Char-Grill

I love the burgers at Char-​Grill. You can tell this is a local hamburger shop with history. When you enter Char-​Grill, you will see the cooks making the burgers and hot dogs in a glass-​in kitchen area. There are pads of paper with the menu items and you check off what you want and hand it in. Wait for your name to be called and pick up your freshly cooked food. I have always gotten the Junior Steak burger and it is served on an oblong bun and not the traditional round bun. I have yet to try the hot dogs and they looked really good coming out of the window. The fries were fresh. You can also see the 50’s themed soda Pepsi machine and rock’n roll style layout that is similar to a Johnny Rockets. The prices are good and you are definitely getting local when you go to Char-​Grill.

Burgers here are pretty good. The menu is simple with not much variety. The setup at the restaurant is unique with a 50s diner feel. You place orders on slim slips of paper and push it through a slot to the staff cooking in a glass box. Service is pretty good but limited due to the setup. Overall a great place to buy a quick bite to eat.

Worst hamburgers ever! We are new to raleigh and we were certain, based on recommendations, this would be a great local spot. We were very wrong.
We went twice, both times the food was horrible. Burgers were dry and tasted like 3 day old food. That is not a good thing.
Everything about the burgers was bad.
The fries were good.
Just go to five guys or anywhere else. Even mcdonalds or burger king is better.
I suggest against resting on your laurels and realize the competition (i.e., five guys) has passed you.

Came in tonight for a cheeseburger. As always it was delicious! Just wanted to comment on the happy people dancing while working the grill! Made my day to see people enjoying their jobs!

This is one of our go to places to pick the kids up dinner when we want to go someplace nicer. We drive up, order the kids burgers and leave within a few minutes with hot fast food. No complaints!

The best burgers in Raleigh. Hands down. They’re not your typical burger – you definitely get a grilled/​smoky flavor from the meat. You can also completely customize your order before sending it down a little slide to the guys behind the glass partition. They then cook it from inside their glass-​enclosed kitchen.
The fries are just crispy enough and the milkshakes are good too!

Normally this place does really good at food and service but not under pressure. Add at lot of people and the assembly line falls apart.

This is a good burger joint. The formula’s real simple. Get some decent meet and grill it up and it tastes smoky and grilled.
Not sure why they need to charge for lettuce and tomato but that’s fine don’t really eat burgers with a much anyway.
Kind of retro atmosphere –comfortable to eat in.
If you’re looking for a good brother definitely worth checking out.

My family loves this place! My husband usually gets a burger and always comments about how it tastes fresh off the grill. We all love the hot dogs! They melt in your mouth! The buns are always soft and the food is always hot. The fries are addictive! Whenever we crave hot dogs, we make the trip to this Chargrill. There’s nothing like it!

Char-​Grill, my home town favorite (until White Castle comes along). With mustard, chili and onions one of the best char-​burgers around. The Quarter and Half Pound Hamburger Steak Sandwiches are good, but I find them a bit greasy, OK if you are eating in but if taking out you’re gonna have to deal with a real soggy bun. Great tasting fries and extremely thick shakes (remember to get one of the long spoons). I’m not a big Carolina Red Hot Dog Fan but some folks swear by them. All in all my Go To Burger Joint.

Seems Odd the Minimal Contact with the staff inside a see through Box!
Order was 100% for Accuracy!
Burger was Good! Nice Flavor! Better than most Fast Food at similar prices… ¼ Pound was a NICE size! Flavor reminded me of something, then I remembered the place that fired the King! Then I enjoyed it less, though more than the other place where I NEVER eat because of the next day ramifications! No Problems here, I stayed Healthy! 3 Unilocal stars for this Burger and I’m not subtracting stars on the overall experience for Poor Fries or anything else!
Fries SUCK ok! 2 Unilocal stars on flavor

Saw their sign that said ‘Shakes’ and decided I needed one. I went inside (there is no drive-​thru) and was waited on promptly. The place smelled great with the burgers cooking. They took my order for my shake and I was out of there in less than 2 minutes, The shake was so thick I couldn’t get it through the straw — but that was okay because they also gave me a spoon. I’m going to have to go back and try some of their food besides just the shake.

My husband insists that I give char grill 5 stars. I don’t disagree, he is just very nostalgic about this place. I think a lot of people who grew up around here understand why. It’s a very classic burger joint and a fun atmosphere.
The food is classic as well. As a general food rule I don’t eat chili on top of things, but at char grill I make an exception. The chili burger is booomb. The fries are my favorite kind, sort of thick and very crispy.
My next endeavor is to try a milkshake. I will report back.
Also very affordable and lots of space to eat there.

