. It took us quite a while to find this place. After parking across the street, I think we might have walked back and forth for a good 30 mins just to find out it's tucked in the corner When we arrived, we were amazed by the decor and thinking to ourselves, damn, the dishes were going to be pricey. In fact, it actually wasn't pricey at all, especially the size of their dishes.  At first, my fiancé was about to order dim sum until he saw the gluten-free menu and ordered a pineapple fried rice for 19.50, a bit pricey for fried rice, and when it came to our table it was a huge portion. I still order dim sum. The chicken feet were very meaty, steamed spare ribs were also meaty as well. The beef chung fun. It was OK. I had better.  This place will definitely be on our list when we head back to Charlotte. read more

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Love this place! I'm from San Francisco Bay Area and since moving to Columbia SC five years ago; been searching for dim sum. Finally found it here! Whenever I am up in Charlotte, I look forward to my meal here. I love going early on weekends (avoid the crowd and wait time) when they have cart service. So much to choose from. If dining when cart service isn't available, they have their regular menu and also a dim sum menu. It's not cheap, but the quality, service and atmosphere are worth the extra pennies. read more

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This is my go to Dim Sum place in Charlotte. So good, and if you go on the weekends they have the traditional carts walking around which in my opinion is the best time to get the dim sum. Also love their beef chow fun, best I've had in charlotte and just as good as many of the Chinatown NY places. My wife who is less adventurous when it comes to dim sum loves their general Tsos chicken with lots of broccoli. The duck is also really good. Love this place! read more

While visiting Charlotte, NC, we were craving some good Asian food--and wow, we found a gem! Honestly, it felt like the Cheesecake Factory of Asian cuisine--huge menu, tons of variety, and something for everyone. We ordered the cast iron fried rice, chicken and broccoli, steamed bok choy, pho, Vietnamese veggie rolls, and topped it off with two boba teas for dessert. Every dish we tried was full of flavor and beautifully presented. The portions were generous and everything tasted fresh and well-seasoned. Safe to say, this spot totally satisfied our Asian food fix--and we'd definitely go back just to try more from the menu. Now for the not-so-great part: the service. It was our first time, and unfortunately, our server wasn't much help. She couldn't really explain the menu or make recommendations, and it felt like she was just taking our order and moving on.For a place with such a great kitchen, it's a shame the front-of-house experience didn't match. All in all, the food was excellent and the variety is enough to keep us coming back. Hopefully, management puts the same love into training their staff as they do into their menu--because this place has serious potential. read more

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By far my favorite spot for dumplings near Uptown Charlotte. I've tried many places after my first time at Open Rice and I always come back to this location for good dumplings. The Pan Fried Chive Dumplings are really fresh and are even better with their chili oil that's offered. Their pan fried pork dumplings are really good with a sweet tasting sauce on the side. Everything is fresh at any time whenever I visit. This location has a nice atmosphere and great service by far. Will definitely come back again read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Shanghainese Soup Dumpling (4)Pan Fried Chives Dumpling (3)Steamed or Fried Potstickers Pork (5)White Rice - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Open Rice Metropolitan offers a very traditional dim sum experience with the classic cart service, which is something I always appreciate. Unfortunately, the execution didn't quite live up to expectations. Many of the hot items coming around on the carts--especially the dumplings and rice noodle dishes--were noticeably cold by the time they reached the table. Service also seemed strained; the restaurant appeared short-staffed, which made it difficult to get attention or request specific items. The portions felt small for the price point, and overall it didn't feel like a great value for the money. Despite that, the restaurant is absolutely packed every weekend, so clearly it has a loyal following. Having experienced incredible dim sum in places like Sugar Land, Texas, and especially throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, it's hard not to compare. Those spots set a very high bar, and unfortunately Open Rice Metropolitan doesn't quite measure up. read more

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Always a great meal. Everyone I have introduced to the restaurant also pegs it as a new favorite. Portions are massive and you won't leave hungry. My son always gets the miso corn ramen. It's the only place he never changes his selection and his choice for birthday celebrations. read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Gotta love a restaurant with a nice view. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Excellent service, excellent food and overall a great place to eat some Asian cuisine in downtown Charlotte. The appetizer portions are pretty small, but the entrée portions are fairly large so if you're interested in eating a lot, then I would also consider going straight to entrée or split an entrée with someone. overall I was very impressed with the quality of the food and customer service here I highly recommend this place! read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Sesame chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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At long last I made it here for lunch on a Wednesday. This is not an easy place to get too, especially if you're coming from South Carolina. I had a real good Dim Sum meal of BBQ pork bun, Siu Mai, Shrimp and Chive dumplings. It was good, not quite as good as I was expecting but better than most. I had real good service from Yang. There is free parking at the Metropolitan parking garage. I expect it might be better on the weekend when they do the Dim Sum cart service. I thought the prices were reasonable for the quality. read more

