Our story
All About
Tha Daily Special
Tha Daily Special is Charlotte's home for the best eats, hidden gems, and can't-miss food & drink specials, plus easy recipes you'll actually make. What started in 2018 as one guy showcasing the spots he loved has grown into a community of 300K+ food lovers who believe the same thing we do: food is the ultimate way to connect.
Where it started
It goes back to Elberton, GA, a small town where the love for food and community got sparked early, cooking alongside Grandma and gathering for big Sunday family dinners. Those moments taught one lesson that still runs the whole brand: a meal is never just a meal. It's how people come together.
How it became Tha Daily Special
After nearly a decade in Augusta, GA, founder Cory Wilkins put down roots in Charlotte, NC, and the city's food scene lit a fire. Tha Daily Special launched in 2018 to showcase local food & drink specials and shine a light on the small, overlooked businesses that make the city special. Cory's never called himself a food critic. He's a food photographer and videographer sharing the spots and dishes he genuinely enjoys. And it's more than eating and filming: he actually loves to cook, studying techniques from cultures all over the world.
To inspire and connect people and their communities through food & travel.
What we do
Recipes
Easy, crave-worthy dishes to inspire your next great meal.
The Charlotte Guide
The best local restaurants, spots, and things to do around the Queen City.
Weekly Deals
Food & drink specials that keep your wallet happy.
The Grubb Club
Our membership for the real ones, with exclusive local deals & perks.
Photography & Videography
Specializing in food photography & videography. Let us handle all your content needs.
The Ovedere App
Save the spots, plan the day. A personal city map turned into shareable day plans. Built by founder Cory.
Keeping it real
Authenticity is the whole thing. Only a small amount of the places Cory tries ever make the pages. If it's posted by him, he genuinely enjoyed it. Names, addresses, and tags are always in the post so you can find it yourself. Even for scheduled collabs, he pops up unannounced first to get the real experience and see how it is on any given day.
Along the way
- 2023 Axios Charlotte Power Player
- Created the Charlotte guide for Apple Maps
- Top Chef attendee, Season 23, Ep. 12 (“Appalachian Celebration”)
- Co-Founder of Eat Black Charlotte
- Featured in the Charlotte Observer & Charlotte Post
The community
From a home kitchen to 300K+ food lovers across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok, Tha Daily Special has become a Charlotte staple. And the table keeps getting bigger. These days the food adventures travel to new cities and countries, bringing the community along for every bite.
Meet the founder
Cory Wilkins is the face and appetite behind Tha Daily Special. A food creator at heart and a software developer and tech founder by trade, he built Tha Daily Special to do what food has always done best: bring people together. Catch him grubbing around the city, and say hey if you see him out.
Come grub with the fam
Whether you're hunting your next favorite restaurant, cooking something new at home, or looking to save on a night out, pull up a chair.
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