(919) 821-7636
618 Hillsborough St
Raleigh,
NC
27603
35.7809
-78.648
Neighborhoods: University, North Boylan
What People Are Saying About Char Grill 1
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – If "Happy Days" had to be filmed in Raleigh on a shoestring budget, you'd surely find the Fonz holding court outside this home-spun, '50s-style eatery. Unspoken food orders are taken on voting-style slips of paper, and the only contact with employees is at a pay window. Choose from half-pound or quarter-pound steak sandwiches, char- or cheeseburgers, chicken, pig-pickin' style barbecue, hot dogs or salads.
Char-grill Cary is different .... for a reason.
by apexdad
This is my first time reviewing / informing but felt compelled by some of the mis-information posted here about this great Raleigh tradition. For the folks who are whining about the Cary Char-grill being different, there is a good reason, it the first one that is a franchise and not owned by the original owners. My family and I ate there the other night and had the chance to speak to Kurt, one of the owners. This is their first franchise store of many more in the future. Yes, it is a different concept than the stand-alone stores but is meant to be easily repeated in more available locations. The food is still cooked the traditional Char-grill way (My wife and kids loved it) and their burgers are far and away the best in town. The only drawback we found is that because they do not cook ANYTHING ahead of time, you have a wait of 7 to 12 minutes, but everything comes out piping hot and is great. Secondly, yes, I agree with the other old timers, I wish they were still able to cook your burger to order (medium, medium well etc) but that was not a change by Char-grill but by the state hlth dept. And "shakes too thick" as a complaint!? McDonalds is right down the street...... Thanks for coming to Cary Char-grill and good luck witht he franchises!
- Pros: Freshest , hottest burger and fries in town.
Cary gets a Char-Grill!
by chloecallie
I love the new Char-Grill that recently opened in Cary (Cary Parkway at Waldo Rood). It has outdoor and indoor seating, which was nice, considering it was 90 degrees. Inside it is nostalgically decorated with some articles about the original restaurant on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh and the Edwards Drive location. The food was superb! I had a hamburger steak junior. Love the fries too.
- Pros: great food
- Cons: you have to wait while your food is cooked, but it is all fresh.
Good Burgers, Fries and Milk Shakes
by robcitrix
My family and I stopped at Char-Grill after spending a day at Pullen Park which is just down the road. Had very good burgers (not the best I have ever had), fries and the milk shake was good too although a little too thick for my liking. I do agree with the review that was written earlier. . .the burgers would have ranked higher if you could choose how you would want them cooked (I like mine medium-rare).
No inside seating. There are two picnic tables outside if you choose to eat there.
Everyone should try at least once. We will be back!
- Pros: Burgers and Fries
- Cons: Milk Shakes too Thick; Not Enough Seating
The Details on Char Grill 1
Know Before You Go:
Don't go to the side window to order or the regulars will snicker. Fill out your order, place it in the slot and wait.
Save Time:
If you're having a Char-Burger craving, you can find one at these locations.
What To Drink:
The crispy fries have substance, so order those along with a milk shake; they're some of the thickest shakes on the planet (spoon required).





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