TLDR: Best Chinese food in Charlotte I grew up in a Chinese household, which unfortunately made me extra critical of Chinese restaurants. That said, Charlotte's Chinese food scene is pretty limited, especially if you've moved here from places like New York, D.C., or the West Coast, where the Chinese restaurant scene is incredibly robust. Open Rice doesn't quite measure up to the best I've had elsewhere, but I still feel comfortable saying it's currently the best Chinese food in Charlotte. My boyfriend and I ordered a variety of dishes, but the highlights were the morning glory (seasonal vegetable), pork char siu, eggplant, and Singapore noodles. The dim sum, however, left much to be desired if you've ever experienced push-cart style dim sum, and the Peking duck was just okay. Despite that, Open Rice really shines with their stir-fried vegetables--well-seasoned and perfectly cooked. The Singapore noodles came with a generous amount of shrimp and chicken, and weren't overly greasy. The char siu ended up being my favorite--it was flavorful and served over a generous bed of bok choy. Overall, I'd give Open Rice a 4/5. While not anything like a Chinese restaurant in a Chinatown in other cities, it's the best Chinese option Charlotte currently has to offer. read more

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I've been wanting to try Open Rice Metropolitan for a while now and I'm so glad I finally did! Everything about my experience was perfect. The waitress was kind, knowledgeable, attentive, and just an over all rockstar! I truly wish I could remember her name to call her out but when I return I will do a follow up review. The food was incredible. We tried a little of everything since we went for a friend's birthday dinner. The duck is impeccable! A must have for its flavor and juiciness! A half duck was enough for two to split especially if you do any appetizers. Speaking of appetizers, we absolutely loved the fried golden buns. They taste like a traditional Chinese donut and had a taste sweet icing on the side. The inside is very modern and there is an upstairs and downstairs section. They also host events if anyone is ever interested in hosting an event in their space. read more

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4.5/5 stars Went on a Wednesday evening at 6 for a girls dinner. There were plenty of tables. We ordered a combination of dim sum and other dishes and everything was yum! Unfortunately only remembered to photograph a couple things. One friend enjoyed the food so much that they went back again the next night for takeout. There's a regular menu and a page with handwritten specials. Lot's to choose from even a bubble tea and bubble waffle menu. One of my friends has a Service Dog and we had no issues. The only surprising thing was that we were a group of 5 and we got gratted. I didn't notice at first, so definitely watch your check so you don't double tip! read more

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Fried rice was decent. Not much flavor. The clay pot beef was atrocious. I got a large container of fat with zero beef. And the fat was chewy AF! What a colossal waste of money. read more

Love this place! I just ordered delivery from here for the second time - so I can't speak to the dine-in experience. The first time, I ordered the Singapore noodles, spicy garlic edamame, and the lychee boba tea. I was unable to request no shrimp in my noodles online, so I called after placing my order and had no problem! Everything was hot and full of flavor. Portion sizes are great- I made two full meals out of everything. Tonight I ordered the sesame chicken with broccoli and fried rice and the lychee boba again. The chicken was perfectly cooked and very obviously "real" and not a chicken nugget consistency. Again, portions are large and I saved my meal for lunch tomorrow. The lychee boba is delicious and I don't think I could place another order without adding it. read more

Visiting Charlotte and found this placed based on yelp. I agree with other reviews - the dining space was very modern and tall. Env is pretty relaxing. Most of the dishes we have tried are very good and authentic- there is a few I would not order again First - the good ones. Beef Chow fun - was one of the most authentic I have had since we moved to NC. The flat noodle had good texture and flavored right and beef spices were sizable and tender. Salted fish fried rice is what I missed most from Chinatown in the big apple. This dish here had great flavor and little pieces of the salted fish. If anything - I'd like 50% more salted fish. Chicken feet is also great. Other dim sum dishes are good as well. Except the few Not a great hit - Golden buns were full of oil including inside for at least one of them - It looked like a re-fried. I would not order it again. So for me golden buns were good at @ G58 in Raleigh. Soup dumplings - by the look of it - it's not fresh made - tasted weird , I would not order again. If it is not for the above two items , I'd have a 5 star. Hope they can improve. read more

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Came here on a Saturday for brunch and was seated immediately with a party of 5 people. We were immediately greeted with an array of hot dishes available from the cart and were able to try a lot of different food. Everything was so good and our bellies were so full by the end. We still had room for dessert though! The interior is very clean and well lit. A great place to gather with friends and family. The staff is so friendly and everything exceeded our expectations for a dim sum restaurant in CLT. Definitely coming back! read more

