‘Trying to shut the city down’: Slutty Vegan eyes Charlotte for an upcoming residency

Mari Pressley
·2 min read

Famous plant-based burger joint and Charlotte favorite, Slutty Vegan, is teasing a residency in the Queen City.

The restaurant, recently announced the residency with an Instagram post that read, “Tag a restaurant in Charlotte, NC‼” As of Friday afternoon, the response from Charlotteans included 370 comments, as of today, suggesting spots in Beatties Ford, Steele Creek, Uptown, NoDa, Optimist Hall, Camp North End, University City, Fort Mill and The Bowl at Ballantyne. The news was first reported by Charlotte Business Journal.

Favorite places included Uptown Yolk, Renaldo’s Culinary Experience, Bean Vegan, City Kitch, Mike’s Vegan Grill, Romeo’s Vegan Burgers and Cuzzo’s Cuisine II.

Slutty Vegan, a popular plant-based restaurant and food truck, may do a residency in Charlotte.
Slutty Vegan, a popular plant-based restaurant and food truck, may do a residency in Charlotte.

  • Followers voiced their enthusiasm about the announcement with comments such as “... trying to shut the city down,” from Cory Wilkins (@thedailyspecial).

  • Tammie Swygert (@swygert2) added, “This is what I’ve been waiting for. Yessssss we been ready, the University area would be perfect!”

  • Another commenter, Kristy Tolley (@kristytolley) commented “My dreams are coming true!”

  • And Charlotte VegFest (@charlottevegfest) extended an invitation to its upcoming festival in October, commenting “We would love to have you for this year’s Charlotte VegFest!”

Known for creating food awareness and vegan food options in the Atlanta area, Slutty Vegan was started by Pinky Cole in her two-bedroom apartment in the summer of 2018, initially selling fresh-to-order via Instagram. Within weeks, she was filling orders around Atlanta and serving burgers from a mobile food truck. And by October of that year, the restaurant opened its first location with a crowd of 1,200 eager customers.

Slutty Vegan, which now has ten locations in Georgia, Alabama, and New York, has had multiple sold-out pop-up visits to Charlotte, with long lines forming even before the truck’s window opened for orders.

In 2022, people waited in line for hours to try Slutty Vegan’s food at a popup at Camp North End in Charlotte.
In 2022, people waited in line for hours to try Slutty Vegan’s food at a popup at Camp North End in Charlotte.

In 2022, Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole told CharlotteFive she plans to open a restaurant in Charlotte. Since then, her husband, Derrick Hayes, owner of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, has opened his first out-of-state location in University City, prompting more questions about Slutty Vegan’s arrival.

In the meantime, until Slutty Vegan finds a spot for its residency in Charlotte, here are some highlights from its menu to get your taste buds ready:

  • One Night Stand: A plant-based patty, loaded up with vegan bacon, vegan cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato and its Slut Sauce on a vegan Hawaiian bun.

  • The Fussy Hussy: Another plant-based patty with vegan cheese, caramelized onion, lettuce, tomato, pickle and the brand’s signature Slut sauce on a Hawaiian bun

  • Hooker Fries: A concoction of vegan beef, vegan cheese, jalapenos, onions, lettuce and diced tomatoes over fries.

  • Hollywood Hooker: A vegan chopped philly, made with jalapeños, bell peppers, onions, topped with vegan provolone, lettuce, tomato, ketchup and vegan mayo, served on a hoagie roll.

  • Project Chik: A sandwich made with Crispy Chik’N and Slutty Strips vegan bacon, along with jalapeños, vegan ranch, & vegan smoked Gouda cheese on a Hawaiian bun.

We reached out to Cole for her thoughts about the residency, and we’ll update this story as we learn more.

In 2022, Slutty Vegan owner Pinky Cole told CharlotteFive she plans to open a restaurant in Charlotte.
In 2022, Slutty Vegan owner Pinky Cole told CharlotteFive she plans to open a restaurant in Charlotte.

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