There’s a new restaurant in South Charlotte serving up classic Mexican street food.
Cantina Louie celebrated its grand opening on Monday, Sept. 14, welcoming customers into its new space at 7520 Pineville-Matthews Rd.
It marks the restaurant’s third North Carolina location and joins existing spots in Asheville and nearby Matthews, which opened in 2021. Cantina Louie also operates multiple Florida restaurants.
Cantina Louie is now open at 7520 Pineville-Matthews Road in South Charlotte, marking the restaurant’s third North Carolina location. Cantina Louie
“This expansion into the Charlotte area has a lot to do with demand,” business partner Jason Sharpe told CharlotteFive. He runs the new restaurant alongside owner Frank Bethelmy, who once managed the Cantina Louie in Matthews.
“We love the idea of being in communities that serve people of all demographics, and we love the family-friendliness of South Charlotte,” he added. “(We) feel like it suits our concept so well.”
The nearly 5,000-square-foot eatery can fit up to 150 guests and includes two “communal” outdoor areas where customers can sit back and hang out. You can even play a pick-up game of cornhole or two.
Inside, customers can feast their eyes on the bold, vibrant decor Cantina Louie is known for. Colorful hand-painted murals cover the walls in tribute to the city’s culture and pastimes, giving it “a distinctly local personality.”
Cantina Louie’s new South Charlotte restaurant features vibrant artwork and hand-painted murals that pay homage to the city’s history. Cantina Louie
Many of the decorations were also imported from Mexico.
Bethelmy added that the new restaurant has created about 40 new jobs for the area.
What’s on the menu?
Cantina Louie’s menu is stacked with traditional Mexican favorites. Think: Burritos, quesadillas, fajitas and an assortment of street tacos. Its Taco Tuesday specials are a popular pick and include $2.99 tacos, plus specialty margaritas for $6.99 a pop.
Main plates include the carne asada served with sides of Spanish rice, esquite (street corn) and refried beans; the La Parilla featuring marinated steak, grilled chicken and carnitas; and the avocado enchiladas topped with tomatillo salsa and queso fresco.
The menu at Cantina Louie centers Mexican street food classics, including birria tacos. Cantina Louie
On the drinks side, customers can pick from more than a dozen tequila-based cocktails and margaritas. There’s sangria too, plus local and Mexican beers.
Management hinted at continued expansion in South Charlotte and other parts of city, especially the northern suburbs.
“We’re already keeping an eye on a few places,” Bethelmy told CharlotteFive. “We’re thinking somewhere north (of Charlotte). We want to expand our radius” so more people across the city can enjoy our food.
“We’ve noticed that our customers have so much choice in the city of Charlotte and surrounding areas that they’re willing to drive long-distances to get to us,” Sharpe added. “So that tells us people are really excited about the concept.”
Cantina Louie is open Sunday and Monday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Location: 7520 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226 (now open)
Location: 2225 Matthews Township Pkwy C, Matthews, NC 28105
Cuisine: Mexican
Instagram: @cantinalouie_clt
At Cantina Louie, customers will find a variety of Mexican favorites such as street tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas, and enchiladas. Cantina Louie
This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 12:32 PM.
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Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