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OMG. love this place We normally go to Durham for DimSum but came to Charlotte for the Weekend. A few year's ago (early covid) there weren't any DimSum restaurants here (or we could find them). This place was fantastic. Got there at Noon on Saturday and was quickly seated. The food 'rolled' by on a very regular basis. The servers were persaonable and took time to explain / serve. Lee was the main server we had for drinks and other stuff. He was great. We'll be back (probably regularly!) read more

Large portion, delicious food. Went with the family and ordered a few dishes. I had the lobster & shrimp fried rice. The waitress recommended their yum yum sauce, with a squeeze of lemon, it was delicious. So much so I went back and got a to go order the next week! Note - the to go order seemed smaller and they charged for the yum yum sauce.... Literally took my credit card for $1 for half filled portion cup of sauce... read more

Our go to place for dim sum. We went Friday for lunch. We ordered 7 dim sum dishes plus the Chinese broccoli. Our server, Queen, was exceptionally helpful bringing us several sauces to try on our dumplings. Can't wait to go again. read more

I live for their dim sum cart service! The crystal shrimp dumplings are my favorite and the bigger plates are great when shared (so much food for the main plates). Everyone is so nice and friendly and welcoming! read more

If you're looking for a dim sum cart place, this is the place to go. They open promptly at 11:30AM on Saturday and they come around with carts as soon as you sit down! The servers are attentive and quick, it's not your typical hole in the wall dim sum with Chinese decor that would expect so we were skeptical but more modernized with the same great dim sum options. Highly recommend dinning here for dim sum brunch! read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Vietnamese Coffee Boba - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This place is too damn crowded. Got there at 12:25, and the line was out the door. Not worth waiting for.

This place has the best tasting dim sum in North Carolina and I am comparing from the Raleigh Durham Chapel Hill area! If I could give this place 10 stars I would! I was visiting Charlotte for a weekend and came here for Sunday dim sum brunch. I arrived at noon right at their opening time and the place was already starting to fill up! We were a party of 2 and were greeted and seated at a nice big table immediately. The restaurant was decent in size, and bright and airy and clean with minimal yet pleasing decor. The service was super friendly, prompt, and upbeat and everybody from the lady who took my drink order to the youngest dim sum cart pushers I've ever seen (I'm used to seeing the little old ladies in New York and China behind the carts as opposed to the teen and college aged men and ladies who work here) to the nice man who took my card payment, I enjoyed my interaction with them all! Everyone was patient and kind and I had lovely conversations with them. In addition to our dishes of dim sum we also ordered a lobster noodle and it was all authentic and delicious! I would drive 3 hours back just to be able to have lunch here! In comparison Dim Sum House near the RTP airport really needs to step it up with their reheated frozen dishes that taste like it came from microwave. read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Delicious dim sum! Highly recommend the rice noodle rolls! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food: so, so... Disappointing, as I was expecting the quality from LA. Siu Mai a bit tasteless; har gao, sesame balls, the same. Dim sum, overall 3/10. Excellent were the beef sao fan and the roasted duck, really yummy! I'd score 8/10. Surprised about the check: extremely expensive for the quality provided, especially with the dim sum. Service: need to improve, our waiter couldn't provide an extra tea kettle to a heavy tea drinkers. He whispered: "we just have one kettle per table and we have 50 tables"????? I didn't understand that. Overall 3/10. Ambiance was good but staffing was not enough. In general, I would score 3/10. Word of caution: ask the price before ordering and watch the calculation in the counter. I paid $250 (4 adults) for a few dim sum and 2 entrees!! And they select the gratuity! With that money, I can have a feast for 12 people in LA. I will still search for a good dim sum place at CLT. read more

Really nice restaurant in the Metropolitan area of Charlotte. I love this area because they have lots of free parking in the decks. The restaurant is huge with lots of seating. I was able to get seated right away on a Saturday night. Our server was very nice and helpful as well. I tried the golden buns and they were so good! They were like fluffy, warm donuts and they came with a side of sweetened condensed milk to dip them in. I got the beef bulgogi as my entree and added the fried rice. The beef was so flavorful and tender. The rice was also really flavorful. I loved the veggies as well. I also tried some of the sesame chicken. It was really good as well! Overall, everything was amazing and I will definitely come back to try other dishes! read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Beef bulgogi - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Extensive Menu! Great portions and a beautiful space! Can't wait to come back and try the bubble waffles and ramen!

