Char Grill

The prices, man. Just insane. My wife and I went a few days ago and got two double cheeseburgers, two regular (meaning small) cheeseburgers, one order of fries (one size – small), and one small drink. TWENTY-​FIVE DOLLARS. These are classic, small, 1950s style greasy spoon burgers, of course, so even a double cheeseburger is not big. A double cheeseburger combo is NINE DOLLARS AND TEN CENTS. Just makes no sense for what you get. (I’ve been eating at the Hillsborough Street and other Char Grills for 25 years, and I can never remember being shocked at the prices like this.)

Char Grilled is all about classic 1950s style burgers.
Think about what that means before you decide if you want to go. You should *not* go if you are expecting a fancy-​schmancy gourmet burger with quinoa, organic herbs, and cheese from free-​range guinea pigs. If you’ve gone to a steak house and considered ordering the fish of the day, you’re going to have a bad time. If you’re concerned that vinyl and formica dinette booths might upset your image, keep moving, Cupcake.
This is Char Grill, which has been doing its eponymous flame-​grilled style in the Triangle since 1959 (
) and has since expanded to 10 locations. Through the years, Char Grill has changed management hands a few times but it appears to stick true to its roots. The headliner is their burgers, but they also have hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, BBQ sandwich, BLT, grilled cheese, and salads. The sides are diner classics — fries, fountain drinks, apple turnovers, and milkshakes made with a vintage shake machine.
The burgers are slightly thinner than other places, which means that you’re going to get a well-​done burger. These burgers are less greasy, no blood/​juice, and a nice umami-​filled beef char that will have the caveperson in you grunting with delight. The burger sizes are half-​pound, quarter pound, and standard (but indeterminate weight). I didn’t have a scale on me, but it appeared that a sizeable amount of the pre-​cook weight is rendered out via flame cooking — so don’t be intimidated by a half-​pounder. It is not huge.
The thinner patty means quicker cooking time, but this is still not fast food. You’re going to wait 10 plus minutes or so depending on crowds. One can order online at their four Raleigh locations, but not the Cary location — but you can call 919 461 7112.
If you order in person, you fill out a slip, which you then feed through a slot and pay when you pick up your greasy white bag of goodies. The choices of toppings is limited to mayo, yellow mustard, ketchup, chopped yellow onions, shredded iceberg lettuce, ripe red tomato, and chilli; bacon, cheese, and slaw are extra. No bread is an option, if that’s your thing. The bun is a classic sesame seed topped white-​bread bun. But as is typical with the classic whitebread bun, it gets steamed down a bit smooshy if you let it sit. So, either unwrap your burger quickly or else don’t let it bother you.
The décor is strictly 1950 diner, with classic rock playing and lots of synthetic surfaces. The place looks well loved/​worn from countless people using it. I came early — at 1130am, an hour after its opening time. It was sparkling clean, smelled pleasantly of cleaning products, and was nary a smudge anywhere.
I read in other reviews that the place was filthy — which I would imagine is possible if it gets busy since the kitchen is sealed off from the front-​of-​house (not easy for staff to see/​attend). It is hard to get a complete read on staff from a single visit, but from what I could see, some were focused on their tasks, while others were average kids — not unlike a younger me or my own kid — without a lot of fire in their bellies trying to get things done.
Prices were on the value-​side and the Wednesday specials make the place downright cheap. It’s not the best burger I ever had, but I don’t think that is the goal of the place. I think it is about delivering exceptional value — a good flame-​broiled burger with good sides at a price that delights even if it’s not Wednesday. This is a great place to come if you want a great belly-​filler that is a few steps above fast food and far, far away from guinea pig cheese.

I love a good quirky dive, but I’ll dive on somewhere else.
Odd ordering system has you put your order into a slot that subsequently gets ignored by the 4 employees who are having a grand conversation while your food doesn’t get made. Then when it does, they forget to make the fries and then about 5 other people’s food including mine sit waiting for the french fry master to deliver the goods. Then you get to the food and it’s *barely* better than a McD’s patty in a restaurant saturated with dirty tables and flies.
Time to pivot.

Another quick lunchtime. As always Char steak burgers are juicy and full of flavor. The ½ pounder burger was cooked to order and it took only 6 minutes.
The fries where pipping hot, had to throw a little salt on them.
I guess for me one of the ways i know a burger is great its messy. The burger gets messy from the natural juices not from tons of mayo or mustard.
Awesome burger!

Good solid burger joint, and while it may not be a gourmet burger joint its still right up there with them in quality and taste. They do actually flame grill the burgers to order, and they are really tasty. This reminds me of so many old flame grilled burger joints from back in the day that have fallen to the wayside. Grest tasting grilled burgers. They have a Wednesday special thats hard to beat, where burgers fries and drinks are $ 1.70. The fries are cooked perfect and salted to perfection. If you are really hungry get the steak burger or double steak burger. They are huge and really good for over the top quantity. The chili and slaw are nicely done and fresh. The food and service is great. The restaurant and restrooms were clean when I visited. The prices are reasonable.
I’m not a fan of the ordering system at all. This deal of filling out a paper and dropping it in a slot is just ridiculous to me. Especially when someone has to ring you up anyway. They had might as well take your order too.
That aside, I love this place and will return when I’m in the area.