Take a trip back in time to the way McDonald’s was in the 1950’s, and you’d be pretty close to Char-​Grill. A North Carolina legend, this place is a great burger joint. you fill out your order and slip it through a slot. Don’t think there’s anything fancy here, it’s burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and fries. Drinks are shakes and soda.
They limit the choices, but do them perfectly well. You get a great meal at a great price. Fries are crispy, hot and tender in the middle. My family couldn’t stop eating them. For dessert they have deep fried apple pies like McDonald’s used to serve. Didn’t try them this time. Maybe next time.
Décor is straight out of the 50’s with a half a cadillac coming out of the wall, and those old-​fashioned tables. Would fit in well in American Graffiti.
Great affordable burgers. Period. Check ‘em out.

Consistently the best burgers you can get. The original Char Grill on Hillsborough St first opened in 1960 and was Raleigh’s first fast food take out burger place. The owner’s have kept the same simple approach (why mess with something that works?). Burgers are cooked over a grill and not on a flat-​top. You can watch the the cooks behind a plate glass window while they make the food. It is all very efficient. The burgers are made to order and not pre-​cooked. Therefore, you have to wait about 5 –7 minutes while they cook your order.
You fill out a slip indicating what you want and what you want on it, slide it in the slot and wait for them to call the number at the top of your slip. The hamburger steak sandwiches are 8 ounces and the largest burgers they serve. It comes with fires and medium drink. You can choose the toppings you want when you fill out the slip. The Steak Jr is about 4 ounces and also comes with fires and a drink. Here is a tip: They do not list «chili» as a choice for the Steak or Steak Jr on the slip. If you write in «chili» on the slip where the other items i.e.: mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, etc is they will put on for you.
The fries are hot and crispy. When you get a hamburger steak or Jr and bite into it be prepared for a thick, moist, juicy burger with a great grilled taste. These things are filling. They also have «traditional sized» hamburgers/​cheeseburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken sandwiches, barbecue, apple turnovers.
The shakes are thick, thick, thick. If you get a large you are going to be still sucking on the straw an hour and a half later.
They must do something right, most of the employees have been there for a while. The place and atmosphere does remind you of the carefree days of the late 50’s and early 60’s down to the oldies music that they play. Go there, eat, leave full and thinking about when you can come back for more.

It’s not a horrible place by any means. With that said, if I had to rank it among other fast food joints (think 5guys, BK, McD’s etc…) I’d have to put it close to the bottom, maybe a notch better than Wendy’s. I wouldn’t suggest it’s A-​ok just based on the selection of burger places in the area.
The burgers aren’t anything special, they come on a bun with a small assortment of fixins requested as one orders. It’s overpriced compared to other fast food places. For the about same money I can go to Five Guys and get a much better quality burger with better fixins.
The dining area is kinda cool looking, but «meh» at the same time… the tables are all a polished aluminum color — very monotonous — that’s the «Meh.» While waiting for one’s order, one can choose to sit in the back seat of a ’57 chevy (bench) or a plain bench.
Some people seem to love that place… I’m just not one of those people.

Totally simple and awesome. A classic idea, executed perfectly! Grab an order slip, fill it out, pay up, and eat. Burgers are done well, but still moist and delicious. Having the patties slapped on a real char-​grill makes the taste stand out from most joints. Nice, lightly smokey taste. Yum. The drinks are fountain types with «pea» style crushed ice (which i love for some reason) in a big plain cup. It’s just an awesome, quick and easy set-​up. And i like the old school paper caps the cooks wear. It has a campy awesomeness too it all.
Char-​Grill does it right.

Great and unique burger. Pretty simple menu.
If you want a good burger that has a smoky flavor, then eat here. If you want anything else, then do not.

Fast service, basic fresh food, children like it and it is a pretty good value for this area of town.

Char-​Grill falls under my every-​once-​in-​a-​while-​guilty-​pleasure category. Yes, even Ms. Donna gets a very occasional craving for a hot dog or cheeseburger. Fully loaded, but no onions. The taste is pretty good here — almost like it came off your grill. You can get burgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, all with or without your choice of toppings/​condiments. They have an assortment of drinks and even a couple dessert options, which I’ve never tried.
They’re close, quick and cheap so this works for me! Very rarely, though…