By TM Petaccia

Folks in the restaurant industry know good food, so we want to know where they eat when they’re not cooking. In this series, we ask a local chef, bartender, restaurateur, or food artisan to share their favorite restaurants in town and what they order there. 

This week, we interviewed Jonny Cox, executive chef at Fin & Fino and recent host of one of our Meet the Chef dinners. While many of his dishes at the popular Uptown restaurant portray Italian and Mediterranean influences, when he’s not on the clock, he heads for the flavors of Asia and the Indian subcontinent. He particularly cites these six Charlotte area dining spots.

Phở Hoà Noodle Soup, Plaza Midwood

Wide variety of phở and other Vietnamese specialties
Cox’s order: Extra large phở chín and summer rolls. “Every Sunday I wake up at noon, get on my motorcycle and take a ride down to Phở Hoà. I douse the summer rolls in the habanero chili oil (you have to ask for the extra spicy oil),” Cox says.

704 Korean BBQ, McMullen Creek

All-you-can eat Korean restaurant
Cox’s order: Kimchi, beef tongue, spicy pork belly, and brisket. “I just discovered this place but fell in love immediately,” Cox says. “I enjoy eating until I’m sick and this is the place for it. I get two orders of everything.”

Copper, Dilworth

Indian cuisine in a fine dining setting
Cox’s order: Murgh (Chicken) Tikka Masala. “This place has always been a favorite to take a friend to,” Cox says. “I ask for at least three sides of the garlic naan. Dipping it in the sauce is simply as good as food can get in my world.”

YUME Ramen Sushi & Bar, Wilmore

Classic and modern Japanese cuisine
Cox’s order: Tonkotsu ramen with spicy miso, spicy tuna rolls. “Best ramen I have had in Charlotte,” Cox says. “I always ask for an extra egg. The eggs are out of this world.”

The tonkotsu ramen from YUME. TM Petaccia/UP

Good Food on Montford, Montford Park

Eclectic eatery with an extensive wine list
Cox’s order: Green curry mussels, pork belly steam buns. “For some reason, I like going here on rainy days,” Cox says. “I don’t think there is a limit to the amount of steam buns I could ingest.”

Aroy Thai To Go, Coventry Woods

Take-out spot featuring Thai and other Asian dishes
Cox’s order: Tom yum soup with a side of rice, drunken noodles with shrimp or tofu (level three spicy). “I’m here at least once a week,” says Cox says.

More from this series:

Patrick Gourmet’s Patrick Garrivier
Counter-‘s Sam Hart
Community Matters Cafe’s Ashley Anna Tuttle
Your Farms, Your Table’s Sam Diminich
Para’s Alex Verica