The food is good here but there is rarely a time when we come here that every table isn’t greasy and dirty. I’m in here right now, it’s 430, the place is empty, and its so filthy my seven-​year-​old daughter noticed. They have no paper towels and napkins require standing in line and getting the attention of an employee. Usually, I go to the bathroom and get wet toilet paper. Ridiculous. If it looks this bad out here, how bad does it look behind the counter?

Char-​Grill isn’t a gourmet burger, and it’s not good for you, but man, it sure is tasty in moderation. I always get a burger all the way, and the chili is REALLY good. Everything is always made to order so the fries are piping hot, which is something I always appreciate at a burger joint.
It’s not open until 3 a.m. so Cook-​Out is still a better «drunk food» option, but Char-​Grill is hard to beat in the daylight hours.

I think of all the Char Grill locations I like this one the best. The burgers are always cooked perfectly and the employees seem to really take care in preparing the food.
If I had one complaint it would be that they guys who run the register seem to stand around looking bored when not calling out food orders when they could be on the floor wiping down the tables. (Hint, hint!)
We really appreciate the discount day each week as well as when they run the Groupon deal!

Char Grill keeps it simple. I appreciate simple. $ 1.50 Wednesdays keep me coming back. I’ve got much love for this place. This review shall be simple in the spirit of Char Grill.

I wish I had a better understanding of what the fuss is all about.
Not as juicy as Five Guys, not as big, and not as fast (which isn’t saying much, because Five Guys takes For-​EVER.)
Better than McDonalds? Yes.
A «great» burger? Nope
And the fries are wayyyyyyy better at Five Guys or at Smash Burger.
Fair. Fair. Fair. Not terrible. A step up from most fast food. But for sure not my favorite burger either.

Visited Char Grill with my wife for lunch recently. Classic burger chain with little touches like paper order slips you pass through a slot and a flaming grill that (wait for it!) chars their burgers to perfection.
I had the Half-​Steak, a rectangular steak-​burger with customizable toppings, optional cheese, and full of yum. Pretty standard, prepared correctly, juicy, fresh lettuce/​tomato. Hit the spot.
My wife and I also split one fries and one salad. The fries were lousy, not flavorful and not that crispy — seemed like low-​quality potatoes or not enough heat in the fryer. The salad was perfectly fine for a fast-​food salad.
We sat outside at this location (next to Fresh Market on SW Cary Parkway at Waldo Rood), which we would recommend on a nice day.
Recommended for lunch.

Char Grill has that nostalgic edge while serving consistently awesome yumminess. I prefer the char-​burger over the hamburger-​steak, but no way I would turn down either.
The menu pretty much stays the same, which is actually nice considering other places are always trying a new fad to draw in customers. Char Grill knows it has a good thing going so why change it?
The fries are awesome. The shakes are more like soft serve so expect a spoon and not a straw.
They also offer call-​ahead orders… Avoid the line and the wait (which is never too long anyway).

Great burgers, no frills just lots of great taste.

When I am craving a burger Char-​Grill is one of the first places I think about. The burgers are consistently good, they have great fries and if you want to splurge, their shakes are really good. They are super thick which is the way I like them.
The best thing about this location is that they have tables both inside and out, not just picnic tables outside like the other locations. The thing that you need to know about this location though is that the fries do NOT come with the burgers like at the other Char Grill locations that I have been to. Everything here is ala cart.

Fresh burgers that are made to order. They are almost as good as Five Guys, however, the fries here are not nearly as good. They can’t beat the homemade fries at Five Guys. They are a staple in this area!

Great steals on Wednesday’s. 1.50 cheeseburger, hot dogs fries or drinks. It’s a good hump day!

Excellent fresh burgers can be found at Char Grill in Cary. I have been going to this location at least once a month since they opened and have never been disappointed. They have a consistent product coupled with great service. If you are looking for a great burger cooked fresh and fast without doing it yourself, this place. Try chili and cheese on your burger for a Carolina style burger. Outside of this location I have been going to Char grill for 20+ years. Back at Sanderson, the shop teacher introduced us to Char Grill on a field trip. Hooked ever since…

Pretty good place for a quick burger and fries. I have gone out of my way a few times to get a tasty little treat for lunch. It’s always nice to see the cook grilling your food, kinds of add a touch of love to see the high rise flames burn your chef’s eye brows.

I LOVE my burgers and these are pretty decent. My standards are Burger Bar, In N Out, and 5 Guys.
Char Grill isn’t in there league IMO but they’re still pretty good. I go hear almost 1x /​week to take advantage of their Mon & Tues 1.19 special on burgers, dogs, drinks and fries. I haven’t had there higher end burgers but they look great. There fries are really tasty and always fresh and crispy. The veggies on the burgers and the quality of the meat is better than most chains. I probably wouldn’t go hear as often if not for there deal but the food is pretty good and can be had for cheap.

Great burgers! These are back-​to-​basics burgers with toasted sesame seed buns and traditional condiments. Char-​grill also boasts fantastic french fries and made to order hot dogs. Most notable I think are the Monday and Tuesday specials of $ 1.19 each for burgers, dogs, fries and drinks. These burgers are so far superior to any large chain out there that you should really think twice the next time you head out for some BK or Wendy’s. Same price, far better.