November 9, 2018

Where Chefs Eat: Yafo Kitchen’s Shai Fargian

Italian, Asian, and Southern spots all make his list

Dumplings from The Dumpling Lady food truck. Kristen Wile/UP

Chefs 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, or server to share their favorite restaurants in town (not including their own) and what they order there. The executive chef behind Yafo Kitchen, Shai Fargian, has found some of the most reliable restaurants in town. —Kristen Wile

Inizio Pizza Napoletana, Dilworth or south Charlotte
Dough made with Italian ingredients is cooked quickly in a wood-fired oven
Shai’s order: The pistachio pizza or the margherita pizza with extra cheese

Futo Buta, South End
This isn’t the first time Michael Shortino’s ramen spot has been a chef’s favorite
Shai’s order: The buta bowl and fire and ice ramen; the rice crispy squares

Stagioni: Four Seasons of Food, Myers Park
A seasonal Italian spot by Bruce Moffett, Stagioni has gained a loyal band of regulars
Shai’s order: Everything

Dogwood Southern Table & Bar, SouthPark
Rare Roots Hospitality goes Southern and ingredient-driven at this spot, with a dynamite bar
Shai’s order: The duck and dumplings; any cocktail Brian Lorusso makes

The Dumpling Lady food truck
Some of the most authentic (and popular) Chinese food in Charlotte comes from this truck
Shai’s order: Spicy noodles, pork dumplings, and veggie dumplings