Really good place I found for early dinner this afternoon! I walked in just before 420pm and was seated right away. The wait staff was very helpful. I knew I wanted pot stickers but for the entree I wasn't sure - I couldn't decide between the Malaysian curry and the chicken pineapple shrimp fried rice. After discussing both with my waiter I ended up on the curry. It was very good!!! It had just a bit of spice but he brought me a dish of soy sauce and a dish of chili oil so I was able to add a bit of chili oil to heat it up a bit. Temperature wise it came out very hot! The bowl was chock full off chicken and shrimp and crab and noodles. Very flavorful. Definitely would return. read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Laksa Malaysian Curry - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Tried Open Rice on Metropolitan for the second time yesterday. My first time was about a month ago. You do not need reservations here. Upon entry, you'll notice an open and airy restaurant that is fairly modern. The noise level is average. We had the slushy lychee boba tea the first time. It was really good. This time, I tried the regular boba tea which was suggested by our waitress. I actually did like the regular boba tea over the slushy one. 5/5 Next, we ordered our food. I opted for the gluten-free Singapore Shrimp and Chicken Rice Noodles. My hubby opted for the Sizzling Grilled Chicken. The food came out within 15-20 minutes. My food was absolutely delicious. They give a good size portion too. 5/5. My hubby rated his drink and food a 5/5 too. We highly recommend this restaurant to others looking for a good Asian spot in the city. read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Gluten-free Singapore Rice Noodles dish - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I would say that this place has the most authentic dim sum experience in Charlotte at the moment. Although it's pricey, it has a nice atmosphere. Additionally, the servers were friendly and would check up on us frequently. It was popular and packed during lunch hour on Sunday, but this place seats a lot of people and has two floors. We ordered several items from the carts: BBQ pork rolls, spared ribs in black bean sauce, pork dumplings with shrimp (siu mai), fried taro dumplings, and several other items that are not pictured. We also ordered the beef chow fun and the Hong Kong roasted duck. Some dishes (e.g. the spared rib in black bean sauce) lacked flavor; the duck both lacked flavor and was hard to chew. Out of everything we got, I would highly recommend the beef chow fun and the braised chicken feet. You can probably skip on the roasted duck. read more

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Dim sum was satisfying. We got the American versions and avoided the chicken feet and congee. Har gow, Chinese broccoli with garlic, shrimp roll, custard bun (way too gritty), beef spareribs, gluten rice in leaf. It was Chinese New Year's Eve. They weren't too busy. Surprisingly. Entrees were meh. Clay pot beef with turnip eh, corn and chicken soup - meh and gluten free pho. All were meh, because they lacked layers of flavor, but were served very warm. Waitress was nice. Ornaments were very nice. Even had money cats made from Legos. Overall we'd recommend their dim sum and try different entrees. Good Saturday afternoon date location. read more

I am a man of few words Use 4 points to review Ambiance It has a great atmosphere and plenty of seating options. Greeters: Welcome with a smile and a great attitude Server: Chrisy knows food and has good recommendations. Excellent service always ensures we are satisfied with the food. Had a good attitude and great customer service Food: Great choice of Chinese cuisine. It is hard to pick one. We had a few good ones, as recommended by our server. The flavor and taste were spot on. Great place for family and friends Will I come again? Yes read more

My wife asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday. So I said let's have something different. I searched Yelp for dim sum and found Open Rice. The ratings weren't spectacular, but it was the closest place from home, so I said let's give it a try. Boy, am I glad we did. Got there Monday just before noon, and as it turned out, just ahead of the crowd. Phil was our waiter and explained everything to us and made us feel welcomed. We ordered 8 items off the dim sum menu and they were all delicious. We talked about which dish was the best, but we couldn't choose, they were all great. Our only regret is that it's 17 miles from home, but in retrospect that's probably a good thing because I'd be coming here every week if it were closer. They only bring out the carts on Saturday and Sunday, but having experienced that elsewhere, we were fine ordering off the menu. We will definitely go back. And thank you Phil for taking such good care of us. read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Eight dim sum dishes at Open Rice. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I'll preface this with the context that I lived in China for a year and I am vegetarian. So, my dim sum standards are pretty high and I cannot eat several of the dim sum "staples." We went here for my birthday. We got a smattering of dishes, but they all were just okay. There are not many dim sum options in Charlotte, so I guess this could be the best among all of the options? In my personal opinion, I'd rather save my $$ and just eat at a better CLT restaurant and get dim sum the next time I'm in ATL or NYC. read more

I am so glad we found this place! Went after picking my nephew up from the airport in Charlotte. Top notch dim sum! Also LOVED the beef Bulgogi. I only took pics of the beef and pork buns. We also had shumai, and I believe something with lotus leaf in the name. I ordered extra pork buns to go! Our server was super charismatic and helpfu, especially when I asked for an antidote for putting too much chili sauce on the food, lol! I will go back here EVERY time I go to Charlotte! read more

Open Rice Metropolitan - Beef bulgogi and pork buns. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Wish I live closer to eat here more often. This place was delish. I'm not a fan of fusion but Open Rice knock it out of the park on this one. The service was great! Shout out to Ella. We got the Beef Chow Fun, kimchi Fried Rice with Cheese, Beef Brisket Clay Pot and the kingdom Chicken. By far the fried rice and chow fun were the best. The restaurant was beautifully designed. Just go! read more

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